You're In Big Trouble! Series

“YOU’RE IN BIG TROUBLE!” 2 Kings 19:20-37

FBCF – 4/28/24

Jon Daniels

INTRO – This sermon today may be somewhat of a heavy sermon, but I believe it is needed. Title may seem a little off-putting, even a little offensive. But as we get into this message, you’ll see the truth in it.

Sermon last Sunday – as I was working on it & editing it, I actually eliminated an entire point. The point would have been:

GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE……WHEN GOD IS DISRESPECTED – 2 Chronicles 32:16-19

Listen to these words:

- V. 16 – “…his servants said still more against the Lord God…” TLB – “…the ambassador mocked the Lord God and God’s servant Hezekiah, heaping up insults.”

- V. 17 – “…he wrote letters to cast contempt on the Lord…& to speak against Him…” – NLT – “The king also sent letters scorning the Lord…mocking the Lord (NET)…ridiculing the Lord (NIV).

- V. 19 – “And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the works of man.” MSG – “They contemptuously lumped the God of Jerusalem in with the handmade gods of other peoples….”

All of these disrespectful actions against the Lord really rub us the wrong way – Can’t stand to hear people do this, saying that their little “g” gods are just as important, just as powerful, & just as worthy of worship as the one, true living God - & saying that anyone who worships the one, true living God is rigid, narrow-minded, bigoted, homophobic, old-fashioned, & out of touch. But that’s to be expected b/c Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 – “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

So even when our God – the one true living God – is being disrespected, we who are His children can still be encouraged b/c He is still by our side, no matter what anyone may say about Him.

But the sermon today is directed to those who are doing the disrespecting & the rejecting. I simply say to those people, whether in this room or watching this service: YOU’RE IN BIG TROUBLE! That can change! But at the present time, if you are disrespecting & rejecting God, you’re in big trouble.

We preach a Gospel of GRACE (Ephesians 2:8-9) – a Gospel of the love of God (John 3:16; Romans 5:8) – a Gospel of the free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23) – a Gospel of the patience & longsuffering of God (2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow in keeping HIs promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” NIV). All of these Biblical truths about the Gospel are reasons why the word “Gospel” means “Good News!” God loves you! God wants to have a relationship w/ you! God sent Jesus to be your Savior! God wants to give you the gift of eternal life!

But that same message of the Gospel makes it clear that God hates sin – He will judge sin - & those who reject Him will pay the price for their sin & spend eternity in hell. Jesus came & died on the cross to pay the price for your sins so you wouldn’t have to. But those who choose to stay in their sin will pay their own price for their sin. And that price is death – spiritual death. As we’ve already said, Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death…” – eternal separation from God.

EXPLANATION – 2 Kings 19:20-37

“A Faithful Life” – King Hez – strong, Godly king of Judah, leader of God’s people. Enemy king of Assyria, Senn, attacked Judah, capturing multiple cities & towns. Came to Jerusalem w/ the intent of taking that city, too. Attempted to undermine Hez, discredit him, ridicule him & his faith in God, & turn his people against him. But it didn’t work. Hez turned to the prophet Isaiah for prayer & counsel. God spoke through His prophets in the OT. They were His spokesmen. V. 20 – Isaiah said to Hez, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel. Your prayer about Senn has come to me & here’s my answer:” The passage we are considering today is that answer.

APPLICATION – Opposing & rejecting God is futile & deadly.

Senn gives us a sad example of a life that has rejected God. If you are rejecting & opposing God, you’re in big trouble because: