1 Kings 20:22-28 (King James Version)
22And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
23And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
24And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:
25And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
26And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
28And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
I was thinking about what we had talk about over the weekend at Ryan’s and while I was thinking GOD email me a sermon. I know that you really need to hear this one. You will thank GOD afterwards.
Let us refocus on vs. 23 and 28:
23And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
28And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Today, I want to encourage you to keep looking up and trust GOD in full. Know that you have the victory in Christ JESUS as a child of the Living GOD. I want to take in this though today: WHAT IS THE LIMIT OF GOD’S PROTECTION?
I know and fully aware that the enemy attacks us from many angles; and as a child of GOD we know how to fight on many grounds as long we keep the faith. I want to you look at this story for a moment. This story begins with the Syrian army seigeing and attacking Israel. Israel gathers their strength and defeated in Israel. The enemy left and plan to come later (That would be in the spring of the next year for them).
Now I want you to look at something that the enemy doing. As you will see in the text (vs. 23) the enemy had enough sense to know not to play with GOD. They gave notice to each other that GOD is strong and powerful in the hills because that was the only way could defeat them in their sight. Moreover, they were planning not to return for a long time, hoping they would relax and drop their guard. Look at this and tell me if it is true or not. The enemy knows if he comes to Mount Zion to harm you he will have to fight with directly; if he comes between you and your husband he knows that GOD bless your marriage; and if he attempts bother you while you are singing praises to GOD he knows that will not allow anything to interfere with his praises. Why??? these are the hills or high points of life when we are very close to GOD; and the devil know if he attack you then and you stand up to him he will be defeated. These are time that we recognize that GOD is with us; but what happen when the devil change his battle plans. Where is GOD when you are at the job and is seems like the everyone is harassing you; while you in the car and somebody cut you off and slow down in front of you and something slip out of our mouth because we got nervous for a minute; or where is GOD when you spouse is out on the road and we know that all kinds of stuff happens while on the road (accidents, weather delays, and/or let be real drugs and prostitution). These are the plains, valleys, or low times in our life. Why do I say this; we tend to wait till Sunday when we go to church and say, "Y’all pray for me I am going through ruff times." We make this statement with the anticipation the situation will not change soon; if GOD does not step out the church for a minute and help me outside the church. Believe it or not our distant from the church tends to symbolize our distant from GOD. As long we are in church singing, praying, and hearing good preaching everything is alright, then Monday morning comes and we say, “Hear we go again; LORD if you can get to Friday or Saturday evening I’ll be alright.” Now we are depress during the week over messy folk, yearning in our souls to get to church where I know where GOD is present.
So what are the limits of GOD protection? Read vs. 28 again:
28And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Notice GOD was insulted by statement since:
1. they try to limit him by geography
The enemy figure if they area of attack they should be the stronger one there in the new location. Let me let you in on a secret the enemy knows not to attack you were it seems GOD’s presents is strongest, he will try to attack you where you think about GOD the least. If he can not get you at church he try the home; if not the home your marriage (it is amazing how GOD can bless with a beautiful home inside and out, yet the occupants of the home can get along); not your marriage your job; not your job your car; not your car the store; if not in the store don’t let your child go out to fast without praying over them. Look for an example Job. The enemy tried to cut him off notice he attack the kids first because he knew as I know as a father you are sensitive about your kids. Many has lost there faith in GOD over their kids. Next he attacks his property and you know we tend to have dumb love over our property. Some of us can not stand to be poor. Some of us rather starve than to do without the cable, cellular, or car. Last he attacks his body but Job lets the devil know he rather die than live without a relationship with the lord. No matter how many times the devil change his battle plans Job said, “The Lord gives it, and the LORD takes away but blessed be the name of the LORD”
2. They try by numbers
The king of Syria order for them to number the men to ensure the victory. The enemy knows many of good church folk lack faith when we see the numbers. When we look at our check we said we are bless until we start to compare our check to others then we tend to say GOD did not bless me like he blesses them. And don’t let the bills get behind because may not have enough for tithe. Notice most things that are done in life are put to some form of an empirical formula. Learning in school if you put two to two together you will get four, but an empirical formula can not explain how JESUS took five barley loaves and two fish, prayed and feed 5,000. What I am saying see sometime on the job it seems as if you are only one doing what is right; you look for help and everyone just want to do wrong; and you feel along because you feel you are the only one that is doing right. This is how the enemy comes toward you with numbers. The majority, if they keep going at the rate are going, can get you fired, but have ever wonder when try to get you fired they could never succeed. VS. 28 state in the c clause “I will deliver the multitude into your hands so you will know I am the LORD. Look at the story of Elijah (1 kings 19). Elijah is in a cave when GOD asked what you are doing here; Elijah states he is alone in his praises to him because he felt the masses had turn to Baal. Yet, GOD reminds him he is not along; and there are 7,000 that have not kiss nor bow to the god Baal. GOD has to encourage him and us also that we are not along. If GOD be for us then who can be against us; so we as Christians should not discourage when the odds are against us. Trust GOD he will deliver us.
3. they tried by time
22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
26And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
Now, look at these two verses. The prophet came to the king of Israel warn him not to relax for the enemy will be back next. VS. 26 states they return in the spring of the next year. Now, why did the enemy plan it in this manner? Well, some of us are rejoicing in the blessing of the LORD; and many of us are celebrating a single or multiple victories that GOD has deliver us from. Yet, many of us are not careful when we get to basing in His Glory that the enemy wants to catch us when we are off guard. See, some of us get relax and silly beginning to believe that trouble can not come our way. If you are not careful the same trouble will appear in your life at the same time every year. Take for an example all year long people will bother you for money promising to give it back, yet went the tax return come you don’t see them nor do they call about your money until theirs have run low. Then they are back to the same routine. I know I am not the only one with close kin that does that. The only reason they can maintain a five year run on us is simply because they know if they ask you for the money at the right time; you are not going think far enough to remember this scum already owe me $120 or more. And their only response is, “we cool right?” Our enemy knows when we are relaxed; it is the best time to attack. We tend to let our guard down we are in the middle of being bless. We tend to get a little distance with GOD, forget about others or where you came from, and begin to pat yourself on the back for doing so well at the moment. Yet, you fail to keep in mind that you are setting yourself up for a trap of the devil. Be humble as a sheep but wise as a serpent. Why, because the devil trying to do everything to trap you in sin. It is amazing that we have church folk that can not talk to their brother or sister, can’t obey the pastor, and rise more hell than a little bit; even though GOD has bless them richly. But be not deceive GOD is not mock; you will reap what you sow. Do not give GOD time to let you go, and leave you to the devil.
In conclusion, what is the limit of GOD’s protection? He say, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” and “If I am for you, than I am more then the world against you.” This is the same God that took two fish and five loaves of bread and feed five-thousand; and he step out edge of a boat in the stormy sea and said “Peace, be still”. The same GOD that love the world so much he sent his only begotten son to be wounded for our transgressions, bruise for our iniquity, the chastisement of our peace was upon, and by his stripes we were heal to save us from a burning hell. I’m glad today, that JESUS carried that old rugged cross; hung, bleed, and died; but early one Sunday morning he rose with all power in his hand. Now what is the limit to GOD protection he can raise his own son from the grave, put all power in his hand, and save your soul for a burning hell. Now if GOD can do that for his own son what do you think he can do for you. Now if you know that GOD has deliver you from the enemy you need to testify to someone who going through and tell them, “Yes, he is able to deliver you!” Thank you JESUS.
The doors of the church is open, if you want to be healed, deliver or be set free from your enemies come to JESUS right now and let GOD work it out for you. GOD blessed you.
