Hezekiah was regarded as a good king. In the later part of his life, he fell sick and was close to death. The prophet Isaiah came and pronounced his sickness was unto death. This led to Hezekiah pleading for his life. Amazingly, God relented and Hezekiah was healed. Below are some things I learnt about sickness and healing from this passage. 1. EVEN GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER FROM SICKNESS Hezekiah was a very good king. In 2 Kings 18:1-8, the following is said of him. a) He did what was right in the sight of the Lord � V3 b) He removed the high places � V4 c) He trusted in the Lord � V5 d) He held fast to the Lord 뻍6 e) He kept his commandments 뻍6 f) The Lord was with him � V7 g) He rebelled against the King of Assyria � V7 h) He subdued the Philistines � V8 Even good people fall sick. Being righteous does not exempt us from the trials of life. God is sovereign in all his ways and does allow sickness to come to Godly men and woman. In the passage below, we see that the sickness was specifically for the glory of God. The sickness of the blind man was not attributed to sin. Jesus healed him so that God would be glorified. John 9:2,3 Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind ?�. Jesus answered, 밡either this man nor his parents sinned but that the works of God should be revealed in him�. 2. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS_FOR HEALING Hezekiah cried out to God for healing. This is how we should pray when we are sick. Often times, we offer half hearted, 10 minutes prayers to God even for people who are terminally ill with cancer. Hezekiah cried desperately. 2 Kings 20:3 밨emember now O Lord I pray, how I have walked before you in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in your sight�. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Well, God뭩 answer was swift and definite. He gave a 5 fold reply. a) I have heard your prayers � v5 b) I have seen your tears � V5 c) Surely I will heal you � V5 d) I will add to your days 15 years � v6 e) I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria � V7 God answers sincere prayers from our hearts. In Hezekiah뭩 case, his answer came immediately. Isaiah barely walked to the middle of the courts before he had to return to give the prophetic word that God was going to heal Hezekiah. When it comes to healing, we must believe that it is God뭩 will to heal unless we have heard otherwise from the Holy Spirit. God provides healing through the cross. Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed�. IT IS THE WILL OF GOD TO HEAL 3. GOD GIVES INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEALING AND EXPECTS US TO FOLLOW THEM 2 Kings 20:7 Then Isaiah said, 밫ake a lump of figs�. So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. God gave specific instructions for healing. In the case of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, he was asked to dip in the Jordan seven times. Naaman was healed only after he dipped seven times in the Jordan river. Even at the sixth time, he was not healed. For Hezekiah뭩 case, he had to apply herbs on the boil God can use the following methods or any combination to heal. Never limit God뭩 method of healing. To abstain from medicine like some extreme teaching is not scriptural at all. a) Medicine b) Health food c) Corporate prayer and fasting The New Testament contains specific instructions for healing in James 5:13-15. a) Call for elders � V14 b) Anoint with oil � V14 c) Pray over him 뻍14 d) Confess trespasses one to another. Prayer is a key step to receive healing. MANY DO NOT RECEIVE HEALING AS THEY IGNORE THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN IN GOD뭆 WORD 4. GOD GIVES SIGNS FOR HEALING 2 Kings 20:11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz. Hezekiah asked for an impossible sign and God answered his prayer. There were several men of God who asked God for signs when their faith was not enough to believe God for the impossible even after God spoke to them. So God gave each of them a sign to strengthen their faith. a) Gideon � fleece b) Moses � rod c) Elisha � Elijah뭩 mantle God gives us signs to strengthen our faith. CONCLUSION The story of Hezekiah is amazing. God answered a specific request for healing after the prophetic word came that he would die. God changed his mind after Hezekiah prayed. Hezekiah went to God on the basis of his righteous life. James also gives us a hint how a righteous man뭩 prayer is effective. Jas 5:16 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Never neglect praying for the sick. LETS PRAY!!!!
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 13:24:14 +0000
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