When Problems Come
Isaiah 7:1-14
Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-which means, "God with us."
Isaiah 7:1-2 (NIV)
When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it. Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.
Isaiah 7:6 (NIV)
Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.
2 Chronicles 28:16 (NIV)
At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help.
1. When problems come the solution is primarily spiritual not physical
Isaiah 7:3a-4 (NIV)
Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz...Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood — because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.’”
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
2 Chronicles 28:20-21 (NIV)
[The] king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help. Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace and from the princes and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him.
2. When problems come it’s important to remember you are His child
Isaiah 7:1-2 (NIV)
When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.
Isaiah 7:6-7 (NIV)
"Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,"thus says the Lord GOD: "'It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.
John 1:12 (NIV)
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
3. When problems come you must stand firm in your faith
Isaiah 7:9b (NIV)
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all