Set Thine House in Order by Dr. 'Tayo Brown
November 16-22, 2003

"In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, SET THINE HOUSE IN ORDER; for thou shalt die, and not live" 2 Kings 20: 1

It was apparent here that Hezekiah s house was disordered. The Lord wanted him to set his house in order and come and rest in his bosom. Paul said he is willing rather to be absent from the body, and be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5: 8) Hezekiah still wanted to enjoy this world when the Lord told him to come home. Paul said, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (He has set his house in order), I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing 2 Tim. 6-8 Let us ask ourselves this paramount question, DO WE LOVE OR ARE EXPECTANT OF JESUS APPEARING IN THE AIR ? If so we ought to change our thinking and way of life.

There are definitely several things that needed to be placed in order in the life and ministry of Hezekiah perhaps that is why he was sick. Like Hezekiah, are there things in your life that needs to be placed in order? Three things I believe the Lord is restoring to the end time Church in Holiness: ORDER, PURITY AND POWER (OPP). Majority have seen and preached this scripture from the miraculous standpoint, I have done the same too. But you will observe that those things that the Lord gave Hezekiah 15 additional years to set in order were not addressed.

You see the Lord is longsuffering, that is His nature. He can wait but will not continue to wait. Jesus Christ our savior and Lord made sure that his house was set in order before he declared that IT IS FINISHED. Paul said, I have FINISHED MY COURSE. You can see the impact of a house set in order by Jesus Christ in the lives of the Apostles. You can see a house set in order by Paul in the lives of Timothy, Titus, and others. Paul said, My little Children, of whom I travail in birth AGAIN until Christ be formed in you Gal 2: 19 Christ was truly formed in them as they all affected this world. During the extra 15 years reign of Hezekiah, he gave birth to a son called Manasseh whose name mean forgetting it was written of Manasseh for he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed: and he reared up altars for Baal, and made grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven and served them and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the Children of Israel.

Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood very much till he has filled Jerusalem from one end to another 11Kings 21: 3,9,16.. Behold the 15-year product of Hezekiah. Today we have many Manasseh s in the body of Christ and some are just being birthed as a result of their father not setting their house in order as instructed by the Lord. We must truly set our hearts and affection on things above. The Lord wanted to show Hezekiah glorious heavenly things but all he could see was his present suffering which cannot be compared to the glory that shall be revealed. Are you so eager to be with the Lord like Stephen who in the midst of the rebellious Israel saw heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God (Acts 7: 56). Why are you so earthly bound? After all the whole worldly system will be destroyed by fire? Paul said, to die is gain; to depart and be with Christ is far better.

If you have set your house in order you can look up to death and say where is thy sting, O grave where is thy victory. Thanks be to God which gives us the victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. As you set your house in order today you shall live and not die eternally.

GRA