Date: 2/4/2011

Speaker: Ps. David

The service starts with the announcement about the coming Youth Camp by Ps. David. As proclaimed with faith during the last Youth Camp, GA611 BOL Youth intends to make this year’s Youth Camp and international event by inviting youths from GK611 (Singapore) and 611 branches in Kuching and Sibu. It was more incredible when GK611 already booked 80 places for their youths, leaving only 120 places for the other 3 churches. It has to be a happening year for GA Youth!!

Life is for revival (2 Kings 20)

Background

In the olden times in the kingdom of Judah, there lived a king named King Hezekiah. The sermon starts from when Hezekiah was told by God through prophet that he would die in a short time because of his illness. Immediately, King Hezekiah prayed to God to avert his death. What can we learn from King Hezekiah’s prayer?

1. 1. Following and obedience in hardest times (v. 1-11)

a)      Prayer is immediate (v.4)

When King Hezekiah prayed to God after being told by prophet that he would die soon, God immediately heard his prayer and asked the same prophet to pass word to King Hezekiah that he would not die. Many times when we pray, we feel that our prayer is far and is hard to be accomplished. However, we must believe that whenever we pray, God immediately listens to us. It’s that God has His own timing and sometimes, the evil ones would block our prayers. Therefore, we must pray unceasingly.

b)      Prayer must be vocal. (v.2, 5)

When King Hezekiah prayed, God told him that He had already heard his prayer. As such, we must pray desperately to God by opening our mouth and be loud!

c)       Prayer needs tears (v.3, 5)

When King Hezekiah prayed, he cried out to God and in response, God told him that He have seen his tears. Coming back to the present, when we see that there are so many unsaved souls around us, we cannot just pray without crying out to God for their souls!

d)      Prayer can make changes

When King Hezekiah prayed about his impending death, God heard his prayer and His words changed from ‘You will die!’ to ‘You will not die!’.

e)      Prayer brings miracles (v.4-6)

When King Hezekiah asked for a sign that he would live and not die, God granted his wish by making the shadow went back 10 steps. This was even witnessed by envoys from Babylon.

Defiance during good times (v.12-21)

However, the total opposite happened when King Hezekiah was well.

1. 1. Arrogance (v.12-15)

When King Hezekiah was well, he forgot God and showed to messengers of Babylon the riches of his country. There was nothing that he didn’t show! In truth, he should have praised God and glorify God for his riches. Prophet Isaiah therefore told him that in the future, all the riches would be carted to Babylon and his male generations would become eunuchs in the palace of Babylon. This was supposed to be tragic but King Hezekiah instead said that it is good as it won’t happen during his time. Therefore, we should not forget God no matter if we’re in bad times or good times. Remember, God controls everything!!

1. 2. Near sighted

a)      Only care about the present (v.16-19)

b)      Doesn’t care about the future

Our life must bring revival. Our life shall not be wasted on present matters but instead to bring revival to our generation and the next!