Face to the wall

*Recap of*

*Be Inspired Bible Study*

*Thursday 2nd April 2020*

*Message by:* Sis Leah

*Topic:* Face to the Wall

*Text:*. In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the Lord , 'Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.'" Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord , saying, "Now, O Lord , please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: "Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord , the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord , and 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 I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake." And Isaiah said, "Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover." And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?" And Isaiah said, "This shall be the sign to you from the Lord , that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?" And Hezekiah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps." And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord , and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.

2 Kings 20:1‭-‬11 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/2ki.20.1-11.ESV

I think some of us are familiar with the statement: *Back against the wall.*

What does this mean? Let's share with others who probably don't know.

*No answer is wrong.*

Pls feel free to share your understanding.

*Sis Queeneth:* When you have nowhere, no way to go.

*Sis Abimbola:* In a hard pressed situation.

*@Betterisloadingforme:* It is when all is gone, no hopes from anywhere. When all has been tried

*Sis Leah:* When all has been tried.

Or better still when you have reached the rock bottom...

When it feels like all gates are shut and even the four walls are closing on you...

Basically when hope is plummeting

A kind of downward spiral...

May God help us all.

Amazing responses.

Today's topic says...

*Face to the Wall.*

If back is against the wall means all we just said above ... 

What will face  to the wall mean?

*@Betterisloadingforme:* I think it's to say, where do I go from here? Or to take a crucial decision on what to do.

*Sis Queeneth:* Hopeful.

*Sis Leah:* Hmmm!

A check for hope...

A check for faith...

Let us go into the scripture.

We see that in those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death... 

As they will say the stage where it's just for minimal observation or intervention...

The stage where you just want the patient or the person to be comfortable at the very last stage of their lives...

This was the stage Hezekiah was... Then Isaiah came to him and said..

*_Thus says the Lord, set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover. _*

*Then Hezekiah turned His face to the wall and prayed.*

Hezekiah was sick, already going through unpleasant feelings, then Isaiah brought the message he dreaded most to him.....

Telling him he would die.. that the Lord requested that he should put his house, life and all that concerned him in order..

In this day it will be the writing of will, the settling of debt you can settle...

The reconciliation with people you need to reconcile with and that soul searching in whatever way you can get it.

This must have been the message he dreaded most... 

I don't know about you but being sick isn't something anyone normal would crave..

Neither would anyone crave being hospitalised if they are in their normal sense..

Instead of Hezekiah accepting this verdict he turned around to the *wall and prayed.*

Why the wall though...?

What is it with the wall...?

*And I will be to her a _wall of fire_ all around, declares the Lord , and I will be the glory in her midst.*

Zechariah 2:5 ESV

*God is the wall.*

Say *God is my wall.*

Can we stop for a minute and shout Hallelujah!

Physically not virtually...

*So shout Hallelujah wherever you are....*

Hallelujah!

Glory be to God... 

Okay let's go on with the Bible Studies.

Hezekiah turned His face to the wall and prayed.....

He said *_Now O Lord please remember how I walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight and Hezekiah wept bitterly._*

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that seemed hopeless and helpless?

A situation where you have turned to every resource you have or know but at the very point when it all seemed to be going the direction you do not understand you remembered to turn to the Source (God my wall)?

This was what Hezekiah was feeling.

This was how he thought, where do I go?

Who do I call on?

Our world right now is at that stage.

Every scientist is cracking their brain.

Many are joining forces to find solution to this unseen force that is not a surprise to God.

Many are wondering? when will this end?

Some self employed are wandering, how will I survive?

Many have been sacked...

Made redundant...

Sent home with pay that can't even pay their bills let alone feed them...

Yet we are meant to stay at home because what seems safe right now is in our own familiar germs which is in our house.

Whatever was norm before ain't norm anymore.

At least for the time being...

The ones that are meant to keep working are daily risking their lives.

It looks like the world is ending.

Lots of the news we see on TV, radio, internet are nothing but bad news.

Everyone is talking about it.

Everyone is concerned.

Many are committing suicide.

But wait...

As in, hang on a minute...

Hezekiah turned to the wall and wept.

Where are you turning to?

Who are you turning to?

What are you turning to?

Are you becoming the bad news bearer?

You will rather share how many deaths than how many revovered...

You will rather share who is not making it than who is making it...

You will rather share the irrelevant than what is relevant...

Let's go back to the Scriptures. 

*And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him; _Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, and 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 I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake._*

Isaiah had not left the place when the Lord heard Hezekiah and caused a change in situation just like that.

This is the period you turn to the wall.

God our wall...

God our refuge...

Maybe if we had turned to the wall earlier when this plague was ravaging in China maybe we will not be here now.

This is the time we will cut off any form of race and stick to human race. 

This is the time when the life of your neighbour is as important as the life of your spouse to you. 

This is the time when you do not rejoice at the fact that some people are dying rather go in your closet and seek God's mercy.

Guess what? Hezekiah prayed but  God didn't just deliver Him, He delivered the entire city.

God delivered the entire city.

He didn't say, Oh wait these ones aren't believers...

These ones are Charismatics... 

These ones are Protestants...

These ones are Catholics...

This ones are Pentecostal...

These ones are spiritual, these ones aren't...

God delivered the city.

Are you looking at the wall?

I mean, we have established that God is our wall.

Don't say I live in the country side, it's not going to happen here.

Don't say I live in the western world, we have facilities.

Don't say I am exempted.

John 3:16 says for God so loved the *world*🌍

God loves us all equally.

No matter what level of faith you are at right now God loves you just as that person you see as your role model in faith. 

Hezekiah called unto God when He turned his face to the wall.

Hezekiah didn't say, Guess what? Isaiah said it and I will just accept it.

He didn't say the statistics said it and that is it.

Hezekiah called on God.

He wept for God.

You might say there is nothing to weep for in this nation.

You might say no one cares.

But I want to assure you God cares.

He cares for those currently hospitalised as well as those of us hale and hearty.

God cares.

God is my wall.

God is your wall.

God is our wall.

Don't keep quiet.

Don't stop praying.

Don't give up.

This time seek Him.

The sickness kept Hezekiah at home.

The pandemic is keeping many at home.

Don't just stay home.

Stay connected. 

Turn to the wall.

The Psalmist says:

I call upon the Lord , who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalms 18:3 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.18.3.ESV

Call on Him like never before.

There is power in Intercession.

Gather people around to pray.

Gather your family to pray.

Pray on your own.

You don't have to be an archbishop.

You don't have to be an apostle.

You don't have to be an Evangelist.

Basically you don't need a title to turn to the wall.

*Let Us Pray.*

Father, thank you for your word that you have sent to me this very day.

 Father, forgive me in anyway I have taken the power of intercession for granted.

Lord, have mercy on this nation (mention), forgive us and come to our rescue.

Father, have mercy on all the laws and decrees that have kicked against your will in Jesus name. 

Lord, speak concerning this current state of the world. Let there be a divine turn around just as you did in the case of Hezekiah.

Father, concerning many hospitalised right now either as a result of this pandemic or not, let mercy speak in Jesus name.

Heavenly Father, heal our world, make it a place for your divine power to dwell mightily.

Father, I come to you, rewrite my story, remove every verdict that keeps me in a place of discomfort and subject to the rules of the enemy.

Lord, you are my wall, keep me safe even as I stay safe.

Lord, keep all frontliners safe in every capacity they are serving in Jesus name.

Father, concerning every member of this group and their family, do not let us mourn, weep or bury either young or old.

Lord, let it be evident that you are God to the entire world and let this be a channel for many souls worldwide to know you.

Lord, for any given verdict by the medics that is not pleasant, deliver them by your mercy in Jesus name.

Lord, concerning all your vessels you are using worldwide at this current time seal us in your divine covering in Jesus name.

*Personal Prayer.*

Thank you eternal rock of ages for this evening. Thank you for all the prayer we have said and you have answered. Thank you for your divine enablement and answers. Lord we cry to you, you are our wall,  hear us Lord and let us have your attention in the world. Heal our nations. Heal our land. Remove all plague in your mercy. Forgive us oh Lord and at the end let all glory be to you alone. In Jesus mighty name.

Amen.

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