True Reformation Begins With You

August 31, 2021 (a sermon presented on 5/2/2021)

II Chronicles 29:1-20 – 1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.  ² And he did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father [forefather] had done.  ³ In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord [which his father had closed] and repaired them.  ⁴ He brought together the priests and Levites in the square on the east  ⁵ And said to them, Levites, hear me! Now sanctify (purify and make free from sin) yourselves and the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place.  ⁶ For our fathers have trespassed and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God, and they have forsaken Him and have turned away their faces from the dwelling place of the Lord and have turned their backs.  ⁷ Also they have closed the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and they have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the place holy to the God of Israel.  ⁸ Therefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has delivered them to be a terror and a cause of trembling, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your own eyes.  ⁹ For, behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity for this.  ¹⁰ Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, that His fierce anger may turn away from us.  ¹¹ My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in His presence, to serve Him, to be His ministers, and to burn incense to Him.  ¹² Then the Levites arose: Mahath son of Amasai, Joel son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; of the sons of Merari: Kish son of Abdi, Azariah son of Jehallelel; of the Gershonites: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah;  ¹³ Of the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; of the sons of Asaph: Zechariah, and Mattaniah;  ¹⁴ Of the sons of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.  ¹⁵ They gathered their brethren and sanctified themselves and went in, as the king had commanded by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord.  ¹⁶ The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the Lord’s house. And the Levites carried it out to the brook Kidron.  ¹⁷ They began on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day they came to the porch of the Lord. Then for eight days they sanctified the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day they finished.  ¹⁸ Then they went to King Hezekiah and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the showbread table with all its utensils.  ¹⁹ Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz in his reign cast away when he was transgressing [faithless] we have made ready and sanctified; and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.  ²⁰ Then King Hezekiah rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord.

This passage paints a beautiful picture of reformation. Reformation meaning the act of reforming or the state of being reformed.

In the scriptures we find Hezekiah as a young king. He is only 25 years old when he began to reign. To be such a young man, Hezekiah had his work cut out for him. Because his father, who was king before him, was caught up in idolatry. It is said that he brought the kingdom literally to the verge of ruin.

To say Hezekiah’s father (King Ahaz) was caught up in idolatry is an understatement. We are told that King Ahaz began by introducing idol worship alongside the worship of God. Things only escalated from there because there came a day where the doors of the temple of the Lord were closed. As if to say, we have our gods; the ones we will serve. We don’t need the God of our forefathers anymore, and just to make sure that no one tries to worship Him or offer sacrifices to Him, we are closing the door on His temple.

King Ahaz led the people into sacrificing to the gods of Damascus. He led them into establishing centers of idol worship in every Judean town; his entire kingdom. King Ahaz was so caught up in his idolatrous worship that he even burned some of Hezekiah’s brothers to death by offering them to the pagan god, Molech. And the Lord God saw how he worshipped other gods; leading God’s people astray as well. This angered the Lord. So the Lord stirred up enemies against King Ahaz from every side. The Philistines were invading from the West, the Edomites were taking territory to the East, and the Assyrians were threatening to the North.

Things were looking bleak, but the Lord had a plan because Ahaz would not rule forever. All while Ahaz was busy worshipping his idols, the Lord was at work. He was raising up a reformer. One that would have a heart to please Him.

How difficult it must have been for Hezekiah to grow up seeing these things and having to live with a father that was so caught up in idolatry. As difficult as it must have been, Hezekiah still had a choice to make. He could follow the same path as his father and worship false gods or he could choose to be different and make a difference; not only in his life, but in the lives of the people of his kingdom.

It is said, and I believe that it is true, that when someone grows up where they have to purposefully strive to overcome; meaning opposition is coming against you from every side. You become very aware of every choice and decision you have to make. That constant buffeting makes for a very strong person. A person that isn’t willing to compromise or to draw back or even to give up. This was the heart of King Hezekiah. Purposefully, when he became king, he set his heart to bring reformation to the kingdom no matter the cost.

I want us to see that the Lord is raising up reformers in this hour. I want us to see and understand that while we serve the Lord, many times there are those opposing forces that come against us. There are those situations that so deeply touch our hearts that they can make us either a better person, a stronger person. Or we can give into the weight of those things, where we are torn down and we fall away from the Lord and His purposes for our lives.

We have been called to the Kingdom for such a time as this! We have been called to be reformers and although America, in many ways, looks as though it is being brought to ruin, I believe the Lord is allowing us to see and experience such things so that a pressing will take place within us. Where we will have to make a choice just like King Hezekiah. Either we will serve the Lord fully or we will not. There is no middle ground for a reformer. A reformer cannot sit on the fence. A reformer cannot sit idly by while evil is rising on every side.

The Lord is revealing to us in this hour that there are those that the Lord is raising up. Those that, if they will purpose in their hearts to put God first and His righteousness and actively work to establish His kingdom rule and His presence in the earth, we will see His favor return upon this land, and we will experience His glory.

Now do we see the resistance in this nation coming upon the reformers? Yes, and it is to be expected. But the Lord says, keep the faith, for this resistance will only make us strong.

What did Hezekiah do to cause reformation to come?

Hezekiah first seeks the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and he sets out addressing the needs of the kingdom and its people. The people needed peace in the kingdom because they had enemies on every side. But Hezekiah knew, if he could gain the favor of God by honoring Him and putting Him first in the Kingdom, he knew if he could deal with the sin in the land by turning the people away from idolatry, the Lord God would again defend and protect His people and they would have peace.

So reformation first began with Hezekiah when he opens the doors to the house of the Lord that his father had closed, and the Bible says he repaired them. The sins of the former generation were being reversed. Realize this! Reformation starts with us individually, and it has the power to affect others. Not only was Hezekiah breaking free from his past, generational sin and iniquity was breaking off of him by choosing to follow God, but his actions would also affect the kingdom.

When we speak about Kingdom reformation, we need to realize that as far as Kingdom reformation goes, here on earth, true reformation began when the Father sent His Son. The scriptures tell us of the Lord; a Reformer:

• The government shall be upon His shoulders
• He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
• Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is among you”
• No greater Name is there than the Name of Jesus
• No greater power is found than in the Blood of the Lamb
• He led captivity captive and He gave gifts unto men.

Jesus came as the Word. He came proclaiming the Word and telling us of the Father. His Word brought change (or reformation) to the earth. Everything He did brought change (or reformation) to the earth, where Satan’s earthly rule was overcome and God’s Kingdom rule was established.

The veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. Meaning access was given to His presence. Reformation began because of Christ’s victory at the cross. It is a finished work, but we must enforce it.

Jesus came bringing reformation to the earth….(as One individual He started the work)

The scriptures say of us as reformers:

• I have given you the keys to the kingdom
• Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven
• Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We become reformers when we take up our cross and follow Him. Having done all that was necessary. Jesus said, “It is finished.” He has given us the Keys to the Kingdom and we are the ones now called to be reformers. We are the ones that are called to open the doors to the house of the Lord so that others can know and experience His presence. Like Hezekiah, we must not compromise. Like Hezekiah, we must not draw back.

King Hezekiah realized that the first order of business in seeking reformation in the Kingdom…..

• Was to use the authority given to him “As king”,
• And make access to the presence of God available once again for the people.
• Idolatry/Idol worship had caused those doors to be closed….
• But now God had a man….King Hezekiah….
• A man that the scriptures say “did right in the sight of the Lord as David, his forefather, had done.”

Hezekiah went about setting order in the house of the Lord.

• He started this by first bringing in the priests and the Levites
• As King he orders the Levites to sanctify themselves…
• They were to purify and make themselves free from sin….
• So they could serve the Lord…

The Bible teaches us that sin cuts us off from the presence of the Lord.

Revelation 5:10 – 10 And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign (as kings) over the earth!

We then, have a responsibility to honor the Lord and put Him first. To purify ourselves and make ourselves free from sin. You may ask, “Make ourselves”? Yes, the way has been made for us, all we have to do is repent.

As kings and priests unto our God, as far as reformation goes, it starts with us as individuals. We have to realize that we have been given authority in His Name. Having access to the presence of the Lord has conditions attached to it. We need to live a sanctified life where we deal with any sin in our lives. Our body is the temple; the house of the Lord. Anything that is not pleasing to Him, it needs to be dealt with.

So the priests cleansed the house of the Lord….

• They put things in order
• The lamp of the Lord would once again burn – the abiding presence of Holy Spirit
• The incense would go up before the Lord – prayer
• And burnt offerings could once again be offered to the Lord

There is significance in the burnt offering being mentioned because the burnt offering is an offering that represents that we are fully offering ourselves to the Lord. It is an offering that costs you something. With the burnt offering the animal that you would bring would have been raised from its youth. You could identify with it, you cared for it. As it was placed on the altar you would lay your hands on its head to identify with it. You would become very aware of your sin and that there was a cost for it.

The priest would catch the blood & sprinkle it round about & upon the altar. Then the priest would skin the animal to expose all of its inward parts. He would carefully dissect it checking each part to make sure it was free from defects. After examining the animal; if satisfied, the priest would burn the entire animal on the altar (fully consumed – except the skin.) The entire animal was offered as an expression of your readiness to present your entire being to God. It represented a complete consecration or giving of yourself to God. Because nothing can be held in reserve if you want to commune with Him.

It is said that the Burnt Offering is one that ascends as a sweet aroma to God.

• The skin remaining was the evidence that a sacrifice had been made.
• It was a voluntary offering of yourself.
• God did not force you to make this offering.
• It represented your readiness for communion with God.

So this burnt offering represents us presenting ourselves to God freely. Our will becoming His will.

God’s Word clearly shows us that you cannot become a “reformer” if you aren’t sold out for the Lord because anything less would divide you, and there are a lot of Christians that do this. Where they say in their heart, you can have this, Lord, and you can have that, but don’t touch this over here. I’m not willing to give you that. But this is not pleasing to the Lord. Because the Lord, while He will not demand it of you, He wants you to be willing to give “all” to Him.

King Hezekiah said that it was in his heart to make a covenant with the Lord. A covenant is: a formal, solemn, and binding agreement. In this case King Hezekiah wanted to make a covenant with the King of Glory. This is a very strong desire – meaning I believe the Lord put it in his heart, and the Lord considered it “a very honorable thing to do”. But still, Hezekiah didn’t have to do this. He had a choice.

Reformers are covenant makers and covenant keepers.

1. They take God at His Word, and they are men and women that keep their word to Him.
2. Covenant makers & covenant keepers don’t settle for anything less that God’s best. They recognize God’s promises and the fact that He is a covenant keeping God.
3. Reformers/covenant makers/keepers stand on His Word, and they fight and war with that Word until they see the manifestation of it.
4. Covenant makers/keepers build and establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. They claim land for the Lord; cities, regions and territories. They bring forth the increase and turn back the evil at the gate.

And I want you to understand that Satan cannot have this region and territory that we live in. The Bible says to resist the enemy and he will flee. We as God’s reformers, His covenant keepers/makers, we must resist the enemy and stand strong at the gates of our city, at the gates of our county, and at the gates of this region. Because I, for one, am not willing to give up this land to the enemy.

I for one say, that the plans of the enemy for this region and territory will fail. Satan and his hordes of demons will not prevail in this region because we forbid it in Jesus name.

Matthew 18:18 – ⁸ Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be ^[a]what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be ^[b]what is already permitted in heaven.

It is said by Bible scholars that “Hezekiah’s reign appears as a return to the glory of Solomon’s kingdom.”

Hezekiah was a Reformer; A covenant maker and a covenant keeper.

Psalm 24 – Yahweh claims the world as His.  Everything and everyone belong to Him!  ² He’s the one who pushed back oceans^[b]to let the dry ground appear, planting firm foundations for the earth.  ³ Who, then, is allowed to ascend the mountain of Yahweh? And who has the privilege of entering into God’s Holy Place?  ⁴ Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure, whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth, those who never deceive, whose words are sure.  ⁵ They will receive Yahweh’s blessing and righteousness given by the Savior-God.  ⁶ They will stand before God for they seek the pleasure of God’s face,^[c] the God of Jacob.  ⁷ So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you doorways of eternity!^[d]Welcome the King of Glory, for He is about to come through you. ⁸ You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” Yahweh, armed and ready for battle, Yahweh, invincible in every way!  ⁹ So wake up, you living gateways, and rejoice! Fling wide, you eternal doors! Here He comes; the King of Glory is ready to come in.  ¹⁰ You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” He is Yahweh, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts!^[e] Yes, He is the King of Glory!  TPT

Reformation starts with us as individuals, then it affects us corporately, regionally, and territorily. We can even affect our nation and the nations.

• What the Lord does in you, in me….
• Will usher in the glory.
• Are you ready to abide in His presence?
• Where His presence is, it is glory divine.

As I was preparing this I began to hear the Lord say, I have a word for the people today….

Surely as this land is marked by covenant, a covenant that a man by the name of Robert Hunt formed with Me at Cape Henry so long ago…know that I am raising up My reformers in this hour…..the covenant makers, the covenant keepers….those that will recognize and run with the Word, the agreement that I have made concerning America.  This is a time for My people to stand, and by standing I say this means you must surrender all.  For this is a time, where I will cause My people to shine, I will cause My people to not only deal with sin and iniquity in themselves, but I will also cause My people to tear down thrones of iniquity that have prevailed throughout this land.  I say stand and contend and see the power of demonic strongholds broken says God.  Stand and see salvations come as reformation breaks open a way for many to come and know of Me and My glory says God.  For it seems that destruction is coming in on every side, but I say by standing, the way is being made for the King of Glory to come into this nation in an unprecedented fashion.  For the people of America will know of Me.  For the people of the nations that are represented here in this land, they will know of Me says God.  And throughout the nations will not My presence visit the people says God?  Yeah, I will visit the earth in this hour and My reformers will perform the works that I desire to bring forth in this hour.  Committed to Me, and sold out to Me, I will use them well says God.  And they will stand before Me and I will call them blessed saith the Lord.  So rise in this hour and determine in your heart that you are going to covenant with Me in this hour and know that even as you do, My Spirit will come upon you in such boldness that you will not fear the enemy and what he can do to you.  But by faith in Me, you will know that your future is secure and that your abiding place is in Me saith the Lord.

Flatter not yourself in this hour saith the Lord.  For I will exalt My people in this hour that set their hearts to be a reformer.  I will exalt them and I will lift them up, but humble yourself saith the Lord and even as you do, great grace will be poured out upon you, and I will place upon My people in this hour a finishing anointing.  For I the Lord say that I will cause My people to finish well in this hour.  For I say the enemy will know you by name, he will know that you are Mine saith the Lord.  Only do not fear the enemy says God, for the grandstands of heaven are full in this hour.  There is excitement that is building as those that look on are eager to see the victory that is coming as the race is nearing its end.  “Finish well they say, finish well.”