Bible Study - How to Pray (4) - Praying for Ourselves - Matthew and Isaiah 38:1-7 - November 4, 2018

Bible Study – How to Pray (4) – Praying for Ourselves – November 4, 2018

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “How to Pray.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 6:11 and Isaiah 38:1-17.

Take your needs to GOD daily and trust HIM to answer.

Do you remember in last week’s lesson I was led to write about JESUS’ teaching on faith? JESUS’ disciples, who waited for JESUS and HIS inner circle to come down from the mount of transfiguration, could not cast out the demon that possessed the young boy. JESUS spoke and the demon came out of the boy. Later, the disciples of JESUS who had attempted to cast the demon out of the boy wanted to know why they could not do it. JESUS told them that kind required faith. HE then taught them about “faith.” How much faith? Faith the size of a mustard seed is what is required.

Have you seen a mustard seed? I have a mustard seed inside of a tiny bottle. It is small but under the right conditions it has the potential to be planted and grow into a large tree. Many Christians think, “Oh, I have plenty of faith!” All the faith a Christian needs is the size of a mustard seed to move mountains. So why do some Christians fail to see the mountains they encounter moved? The LORD brought to mind one of HIS teachings regarding the soils of our lives, as Christians.

Let’s read Matthew 13:1-23:

The Parable of the Sower (Four Soils)

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 

2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 

4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 

5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 

6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 

7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 

8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 

9Whoever has ears, let them hear.” 

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 

12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 

13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 

17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 

19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 

20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 

21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 

22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The scripture following this scripture in Matthew 13, is the parable of the weeds. The enemy sows seeds of doubt in our minds when we are Spiritually asleep. Christians are in warfare with the spirit world. Yes, JESUS defeated Satan and his minions but as Christians our strength is in our relationship to GOD through faith in JESUS. Satan tries many ways to drive wedges between Christians and them having a loving, personal, intimate relationship with GOD, their Father.

Let’s explore!

What does JESUS reveal about GOD’S care for us in the model prayer HE taught HIS disciples?

Let’s read Matthew 6:11 and Isaiah 38

Let’s read Matthew 6:11:

11 Give us today our daily bread.

GOD provides our needs for each day, such as food, water, income, shelter, health and all the things that sustain us. The needs of people are as varied as people are varied.

Let’s read Isaiah 38:1-3:

Hezekiah’s Illness

1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 

Why did King Hezekiah become ill? Let’s read 2 Chronicles 32:25-26:

25 But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.

26 Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah. 

Hezekiah was self-sufficient and full of pride. He did not need GOD. But GOD got his attention. GOD called upon the Prophet Isaiah to go to the king with an attention getting message. What was that message?

Obediently serving GOD can require those called by GOD to put their lives on the line. Approaching and giving a message to a king that the king did not want to hear could mean the messenger’s death sentence. Isaiah, whose name means “Yahweh saves,” delivered GOD’S message to King Hezekiah.

GOD’S message from GOD through Isaiah was ““This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” WOW! That would get the attention of most people and it got Hezekiah’s attention. When GOD’S Word pricks our hearts, we must pay attention and take action. Isaiah had a job to do and Hezekiah had a decision to make. Can a change in our hearts result in GOD changing HIS mind? Yes! And here is an example!

What was King Hezekiah’s response? First, he did not argue. He took the message seriously as we read in Isaiah 38: 2-3

2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 

3“Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 

WOW! The Word of GOD pricked the heart of Hezekiah and he went straight to GOD in prayer. JESUS taught us that when we pray to go into our closet and pray. I contend that King Hezekiah went into the hidden closet of his being and confessed his sins and repented. Hezekiah’s heart was broken. How do we know that? Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Hezekiah was the king of Judah - so goes the heart of the king, so goes the nation he was leading. America pay attention.

Isaiah left the presence of King Hezekiah. Let’s consider what happened next as recorded in 2 Kings 20:1-20 reiterates what we have read in Isaiah 38:1-3 but with an interesting detail. Notice how quickly GOD answers prayers when a person’s heart agrees with the will of GOD. Let’s read 2 Kings 20:4-11:

Hezekiah’s Illness

4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 

5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 

6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’ ” 

7 Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. 

8 Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?” 

9 Isaiah answered, “This is the LORD’s sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?” 

10 “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.” 

11Then the prophet Isaiah called on the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

GOD’S Word, The Bible, is a great commentary to help us get the rest of the story.

King Hezekiah had done things that did not please GOD but he confessed his sins, repented and GOD forgave him and granted him 15 more years of life and healed him. GOD is truly the GOD of second chances when we acknowledge our sins, repent and dedicate our lives to HIM.

This is true for Christians and non-Christians. Christians sin and unconfessed sin is like added weights to the ankles of Christians running in the race of life. Sin bogs us down and slows us down. First John 1:8-10 admonishes Christians to:

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Born-again Christians are under GOD’S Grace and are always in right-standing with GOD through faith in JESUS because of HIS shed blood on the cross at Calvary.

Non-Christians are to come to JESUS in faith believing that HE gave HIS life in atonement for the sins of all who will place their faith in HIM. At the instant a person acknowledges that JESUS came to earth in the flesh, lived a sinless life and gave HIS perfect life to pay, in full, for the sins of all who place their faith in HIM, he or she is born Spiritually into the family of GOD. He or she becomes GOD’S Son or Daughter through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. Back to our focus scripture ----

Let’s read Isaiah 38:4-6:

4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 

5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.

6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city. 

Consider 2 Kings 20:4-7 in conjunction with this scripture:

4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:

5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. (Is this a foreshadow of the resurrection of JESUS?)

Let’s Read Isaiah 38:7-14:

7 “‘This is the LORD’s sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: 

8 I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.’ ” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down. 

9 A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery: 

10 I said, “In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years?” 

11 I said, “I will not again see the LORD himself in the land of the living; no longer will I look on my fellow man, or be with those who now dwell in this world. 

12 Like a shepherd’s tent my house has been pulled down and taken from me. Like a weaver I have rolled up my life, and he has cut me off from the loom; day and night you made an end of me. 

13 I waited patiently till dawn, but like a lion he broke all my bones; day and night you made an end of me. 

14 I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!” 

Only GOD can do the impossible through those who confess their sins and obediently serve HIM. When HE does, lives are changed and even nations can be protected by HIS power and vantage point.

Let’s Read Isaiah 38:15-17: (Hezekiah continued his writing.)

15 But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. 

16 Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. 

17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. 

As Hezekiah reflected on his life, he discovered and acknowledged that all that he had encountered in his life was meant for his good, even though it may have seemed bad at the time.

Reflect on your life and see that GOD’S hand has guided your life even during the difficult times in your life, even in the times that you did not acknowledge HIM. GOD is more interested in how our lives end. HIS desire is for us to be in right relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS.

GOD had a plan for the linage of Hezekiah as recorded in Matthew 1:9-10:

9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 

10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 

Hezekiah is in the lineage of JESUS.

When Christians are in right relationship with GOD, it is just the beginning of an awesome journey. Christians discover the awesomeness of GOD and that HE can be trusted in every aspect of our lives. It is a building and growing relationship of discovery. It is letting go and letting GOD. GOD via the indwelling Holy Spirit leads and directs our lives according to HIS will and purpose. Go to GOD in prayer and ask HIM to reveal your heart to see if there is any unconfessed sin and if revealed then confess it, repent and press on. 

Are you allowing GOD to lead your life? If not, now is that opportunity. Blessings!!!