Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for July 2

HIS WORD STILL SPEAKS

From: July 2, 2025

“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon.’” (2 Kings 20:16–17 ESV).

Isaiah was the Lord’s prophet during the time of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isa. 1:1). In the book of 2 Kings, his ministry was most prominent in the life of Hezekiah. He warned Hezekiah that the treasure he had proudly shown to the Babylonian envoys would one day be taken from Jerusalem. This moment marked one of Isaiah’s final appearances in the book of 2 Kings. After Hezekiah’s reign ended, Isaiah’s name disappeared from the narrative and the nation entered one of its darkest periods under Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh. However, Isaiah’s prophetic word endured. The judgment he declared eventually came to pass when Babylon invaded Judah and carried off its wealth and people. Tradition holds that Isaiah was martyred by being sawn in two during Manasseh’s reign, a fate possibly referenced in Hebrews 11:37. Even though Isaiah’s voice was silenced, his writings lived on, proclaiming hope in exile, the coming of the Messiah, and the promise of restoration. His word outlasted his life.

We are reminded that God’s Word never fails. Isaiah’s warnings were not always heeded in his lifetime, yet they were fulfilled. We too may live in a time when truth is ignored or dismissed, but we must continue to speak and live God’s Word faithfully. We are not responsible for how people respond, only that we deliver the message. Even if our names are forgotten, the Word of the Lord remains. Like Isaiah, we are called to plant seeds of truth and trust the Lord for the harvest. Let us walk in bold obedience, knowing His Word never returns void.

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to be faithful messengers of Your Word. When the culture disregards truth, give us courage to continue speaking it. Let us live in such a way that even if we are forgotten, Your Word will endure through us. Strengthen us to trust that Your promises never fail, and that every prophecy will be fulfilled in Your perfect time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS AVAILETH MUCH

From: July 2, 2024

“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” (2 Kings 20:5 ESV).

Hezekiah, king of Judah, was sick to the point of death. The prophet Isaiah came to see him and told him to put his house in order for the Lord had said he would die. Hearing this, Hezekiah cried out to the Lord in prayer. And the Lord heard his prayer, telling Isaiah to turn back to tell Hezekiah that the Lord would heal him.

Notice some of the details of the Lord’s response. First, God said that he “heard” Hezekiah’s prayer. We can be assured of this. God’s hears our prayers. Second, God saw his tears. The Lord is moved to compassion by our tears.

God hears. God sees. And finally, God heals. The Lord is able to save and to heal. He calls us to take hold of such things by faith through prayer. As we read in the epistle of James, “Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we often forget to pray. We let worry and doubt overwhelm us. Forgive us. We bring all our cares and desires to You this day. Remember us. Hear our prayers. See our tears. Stretch forth Your hand to heal and to save. In Jesus’ name, amen.

HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL STILL REMAINS

From: July 2, 2023

“The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah” (2 Kings 20:20 NLT).

King Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings in Judah. In 2 Kings 18:5, he was described as one who “trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.” The only foolish event attributed to his reign happened near its end, as he invited emissaries from Babylon to see all of the wealth within Jerusalem, thus foreshadowing Babylon’s future overthrow of the city. Yet, despite this prideful lapse in judgment, Hezekiah remains one of the greatest kings to sit on David’s throne.

Evidence of his reign still remains today. For the waters of the Gihon Spring still gush up and travel through the 1,750 feet of manmade tunnel to the pool of Siloam inside Jerusalem’s walls. The tool marks in the tunnel’s walls still show the human effort that went into Hezekiah’s Tunnel, which he had built to help the city survive a siege.

Some years ago, my wife and I waded through this manmade tunnel. Its existence attests to ancient man’s genius and to the credibility of the Bible which describes it. For the Bible describes real people and real events that took place in real places.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we trust Your Word for You have preserved it for our benefit. Even when men question it, the rocks cry out to attest to its accuracy. Thank You Father for the Word of God. And even more, thank You for the Living Word, Your Son, Jesus. For it’s in His name that we pray, amen.

“After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry” (Acts 21:19 NLT).

From: July 2, 2022

PAUL GIVES A DETAILED ACCOUNT

This was a wonderful day in the history of the early church. Paul returned from his third and longest missionary journey to give “a detailed account” to James and the elders in Jerusalem. After hearing the report of how the Gentiles all over Asia Minor and Greece had received the gospel, the elders rejoiced and praised God.

The modern practice of giving a missions report back to the home church is really not modern at all. I suppose the first missions team to report back was the “Seventy-two” sent out by Jesus who “returned with joy” (Luke 10:17). Yet, Paul and his team certainly solidified the practice of bringing back a detailed report to the sending church.

For the last couple of years we haven’t sent out short-term mission teams due to COVID travel restrictions. But we have many long-term partners living internationally from whom we love to receive prayer and praise reports. And we hope to be sending out short-term teams again in the near future.

I wonder. Will the Lord expect a report from us from our time here on earth? Certainly He will. For the Scripture says, “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God” (Rom. 14:12).

PRAYER: Dear Father, our time here seems increasingly fleeting. One day soon we will stand before Your Son to give an account. Strengthen us to be faithful to Him in all things. For we long to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign, along with all his might and how he made the pool and the tunnel and brought water into the city, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings” (2 Kings 20:20 HCSB).

From: July 2, 2021

HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL STILL REMAINS

King Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings in Judah. In 2 Kings 18:5, he was described as one who “trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.” The only foolish event attributed to his reign happened near its end, as he invited emissaries from Babylon to see all of the wealth within Jerusalem, thus foreshadowing Babylon’s future overthrow of the city. Yet, despite this prideful lapse in judgment, Hezekiah remains one of the greatest kings to sit on David’s throne.

Evidence of his reign still remains today. For the waters of the Gihon Spring still gush up and travel through the 1,750 feet of manmade tunnel to the pool of Siloam inside Jerusalem’s walls. The tool marks in the tunnels walls still show the human effort that went into Hezekiah’s Tunnel, which he had built to help the city survive a siege.

My wife and I have waded through this manmade tunnel, which attests to ancient man’s genius and to the credibility of the Bible which describes its existence.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we trust Your Word for You have preserved it for our benefit. Even when men question it, the rocks cry out to attest to its accuracy. Thank You Father for the Word of God. And even more, thank You for the Living Word, Your Son, Jesus. For it’s in His name that we pray, amen.

“Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah—all his might, and how he made a pool and a tunnel and brought water into the city—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?” (2 Kings 20:20 NKJV).

From: July 2, 2020

HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL STILL REMAINS

King Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings in Judah. In 2 Kings 18:5, he was described as one who “trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.” The only foolish event attributed to his reign happened near its end, as he invited emissaries from Babylon to see all of the wealth within Jerusalem, thus foreshadowing Babylon’s future overthrow of the city. Yet, despite this prideful lapse in judgment, Hezekiah remains one of the greatest kings to sit on David’s throne.

Evidence of his reign still remains today. For the waters of the Gihon Spring still gush up and travel through the 1,750 feet of manmade tunnel to the pool of Siloam inside Jerusalem’s walls. The tool marks in the tunnels walls still show the human effort that went into Hezekiah’s Tunnel, which he had built to help the city survive a siege.

My wife and I have waded through this manmade tunnel, which attests to ancient man’s genius and to the credibility of the Bible which describes its existence.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we trust Your Word for You have preserved it for our benefit. Even when men question it, the rocks cry out to attest to its accuracy. Thank You Father for the Word of God. And even more, thank You for the Living Word, Your Son, Jesus. For it’s in His name that we pray, amen.

“After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry” (Acts 21:19 NLT).

From: July 2, 2018

PAUL’S MISSIONS REPORT AT JERUSALEM

This was a wonderful day in the history of the early church. Paul returned from his third and longest missionary journey to give “a detailed account” to James and the elders in Jerusalem. After hearing the report of how the Gentiles all over Asia Minor and Greece had received the gospel, the elders rejoiced and praised God.

The modern practice of giving a missions report back to the home church is really not modern at all. I suppose the first missions team to report back was the “Seventy-two” sent out by Jesus who “returned with joy” (Luke 10:17). Yet, Paul and his team certainly solidified the practice of bringing back a detailed report to the sending church.

In only a few weeks, we’ll be sending out our Guatemala Missions Team. And we look forward with hope to rejoicing and praising God at their missions report when they return.

“On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord” (Acts 21:18-20 NKJV).

From: July 2, 2017

The apostle Paul reported to James, the half-brother of Jesus (Gal. 1:19), and the Christian elders in Jerusalem concerning his missionary work among the Gentiles. They gave glory to the Lord when they heard his report. Yet, they also encouraged him to take steps to reconcile himself to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem by showing that he “walked orderly and kept the law” (Acts 21:25).

Paul submitted to the advice of James and the elders. Unfortunately, it was in the following of their advice that he was falsely accused by the mob and nearly beaten to death before being arrested by the commander of the Roman garrison.

Some would say that it was the following of the advice of James and the elders that led to Paul’s arrest. But Paul knew better. He knew that it was the Lord who guided his steps and determined his path. He knew that the Lord had sent him on an all-expense-paid trip to Rome to preach the gospel before Caesar.

“The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his might and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?” (2 Kings 20:20 ESV)

From: July 2, 2016

King Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings in Judah. In 2 Kings 18:5, he was described as one who “trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.” The only foolish event attributed to his reign happened near its end, as he invited emissaries from Babylon to see all of the wealth within Jerusalem, thus foreshadowing Babylon’s future overthrow of the city. Yet, despite this prideful lapse in judgment, Hezekiah remains one of the greatest kings to sit on David’s throne. Evidence of his reign still remains today, as the water still flows through Hezekiah’s tunnel into Jerusalem. My wife, Robin and I have waded through this manmade tunnel which attests to ancient man’s genius and to the credibility of the Bible which describes its existence.

“Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah—all his might, and how he made a pool and a tunnel and brought water into the city—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?” (2 Kings 20:20 NKJV)

From: July 2, 2015

King Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings in Judah. In 2 Kings 18:5, he was described as one who “trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.” The only foolish event attributed to his reign happened near its end, as he invited emissaries from Babylon to see all of the wealth within Jerusalem, thus foreshadowing Babylon’s future overthrow of the city. Yet, despite this prideful lapse in judgment, Hezekiah remains one of the greatest kings to sit on David’s throne. Evidence of his reign still remains today, as the water still flows through Hezekiah’s tunnel into Jerusalem. My wife, Robin and I have waded through this manmade tunnel which attests to ancient man’s genius and to the credibility of the Bible which describes its existence.