God Solves Real Life Problems
2 Kings 18-19
(paralell passages Isisah 36, 2 Chron. 32)
Many people feel like God is a nice idea, and that he helps people get through life better. But when it comes to real life problems you are on your own. They think the Bible is a wonderful book of childrens stories, but it doesn’t have real answers for my adult problems. “God may have done great things in the past, but our world is to sophisticated for God to help us today. Third world countries whose people are superstitious and believe in spirits may believe in God and his help, but we are the enlightened, our scientific world view doesn’t have room for God’s intervention. They have relegated God to fairy tales and old wives tales, and the work of superstitious uninformed minds. The fact is nothing could be further from the truth. God purposely recorded these events from history to show us how he can solve our real life problems.
Most of the historical facts from this event are verified by archeology in Ninevah and other extra biblical historical writings. It was recorded in three different books in the Bible.
I The Enemy Attacks
(Read 18: 13-16)
A. He was doing the right things - Reforms and Revival
B. He refused to pay tribute to Assyria as his father had done.
C. He tried to appease the enemy.
-No record of praying or seeking God for a solution.
-He just did what seemed the only thing to do. Man’s solution
-Like Sennacherib Satan can’t be appeased to leave you alone.
D. He went as far as to give the enemy the gold off of the temple doors and door posts
-the writer doesn’t comment, but I think he felt it was evident this was wrong.
-It may have given him a temporary reprieve, but it didn’t solve the problem.
E. We often try to solve our problems the same way.
-We give up our virginity because our boyfriend/girlfriends threatens to leave us
-We quit paying our tithe to solve our financial problems
-We take a job in a strip club, bar, to solve our financial problems.
-We cheat on a test or paper to solve our academic problems
-We lie on resume to get a job, coach George O’Leary Notre Dame
F. You can’t do wrong and expect good to come from it.
-it is so tempting, because it may give temporary relief
-but it never really solves it, and it cause more difficult problems.
-the easy way out rarely is a way out
Colorado Rockies (USA Today article 6-1-2006)
By the time the sun rose Dec. 4, 2004, Rockies management had vowed the direction of the organization would change. Pitcher Denny Neagle had been charged with soliciting a prostitute, another embarrassment for a franchise that had not been competitive for years.
"God gave us a challenge right then and there," McGregor says. "You always say you want to do the right thing, but often in this business we warp our values and do less than what’s the right thing."
Colorado released Neagle three days after his arrest — he joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays but did not stick — and ended up paying $16 million of the $19 million owed him on his contract.
"It was an expensive, painful education," McGregor says.
Monfort says: "We had a great thing with the fans, making the playoffs in ’95, selling out, and we just became arrogant. The honeymoon started waning, and we went into panic mode" by spending millions on free agent players who didn’t pan out.
The Rockies say they welcome anyone regardless of religious beliefs. "We don’t just go after Christian players," O’Dowd says. "That would be unfair to others. We go after players of character."
II The Problems Remains (18:17-37)
A. Threats and Intimidation
(READ 19-21)
B. Who are you trusting In to Save you (Solve this problem)
1. Words - Big Talk against military might (Self Effort)
2. Allies -Egypt
3. THE LORD? V22
-Tried to use their misunderstanding of Hezekiah’s reforms to scare the people
(“Your God is going to be mad at you - He won’t help”)
C. Mocking their Meager Resources v23
1. If we gave you 2,000 horses you couldn’t find riders
D. Your God sent us to attack v25
E. Offer of Help for Surrender (The devil’s favorite line) v(27 & 31-32 READ)
1. Food and water instead of urine and dung
2. Devil says “I’ll make your music career take off if you quit singing gospel”
“I’ll make you popular if you Party and have sex”
“I’ll make your self esteem higher if you sleep with a lot of people”
“I’ll give you love and security if you live with your boyfriend before marriage”
F. YOUR GOD CAN’T SAVE YOU -DON’T TRUST HIM TO DO SO. V30
1. Don’t trust your king to save you v29
2. Don’t trust your God to save you v30
“You are deceived if you think he can”
G. He gives examples of others God didn’t save v32b-35
1. As if God failed to protect
2. No, their sin and rebellion removed the protection of the Lord
3. He sent it, allowed it so they would turn back to him.
4. His reasoning was uninformed, but it sounded convincing
5. They trusted other gods, not the true God, but they couldn’t tell the difference.
III THE People’s Response v36
A. Silence - They have no answer
B. Distress and Despair v37
-tore their clothes to show it.
-the odds were overwhelming -helpless little community of Jerusalem facing the mighty Assyrian empire.
Owner/CEO of Chinese toy company committed suicide when over million toys his company were recalled for lead poisoning. The loss was going to be huge.
IV THE GODLY KINGS RESPONSE 19:1-14
A. He learned from the last time -Man’s solution - Compromise and Appeasement don’t work
B. He was distressed, but it sent him to prayer (Went to God the right source)
-He didn’t call politicians, princes, or secular advisers, psychics , fortune tellers, or military strategist.
-The answer was not in the visible but the invisible. Judah’s secret weapon was her trust in the Lord, her confidence in the invisible presence of God whose power in unlimited.
Child Kidnaped p440 The Communicators Commentary 1,2 Kings
C. He Sent for the Prophet - The mouthpiece of God
(READ v2-4)
V GOD’S Word of HOPE 19:5-7
(Read 5-7)
VI God Intervenes to Solve the Problem 8-37
A. The Diversion (Message -rumor of attack at home)
B. The Delay
-The time between the message of hope and its fulfillment
-The enemy keeps attacking, intimidating
-By a letter repeats the threats
(READ 10-13) ?
Abraham waited 25 years for a child
C. The right response - Lay the letter before the Lord in Prayer
(Read 14-19)
1. Focuses on and declares the greatness of God (It increases faith)
2. Cries out for God’s help
3. Acknowledges the facts
4. Asks God to rescue
D. God speaks Hope through the Prophet again
1. “I have heard your prayer” v20
2. A Prophetic poem (The truth about the situation is spelled out to correct the lies of the enemy.) 21- 28
3. An Assurance given v 29
(Read 29-34)
Because of the Siege they had not been able to plant grain for their fall crops.
E. It comes to Pass
(Read 35-37)
Conclusion: God delivers Again. What is your story. Write it down.
Lay Your Problems out before the Lord in Prayer
Facing the Threats of Life 8-20
1. The gravity of the situation clearly seen 8-13 (didn’t deny it, think positive, channel energy)
2. God is the only Refuge v 14 (alcohol and drugs not)
3. The Lord cares for the honor of His name 15-16
4. False gods are no defense 17-18 (Allah, Karma,
5. That God hears is our assurance of victory 20
