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.

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Some Biblical virtues mirror God's character, but this one -- thankfulness -- exalts God's character. Thankfulness promotes humility in us and strengthens our faith. ThankLESSness, by contrast, is an exceptionally dangerous sin.

Kindness is not weakness. Kindness reflects the character and strength of God, and is seen throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus should show that same character in their lives!

Jesus not only taught the importance of forgiveness, He practiced it, even from the cross (Luke 23:43). The example of Jesus and the magnitude of His love changes people and gives them the power to forgive even the most bitter of enemies!

The past Sunday Pastor taught on "What's the Answer - Are the Gospels believable?" This teaching is a follow up to that message.

Pastor takes us to the story of the Feeding of the 5000 BUT it's not about the feeding!! So what is this teaching about if it isn't about the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 men (plus all the women and children) from 5 small barley loaves and 2 little fish, then what's this teaching about? Why even bother looking at the story if we're not going to look at the miracle of Jesus?

Well, come along and find out what Pastor is going to show us today!

The story of the Feeding of the 5000 is found in all 4 Gospels and Pastor shares a small detail that has great impact on exposing the truth of the Gospels.

Feeding of the 5000 in all 4 Gospels
⁃ Matthew 14:13-21
⁃ Mark 6:30-44
⁃ Luke 9:10-17
⁃ John 6:1-14

Feeding of the 5,000
⁃ Mark talks about "the green grass" - Mark 6:39
⁃ John tells us there was "plenty of grass" - John 6:10
⁃ This is important because it shows that the 4 Gospels compliment one another and together give us insights we might otherwise miss. It is a testimony to their reliability and that they are written by eyewitnesses and people who know the eyewitnesses.
⁃ John 6:4 we read "The Jewish Passover Festival was near,"
⁃ Mark 6:31-32 tells us the "so many people were coming and going" that Jesus and His disciples "went away by themselves."
⁃ Then we read from Luke 9:10 "they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida."
⁃ Then in Mark 6:34 Jesus "saw a large crowd"…. And He "began teaching them". With this being the time of the Passover there would be many in Jerusalem and the surrounding area.
⁃ Then in John 6:5 we read that Jesus said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" (Philip was from the town of Bethsaida)
⁃ Next Andrew speaks up in John 6:8-9, "Here is a boy with 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish…" (Andrew was also one of the disciples from Bethsaida)
⁃ Why is "barley" significant? It's because the Passover follows the Barley harvest. (Late March or early April)
⁃ The feeding of the 5000 is happening during Passover and barley harvest times, which means the rainy season is over, and the season moves into drier hotter weather - the harvest time. The rains from the previous months during growing season would have left the hill sides full of "green grass" as Mark tell us in chapter 6 verse 39 and there was "plenty of grass" as John says in John 6:10

This is a small thing to prove, but these small details testify to an even greater truth and that is that we can trust the Word from God!

He is faithful. He keeps His Word and His Word is TRUE even when it comes to green grass that grows!

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Our devotion to the Living God is demonstrated in the way we love other people - including even our enemies. Genuine love is the truest expression of right doctrine (teaching) - and without love, the doctrine collapses.

Unlike happiness, joy is not an emotion, dependent on particular circumstances. Joy is anchored in God, and through Jesus it is triumphant even over the sufferings of this world!

Growing Gracefully In Joy - We are living in a time of chaos and uncertainty, a time of unbridled anger on all ends of the spectrum and if ever there was at time that the people of God needed to remember and reflect the joy of the Lord, THIS IS THE TIME!

This is a great time to be growing in joy as we rely on the Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen us every day and in every circumstance and situation.

The Bible is full of joy, 440 times it is mentioned. God brings joy to the lives of His children. The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Pastor answers these questions:
Where does joy come from?
How is joy developed?
What nurtures joy?
What hinders joy?

Many of us are living in fear, wondering about the things that are coming. Fearful about what may happen in the coming months. But the Bible has clear teaching in the scriptures about Joy.

These are:
Joy...
Is anchored in God
Is a choice
Is sometimes hindered
Is not circumstantial
Is triumphant

Using a book by Jerry Bridges, "The Practice of Godliness," Pastor sets forth several

Aids to JOY...
1. Confess and forsake sin
2. Trust in God
3. Take the long-range view of life
4. Give thanks in all circumstances

God IS faithful!

Scripture sources: Luke 10:21, James 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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