HANDOUT FOR SERMON: Give Me Fifteen More Years. May 8th, 2022, Manchester, TN 9:30 am “A Lesson on Prayer”
Introduction: Today’s lesson is on the importance of prayer. Do you understand the value, importance, and power of prayer in your personal life? Prayer is our amazing and unique connection to God! We can speak directly to God! How often do you speak with God?
So why did Jews and Christians fast? Fasting helps the person focus on God and the things of God, substituting that moment of food with prayer. Matthew 4:4, Psalm 34:8 “Taste of the Lord for He is good!”
Scripture: Matthew 5:5-18, Matthew 17:21, Acts 14:23
The components of prayer: your prayer starts with praising God, and asking things of God, repentance of sin and yielding our spirit and lives to God’s control (the acronym= P.R.A.Y.)
Lesson: A fascinating prayer story of King Hezekiah. This story is recorded in three places by 2 historians and 1 prophet. Scripture: 2 Kings 10:1-11, 2 Chronicles 32:24-31, Isaiah 38:1-22. King Hezekiah lived during the prophet Isaiah’s time. The prophet told Hezekiah about what God was thinking.
Facts:
King Hezekiah was ruler in the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Time was about 700 B.C. and 20 years before Assyria wiped out the Northern kingdom Israel.
Assyria had surrounded the city of Jerusalem with 185 thousand soldiers.
King Hezekiah decides to pray to God about it.
God sends an angel to slay the 185 soldiers.
The king of Assyria was then killed by his own people.
Prayer has enormous power and can turn away a horrible army with a request to God.
READ: 2 Kings 20:1-11 & Isaiah 38:10 & 16. Information about Hezekiah. He was 39 years of when God said: You will die. Normal life expectancy currently was between 60-70 years. He was a young man with a family and lived a life of great significance, responsibility, and power. When he heard Gods prediction, he turned his face to the wall and prayer and wept bitterly. Isaiah 38:10 & 16 Tells you exactly what he asked for in his prayer. God changed His mind and His direction. God says He hears Hezekiah and saw his tears.
Points for our lesson:
GOD MADE A DECISION, 2 Kings 20:1.
HEZEKIAH PRAYED FOR LIFE, 2 Kings 20:2-3
GOD CHANGES HIS MIND, 2 Kings 20:4-7
HEZEKIAH WANTS A SIGN. 2 Kings 20:8
GOD GRANTS A SIGN, 2 Kings 20:9-11
HEZEKIAH STRUGGLED WITH PRIDE, 2 Chronicles 32:25-26
HEZEKIAH DISMISSED BAD NEWS, 2 Kings 20:16-20
HEZEKIAH RAISES A BAD KID, 2 Kings 21:1-7
CONCLUSION: We are children of God, Christians, lights, and salt in the world. We have an enormous responsibility in this world. We are to be useful and helpful people of God making an impact on our circle of family and friends. Unfortunately, we are not promised a perfect live with no problems, sickness, or sadness. Today’s lesson should cause us to stop and question ourselves if we are like Hezekiah?
Are you acting like Hezekiah? Do we pray like he did? When God does things for us, how do you act? Jesus came to save us, forgive us, give a new start on life! He has promised us “eternal life”. The teaching of Christ can transform us. Jesus also restores us to be vessels, useful for the master’s use.
Are you one of those people that who feel they have been spared death? If it was not for the grace of God would you still be alive or would you be gone? I am so glad YOU are still here, still living!!! Stop and ask yourself: WHY? Why has God spared you? Why are you still breathing, living?
God spares us, gives us second chances to help us learn humility and so that we can give support, encouragement and help to others. We can teach the gospel to our children. Your children will be taking your place, let us make it a good legacy of faith. When we see bad news coming at us, we immediately actively try to fix it. I beg you to invest your time wisely.
Yield the remaining years of your life in service to God and humanity because of your gratitude to God.