2. DO THE RIGHT THING

3. 2 Chronicles 31:20 “Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. And in every work that he

4. began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.”

6. His obedience didn’t save him, but it brought him a successful life of faith that blessed him with all that God had for him.

7. 1.Obedience to God brings the Joy of the Lord to our lives.

8. Where should he start?

9. How was the nation going to come back to their God?

10. He began with the religious leaders

11. He then went to the community leaders

12. He then went to all the people

13. 1) To not be stiff-necked like their ancestors. (Stubborn)

14. 2) To return to the Lord (Repent)

15. 3) To enter His sanctuary and truly worship Him again

16. 4) To submit themselves to God and serve Him as their Lord

17. Some followed the call of God through Hezekiah

19. We are told that they were so joyous because of the blessings of the worship that they worshipped again!

20. Then we read that they prayed.

21. I want to speak to all the leaders at Ridgecrest today.

22. 2. Obedience to God brings the Power of the Lord to our lives.

23. When we attempt to live for the Lord, get ready for the enemy to attack. He does this in two main ways:

24. Obedience to God often brings the ridicule of the enemy.

25. Obedience to God often brings the attempt to make us fear our enemies more than we trust our God.

26. Fortunately they followed the leadership of Hezekiah and did the right thing.

27. First, they made all the preparations for battle that they could do.

28. Is there a broken wall in your life that needs to be built back up?

29. Second, Hezekiah told the people to be strong and courageous because their enemies fought

30. with their arms of flesh but the God of the Israelites was with them to fight their battles for them.

31. Don’t focus on your enemies. Focus on your Great God who fights for you.

32. Third, Hezekiah and Isaiah led the people to pray and cry out to Heaven for help.

33. When was the time that you really prayed and asked for God’s help?

34. Fourth, God fought their battle for them and gave them complete victory.

35. 32:21-22 “Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he

36. returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.”

37. That is what God wants to do for us today.

38. Do the right thing-Obey God- and begin to experience the joy and the strength of obedience.

39. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chron. 16:9)