A Heart for God

II Kings 18.1-8

In a time of national decay, Hezekiah came to the throne. His father was very wicked but he was not. I have hope today for the kids who come from wicked situations. I pray for the LORD to change their hearts. I pray for them to hear God's Word and obey it, for them to follow the LORD even growing up with a bad influence of a wicked father.  The LORD  did that with Hezekiah.

Hezekiah was a good king. He served the LORD just like his father David did.

David was a man after God's own heart. The LORD is seeking people like that today.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 

John 4.23-24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

The LORD is looking at our hearts today. He is interested in our motives, our love for Him, our love for others. He is looking at what we aim at.

When Goliath, the Champion of the Philistines from Gath came against Israel, David stood for God's honor.

1 Samuel 17:26,  David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the Armies of the Living God?”

 45-47 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the Armies of Israel, Whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give all of you into our hands.” 

David's heart was concerned for God's glory. He was concerned about God's honor. When Saul was killed He taught the people a lament. It included:

“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights.How the mighty have fallen! “Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice."

 II Samuel 1.19-20

At the death of his arch enemy he could have rejoiced and let the nation mourn alone. Bu he really could not because he was a man after God's own heart.

They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. II Samuel 6.17-18

With our hearts for God this effects every thing we do, why we do it and how we do it.

Hezekiah had a heart like his father, David. He had a heart for God. A good prayer to pray, Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name. 

David prayed this prayer.

There are so many benefits in having a pure heart! A heart for God, concerned for His honor and glory.

1. The LORD Grants Success to Those People As They Serve Him. vs.6-7

He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow Him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And the LORD  was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.

God delights in giving success to those who serve Him in His time. 

He blessed Hezekiah.

He blessed his work as king and  and he blessed his life. 

It is a wonderful thing to live under God's blessings.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, 

And He adds no sorrow with it. 

God delights when we take on projects He gives us in His Name.

He blesses us.

He blesses others through us. 

We discover the joy of serving.

Being in the flow of His Spirit where He works through us is a wonderful thing.

2. The LORD Uses Those People To Bring Correction To  A Nation Gone Astray.  vs.3-4

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

He  removed the high places. This was a huge step on his part. This meant that as the people came to Jerusalem to worship the LORD at the feasts and they came over the mountains that surround it, they had a clear view of the beauty of God's creation and no idols. They came to Jerusalem with their hearts and minds clear from evil distractions. They came and saw the temple unobstructed by the worship of false gods.

Save The Storks

You have a heart for God today. You are praying for America. We have talked about our heritage. Girl Scouts leaders meeting. Pledge- One nation under God. Pledge to serve God and my country and others.

Pray God will make you an influence in your family for righteousness. 

3. The LORD delights in spritual leaders who depend upon Him in prayer.

Nehemiah

David

Hezekiah v.5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.

Moses

Paul

Jesus Mark 1.35

He answers those prayers of a humble heart.

James 4:6 “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 

How we need to pray!

How people with hearts for God are needed today!

Hymn #327 O For Heart To Praise My God