July 21
2 Kings 19:1-19; Isaiah 37:1-20; 2 Chronicles 32:9-19; 2 Kings 19:20-37; Isaiah 37:21-38; 2 Chronicles 32:20-23
Pastor Chuck Smith said, "When I was child, I considered myself righteous because I didn't go to the movies. I didn't go to dances. I didn't smoke. I didn't drink. My whole righteousness was predicated on these kinds of negatives and a few positives. I went to church every Sunday and Wednesday. When they had revival meetings, I was there every night. Yet. my righteousness was in keeping rules that had been set by the church. I didn't know what it was to glory in the cross, in the finished work of Jesus Christ. I was endeavoring to do better- failing but promising God, "I'm going to do better." Struggling, trying in my flesh to please God. Then I discovered the grace of God and learned that righteousness was through Jesus Christ. Oh, what a relief that was! What freedom! So God forbid that we should boast! Others may boast in their fleshly accomplishments, but God forbid that I should glory except in the finished work of redemption on the cross of Jesus Christ." Paul said in Galatians 6:14, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me , and I to the world." Ponder this and reflect. What is it that we are truly standing on, our righteousness, our ministries, etc. or the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Are we trusting in God or ourselves. Hezekiah had his back against the wall, surrounded in the walled city of Jerusalem by the Assyrian army. He was outmatched in every conceivable factor in terms of warfare in the flesh. He did make a few feeble attempts in his flesh to withstand the attack, making alliances with Egypt (always a picture of the flesh), buying his way out, etc. But when that failed, we read in Isaiah 37:1, "And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord." He then asked for intercessory prayer from Isaiah the prophet. We then see his complete trust in God in 37:14, "And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord." This was a threatening letter speaking of their annihilation at the hands of the Assyrian army. Total trust in God. No flesh whatsoever at this time.
Where are we? Do we like to state all of the things that we are doing or not doing for Jesus as though this has anything to do with why we are righteous? Do we like to list our ministries, what we give, how often we go to church? We can't add to our righteous. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Our old identity should be insignificant compared to our new identity in Christ. And if this is not clear enough, Paul goes on in 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." As we seek Him, we will rightly lose ourselves and see no reason to boast when contrasted with the incomparable riches we have received in Jesus.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: