(Part #1)--HEZEKIAH---"LESSONS ON SURVIVAL"........(2 Kings 18:1-12)

How many of you have watched the "Survivor" series on TV?  It has become so popular over the years that now they have other shows like "Man vs Wild" and movies like "Castaway" that play on SURVIVOR SKILLS (like any of us are going to be marooned on some deserted island!).  True SURVIVOR SKILLS are preached every Sunday at God's house, yet people seem to think they can navigate their way through life without the Lord's help!  HEZEKIAH'S LIFE is the story of survival!  The only other kings mentioned more than Hezekiah in the bible are David and Solomon;  you don't hear may preachers preaching about Hezekiah; but his life can teach us some great lessons about how to SURVIVE!!!

(a)....HE SURVIVED (as king of one of the smallest counties in the world) a direct attack by the world's 			 largest enemy of his day; Sennacharib the king of Assyria!-(v.7-"he rebelled 				 against the king of Assyria")
(b)....HE SURVIVED a deadly cancerous disease late in his life, living 15 years beyond it!
(c)....HE SURVIVED a dysfunctional daddy, because his father King Ahaz burned his kids to idol gods! 
(d)....HE SURVIVED a doomed society, because even though during his reign he was sandwiched between two wicked rulers, he always considered Isaiah the prophet's spiritual advice for guidence through his life!-(The church, your pastor)
*In each case, God was the secret to his survival!  The name "Hezekiah" means "He whom the Lord helps".  Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped. Psalms 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Psalms 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalms 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help...
The soldier's first article of faith is summed up nowhere more eloquently than in an 1865 letter from William Tecumseh Sherman to U.S. Grant: "I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come--if alive."  The same can be said of our Saviour......"I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come--BECAUSE YOU ARE ALIVE!"  
According to 2 Kings 18:5, Hezekiah was the BEST king that the divided kingdom of Judah ever had!  He was the GOOD son of an evil king (Ahaz), and a GOOD father of an evil king (Mannasseh).
(1)-HE SURVIVED CLEANING UP THE MESS!....(Idolatry and murder of children)-(v.4-read)
Hezekiah's father had closed the Temple and damaged the furniture there; so Hezekiah decided to make a change for the better!  His growing up to turn out so well is a slap in the face to those who have GOOD homes to grow up in; yet they live like the devil; and do everything their parents told them to avoid in life!!!
*He REMOVED THE HIGH PLACES....people in those days thought they were closer to God by living and worshipping on hills and mountaintops....It made them FEEL closer to God!!!  He CUT DOWN THE GROVES..."the groves" were carved wooden poles in the form of the goddess Asheteth (Fertility god).  Then he DESTROYED THE BRAZEN SERPENT that they had held onto for over 700 years!-(traditions)!

(2)-HE SURVIVED COMMANDING THE MULTITUDES!-(being CROWNED-reigned 29 years)
Hezekiah was only 25 years old when he began to reign over Judah.  His mean-ole-daddy had to die before he would leave office!-(There was a lot of cleaning up to do!)-(America? the World?)  Apparently, Hezekiah had used his "younger days" on earth to prepare him to make mature choices once he was crowned as the new leader. (Our young people need to spend time being more serious minded about the important matters of life than they do in entertainment, video games and FEELING GOOD!)
*The only kings to rule Israel in it's entirety was Saul, David, and Solomon.  After Solomon's death, the kingdom was divided into two parts (Israel north & Judah south).
(3)-HE SURVIVED BY CONSIDERING THE MEN OF GOD-(Isaiah & Micah)
1 Corinthians 1:21 ...it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 
James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 
2 Timothy 3:14-17... But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 
(4)-HE SURVIVED BY HAVING A CHARACTER THAT MIMICKED HIS GOD-(v.7-Lord was with him)
(a).  The Evaluation of his Character-(v.3-"he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord")-Did right-by-God!
(b).  The Eyewitness of his character-("In the SIGHT of the Lord")
(c).  The education of his character-(v.6-"Kept his commandments which the Lord commanded Moses") Somebody, probably the history of King David, had an impact on this young man! (Titus 2:11-"the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men...")   According to v.5 there was NOBODY ELSE like Hezekiah!
(5)-HE SURVIVED BY CLEAVING TO HIS MAKER-(v.6-"He clave to the Lord")
(6)-HE SURVIVED BY CONFIDING IN HIS MAKER-(V.6-"trusted in the Lord")