Setting Your House in Order

The reign of Hezekiah has always been a special story for me; in one of the darkest hours of my life, I prayed that God would give me 15 more years just like He gave to Hezekiah. I opened my Bible, seeking any solace I could find, following that prayer...and the book opened to that very passage.

Two other times in my life, when it seemed I could not face another day, the Lord likewise directed me to Hezekiah--only in two different places where he is mentioned in scripture. As you can see, the story of Hezekiah is one of remembrance for me as I can recall God caring enough to reach out to a young girl weeping in her bedroom as her world seemed to crumble apart.

But the story of Hezekiah is important for other Christians as well. His life stands as a testament that God will hear us when we get his temple--us--in order.

II Chronicles 29 begins, "Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old." I am reminded of the passage in the New Testament, which tells us, "Let no man despise thy youth" (I Timothy 4:12). Whether you are young in physical years or simply young in the church, it is never too soon for you to turn your life, your church, and your city around. God chooses vessels based on availability--not time in service, not pentecostal lineage, and not based on talent.

To be used of God--yes, even to be blessed and heard of God--we must get our temple in order!

II Chronicles 29:2-10: "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us."

I'm sure this declaration wasn't wholeheartedly accepted by everyone. I'm sure there were elders and even royal advisors who protested, "But that's how we've always done it....Who does he think he is?....Why, this boy is only a novice and yet he's trying to tell me how to live...."

The facts?

* Yes, Hezekiah was challenging the nation of Israel to change course from what their forefathers were doing in an effort to return to the paths of the Lord; sometimes we have to shake ourselves of the hold of tradition and get back to the Word!

* Yes, he was young--a novice even--but because his heart's desire was to please the Lord, we find that God turned his face once again toward his children!

Notice II Chronicles 30:27, "Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven."

After years of having no word from the Lord....after decades of sin and debauchery that caused hardship on the children of Israel....all it took was one young man to put his foot down and say, "No more."

I challenge you today: Don't be afraid to be the one!

* Don't be afraid to lead the way into the prayer closet! It is still where real revival begins!

* Don't be afraid to say, I won't support ungodliness any longer. I'm going to get my house in order. If you will lead, others are hungry and they will follow! Just remember, it begins in you!

* Don't be afraid because of your youth or inexperience. God isn't seeking a pedigree of Pentecostalism; there must be young blood to carry on the baton of truth. Get up the momentum and make yourself available for the work of the Lord, for someday, the elders must pass on and they need someone strong to pass that baton to!

Today: Set your house in order that God may work in you!

I Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."