16 BEND DOWN, O LORD, AND LISTEN! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! LISTEN TO Sennacherib’s WORDS OF DEFIANCE AGAINST THE LIVING GOD.
17 “It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations."
2 Kings 19:16,17 (NLT)
• God did use the king of Assyria to chastise and defeat and destroy some other nations, thus, he thought he was able to do that because of his military expertise; skills and strength: (2 Kings 19:23).
- He did not know that It was God Who gave him victory over those nations, and he did acknowledge God as the reason for His victory and success (2 Kings 19:25,26).
- If you are succeeding or prospering in whatever you are doing, know that, It is God Who has allowed It, nothing happens without His approval.
• God can permit the enemy, the devil and those who are loyal to him, to oppress His children If they are living in disobedience.
- God would not hesitate to permit or use the wicked to execute Judgement due a believer who erred. If He had determined to chastise or discipline a believer who rebelled against His Word; He would use the wicked or the ungodly to do it.
- God will fight against or oppose whoever stands against His Word. He does not want to be despised or belittled.
- When God is angry, a wise person or believer should appease or plead for His mercy, not to attempt to contend with Him.
• Hezekiah pleaded for God's intervention on the matter of Judah.
- When you are challenged, do not fight for yourself, turn the battle over to the Lord (Romans 12:19).
a. Take your matters to God in prayer (Ephesians 6:18).
b. Do not regard the boasting of the opposer, focus and depend on God only.
c. Sow a seed towards the problem. The seed is a sacrifice you make; It could be money or whatever you do towards God's cause, or the help offered to someone.
d. Fasting should be considered to be added to the prayer. At times, you may have done other things, If fasting is yet to be added you may not get the expected result. - Note: If you used the arm of flesh, that is, you tried to do it in your own way, you might not get the results needed, in fact, you may end up being a casualty.
• If your matter is handed over to God, and you live right, and walk in His precepts, He surely would judge those who rise to oppose or fight against you.
- After Hezekiah had taken the matter to God in prayer and sent to Prophet Isaiah for prayers, God sent a reply through His servant:
20 THEN ISAIAH [the prophet] SON OF AMOS SENT THIS MESSAGE TO HEZEKIAH: “THIS IS WHAT THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, SAYS: I HAVE HEARD YOUR PRAYER ABOUT KING SENNACHERIB OF ASSYRIA. 21 AND THE LORD HAS SPOKEN THIS WORD AGAINST HIM: . . . 35 THAT NIGHT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT OUT TO THE ASSYRIAN CAMP AND KILLED 185,000 ASSYRIAN SOLDIERS. WHEN THE SURVIVING ASSYRIANS WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING, THEY FOUND CORPSES EVERYWHERE" (1 Kings 19:20,21,35). - No one is able to fight against God. Whoever rises against you in a battle would have God to contend with. That is, If you turned the matter or battle over to God.
- Hezekiah the King of Judah took the matter of the King of Assyria to God in prayer, He turned it over to God. This is what God expects an average believer to do when he or she is challenged or confronted by the opposers.
- A believer who prevails in the place of prayer is the one who would experience victory and success in the physical realm—in whatever he or she does.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Whatever ailment working against your health and wellness is cursed and completely rooted out in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- You are made whole and your deliverance is permanent in Jesus' mighty name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!