Faith That Fortifies For The Fight

FAITH THAT FORTIFIES FOR THE FIGHT

2 Chron.32:1-23

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A man was having trouble getting his neighbor to keep his chickens fenced in. The neighbor kept talking about chickens being great creatures, and as such they had the right to go where they wanted.

2. The man was having no luck keeping the chickens out of his flower beds, and he had tried everything. Two weeks later, on a visit a friend noticed his flower beds were doing great. The flowers were beginning to bloom.

3. So, the friend asked, "How did you make your neighbor keep his hens in his own yard?"

4. "One night I hid half a dozen eggs under a bush by my flower bed, and the next day I let my neighbor see me gather them. I wasn't bothered after that."

B. EXAMPLE OF HEZEKIAH

1. Today we’re looking at a believer’s approach to facing serious problems. The problem Hezekiah and Judah faced was so enormous that only God could deliver them. And that’s where faith comes in. When the problems are bigger than our ability, that’s our cue to just rely on God.

2. In 2 Chron. 32 we not only see how he chose to face his problems, but also how unwavering faith produced a wonderful victory. One thing becomes clear: God honors steadfast faith.

3. The title of this message is, “Faith that Fortifies for the Fight.” Notice with me first:

I. THE THREAT

“After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. 4 They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said. 2 Chr. 32:1-4.

A. THE KING SPEEDILY COMMENCED PREPARATION

1. Notice here is that Hezekiah did not simply take a passive stance. He responded to this threat by first doing what he knew to be logical to do. That part didn’t take any faith—just common sense.

2. Hezekiah did what anyone should do when trouble appears imminent—make preparations. The Bible backs up this way of thinking. Prov.22: 3 “A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

3. Hezekiah also determined not to give the enemy any unnecessary advantages. That’s why he stopped the waters outside the city. We too need to be careful not to give our enemy, Satan, any unnecessary advantages over us.

a. Rom.13: 14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

b. II Cor.2: 10 “To whom you forgive any thing, I forgive also...lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

4. HE STRENGTHENED THE WALLS

a. 2 Chron. 32:5 “Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.”

b. NOTE: We can strengthen our spiritual walls by getting full of the Spirit & the Word. Eph. 6:11-18 speaks of the Armor of God that can both shield us from attacks and also give us offensive weapons. “The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.”

5. HEZEKIAH STRATEGIZED FOR WAR. 2 Chron. 32:6a “He appointed military officers over the people…” He organized the troops so that everyone had a job. That’s what’s needed in the Church too!

B. THE ENEMY SOUGHT TO CREATE PANIC

1. THE ENEMY MADE LIGHT OF HEZEKIAH’S LEADERSHIP

a. 10 “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? 11 When Hezekiah says, ‘The Lord our God will save us’... he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst. 12 Did not Hezekiah himself remove [your] god’s high places and altars, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar and burn sacrifices on it’? 2 Chron. 32:9-12.

b. The enemy wanted to cause the people to not only doubt Hezekiah’s leadership, but to doubt God’s ability to deliver them. If he can get us to doubt God, he can win the battle by our default.

c. In verse twelve, Sennacherib shows that he knew that Hezekiah had instituted religious reforms; he had destroyed the idols of his father, Sennacherib tried to use that to divide the Israelites by appealing to those who disagreed with Hezekiah.