INTRODUCTION: We here at The TRUTH Under FIRE are blessed to
announce that we have assembled a new team of guest writers who will periodically
share biblical insights, lessons and informative, encouraging articles by the
grace of God: We have Greg Reid, and pastors Bob Lawrenz, and Sonny Islas with prospects of some more potential members that, LORD willing may
join our TTUF Team as researchers, administrative assistants and writers (you
can view the biographies of all our TTUF team members here;
Here is a brief biography of Sonny:
Sonny Islas was born on April 8, 1980 in Tucson, Arizona to
a Christian family of 7. Though raised in a Christian home, during his teen
years, he associated with the wrong crowd, which led him to do shameful and
remorseful things. After watching some of his closest friends die due to drugs
and gangs, he began to really ponder eternity, life after death, hell and the
consequences of sin. This caused a holy fear of God to grip his heart.
He, then, eagerly began attending church again and
surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ at the age of 16. He was
immediately baptized. The first few years were a bit rough. However, at the age
of 16, he felt an inner calling to preach. By the time Sonny turned 18, the
inward calling took fruition. While a senior in high school, he was asked to
give bible studies during lunch. During this time God gave him a genuine hunger
for the Word.
Furthermore, he was also asked to preach on Friday nights at his
local church to the youth group. God continued to open doors, as he was
consistently invited to preach by different churches-- small and large, both in
and out of town. He served in many ways such as; preaching, Christian rap
music, leading worship, missions trips, evangelism of all kinds, and leading
teen and young adult ministry. Sonny comes from an extensive line of preachers,
pastors, worship leaders, Christian musicians, evangelist and ministry workers
of all kinds.
He married at the age of 23 and is still with the love of
his life today. Sonny and his wife have two sons, 13 and 10. After serving in
youth ministry and evangelism, Sonny served as an Assistant Pastor to his
oldest brother for a few years. At age of 30, he felt the calling to become a
lead pastor himself and to plant a sister church. God grieved Sonny’s heart for
the souls of men who are being destroyed by false teachings and by the blinding
of Satan. His desire was to preach God’s inerrant Word by the power of the
Spirit, that men would turn to Christ as they hear the Gospel Message. After 4
years of much prayer and patience, the leadership took a step of faith to send
Sonny, in June of 2014, to the most spiritually bankrupt part of town where the
E.L.W Church South was born. That desire has become the heart of the ministry
by the Grace of God. This July of 2018, The E.L.W. Church South faith family celebrates
4 years and Sonny celebrates 20 years of ministry and 15 years of marriage. The
LORD has been good and faithful to work his will and purpose in Sonny.
By Sonny Islas, pastor of SHINE BRIGHT Church, formerly Eternal Living Word Church, Southside.
The focus is on events that took place in 2 CHRONICLES 25 and 26. Uzziah becomes the King of Judah at
the tender age of 16. But instead of staying the course and remaining loyal to
the God who gave him the throne, he became puffed up and followed the fatal
footsteps of his foolish father.
Now, Uzziah’s father, king Amaziah had an honorable
start.
2 CHRONICLES 25:2 says,
“He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.’’
King Amaziah obeyed the word of God concerning
execution. He obeyed the man of God when warned not to team up with Israel for
war because God was against Israel at this time. His obedience which only stems
from a humble heart was greatly rewarded by God who gave him victory over the
Edomites in battle. Amaziah slaughtered twenty thousand Edomite soldiers.
While he was at war with the Edomites, Israel’s
soldiers, the ones he had discharged due to the word of the Lord, out of anger
towards Amaziah, raided some cities in Judah, killed three thousand people and
took much spoil. This was clearly the consequence of making an unwise decision
in uniting with Israel which he repented of later.
There is a principle to be learned here-- don’t team up with God’s enemies to do ministry because when it’s time to part ways, they may do some damage to you and your ministry behind your back. Then Amaziah did the unthinkable!
2
CHRONICLES 25:14
“Now it was so, after Amaziah came from
the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people
of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before
them and burned incense to them.”
This obviously angered the LORD. Through a prophet,
God rebukes Amaziah and even gives him a chance to repent of his stupidity
(idolatry) and outrageous arrogance. Amaziah rejects God’s warning and in
retaliation, he decides to pick a fight with Joash the king of Israel because
Amaziah is deceived into thinking that just as God gave him the Edomites, God
will now give him Israel.
But little did Amaziah know that his pride
now caused God to side with his enemy Israel. Joash clearly sees
Amaziah’s pride in all of this.
In 2 CHRONICLES 25:19 Joash sends a message to Amaziah saying,
“Indeed you say that you have defeated the Edomites, and your heart is lifted up to boast. Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall—you and Judah with you?”
The pride of victory blinded Amaziah’s heart and eyes.
Because of Amaziah’s pride and detestable sin, God used Israel to teach Amaziah
a lesson. And the lesson was painful and costly, i.e. Joash broke some of
Jerusalem’s wall, raided the Temple, took gold and silver articles and hostages
to Samaria. Eventually, king Amaziah became a fugitive and was later murdered.
Amaziah apostatized.
His pride cost him everything, His favor with God, His
throne, his power, even his very life.
Back to Uzziah his son who reigned in his place.
Uzziah had a fresh start. An opportunity to do right in the sight of the LORD
from beginning to end. But, as we’ll soon see, the same disease of pride that
corroded his father’s heart will soon corrode his.
The condition and blessed promise to Uzziah was
that “as long as he
sought the LORD, God made him prosper.’’ Uzziah prospered
greatly in war. God helped him to defeat the Philistines and a few other
surrounding cities. He was empowered by God to conquer and build. He had great
triumphs and achievements. He raised up a powerful army and invented very
impressive weapons. His fame was widespread because “he was marvelously
helped (by God) TILL he became strong.”
All was good and flourishing UNTIL he became prideful!
2
CHRONICLES 26:16 says, “But when he was strong his heart was lifted
up to his destruction…”
His prideful heart led him like a cruel
slave trader yanks his slave with a rope to the Temple of the LORD to burn
incense, which was forbidden for kings to do.
The burning of incense was strictly the work of the priest.
The burning of incense was strictly the work of the priest.
Another lesson—do everything God’s way and stick to
what God has called you to do.
He broke God’s Law and despised God’s instructions
regarding the burning of incense. And to add insult to injury, when the priests
rebuked him, he becomes furious with them.
Then, God strikes Uzziah’s forehead with leprosy!
Could this serve as a reminder of the plate that was
to be placed on the front of the turban over the forehead of the High Priest
that read, “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD?” Maybe. He was then kicked out of
the Temple, isolated and cut off from the House of the LORD because leprosy
became his portion and discipline until his death. In the end, his legacy was
marked by four cold words “He is a leper.” In other words, “He is prideful.”
Leprosy is caused by bacteria that affects the nervous
system which then leads to numbness, which leads to loss of body parts do to
repeated unnoticed injuries.
Doesn’t this describe both Amaziah’s and Uzziah’s pride
and fate?
Pride is also spiritual bacteria that causes numbness
towards God’s gentle cautions, rebukes, convictions and warnings which then
leads Him to pull away and allows us to fall apart until we humble ourselves.
Pride pushes God away and makes us do things our way
like Amaziah and his idolatry or like Uzziah and the burning of the incense.
Pride led these two men down a dark and lonely road.
Like Amaziah, God may let the enemy take a bite out of our ministry “success” if we become prideful.
If we like Uzziah, stop seeking the LORD for everything, watch out!
As we can see, God has no problem with dethroning men,
causing them great pain and replacing them. Always remember, “God gives
grace to the humble, but He resist the proud!” In this sad case, like
father like son.
This concludes this article by Sonny Islas.
Pride is a kind of ‘spiritual leaven’ that puffs us up
and corrupts. Here is a related article on the issue of sin, pride and false
doctrine:
Remember that P.R.I
D.E. = Personal Rebellion: I Desire Evil!
For more on the issue of pride and the dangers of success,
see the following:
ALSO By Sonny Islas, a great series on HINDERANCES TO
PRAYER; here are Parts One and Two
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