Podcast appearances and mentions of king hezekiah

(Zephaniah 3:17) Only God can turn bitterness to blessing. Find out today what makes God sing and how you can have your own song restored!  This episode also reviews Zephaniah's background—his name meaning “hidden of Jehovah,” his heritage as a great-grandson of King Hezekiah, and his role as a contemporary of Jeremiah in the years between King Josiah's outward reforms and the Babylonian captivity. (10048260225) Join our study through Scripture this year. Find resources for every book of the Bible at enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/ Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. Explore now at EnjoyingTheJourney.org. Extend the Work Enjoying the Journey provides every resource for free worldwide. If you would like to help extend this Bible teaching, you may give at enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/

2 Chronicles 29–30 records the powerful spiritual revival under King Hezekiah. In chapter 29, Hezekiah opens the doors of the temple, calls the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves, and restores true worship to the house of the Lord. What had been neglected is cleansed, repaired, and made holy again. In chapter 30, Hezekiah invites all Israel and Judah to return to the Lord and celebrate the Passover—many come in humility, and God meets them with mercy, healing, and great joy. Together, these chapters show that revival begins with repentance, obedience, and a return to sincere worship—and when God's people respond, He restores joy, unity, and blessing. Hashtags: #2Chronicles29 #2Chronicles30 #SpiritualRevival #ReturnToTheLord #Hezekiah #RestoreWorship #CleanHearts #GodsMercy #JoyInTheLord #RevivalTimeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.“Thank you for listening to SendMe Radio — where we share the Gospel, inspire faith, and keep you connected with powerful stories and updates from around the world. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a message.And remember — you can listen to SendMe Radio streaming 24/7 at www.sendmeradio.net or simply say: ‘Hey Alexa, play SendMe Radio.'

2 Chronicles 29:27-30 New International Version 27 Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the musicians played and the trumpets sounded. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed. 29 When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. 30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, we wrestled with the fallout when a respected leader falls and the question it leaves behind: what hope is there for the rest of us?This week, Brody looks at the life of King Hezekiah. He tore down idols, trusted God under the threat of Assyria, and saw miraculous deliverance, yet later stumbled in pride before Babylon. His story holds both faith and failure.Brody also talks about approaching Scripture with humility, the daily fight with sin, and the kind of accountability that restores. It's not about a spotless record, but about a life being continually conformed to God through sanctification.What My Father's Fall Taught MeSend a textPlease leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help improve No Sanity Required and help others grow in their faith. Click here to get our Colossians Bible study.

2 Chronicles 29:20-26 New International Version 20 Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials together and went up to the temple of the Lord. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs and seven male goats as a sin offering[a] for the kingdom, for the sanctuary and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer these on the altar of the Lord. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it against the altar; next they slaughtered the rams and splashed their blood against the altar; then they slaughtered the lambs and splashed their blood against the altar. 23 The goats for the sin offering were brought before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them. 24 The priests then slaughtered the goats and presented their blood on the altar for a sin offering to atone for all Israel, because the king had ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel. 25 He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the Lord through See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It doesn't matter who you are, we all travel through dark and fearful places in life – and at those times, it can be so hard to remember that God is in the Light business.   The Darkest Nights I am always so excited to be starting a new series of messages and that's what we are doing this week on the programme – and it is a series that I have called "Dark Night, Bright Light." Dark and darkness – I wonder what those words mean to you? There are all sorts of connotations when we apply them to our lives. I remember when I was a young boy - even probably well into my teenage years – I was really afraid of the dark. I remember after dinner in the dining room, it was a long corridor – well it seemed a long corridor – especially in the dark. It was only about, I don't know, only eight or nine meters from the dining room to my bedroom. But I have to tell you, when it was dark, it was a long way for me to go. And I was afraid to walk from the light dining room into that dark corridor to my dark bedroom. Now in the house where we lived, we were blessed because there was a light switch for the lights at either end of the corridor so I could walk out of the dining room, turn on the light and the corridor was in light and then I could go to my bedroom – and I always used that switch. Now, we lived in a safe part of town and the house was secure and there was no logical or rational reason for me to be afraid of the dark – I just was – and it was a deep fear and I think a lot of kids go through that. It seems that darkness and fear, well, they often go together in life – young or old. Now the truth be known we need both – we need light and dark in this world. I love it when the sun goes down and it's time to go to sleep and again when the sun comes up in the morning and it's time to get up and get on with living life. That's a pattern we live by – it's a pattern of life. But imagine if it were only ever dark, how awful that would be. In some countries of course, far north and far south, they have many months of darkness. Now take a look at our own lives. If we look back on those dark times – those periods in life that we would rather forget – whether it was a broken relationship or sickness or the death of a loved one or some real financial difficulties or maybe you have been through a war and has seen people killed or been in prison. Perhaps you have seen everything that you have worked so hard for over so many years just go down the drain. Someone has hurt you incredibly deeply or someone you trusted – perhaps you have been through a time of depression or real loneliness or you are working so hard that you don't feel as though you have a life – that list just goes on and on and on. Life has its dark times, doesn't it? Maybe you are going through one right now or maybe, who knows, there is one just around the next corner or next year or the year after and that's why we are kicking off this series "Dark Night, Bright Light" because light is the opposite of darkness and when we are travelling through those dark times, light is the very thing that we need. The problem is it can be so hard to find; so hard to believe in or hope for and over these coming weeks, we are going to be spending some time with King David in Psalm 34. But before we go there, let's have a little foretaste about darkness and light. If you have got a Bible, I want you grab it; I want you to open it up at page 1 – Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1 – the beginning. Here's what it say: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said "Let there be light" and there was light. And God saw that the light was good and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'day' and the darkness He called that 'night'. And there was evening and there was morning – that was the first day." I might hear you say, "Well, Berni, I know that passage and that's all well and good. You're talking about physical light here, that's fine but what about God shining His light into the darkness in my life?" We are going to talk about that shortly but the point that I'm making is this: creation tells us something about the Creator. You and I create different things because we are different. God, the very first thing He creates – the very first thing – is light. That tells us something about God but what a light! We tend to just think of the sun there; one of just an estimated trillion, trillion stars. God is seriously into light and that tells us something about who He is. Let's take a look at just another couple of verses in the Bible. There are so many of them that talk about God and light – Ezekiel chapter 10, verse 4: Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple and the court was full of the radiance and the glory of God. Words from Isaiah chapter 60, verse 19: The sun will no more be your light by day nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you for the Lord will be your everlasting light and your God will be your glory. And perhaps my favourite of all, where Paul seems to bring it all together in Second Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 6: For it is the very same God who said "Let light shine out of the darkness, that made His light to shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." The Bible is full of references about God being our light and our radiance. Can you see why I have called this series "Dark Night, Bright Light"? Over these coming weeks I believed we are going to be transformed by God's Word about darkness and light. If you have just been through a "darkness" or you are going through one right now or you are going to go through one in the future, the Word of God is going to shine a light into that dark place – "Dark Night, Bright Light."   The Wisdom of Hindsight As I said earlier in the programme we are going to spend some time in Psalm 34, this week and over the next three weeks. It's an interesting Psalm because it comes out of King David's life. It's a Psalm of praise for deliverance from trouble. So it is a Psalm written, if you like, with the benefit of hindsight. David has learned something – something about God in a dark time. Now we are not sure what that time was. The introduction to the Psalm says, "A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech so that he drove him out and he went away." Now we don't have any other information about that. Abimelech was a judge; he was a leader of Israel; he was Gideon's son. Anyhow the fact of the matter is, even though we don't know the precise historical details it doesn't matter. David had to engage in some deception, it tells us; if was a fearful and scary time and he needed to escape. Now let's have a look at the first part of this Psalm. If you have got a Bible, open it at Psalm 34 – we are going to look at just the first eight verses today. This is what it says: I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He answered me – He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look at Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him It's a beautiful Psalm! You see, it's David looking back on a difficult time. And he starts out be praising God – "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips," because of God's faithfulness. And there's a purpose in him praising; a specific purpose. Look at verse 2. My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice. See, the purpose of this Psalm is to let the rest of us know when we are afflicted that God is faithful in those darks times so that we can hear that and rejoice. See, this Psalm was written for you and for me. Isn't God good? And David says, "You know why I am writing this Psalm? It's for you, you who are afflicted; you who are travelling through a dark and fearful time." You know why? Come and look at verse 3 again with me. David says: Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. In other words so that you and I can rejoice together even though we might be travelling through dark times. We are getting the benefit of what David discovered in his dark and fearful time. And what he discovered, well, it is as profound as it is simple. Look at verse 4; this is what he says; this is the heart of this first passage for me. David says: I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. You know what happens in the darkness? In the darkness we become afraid and that fear immobilises us – fear stops us dead in our tracks. We just kind of sit there and we ache and fear eats away at our hearts like a quick spreading cancer and in that fear - remember, David was as he had been many times before, in fear of his life; real fear – David had more than his share of dark times – he had real fear. Let me say it this way – he was in deadly fear and in the midst of his deadly fear he did the thing that he had learned to do over all of those times in his life when he had been in danger – when he was on the run from King Saul who was trying to kill him for all those years – he did the one thing he knew to do – Psalm 34, verse 4: I sought the Lord and He answered me. David sought God – he'd cry out to God for help. The one thing that we can forget to do when we are frozen by fear is just to cry out to God – just to pour our hearts out to Him. And what a surprise, "God answered him and delivered him from all his fears." I don't know about you but I can relate to that. In life and in ministry I come against giants of opposition all the time and I can tell you, some days they scare me – seriously. And we have a choice – we can just kind of sit there and tremble in fear and be completely immobilised or we can spend some time with God, crying out to Him in prayer and reading His Word and listening to Him – and He always delivers me from all my fears. David goes on to say this – verses 5 and 6 of Psalm 34: Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered in shame. This poor man called and the Lord heard him and He saved him out of all his troubles. There it is – the light word "radiance". The Hebrew word that sits behind our English translation means literally 'to beam or to burn with light'. It's an "over the top" kind of word – it's not a glow or a flicker or just a shine, but to beam and to burn with light and that's exactly what happens when we look to God; when we put our trust in Him in the middle of our darkness. See, in those dark times we are downcast; ashamed if you like, but David states this simple truth "This poor man called and the Lord heard him and saved out of all his troubles; He delivered him from all his fears." This is such a humble and beautiful picture, isn't it? David, probably the greatest King that Israel ever had, saw himself just as a poor man who cried out to God in his darkness. Don't you love it how the Bible is packed full of this real life stuff – this stuff that's right down where we are? The Word of God meant for us here and now; right where the rubber hits the road - the light and the radiance of God in our darkness and fear - and all this out of a simple step that David took; so simple and yet when we are afraid, so difficult. "I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."   Taste and See God is very much in the "light" business, isn't He – taking our fear and replacing it with His radiance? Perhaps that's why David writes in Psalm 18, verse 28: It is You O Lord who lights my lamp; the Lord my God lights up my darkness. And again in Psalm 139, verses 11 and 12: If I say surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to You. The night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to You. You get the impression that David is a seasoned traveller through darkness and he has learned some stuff that God would have us learn, each in our own way. Now let's head back to Psalm 34, verses 7 and 8, just to finish off our look at what David learned. Let's have a read: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Now there are two things here we need to get into; the first is the bit about the angel of the Lord. Let's have a look at verse 7 again: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. Angels have a kind of funny symbology these days in our society – fluffy little creatures with wings – but you do just a short study of the angels that God describes in the Bible and you discover they are a fearsome lot. Often God uses them as a messenger and the first thing the angel says is, "Don't be afraid". They deliver a specific message to God's people to protect them from trouble and often they appear as fearsome beings to protect God's people. Look at Second Chronicles chapter 32, verse 20: King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amos cried out in prayer to heaven about this and the Lord sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and the officers of the camp of the Assyrian King. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace and when he went to the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with his own sword. Get it? The angel is serious protection. Presidents or Prime Ministers or Kings or Queens all have their security contingents right around them when they travel. Well those security contingents have got nothing on an angel of the Lord. And you might say to me, "Berni, do you seriously believe in angels?" Absolutely! We can't see them but when we fear God; when we reverence Him – we will talk more about that idea next week – when we belong to Him, He sends His angel to encamp around us; to surround us; literally, to lay siege around us to protect us. How does David know that? Because he has been there; he has experienced it over and over again and that's exactly what he says in the next verse. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Now, this verse is so often quoted out of context "Taste and see" – suck it and see! When you are in the darkness; when you are afraid, David is saying, "Try this thing that I am talking about 'Taste and see that the Lord is good', you will be blessed when you take refuge in Him." It's like an invitation to you and me today from God. Come on, try it – I can hear the Spirit of God saying through His Word – "Come on, try it because when you take refuge in Me". God is saying, "you will truly be blessed". I don't know about you but God has seriously spoken to me today and encouraged me through His Word; He is in the light business and it's something that David discovered through long, hard experiences in darkness and fear. And he comes out the other side of that singing God's praises specifically for you and for me to hear. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name. I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called out and the Lord heard him and He saved him from all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good for blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Isn't that an awesome Psalm? People sometimes say to me, "Berni, why do you talk about this stuff? You know, is this Christianity thing for losers?" You don't have to be a loser to go through dark times – we all go through dark times – we all travel through difficult times. You know, a friend or a relative that is close to us dies young of cancer and we are left reeling and we think "God why has that happened?" We get retrenched; we lose someone else we love; we … – all sorts of things happen to us and at those times it feels like God has deserted us. Listen to David again: I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. In that darkness there is no light so bright as the light of God and His heart is to take a face that has been covered with tears and put His radiance on that face. God is a wonderful God. I want to encourage you to join me over the next three weeks as we further explore the Word of God and what God has to say about His light amidst our darkness. That's what this series "Dark Night, Bright Light" is all about.

As Joe continues his series on King Hezekiah, he explores how the fear of God and the love of God are intertwined. "Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,and for their children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death." (Proverbs 14:26-27)

We explore the story of the good kings of Judah and the eventual downfall of Jerusalem. It explores King Hezekiah's reign during the Assyrian conquest, his prayerful plea for deliverance, and God's miraculous intervention. The narrative continues through the rule of Manasseh and his encouragement of idolatry, leading the prophets to announce doom for Judah. Despite a brief revival under King Josiah, the tragic fall of Jerusalem to Babylon occurs in 586 BC.Bible Readings2 Kings 18:17-372 Kings 19:1-362 Kings 21:1-92 Kings 22:8-13Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @realbiblebriefX: @biblebriefFacebook: @realbiblebriefEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out our partner Biblingo (and use our link/code for a discount!): https://bibli...

“The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast.” Zephaniah 1:14 Zephaniah speaks at the precise moment when Judah's long experiment with compromise reaches its breaking point. This is not a story of transferred allegiance, but of accommodation. Judah still carries the Lord's name and maintains His Temple, but they have woven other gods into the fabric of daily life. This is YHWH-plus religion. It presents itself as a sophisticated, tolerant "synthesis," but it is far more dangerous than honest paganism. Judah's elites swore by the LORD and by Milcom in the same breath (Zeph. 1:5), treating God's Word as negotiable opinion rather than final authority. Zephaniah begins with a rare four-generation genealogy, tracing his line back to King Hezekiah. As a royal cousin to King Josiah, he is a "Corrective Branch" of the family tree. While the ruling line under Manasseh and Amon sought power through foreign alliances, Zephaniah's branch had been preserving the "Unbroken Chain." Even his father's name, Cushi ("The Ethiopian"), hints at the persistent "Cushite" thread in the Bible - from the Queen of Sheba's quest for wisdom to the faithful Ebed-Melech in Jeremiah. It is a reminder that while Judah's heart was narrowing, the Word was already reaching for the ends of the earth. The shadow behind this book is Manasseh. His fifty-five-year reign was not a mere slide into sin, but a violent overwriting of the Covenant. He did not just shut the Temple, as did Ahaz; he occupied it with idols, training a generation to live comfortably inside compromise and contradiction. Though his late repentance was real, he had already "filled Jerusalem with innocent blood," silencing the voices that refused to compromise. Zephaniah's own name - meaning “YHWH has hidden” - is a bridge across these dark years. He is the voice of the "hidden seed," the remnant God treasured during the long silence of the Manasseh era. The fact that the Book of the Law had to be "found" in the Temple is the ultimate indictment: the Word was functionally lost in a nation that only claimed to honor it. Zephaniah declares judgment as irreversible because compromise has hardened into identity. Judah's people convinced themselves that “the Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill” (Zeph. 1:12). They believed God had become a silent partner in His own universe, neither acting nor speaking decisively. Indifference had hardened into theology. Zephaniah announces "the day of the Lord" to shatter that illusion. Divine judgment is the public demonstration that history is not self-governing; God will intervene. Yet the call to "seek" remains open to the humble - those who let the Word judge them instead of editing the Word to match their preferences. Zephaniah's message speaks to our present as well as his own. Today's threat isn't atheism. It is Christian indifference in the face of compromise and the relocation of authority outside God's word. A community can retain sacred vocabulary and religious formalism while quietly shifting its trust to cultural approval and the word of man. When God's Word becomes negotiable, it is often not denied in theory, neutralized in practice. Renewal must begin where Josiah began: with the recovery of the Word as authoritative Truth. Zephaniah stands as a compact argument that divided allegiance is unsustainable, that compromise is apostasy, and that hope survives only where God's word is the believer's final Voice. For us, too, the Day of the LORD is imminent. Let us "set our house in order."

“The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast.” Zephaniah 1:14 Zephaniah speaks at the precise moment when Judah's long experiment with compromise reaches its breaking point. This is not a story of transferred allegiance, but of accommodation. Judah still carries the Lord's name and maintains His Temple, but they have woven other gods into the fabric of daily life. This is YHWH-plus religion. It presents itself as a sophisticated, tolerant "synthesis," but it is far more dangerous than honest paganism. Judah's elites swore by the LORD and by Milcom in the same breath (Zeph. 1:5), treating God's Word as negotiable opinion rather than final authority. Zephaniah begins with a rare four-generation genealogy, tracing his line back to King Hezekiah. As a royal cousin to King Josiah, he is a "Corrective Branch" of the family tree. While the ruling line under Manasseh and Amon sought power through foreign alliances, Zephaniah's branch had been preserving the "Unbroken Chain." Even his father's name, Cushi ("The Ethiopian"), hints at the persistent "Cushite" thread in the Bible - from the Queen of Sheba's quest for wisdom to the faithful Ebed-Melech in Jeremiah. It is a reminder that while Judah's heart was narrowing, the Word was already reaching for the ends of the earth. The shadow behind this book is Manasseh. His fifty-five-year reign was not a mere slide into sin, but a violent overwriting of the Covenant. He did not just shut the Temple, as did Ahaz; he occupied it with idols, training a generation to live comfortably inside compromise and contradiction. Though his late repentance was real, he had already "filled Jerusalem with innocent blood," silencing the voices that refused to compromise. Zephaniah's own name - meaning “YHWH has hidden” - is a bridge across these dark years. He is the voice of the "hidden seed," the remnant God treasured during the long silence of the Manasseh era. The fact that the Book of the Law had to be "found" in the Temple is the ultimate indictment: the Word was functionally lost in a nation that only claimed to honor it. Zephaniah declares judgment as irreversible because compromise has hardened into identity. Judah's people convinced themselves that “the Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill” (Zeph. 1:12). They believed God had become a silent partner in His own universe, neither acting nor speaking decisively. Indifference had hardened into theology. Zephaniah announces "the day of the Lord" to shatter that illusion. Divine judgment is the public demonstration that history is not self-governing; God will intervene. Yet the call to "seek" remains open to the humble - those who let the Word judge them instead of editing the Word to match their preferences. Zephaniah's message speaks to our present as well as his own. Today's threat isn't atheism. It is Christian indifference in the face of compromise and the relocation of authority outside God's word. A community can retain sacred vocabulary and religious formalism while quietly shifting its trust to cultural approval and the word of man. When God's Word becomes negotiable, it is often not denied in theory, neutralized in practice. Renewal must begin where Josiah began: with the recovery of the Word as authoritative Truth. Zephaniah stands as a compact argument that divided allegiance is unsustainable, that compromise is apostasy, and that hope survives only where God's word is the believer's final Voice. For us, too, the Day of the LORD is imminent. Let us "set our house in order."

“The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast.” Zephaniah 1:14 Zephaniah speaks at the precise moment when Judah's long experiment with compromise reaches its breaking point. This is not a story of transferred allegiance, but of accommodation. Judah still carries the Lord's name and maintains His Temple, but they have woven other gods into the fabric of daily life. This is YHWH-plus religion. It presents itself as a sophisticated, tolerant "synthesis," but it is far more dangerous than honest paganism. Judah's elites swore by the LORD and by Milcom in the same breath (Zeph. 1:5), treating God's Word as negotiable opinion rather than final authority. Zephaniah begins with a rare four-generation genealogy, tracing his line back to King Hezekiah. As a royal cousin to King Josiah, he is a "Corrective Branch" of the family tree. While the ruling line under Manasseh and Amon sought power through foreign alliances, Zephaniah's branch had been preserving the "Unbroken Chain." Even his father's name, Cushi ("The Ethiopian"), hints at the persistent "Cushite" thread in the Bible - from the Queen of Sheba's quest for wisdom to the faithful Ebed-Melech in Jeremiah. It is a reminder that while Judah's heart was narrowing, the Word was already reaching for the ends of the earth. The shadow behind this book is Manasseh. His fifty-five-year reign was not a mere slide into sin, but a violent overwriting of the Covenant. He did not just shut the Temple, as did Ahaz; he occupied it with idols, training a generation to live comfortably inside compromise and contradiction. Though his late repentance was real, he had already "filled Jerusalem with innocent blood," silencing the voices that refused to compromise. Zephaniah's own name - meaning “YHWH has hidden” - is a bridge across these dark years. He is the voice of the "hidden seed," the remnant God treasured during the long silence of the Manasseh era. The fact that the Book of the Law had to be "found" in the Temple is the ultimate indictment: the Word was functionally lost in a nation that only claimed to honor it. Zephaniah declares judgment as irreversible because compromise has hardened into identity. Judah's people convinced themselves that “the Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill” (Zeph. 1:12). They believed God had become a silent partner in His own universe, neither acting nor speaking decisively. Indifference had hardened into theology. Zephaniah announces "the day of the Lord" to shatter that illusion. Divine judgment is the public demonstration that history is not self-governing; God will intervene. Yet the call to "seek" remains open to the humble - those who let the Word judge them instead of editing the Word to match their preferences. Zephaniah's message speaks to our present as well as his own. Today's threat isn't atheism. It is Christian indifference in the face of compromise and the relocation of authority outside God's word. A community can retain sacred vocabulary and religious formalism while quietly shifting its trust to cultural approval and the word of man. When God's Word becomes negotiable, it is often not denied in theory, neutralized in practice. Renewal must begin where Josiah began: with the recovery of the Word as authoritative Truth. Zephaniah stands as a compact argument that divided allegiance is unsustainable, that compromise is apostasy, and that hope survives only where God's word is the believer's final Voice. For us, too, the Day of the LORD is imminent. Let us "set our house in order."

This series shows the lessons we can learn, both good and bad, from the Kings of the Old Testament. Today, Pastor Terry shares about King Hezekiah Pt. 2 Have you been blessed by this message? Please bless us back by clicking like, sharing and commenting on our messages. If you need prayer, leave a message below or call us at 314-303-2141 and we will pray for you. Would you like to know more about becoming a Christian? Click here: http://summitchurch.us/Becoming-a-Christian If you would like to help support us financially, go to http://summitchurch.us/Giving

Pastor Adam BowersWhat do you do with shame that feels bigger than you?In this message from 2 Chronicles 29:5 to 11, Pastor Adam walks us through King Hezekiah stepping into a nation marked by spiritual ruin. The temple was closed, worship had stopped, and the people lived under a heavy legacy of failure and disgrace.Hezekiah did not ignore the shame. He confronted it and called the people back to God.This sermon explores the difference between holy shame that leads to repentance and unhealthy shame that destroys identity. We also see a clear path from shame to renewal through six key words: Listen. Purify. Remove. Remember. Commit. Lead.If shame has been stealing your vision or holding you back from bold faith, this message is for you. Your past does not disqualify you from God's future. Renewal begins when we open the doors again.

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 362, “Please Give Us One Heart to Obey,” Kim discusses the latest invitation King Hezekiah sent out to call, not only the people of the Southern Kingdom, but also anyone left in the Northern Kingdom to come home and worship the Lord. Many laughed at the invitation, but some humbled themselves and came. For those who answered the invitation, the Lord gave “them all one heart to obey” their leaders, who were obeying the Lord. How would our world be changed today if Christ-followers had one heart to obey the Lord?   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 30:1-27, with 12 as the focal verse:   12 At the same time, God's hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord.      WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   Please pray with me for you and all in your circle to have one heart to obey the Lord.   EDITOR'S NOTE:   Due to multiple technical difficulties, Kim had to perform multiple edits on the recorded material. If a glitch remains, please accept her sincerest apologies.   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   Exodus 12 - The First Passover EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus   I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings (1 & 2 Chronicles) PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2026). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

Pastor Tyler's new book "Firebrand" is available NOW! https://www.ironworks.media/bookstore/p/firebrand Check out IronWorks Media, our Christian resource network! https://www.ironworks.media/ Give to support the ministry of Calvary Chapel Trussville! https://tithe.ly/give?c=411758 More info on Calvary Chapel Trussville!

Pastor Tyler's new book "Firebrand" is available NOW! https://www.ironworks.media/bookstore/p/firebrand Check out IronWorks Media, our Christian resource network! https://www.ironworks.media/ Give to support the ministry of Calvary Chapel Trussville! https://tithe.ly/give?c=411758 More info on Calvary Chapel Trussville!

Send a text“(King Hezekiah) removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan” (2 Kings 18:4).Freshly written and sent out immediately "morning by morning" from the morning prayer time of Tommy Hays each day.God bless you and you have a great day!—Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministrieshttp://messiah-ministries.org

Pastor Adam BowersIn this message from 2 Chronicles 29, we explore the powerful story of King Hezekiah and the reopening of the temple doors. After years of spiritual compromise under King Ahaz, Hezekiah leads Judah into a new season of revival. Learn how God uses faithful leadership, renewed worship, and a call to purity to restore His people and prepare them for mission.

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 361, “Restored to Service,” Kim discusses the dedication of the Temple as described in 2 Chronicles 7 and the path that led to the rededication in 2 Chronicles 29. God knew the people would not stay 100% on fire for him and he gave Solomon a restoration plan from the beginning: 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). About 250 years later, spiritual darkness has invaded the land and King Hezekiah leads the people in the restoration process, including purifying and rededicating the temple.   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 29:18-36, with 28-29 and 35b-36 as the focal verses:   28 The entire assembly worshiped the Lord as the singers sang and the trumpets blew, until all the burnt offerings were finished. 29 Then the king and everyone with him bowed down in worship.    So the Temple of the Lord was restored to service. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   For Christ-followers, the “temple of the Holy Spirit” is contained within our bodies. Is there anything you need to do today to “restore” your body to wholehearted service for the Lord?   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   2 Chronicles 7:1-22 - 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart. 19 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus   I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2026). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

This series shows the lessons we can learn, both good and bad, from the Kings of the Old Testament. Today, Pastor Terry shares about King Hezekiah Pt. 1 Have you been blessed by this message? Please bless us back by clicking like, sharing and commenting on our messages. If you need prayer, leave a message below or call us at 314-303-2141 and we will pray for you. Would you like to know more about becoming a Christian? Click here: http://summitchurch.us/Becoming-a-Christian If you would like to help support us financially, go to http://summitchurch.us/Giving

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 360, “When You Are Really Serious about Doing Right,” Kim discusses the measures you may want to take if you want to commit to the Lord stick. King Hezekiah walked into an absolute mess, and he set out to right the proverbial ship. He wanted to renew the people side of the covenant with the Lord. Kim also looks at when Joshua challenged the Israelites' commitment to the Lord and renewed their commitment to the Lord. If they had truly followed through on those commitments from generation to generation, Hezekiah would not have inherited the mess he did.   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 29:10-17 with 10 as the focal verse:   10 But now I will make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   Might today be the day you recommit one or more areas of your life to the Lord?   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   Joshua 24 EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus     I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2026). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

Are you standing at a "dead end," hoping for change but seeing a blockage in your way? This Vision Sunday 2026, Gareth Bailey brings a powerful message from God's Word: Prep before Promise! Join us as we celebrate 17 years of God's faithfulness at City on a Hill International and unveil our theme for the year: #SET APART. Drawing inspiration from the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land and the contrasting reigns of Kings Ahaz and Hezekiah, we discover why God calls us to prepare ourselves before He moves us into incredible miracles. This message challenges us to step into our identity as "royal priests" and actively participate in seeing cities transformed and nations discipled. Learn how King Hezekiah's radical obedience led to a nation's transformation in just 16 days – a powerful picture of what God can do when His people are ready! You'll discover how to: RESPOND: Commit to a life of intentional holiness, knowing God calls you to be holy. RECALIBRATE: Align your life with God's voice and truth, shedding old ways for a new self. RELEASE: Unleash God's power and presence through being His witnesses in your sphere of influence. What if we, City on a Hill International, embrace this call to be SET APART? Our city is waiting, the nations are waiting! Get ready to take tangible steps (like joining a small group, Growth Track, or SERVE Team) to see God do amazing things. Watch now and commit to living a SET APART life in 2026! #VisionSunday2026 #PrepBeforePromise #SetApart #CityOnAHill #ChurchVision #Faithfulness #Transformation #RespondRecalibrateRelease #GarethBailey #ChristianSermon #propheticword Subscribe to receive our latest messages: / https://coah.co.za/series/ To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://coah.co.za/giving/ See what God can do through you. Stay Connected Website: https://coah.co.za/ City on a Hill Church International Facebook: shorturl.at/elsPT City on a Hill Church International Instagram: shorturl.at/ntGMW City on a Hill Church International YouTube: shorturl.at/qvOS6 City on a Hill Church International Soundcloud: shorturl.at/hvFIL City on a Hill Church International Podcast: shorturl.at/tM179 City on a Hill Church International Twitter: shorturl.at/egiY1 Prep Before Promise - Vision Sunday 2026 | Gareth Bailey | Set Apart | City on a Hill Church International

The greatest tests in the Christian life don't always come during the crisis—they often come after God answers prayer. In this sermon, The Pride That Precedes a Fall, we walk through King Hezekiah and the moment he “shows his treasures” to Babylon (2 Kings 20:12–19; 2 Chronicles 32) and learn how pride can hide behind […] The post Pride That Precedes a Fall appeared first on Living Faith Missionary Church.

The central message of Proverbs 25 is that divine wisdom is intentionally concealed, reflecting God's glory, while human leadership—particularly that of kings—is honored when it diligently seeks truth through patient investigation and righteous discernment. The chapter underscores the importance of humility, self-control, and careful speech, illustrated through metaphors of refining silver, the unsearchable depth of a king's heart, and the dangers of self-promotion. These proverbs, preserved by King Hezekiah and his scholars centuries after Solomon, highlight the ongoing process of uncovering and safeguarding divine revelation, demonstrating that true wisdom requires effort, humility, and a heart committed to justice. The passage culminates in the profound truth that one who lacks self-mastery is like a city without walls—vulnerable and exposed—emphasizing that personal discipline is foundational to both individual and societal well-being.

He Played His Lyre, and The Evil Spirit Would Leave!1 Samuel 16:23 “Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”When I heard about this verse, I loved it because it shows us another example of the power of music. When David played his lyre, the evil spirit would leave Saul. Did you know that music could set you free from evil spirits? Are you starting to see the power of praise and worship? Are you starting to see the power of music and singing? Praise and playing musical instruments have been setting captives free for a very long time.God instructed Joshua to have the Israelites march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days, with priests blowing trumpets and the people remaining silent. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. When the priests sounded the trumpets, Joshua commanded the people to shout, and the walls of Jericho collapsed. God allowed the Israelites to take this city. (Joshua 6:1–20)God reduced Gideon's army from thousands to just three hundred men so that Israel would know the victory came from Him alone. At God's instruction, the men carried trumpets and torches instead of swords. When they blew the trumpets and shouted, God threw the Midianite army into confusion, and the enemy turned on itself. Israel won the battle without fighting by strength, showing that obedience, proclamation, and trust in God released His power. (Judges 7:1–22)When King Jehoshaphat faced a vast enemy army, he sought the Lord, and God declared that the battle belonged to Him. Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead of the army, praising God as they marched into battle. As they worshiped, the Lord caused the enemy armies to turn on one another, and Judah did not have to fight at all. The victory came through praise, revealing that worship invites God to act powerfully on behalf of His people. (2 Chronicles 20:1–30)While imprisoned in Philippi after being beaten and chained, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God in the middle of the night. As they worshiped, a sudden earthquake shook the prison, opening the doors and loosening everyone's chains. Rather than escaping, Paul and Silas remained, leading the jailer and his household to salvation. Their praise not only brought physical freedom but also opened the way for lives to be saved. (Acts 16:22–34)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before King Nebuchadnezzar and refused to bow to the golden image, declaring their unwavering faith in God. They proclaimed that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but even if He did not, they would not worship any false god. Their words were an act of praise rooted in trust—honoring God above fear, outcome, or survival. Their worship was not expressed through song, but through bold confession of God's power and faithfulness in the face of death. (Daniel 3:16–17)I like this example because it shows us that there are many ways to praise. If you don't like music, if you don't like singing, that doesn't mean that you can't be set free by praise and worship. There are so many ways to praise the Lord. Music happens to be my favorite, and for me, one of the easiest, because if I don't know what to say, there are plenty of others who have written beautiful songs who do know what to say. However, if you don't like music or singing, don't count yourself out. You can praise the Lord with your writing, with your words said outloud. You can praise the Lord with gratitude or in the things you say to others. There isn't just one way to praise the Lord. I pray that by the end of this series, you understand that there are so many different ways to praise. There is a way for everyone.When King Hezekiah received a threatening message from the Assyrian king, he took the letter to the temple and spread it before the Lord. In prayer, Hezekiah praised God as the one true Lord over all kingdoms and asked Him to act so that all would know His power. God responded by promising deliverance, and that very night the Assyrian army was defeated without Judah having to fight a single battle. Hezekiah's prayerful praise and trust in God's sovereignty led to a decisive victory and public recognition of the Lord's supremacy. (2 Kings 19:14–37)Again, this is a different kind of praise. King Hezekiah went in front of the Lord and presented the letter from his enemies. He then praised God as the one true King and asked God for help. Do you see how easy it can be to praise the Lord at times? All it says that he did was to praise the Lord as the one true King over all kingdoms. This is why I have placed a link in the previous episode for the praise sheets that I received at my prayer group. However, you don't even need those sheets. You can simply tell the Lord how great you think He is. I tend to say, “You are the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. You are the Almighty One. We worship you. We adore you, and we glorify you.” You can say whatever it is you think about the Lord.My homework for you today is to stop and think about 5 things you can say to the Lord to praise Him. What is it you think of Him? What do you know to be true about Him? Once you have these 5 things, you can have fewer or more; I just randomly decided on 5. Once you have these, then I want you to say them every single day to the Lord. It doesn't matter when you say them, but try to say them every day and watch how your life changes. Watch how your trust in the Lord begins to grow because you are reminding yourself every day how amazing He is. If you have to ask the Lord for something, start with these few praise statements and then ask Him. Watch to see if there is any difference in the number of answered prayers, or in the way they are answered.This is just one tiny way to add more praise into your life without going overboard or taking up a lot of extra time. Just give it a try. What have you got to lose? What could you gain? Trust me, more praise and worship in your life is exactly what you need right now. I know I may not know you, but I know this is what we all need right now. We need to replace the worry and anxiety of this world with praise and worship, and we then watch our lives feel a bit easier.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening today. Lord, I ask you to show them the power of praise and worship. I ask that you bless them with graces when they are praising you. I ask that you open their eyes to the ways that praise and worship are changing their lives. Help us to see with your eyes, Lord. Help us to notice more of you in our lives. We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus! If you know there's more to your faith than routine and rules, I'd love to stay connected with you. You can join my email list to receive scripture-rooted encouragement and reflections to help you walk boldly with Jesus in your everyday life. You can sign up through the link in the show notes (CLICK HERE)—I'd love to have you with us. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I. God is on your side, and we are rooting for you—always. Have a blessed dayToday's Word from the Lord was received in September 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, you are precious to me. I took each of you with me to the cross. You were there with me that day, each of you.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

2 Kings chapter 20 records King Hezekiah's serious illness and God's merciful response to his prayer, granting him fifteen more years of life. God confirms His promise with a miraculous sign, showing His power over time and nature. Yet the chapter ends with a caution: Hezekiah's pride leads him to display his treasures to Babylonian envoys, unknowingly setting the stage for future judgment. This chapter reminds us that while God is gracious and responsive to prayer, humility and discernment must guard the blessings He gives. Hashtags: #2Kings20 #Hezekiah #GodsMercy #AnsweredPrayer #HumilityMatters #BlessingsAndResponsibility #TrustGodBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.“Thank you for listening to SendMe Radio — where we share the Gospel, inspire faith, and keep you connected with powerful stories and updates from around the world. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a message.And remember — you can listen to SendMe Radio streaming 24/7 at www.sendmeradio.net or simply say: ‘Hey Alexa, play SendMe Radio.'

2 Kings chapter 18 highlights the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, a leader who trusted the Lord fully. He removed idols, restored true worship, and held fast to God despite overwhelming threats from Assyria. When the powerful Assyrian army challenged Judah and mocked their faith, Hezekiah remained steadfast, refusing to rely on political alliances or fear. This chapter shows that true strength is found in wholehearted trust and obedience to God, even when intimidation and pressure are at their peak. Hashtags: #2Kings18 #Hezekiah #TrustInTheLord #FaithUnderPressure #GodIsOurStrength #StandFirm #BiblicalLeadershipBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.“Thank you for listening to SendMe Radio — where we share the Gospel, inspire faith, and keep you connected with powerful stories and updates from around the world. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a message.And remember — you can listen to SendMe Radio streaming 24/7 at www.sendmeradio.net or simply say: ‘Hey Alexa, play SendMe Radio.'

2 Kings chapter 19 centers on King Hezekiah's response to the threats of Assyria. Instead of panicking, Hezekiah spreads the enemy's letter before the Lord and seeks God in prayer. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promises deliverance, and that very night the Lord defeats the Assyrian army without Judah lifting a sword. This chapter powerfully shows that battles too great for human strength are won when God's people humble themselves, pray, and trust Him completely. Hashtags: #2Kings19 #PowerOfPrayer #Hezekiah #GodFightsForUs #FaithInCrisis #DivineDeliverance #TrustGodBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.“Thank you for listening to SendMe Radio — where we share the Gospel, inspire faith, and keep you connected with powerful stories and updates from around the world. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a message.And remember — you can listen to SendMe Radio streaming 24/7 at www.sendmeradio.net or simply say: ‘Hey Alexa, play SendMe Radio.'

This Is the Time, in Our Fear-Evoking Events, that Jesus Followers, Like Jesus and King Hezekiah, Need to Get Alone with God and Pray MESSAGE SUMMARY: Immediately, Jesus made His Disciples get in a boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side while Jesus dismissed the crowd. After Jesus dismissed the crowd, He went up on a mountainside, by Himself, to pray. He was alone with His Father. In Mark 1:35, Jesus' prayer life is presented: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.”. If there is one Christian discipline that is neglected by Christians of today, it is the practice of getting alone with God and having a quiet time to pray -- not you and your computer; not you and a friend; but only you and God alone in your prayer. We can learn a great deal from King Hezekiah, in Isaiah 37:15-17a about his personal relationship with God, through personal prayer, as he is faced with a powerful invasion of Israel: “And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: ‘O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear.'”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, in order to be with you, I need you to show me how to “create a desert” in the midst of my full, active life. Cleanse me from the pressures, illusions, and pretenses that confront me today so that my life may serve as a gift to those around me. Amen.              Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 26). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Anxiety. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Peace. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  John 17:1-5; Matthew 26:36-40; Isaiah 37:14-17; Psalms 100:1-5. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “It's About Time: Part 2 – Overstressed, Overloaded, and Maxed Out Lives”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Are you still paying tribute to the enemy through compromise? King Hezekiah broke a generational cycle of idolatry by refusing to bow to the enemy's demands. Rev. Obeng challenges you to smash modern idols and trust God without a Plan B. Stop relying on your own plans and connect to the ever-present help that never fails.This message was aired on Radio HCI Today via the WeLove Radio App.

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 358, “Clean Up, Everybody Clean Up,” Kim discusses the transition of the Southern Kingdom to the leadership of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah took over the mantle of leadership during an especially dark spiritual time. There are lessons to be learned from where he began cleaning up the mess to rebuild that can be applied to our spiritual lives.   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 29:1-9, with 5 as the focal verse:   5 He said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.      WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   In which areas of your life do you need to begin the clean up process?   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10) EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus   I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2026). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. 30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped. 31 Then Hezekiah said, "You have now dedicated yourselves to the Lord. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the Lord." So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.

Why do we blame God when challenges arise after we've served Him faithfully? Rev. Obeng uses King Hezekiah's powerful story to reveal a difficult truth: devotion doesn't guarantee a trouble-free life. Yet, in the face of attack, Hezekiah's private trust fueled public victory. Discover how to break the yoke of ungodly servitude and stand courageous, knowing there are more with you than against you.This message was aired on Radio HCI Today via the WeLove Radio App.

Why do we celebrate passion in sports but tolerate lukewarmness in church? True worship demands your whole heart, soul, and mind. Rev. Obeng uses the inspiring story of King Hezekiah to show how trusting God can transform your private devotion into public boldness. It is time to break down your idols and cry out for divine help like never before.This message was aired on Radio HCI Today via the WeLove Radio App.

If you knew 2026 was your last year on earth, would you live any differently? In this revisited, powerful message, Pastor Greg Laurie urges us to make this our strongest spiritual year yet, drawing timeless wisdom from two biblical figures who knew their time was short: King Hezekiah and the apostle Paul. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you knew 2026 was your last year on earth, would you live any differently? In this revisited, powerful message, Pastor Greg Laurie urges us to make this our strongest spiritual year yet, drawing timeless wisdom from two biblical figures who knew their time was short: King Hezekiah and the apostle Paul. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By David Chornomaz - The message explores the life and reign of King Hezekiah, highlighting his exceptional leadership and spiritual reforms in Judah after inheriting a legacy of corruption from his father, Ahaz. Despite some flaws, Hezekiah's reign is celebrated for its positive influence, humility, and commitment to

What does living for Christ in every season look like? As believers, we're called to live fully surrendered to Jesus—not just in moments of inspiration, but through every season of life. In this message, Bill Johnson invites us into a deeper understanding of consistency, maturity, and wholehearted devotion to Christ. Drawing from the life of King Hezekiah, we see how God shapes leaders, disciplines those He loves, and builds internal strength so that His blessings don't become too great for us to carry. As favor increases, so does responsibility—and true promotion is always meant to bless the people around us.This sermon speaks to the refining mercy of God, the call to remain tender and childlike, and the importance of maintaining our first love through seasons of pruning, testing, and growth. It's a reminder that faith isn't sustained by inspiration alone, but by lordship—by choosing obedience, worship, and trust even when emotions fade. Our prayer is that you say, "yes," to the invitation to live aware of what you're truly living for as you devote your life to Jesus.

Around 170 years ago, British archaeologist Sir Austin Henry Layard excavated much of Assyrian King Sennacherib's palace in ancient Nineveh. In the royal throne room, there stood a stunning 3-meter-high carving of a majestic city that was utterly unique in all of Sennacherib's reliefs. Atop the tallest tower in the city was one individual holding up a royal standard. Could this be a depiction of ancient Jerusalem and could the lone figure be Judah's King Hezekiah, of whom Sennacherib boasted that he besieged as a “bird in a cage.” Revealed: A 2,700-Year-Old Depiction of Jerusalem and King Hezekiah

  December 7, 2025: May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard.  Amen. You'all know I love Hallmark Christmas movies.  However, there is nothing quite like the ultimate story we hear at this time of year – A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.  And as much as I love Hallmark, they just do not compare in their remakes of that classic, to the ones that star Alister Sims or Sir Patrick Stewart.  Now, we are in Advent, not Christmas, so why do I bring this classic tale of Christmas up?  For the same reason I did many years ago when I was preaching on the texts for this Sunday – especially the one from Isaiah, because Dickens knew how to create a setting.  And, the truth is, while the movie adaptations are good, nothing is better than the actual book in telling that important part of the story.  I mean, isn't that nearly always the case – Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dune, the Chronicles of Narnia – I know, I am showing my fantasy/scifi side. Even the Harry Potter movies, while really good, were not as good as the books.  The same is very true for A Christmas Carol. The opening paragraph of this Dicken's seasonal classic makes one thing absolutely clear.  It reads, “Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.  Mind! I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country's done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.” So, I guess Marley, old Scrooge's business partner, was very much dead?  Or, as we get from the coronor in The Wizard of Oz – Marley is “…not only merely dead, [he's] really most sincerely dead.” Clearly we do not need to ask, in our best Monty Python voice, “Is he dead yet?”  Marley is dead.  Got it.  But why all the fuss – why all the repetition? Well, as we continue in the story we realize that if we weren't quite sure about Marley being dead, than it throws off the basis for the very strange set of Christmas Eve visitations that result in a miracle of new life for Scrooge.  And it is this new life that is an important part of our Advent journey.  The life that grows out of death.  Now you might be thinking, isn't that Easter, not Advent?  Well, it is both, as will see in the passage from Isaiah, and also from St. Paul in his letter to the Romans (who quotes the very scripture in Isaiah we heard today).  The passage begins with this: “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”  That branch, the passage continues, is the birth of a new leader – one who is righteous and faithful, who has compassion for the poor and the meek. Oh, how we yearn even today, for that. Now we often hear these words and think of Jesus, but Jews then and to today know these words as applying to King Hezekiah of Judah.  Still, everyone all over the world yearn for this type of leader – one who has compassion for her people, and knows they are not God, but are there to serve God's people.  The prophet's words remind all of us what is expected of those that lead the people of God.  And it is a proper metaphor for the incarnation too. So, let's get back to that stump, that leftover remains of a very dead tree.  A tree that, as Dickins would likely say, is as dead as a door nail.  Why is this imagery so important to the people then, or us now? Well, remember last week? The prophet was speaking of a vision of a new world where swords would be turned into plowshares?  Well, that hasn't come about yet.  The Assyrians were still a threat to Jerusalem, and had destroyed many a city in Judah and Israel.  In fact, in the chapter before the one we read from today, we hear about those rulers who oppress the people, turning aside the needy from justice, and robbing the poor and vulnerable.  It was a time of darkness for the people, where hope was far gone and everyone seemed like the walking dead.  The stump is a metaphor for the people who felt dead inside.  The shoot is the birth of a new leader who is righteous, faithful, and good.  That would be a miracle to those so worn down by the reality in which they lived. But the passage doesn't stop there.  This new life is beyond anything anyone has ever experienced – beyond even swords being made into plowshares.  It is what we have come to call the peaceable kingdom…where “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid…” Of course, this image has been depicted in religious art, and is the stuff of poets.  But given the circumstances then and today, many of us might say, “The wolf might lie down with the lamb. But the lamb won't get much sleep!”  We greet these words with a big “Bah Humbug!' Not because we don't want it – oh we so dream it could be true.  No, we are skeptical because we have become so used to the very unpeaceable kingdom – war, violence, human trafficking, hate crimes, cyberbullying, and leaders who attack the people they are meant to serve, not to mention difficult times in our own lives. We can feel devoid of dreams like this because it can all seem too big to imagine – this time of peace and love for all.  It seems like a pipe dream. We can be so very weary from what life throws at us that we become like those people long ago – the walking dead.  Our faith withered so much that we keep a watchful eye, a bit like a lamb near a lion, for what might next prey upon us, and not for miracles of new life.  And so this prophetic witness of Isaiah is not only meant for those long ago, but for us too.  Maybe that is why St. Paul quotes the prophet in his letter to the Romans we heard a part of today.  He writes “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope….and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”” St. Paul is reminding the people in Rome, and now us, of the promise of Isaiah – that new life grows out of what seems to be very much dead, bringing hope to all.  And folks, as I said last week, hope is a most powerful force amidst the darkness of the world.  It is the stuff of transformation, and the heart of Advent.  Hope is the spark in the soul that can defeat the darkness, can overcome the strongest enemies, can make dreams – God's or our own – possible.  And hope is the root of joy. Now, to be clear, joy is not happiness.  Joy is not connected to external events.  Joy is the inner peace we carry knowing that no matter what life throws at us, God loves us – loves us enough to break into the darkness of our lives with the birth of Christ Jesus. But here's the thing.  This new vision of the world – this peaceable kingdom and life out of death – this hope and joy – well, we have a role to play in bringing it all about. St. Paul adds this instruction we heard today “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you.”  This welcome isn't a polite greeting like we do at the peace, or we might when being introduced at a party.  That is far too tame.  The Greek used here is more on the lines of “fully embrace.”  And it isn't meant just for people we know well, or even like.  It is to fully embrace like Christ!  Or to put it in Christ's own words “love one another as I loved you.”  We are to be the counter-cultural witness to the goodness of God in how we treat one another, how we treat those who are different than ourselves, how we treat all of creation.  When we love as Christ loved us, we become the very sprouts of new life for a world that feels dead as a stump.  That is how we, by his incarnation in our heart, give birth to God's vision of love and peace. It happens one welcome – one full embrace – one moment of unconditional love at a time.  It is the hope of nations, and the promise of the child we await.  Think about the story of old Scrooge for a moment.  His transformation didn't come about because he got frightened out of his wits by a bunch of ghosts.  It started with a warning from Marley, to be sure, but what exactly was Marley telling him?  First, he told Scrooge that the chain he was wearing he forged in life, and that Scrooge's was just as long and growing ever still.  And when Scrooge said, “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” Marley shouted back – “Business!” “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!…At this time of the rolling year, I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?” Then the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future arrive one by one. What did they show Scrooge?  Images of hell to scare him?  No.  They showed him love – love he once had for another person, love of the Cratchit family even amidst all their lot, love his nephew showed to him despite Scrooge's nasty clapbacks at him.  And the reader or viewer sees how the absence of love from others can deaden many a child of God. That is what the Spirits showed to Scrooge – love.  Love not based on being treated well, love not based on the circumstances of life.  Just love – that full embrace St. Paul implores us to give – that commandment of Jesus to us all.  It is the very thing that will bring forth the shoot of hope and joy from even the deadest of souls, including our own. So next time you are watching your favorite version of A Christmas Carol, remember this passage from Isaiah and the epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. Remember and see that even a soul as dead as Dickin's Mr. Scrooge may be given new life through the power of love. Remember too that this miracle of redemptive grace is for everyone – for you and for me.  It is the hope that will heal the world and bring about the beloved kingdom for us all, so long as we do our part to bring it about. And so I leave you with this, the two benedictions St. Paul includes in this part of his epistle.  Maybe they be something you can say each morning as you start the day – a reminder of Advent and what is possible by God's grace, when we share with others our hope and joy in love.  “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Amen. For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible): Sermon Podcast https://christchurchepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Rec-001-Sermon-December_7_2025.m4a   The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge December 7, 2025 Advent 4 – Year A 1st Reading – Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 2nd Reading – Romans 15:4-13 Gospel – Matthew 3:1-12 The post “The Power Of Love” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.

Join us as our executive pastor Jeff Lilley continues our Advent series with 2 Chronicles 29-32. As we make our way through this series, please feel free to email ⁠info@rccjc.church with any questions you may have. Thanks for listening!Be sure to check out our website: ⁠https://www.rccjc.church/Find us on social media:Instagram: ⁠redeemerjc⁠Facebook: ⁠Redeemer Community Church⁠Youtube: ⁠Redeemer Community Church⁠

What did King Hezekiah do with his second chancep? Come Bible Study WITH ME through 2 Kings 20 and ask all the questions!

I'm unpacking the second part of the mystery of The Two Kings Template. We're looking at the template of King Hezekiah. How does this template explain Trump's baffling behavior dealing with Islam? What about his strange alliances with Qatar and terrorists? What does this tell us about the Presidents that will come later? Can this explain Joe Biden?Watch here for PART 1:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJvOvulCLW8&pp=2AbyAQ%3D%3DTRIVITA: Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: https://bit.ly/restored-healthORCALL: 800-991-7116 and use gift card number: RSCBSQRJ PIN: 5398 Covenant Eyes: If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of p*rn, getCovenant Eyes: https://bit.ly/Restore-CovenantUSE CODE RESTORE30 at checkout to get your first 30 days FREE when you use the link ✅Other ways foryou to support the ministry:

Today we come to one of the most fascinating times in the history of the kingdom of Judah, an amazing king who does amazing things by the power of an amazing God. But first we take a look at King Ahaz who ruled from 731-715 BC. In 2 Kings 16:2-3 we read that Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of other kings, even sacrificing his son in the fire. King Ahaz     ⁃    Finds himself under attack by Pekah and Rezin     ⁃    Discovers there is a price to pay when you turn your back on the Living God     ⁃    Seeks help from the Assyrians - Assyria was a massive growing super power.     ⁃    Then God brings a rebuke through the prophet Isaiah (a most effective and influential prophet) but Ahaz refuses to listen.     ⁃    Ahaz continues to turn away from God and desecrated the Temple of God as he continues to rebel against God.     ⁃    His rebellion brings sadness and tragedy and he continues to suffer military attacks. During Ahaz's reign in Judah, we read in 2 Kings 17:5-6 that Israel is defeated by the Assyrians after a 3 year siege. At the end of Ahaz's reign we see that in spite of the faithlessness of God's people, God remains faithful.  The next king of Judah is one of the best. King Hezekiah is Ahaz's son and Hezakiah rules 715-686 BC. King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Kings 18:3.   King Hezekiah     ⁃    In the first month of the first year of his reign he had the Temple cleansed. 2 Chronicles 29:3-5     ⁃    Then Hezekiah holds a national Passover celebration inviting all of Israel and Judah. They had a 2 week Passover celebration. 2 Chronicles 30:1.     ⁃    Hezekiah destroys the sacred stones, high places and Asherah poles and also brakes into pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had used to God's glory but that had become an idol of the Israelites who had been burning incense to it. 2 Kings 18:4      ⁃    Hezekiah is facing the enemy of Assyria as they are coming to conquer Jerusalem and so in 2 Kings 20:20 we read that he built a tunnel and a pool. In the 1880's the Siloam Inscription was discovered. It tells the story of the building of the tunnel. Hezekiah built this tunnel to ensure there would be water when under siege by the Assyrian army by diverting the Gehon spring into Jerusalem leaving no fresh water available to the Assyrian army.      ⁃    Then the siege begins against Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18:28-29 the king's commander, speaking in Hebrew, calls out that the king of Assyria says that Hezekiah has deceived you because he will not be able to deliver you from me and my army. The king of Assyria is trying to get the people in Jerusalem to just give up.     ⁃    Then Hezekiah prays a beautiful prayer - 2 Kings 19:15-16 and God listens and the King of Assyria is defeated by God Himself. 2 Kings 19:35-36. The Assyrians withdraw and return to Nineveh and the siege is ended.     ⁃    Then Hezekiah becomes very ill to the point of death. Isaiah comes to Hezekiah to tell him to put his house in order. Hezekiah weeps and prays and God sees Hezekiah's tears and hears his prayer and God heals him. 2 Kings 20:1-5      ⁃    Hezekiah is visited by the Babylonians, a rising power that will ultimately defeat the Assyrians. 2 Kings 20:13 we read of Hezekiah being tempted by pride. The prophet Isaiah then brings a word to Hezekiah telling him that everything you just showed off to the Babylonians will be taken by Babylonians. Hezekiah repents.     ⁃    The prophets Micah and Isaiah were very active during Hezekiah's reign.     ⁃    Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings the nation had ever known. 2 Kings 18:5-6 tells us that Hezekiah trusted the Lord, that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, both before and after him, that Hezekiah held fast to the Lord and did not stop following God and that he kept the commands of the Lord. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

What did King Hezekiah pray? Come Bible Study WITH ME through 2 Kings 19 and ask all the questions!

What epic fail did King Hezekiah make that hurt generations of his people? Find out with Nathan Jones and Vic Batista on the podcast, The Truth Will Set You Free!

My friend Christine and her husband sat down to dinner at their aunt and uncle’s house. Her aunt had recently been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Before anyone started to eat, her uncle asked, “Does anyone have anything to say?” Christine smiled because she knew he meant, “Does anyone want to pray?” He wasn’t a believer in Jesus, but he knew Christine was, so this was his way to invite prayer. Speaking from her heart, she gave thanks to God for His care and requested that He would perform a miracle for her aunt. King Hezekiah became ill and had something on his heart to say to God after the prophet Isaiah told him he was going to die (Isaiah 38:1). He “wept bitterly” and pleaded, “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion” (v. 3). His was an honest, desperate appeal for deliverance. Even though healing isn’t dependent on our “goodness,” and God doesn’t always heal, He chose to extend the king’s life by fifteen years (v. 5). After his recovery, he thanked Him (v. 16). God invites us to pray—whether it’s for an urgent need or to thank Him for something small or significant. He hears our prayers, sees our tears, and will answer according to His plan. Our place is to “walk humbly all [our] years” with Him (v. 15).

We don't have the power to transform the culture we live in, but we do have the power to be obedient to God. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses Satan's responses to God's movements. In the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles, we read about King Hezekiah's obedience to the Lord, which brought about both a renewal of his culture and pushback, hardship, and threats from the enemy. However, as Pastor Allen shows, God is always faithful to intervene when we choose His ways. Like King Hezekiah, we will experience backlash when we live for Jesus—but if we will choose obedience to God in an unrelenting, courageous way, God will do what we can't: transform our culture.

To foster the best outcomes for our children and families, we need to shape culture, not be shaped by it. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses the role families play in engaging the culture for God's Kingdom. He shares the biblical, God-given design for marriage, roles of spouses, and children. To give guidance on how to be a culture-changer, Pastor Allen also talks about King Hezekiah as a model for us. Deception is rampant in media, and it's hard to know what to trust, but we can start at our kitchen tables by encouraging our families to lean into God's Truth.

Ignoring the problems in our culture won't make them go away. Instead, we need to ask God to move in our homes and communities and be ready to respond to His Holy Spirit. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses the increasing lawlessness in our nation—and the growing movement to turn our hearts back to God that we're seeing arise from the young people. He teaches about King Hezekiah, who had an assignment to change the culture in his lifetime, and he shares some lessons we can learn from this Old Testament leader about how to invite God to shape hearts. People are waking up to the reality of a biblical worldview, and we can be a part of what God is doing!