God Likes Challenges(2)

**fennywest** Wed 02 Jun 2010, 4:45 pm

The Battle of Kings (1)

The Battle of Kings
Between Hezekiah
And Sennacherib
Judah was opposed
Battleground, Jerusalem.

Sennacherib, bold, brazen,
Threatened Hezekiah
‘Be not deceived
‘Don’t let your God fool you
‘You know how we’re unstoppable
‘We do as we please
‘We take no prisoners
‘We crush all along our path’

‘Where were the gods of Gozan
When we invaded?
‘Where were the gods of Haran
On that fateful day?
‘What shall I say
about Razeph and Eden?’

‘Have you so soon forgotten
the fate of King Haman,
the demise of Sepharvaim,
Hena, and even Ivvah?’

‘Do you need any more evidence?’

King Hezekiah was scared
The letter was terse
Evidence, overwhelming
It was no empty threat
The statistic was impressive.
Undeniable, clear, unforgettable.

Then Hezekiah climbed up higher
Spread the letter before his God
Where he got a different perspective
That changed the playing field for good:

Yes, the statistic is true and impressive
But those gods were wood and stone-
The work of human hands- idols.
They were useless, hopeless, powerless.

But my God made the Heaves and the earth.
My God is the True and Living God.
My God speaks and it is done.
My God commands and it comes into being;
My God is able to do and undo.
I stand this day to see my salvation!

O Lord, my God
You alone, O Lord, are God.
Rise up from Your holy hills
Reach down Your mighty hands
Rescue us, O Sovereign God of gods!

Let it be known that
We serve the all-powerful,
All-knowing, ever-faithful
And ever-present God.
Let it be known, O Lord,
That you alone are God!
The mighty God, the Living God,
The exceedingly, abundantly able God!

Are you facing the battle of Kings today?
Who won this battle of kings?
Your guess is as good as mine

Climb up higher today
Get a different perspective
Pray with importunity
Declare the power of Your God
Be strong in the Lord
Stand, having done all, stand.
Stand to see God’s salvation
Praise Him before you see
Put the enemy where he belongs-
Under your feet!

It was the battle of kings
Won by the King of kings
Because Hezekiah-the king
Dared His praises ring.

2Ki:19:9: And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,

2Ki:19:10: Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

2Ki:19:11: Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?

2Ki:19:12: Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?

2Ki:19:13: Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

2Ki:19:14: And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

2Ki:19:15: And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

2Ki:19:16: LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.

2Ki:19:17: Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,

2Ki:19:18: And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

2Ki:19:19: Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.

God likes a challenge. We remember how Goliath challenged Israel and her God. David stood in the gap, the Name of his God, defying the uncircumcised Philistine who defied the armies of the Living God. David magnified the Lord, reminding himself of what God had done in times past- the deliverance from the hands of the bear and the lion.

Sennacherib threw the gauntlet to Judah and King Hezekiah. He backed his boasting with a catalogue of incredible exploits Hezekiah could not deny.

This would naturally frighten anyone who depended on the arm of the flesh or the god’s of wood and stone. Hezekiah remembered whose he was and climbed up higher to meet with his God. There he saw clearly through God’s eyes and his strength was renewed; he was revived, inspired, emboldened and rejuvenated.

Whilst acknowledging the credentials of the Assyrians, he put things in perspective and discovered they were no match to the Living God. He knew he had a partner with a Name above every other name, who sets up kingdoms and uproots them, a God who declares the end from the beginning, the First and the Last, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, with Whom nothing is impossible. Hezekiah knew that, one with God is majority.

He prayed with boldness, fervency, intensity, importunity, impetus, passion, proclaiming the power and sovereignty of the Most High God, and he was not disappointed.

The turn-around came. Sennacherib was humbled, humiliated and God was glorified, because King Hezekiah knew whom he served and who was his God.

Come to think of it: This happened in the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant. We are told we have a New Covenant established under a better covenant.

So we have even a better deal because of Jesus Christ!

Who are the Sennacheribs that are threatening you as a child of the living God? Jesus said,’ Behold I give you power over all the power of the enemy. In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer because I have overcome the world.’ ‘Greater is He that is you than he that is in the world. ‘Whoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes this world, even your faith.’

Retire to your closet today. Do not resort to the arm of the flesh. It will surely fail. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Put on the whole armour of God so that you can stand in the evil day. Pray with all kinds of prayer. Be strong in the Lord, not in your natural connections but in your divine connections. Know who you are I Christ and what you have in Christ. Let God fight for you and you will hold your peace. Be not afraid. The Goliath you see today is no match to your God.

Eph6:10-18