PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, our Joy, you are our Hope, you are our Confidence, thanks for your mercy and your Holyspirit who is our Standby, Comforter and Strengthen. Thank you because you will never leave us nor forsake us. We embrace you; we embrace your mercy and we acknowledge you as our Father. Our hearts are open to receive your Word again tonight in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Review of Turning Hopeless Situations Around by Kenneth E. Hagin.
Chapter 4. Correct Your Situation.
Short bio: Fiyinfoluwa is an archaeologist and a software tester who is passionate about the Truth and honesty. He enjoys playing PlayStation and magnifying the freedom Christ has given us.
Chapter Key points: It wasn't the will of God for Hezekiah to die. God wanted the king to have His blessings. It was Hezekiah who stood in the way of God's blessings. When he corrected that situation, God could bless him. Very often God will tell you what's going to happen under present circumstances—as He did Hezekiah—and you can change it. YOU can change it. Hezekiah did.
Too often we're looking for somebody else to do it for us. In teaching on faith, we bring out the fact that sometimes you can carry baby Christians on your faith. But you can only do that for a while. Usually people are going to have to receive help on their own, and no one will receive permanent help without developing his or her own faith and prayer life.
Now Let’s dig deeper
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.” II Kings 20:1
It is a desirable thing, which we pray for, that God should give us an awareness of when we will pass on. The Mercy and Love of the Supreme Father, saw Hezekiah and alerted him to put his house in order probably to point out the next king, bless his children, settle grievances, make restitution, settle pending issues within the home etc.
But the report did not sit well with the king and he understood that there was one last stop even though the great Prophet Isaiah had just spoken. He went directly to the Father.
I see a similar case in Esther's pilgrimage, for the king already passed a decree through Haman but Esther ignored Haman and went straight to the highest authority in the land, whose seal was upon the decree. To the king, Esther made her petition known.
Other cases are the petition of Abraham to God over Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16-33), the wrestling of Jacob with God (Genesis 32:24-30), the plead of Moses concerning the children of Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 32:9-11) to name a few.
If there is anything to observe in these men and woman, it is the reality that they have an intimacy with God (or the king, in the case of Esther). Intimacy is what drives a child into making a petition after hearing the verdict of the Father. Also, note that the Father is proud of this even though He may not agree to it for this boldness shows that such a child sees Him as Caring and the 'All in all' over his soul (Proverbs 3:6).
Conclusion
I believe that the summary of this review is that prophets should not be considered liars, neither should the visions of wise men be considered false, however, be it true or false, there is always One Last Card to deal: Seeking the Face of God, the Father, because our fates rest in His Hands. Added to this is the truth that only intimacy through the understanding of God’s Love (Agape) begets such a degree of boldness (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Discerning what and when to wrestle with God is important, so that we do not pray amiss. We should also learn to take the step of approaching God for ourselves and persisting in sincere prayer because there may not always be men of higher faith around us. "This little faith of yours can also move mountains", Jesus said. The purpose of this pilgrimage is to grow into Sons, having the express Image of our Christ.
And lastly, openness of the heart to trust God with whatever His Response(s) may be is important, because above all, God is Sovereign, Most-Wise and Loves us beyond our brightest imagination (Habakkuk 2:1).