Is Your House in Order

Woody Rimes

Making a Difference • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Isaiah 38:1–8

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On the face of it, this seems straightforward enough. Hezekiah becomes seriously ill, God tells him to get ready to die, and Hezekiah cries out for mercy. But it’s more complex. We know from

2 Kings 18:5 KJV 1900

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

On the face of it, this seems straightforward enough. Hezekiah becomes seriously ill, God tells him to get ready to die, and Hezekiah cries out for mercy. But it’s more complex. We know from that trust in God was the lasting statement Hezekiah’s life made. But we also know from that his pride seduced him at this critical moment.

We see that trust in God was the lasting statement Hezekiah’s life made.

But we also know from

that trust in God was the lasting statement Hezekiah’s life made. But we also know from that his pride seduced him at this critical moment.

2 Chronicles 32:25 KJV 1900

But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

that his pride seduced him at this critical moment.

His pride seduced him.

that his pride seduced him at this critical moment.

We further know from the end of this story in that Hezekiah made poor use of his new lease on life. And how a story ends sheds light on what came before. So when he says here, “Remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight,”(Isa 38:3) that is neither entirely wrong nor entirely convincing. But God blesses him anyway.

Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.” ()

God is generous with second chances because what motivates him is his commitment to Christ, our ultimate David. And he wants us to know that he is committed to us at that level. So he gives Hezekiah a sign of his favor.

“This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he has promised: Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined. (vv. 7, 8)

How did God do this? We don’t know. We know something about how light works, and it doesn’t work this way. But the anomaly in this passage is not a problem; it’s the whole point.

A miracle is persuasive as a sign from God precisely because we can’t explain it. It can’t be a human stunt. It must be of God. That’s the point. Apparently, in this case God temporarily bent the sunlight. And why not? He created it. He controls it. He can do whatever he wants with it (). And the shadow went backwards, at least long enough for the sign to make its point. What we see is God both saying and showing that he is turning the clock back on Hezekiah’s life.

What About your house?

What About your house?—palace, dwelling place, temple—

your house is the palace, dwelling place, temple—

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV 1900

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Who is the Landlord?

— We aren’t! “ye are not your own” vs19—

We are tenants, not freeholders.

This earthly house belongs to Him who built it, He who sustains it and He keeps the title deed in His own possession.

We belong to God! He created each of us and we are His. Your soul was spoken into existence by Him. Your breath belongs to Him. Your food, clothes, goods—all are gifts from Him.

Isaiah 1:3–4 KJV 1900

The ox knoweth his owner, And the ass his master’s crib: But Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, A seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: They have forsaken the Lord, They have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, They are gone away backward.

What is Man’s Lease?

By the way some live, you would think that they will live to be 500.

READ

James 4:13–15 KJV 1900

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

. If we are not careful, we fall in this error. We may possess this body for 70 years, maybe 80, some 90 and a few 100 or more.

If we are not careful, we fall in this error. We may possess this body for 70 years, maybe 80, some 90 and a few 100 or more.

However, we always occupy from moment to moment.

Our lease is not from “day to day”, but rather second to second.

We are tenants at the will of God.

All that God will need to do is to say, “Return, ye child of mine” and this temple, house, will be emptied. When we think about our life, we should remember

Psalm 90:12 KJV 1900

So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

So, we must get our “house in order”. The Landlord may serve an eviction notice and you will be removed. We would do well if we would cling to the things of God like we cling to the things that will soon pass away.

So, we must get our “house in order”. The Landlord may serve an ejection notice and you will be removed. We would do well if we would cling to the things of God like we cling to the things that will soon pass away.

What about the Payment?

We have the joy of living this life—We have God as our Landlord, our Lease is moment by moment.

What is the payment?

Psalm 115:18 KJV 1900

But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 135:3 KJV 1900

Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: Sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

—

Psalm 34:1 KJV 1900

I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 26:12 KJV 1900

My foot standeth in an even place: In the congregations will I bless the Lord.

—

Matthew 22:37 KJV 1900

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

—

You may say, well that’s not much! Yet, today, many are behind on their payment—no thanks, no worship, no service and no love. For the benefits they receive, they make no return. The breath they have is never turned into a “Love” song unto the Lord.

Timely Payments—if you rent a room by the day, you pay by the day. If you rent a room by the month, you pay by the month.

Since we hold our house by the moment, we should live with praise on our hearts. When not on our lips, they should be in our hearts.

Psalm 34:1 KJV 1900

I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

on our hearts. When not on our lips, they should be in our hearts.

Colossians 3:23 KJV 1900

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Be sure to make payments to the right Landlord

Payments to the right Landlord—how may are paying rent to the wrong master? I am amazed at how we can be deceived and offer ourselves to the wrong lord. We will act with rudeness, selfishness, being enslaved to the enemy. Even to the point of spending eternity in hell, man will still pay rent to the wrong master.

—how may are paying rent to the wrong master? I am amazed at how we can be deceived and offer ourselves to the wrong lord. We will act with rudeness, selfishness, being enslaved to the enemy. Even to the point of spending eternity in hell, man will still pay rent to the wrong master.

Man’s Duty

We are not to destroy it or injure it.

our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

We are to honor God with it

—we are to live a life that is separated—fleeing the things of the world. We must keep our bodies pure.

We are to glorify God with our bodies

—we are to live in line with the original intention of the Creator.

“Set thine house in order”—

—Set your own house in order—you are not responsible to set some one else’s house in order. Many try to do do, but you are responsible for YOU!

—YOU, the tenant must do it—in contrast, you cannot leave it to someone else to clean up your house. You are the responsible party.

What is the ORDER?

We must embrace Christ daily

We must love Him and trust Him as Saviour, Lord and King

We are to deny ourselves and live totally for Him

We are to seek Him daily

We are to pray without ceasing

-Is Your house ready for Jesus to come over?

-Is there anything in your house that is deficient? excessive?

-Is there some “sweeping” that needs to be done in your house? dust and filth of sin are lying on the floor. Your feet have walked in sinful areas of the world and you have tracked it in your house.

-Is there some “dusting” that needs to take place? you have some sin that is settled on the furniture, dust that is leading you to sin every day—remote controls, computer mouses, books that you shouldn’t be reading, etc

-Is there some “washing” needed? you have unconfessed sin, that is needing the blood of Jesus to

-Is there some “drainage” issues that need to be addressed? maybe you have allowed the sewage of the world to backup into your house. You really don’t have a pleasant aroma of the Holy Spirit in your attitude, your speech is polluted by the world, and you really aren’t pleasing to those around you.

-Is there some “electrical” issues?

Is your house in order today? God told Hezekiah, “for thou shalt die, and not live”.

Some leave it worse than they found it.

A just tenant desires to restore his landlords property unhurt.

1563 If Jesus Came To Your House

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two.…

If He came unexpectedly. I wonder what you’d do.

Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honored guest.

And all the food you’d serve to Him would be the very best,

And you would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have Him there.…

But.… when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door.

With arms outstretched in welcome to our heav’nly visitor?

Or would you maybe change your clothes before you let Him in,

Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been?

Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn’t heard,

And wish you hadn’t uttered that last, loud and hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?

Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?

And I wonder.… If the Savior spent a day or two with you,

Would you go right on doing the things you always do?

We should desire our “house to be in order”—for the sake of our family, our church, our community, our world—but MOST of ALL for the GLORY OF OUR GOD.

Would you go right on saying the things you always say?

Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace?

And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always sing and read the book you read?

And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you’d planned to go,

Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends,

Or would you hope they’d stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on,

Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do,

If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you.