GET TOGETHER – He Is The God OF Victory
2Ch 32:7,8 “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
What a blessing it was to be at the National Day of Prayer here in Hamilton, Alabama today. It was an honor to get to Serve with Brother Shane Stidham the Pastor at Fulton Bridge Baptist Church and Brother John Holiday the Pastor at Hope Alive. I appreciate Dr. Wayne Cobb and all of those who were involved in organizing this event.
When Brother Shane shared his devotional concerning the faithfulness of King Hezekiah and how God answered his prayers I was reminded of when the Lord spared Jerusalem when the Assyrians had Jerusalem surrounded by over 185,00 soldiers.
This event is recorded in Isaiah Chapters 36, and 37. It is also recorded in 2 Kings 18, and 19, as well as in 2 Chronicles Chapter 32. So with that said it must be that God is wanting to teach us something very important concerning this event. You can go read all the details. There is so much in there that it would be hard for me to get it all in one message. But here is what I believe that the Lord would have me to say to us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ.
We may feel just like Hezekiah did when Jerusalem was surrounded by a powerful adversary. We may feel like we are surrounded by a powerful adversary as well. We may feel like the forces of evil have us surrounded and are ready to take us down as Christians and as a free nation. I am reminded of a Christian song that has in its lines “it may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You.”
We need to remember who the Apostle Paul told us that our battle is with : “ Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We have been given victory over these forces of evil. Jessu won the victory for us on the cross at Calvary “ Col 2:14,15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.’
But we as believers are called to enforce the victory through prayer. And through times of fasting; and by the way fasting isn’t one of my favorite spiritual disciplines, but it is effective.
It often requires getting up earlier than others, or staying up later if you are younger to pray and ask God to send an awakening to this nation. Hezekiah sought God in a big-time way. The Assyrians were the most brutal and powerful army on the face of the earth. Here is what Hezekiah did :
Isa 37:15-20 Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying:
“O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
“Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,”and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands-wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them. “Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.”
There are many more spiritual principles in the three accounts of this event. But here is the bottom line Isa 37:36,37 Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses-all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.
What if Hezekiah had not prayed? What if he had not sought the Prophet Isaiah? What if he had done nothing? I believe that the situation in our nation is very serious. I believe that only one man the Lord Jesus Christ is the answer. But we have a part to play. I challenge myself and all of you may we be committed to praying not only for our nation, but for the Christians in other nations as well during this very crucial time in history.
What Hezekiah told the people was true for them and it is true for us if we will get passionate about praying and believing that God will bring victory to us and to believers in this nation and all over the world. Once again here is the passage with the words that Hezekiah said to his people. I believe that we can stand on them as well.
2Ch 32:7,8 “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.8 “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Let Us Pray:
Lord Jesus it sometime appears that evil is winning. However, we know that isn’t true. But it is also true that You want us to be engaged in the battle through prayer and times of fasting. Help us to partner with you in enforcing the victory that You have already attained for us. And may we, like Hezekiah be faithful in this matter so that one day we can hear You say well done my good and faithful servant.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Your Friend /Kinfolk
Preston
PS For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night. That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16.
Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful. J.J. and I have some upcoming ministry opportunities please keep us in prayer.
Preston Headrick
Evangelist
Real Party Ministry
P O Box 2302
Hamilton, Alabama 35570
Real Party Ministry 