Life-Sharing

1. What has God been teaching you through the visions of the book of ISAIAH and messages this past month? Pick one of the prior week’s central truths and discern what the holy Spirit is desiring to say through it.

 
Because You Have Prayed
(ISAIAH 37:21-38)
CENTRAL TRUTH:
Because King Hezekiah prayed, he saw with greater clarity what God was already doing and the sign that He was at work. Prayer must make us aware with greater clarity that God already knows what we are going through, calls us His precious sons and daughters in the midst of it. It must silence our raised voice, bring low our lifted eyes, illumine God’s determined plan, show a sign of providence, upholding His glory for His own sake, against all odds prove that He fights on our behalf. So pray, unleash the power and fruits of godly prayer!
KEY VERSE:  21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him: “‘She despises you, she scorns you—the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you—the daughter of Jerusalem…. 30 “And this shall be the sign for you: this year you shall eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs from that. Then in the third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31 And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward… 35 For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.” 
 
You Alone are the LORD
(ISAIAH 37:1-20)
CENTRAL TRUTH:
There will be many things to fear in life. How can fear turn into faith? Instead of being covered by distress, go into the house of the LORD, where fear in the world is rebuked by the words of the living God. Do not be afraid of escalating evil but put your hope in the God who sees, already planned in promise to deliver. Pray to the LORD, who inclines your ears and eyes to see He alone is the LORD. Then, what can we fear? Fear will be unveiled as the false god it is before the living God alone, so live in and from the victory Jesus has won now and forever.
KEY VERSE:, 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16 “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; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God… 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”

Do Not Answer
(ISAIAH 36:11-22)
CENTRAL TRUTH:
As much as what is spoken, what is kept from being spoken is just as important before the LORD. He will call us to stay still, to not speak, to not answer. When can we discern these times? Do not speak when your focus is on how you will be heard over how God will hear you. Do not be deceived to correct the adversary’s lies and justify yourself, for the LORD will justify and surely deliver you. Have your mouth guarded over your clothes torn – do not be defeated in despair but immovable in the words of Christ, richly dwelling within you.
KEY VERSE: 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’” 21 But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.”
 

1. How has your walk with the Lord grown since the last time we gathered? What areas of your spiritual health have been nourished? What areas are still in need of growth that we can treat together with the Word and Spirit?
2. What hardships, difficulties, trials, and/or unanswered prayers are you going through that we can all carry together as one body in Christ?
3. “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world,” says Jesus (JOHN 16:33). How can we take heart today and overcome?

Life-Praying

1. What requests of prayer are still left unanswered, where God is teaching you to “wait”?
2. What requests of prayer have been answered, where we can give God praise and glory?
3. Read the following Scriptures about prayer. Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.

 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)

Life-Sharing

1. What has God been teaching you through last week’s message – “You Alone are the LORD” – from ISAIAH 37:1-20? Read the texts once more and discern what the holy Spirit is desiring to say through it.

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1 As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. 2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’”
 

1. [v.1-4] In King Hezekiah’s deep distress and fear, where did He go?
2. *The biblical principle – Do not be covered by distress but go into the house of the LORD. Are you in the house – the presence – of the LORD? What remains uncovered in the house of the LORD today?

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5 When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”
8 The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish. 9 Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “He has set out to fight against you.” And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?’
 

1. [v.5-13] How did Isaiah reply to a fear-struck King Hezekiah?
2. *The biblical principle – Do not be afraid of escalating evil but put your hope in the God who sees and promises to deliver. What do you fear? How is the fear of man growing around us? How ought we respond?

 
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16 “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. 17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 18 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”
 

1. [v.14-20] What did King Hezekiah do after receiving the letter with escalating threats?
2. *The biblical principle – Pray to the LORD, who inclines our ears and eyes to see He alone is the LORD. How can you incline over decline in prayer by praying what King Hezekiah prayed?

 
The central truth of this word was – There will be many things to fear in life. How can fear turn into faith? Instead of being covered by distress, go into the house of the LORD, where fear in the world is rebuked by the words of the living God. Do not be afraid of escalating evil but put your hope in the God who sees, already planned in promise to deliver. Pray to the LORD, who inclines your ears and eyes to see He alone is the LORD. Then, what can we fear? Fear will be unveiled as the false god it is before the living God alone, so live in and from the victory Jesus has won now and forever. – *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 
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Life-Praying
Pray for one another. Give credit and glory to God for answered requests. Wait on the LORD for unanswered requests. Turn away from closed doors and where the Spirit prompts to go another way. Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)

1. What has God been teaching you through last week’s message – “Do Not Answer” – from ISAIAH 36:11-22? Read the texts once more and discern what the holy Spirit is desiring to say through it.

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11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?” 13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!
 

1. [v.11-13] Why did Judah’s officials (Eliakim, Shebna, Joah) want this evil Assyrian commander to speak a different language?
2. *The biblical principle – If you are more concerned with how you will be heard by people over how God will hear you, do not speak. Where and to whom is God calling you to be still and not speak?

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14 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’” 21 But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.”
 

1. [v.14-21] While his character and words were being falsified, what did King Hezekiah do?
2. *The biblical principle – Do not be deceived to correct the adversary’s lies and justify yourself, for the LORD will surely deliver you. How have we been deceived by trying to justify ourselves without first staying still before the LORD?

 
 
22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
 

1. [v.22] In their fear and hopeless despair, what did Judah’s officials do after hearing the proud taunts of the Assyrian commander?
2. *The biblical principle – Have your mouth guarded over your clothes torn – do not be defeated in despair but immovable in the words of God. When have you tore clothes before guarded mouth and heart?

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The central truth of this word was – As much as what is spoken, what is kept from being spoken is just as important before the LORD. He will call us to stay still, to not speak, to not answer. When can we discern these times? Do not speak when your focus is on how you will be heard over how God will hear you. Do not be deceived to correct the adversary’s lies and justify yourself, for the LORD will justify and surely deliver you. Have your mouth guarded over your clothes torn – do not be defeated in despair but immovable in the words of Christ, richly dwelling within you. – *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?

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Prayers
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)