PRAYER UNSEAT ENEMIES` SIEGE
2 Chronicles 32: 1-22
1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem
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3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.
4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be 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 rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
16 And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against His servant Hezekiah.
17 He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
Message: What is siege?
Siege is defined in the dictionary as “a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling those inside to surrender”.
While prayer is a two-way communication between a believer and his/her father in heaven who is the Almighty God.
i. It does not matter the number that has gathered against you. One with God is Majority
ii. God is able to save those who trust in Him
iii. The arm of flesh will fail you.
iv. Call on God in the day of trouble.
v. God is a man of war.
Matthew 11:2-4. Prayer could be for
1. Thanksgiving,
2. Supplication and
3. Requests. Philippians 4:6. We also have
4. Prayer of worship or adoration,
5. Intercessory prayers,
6. Spiritual warfare and
7. Prayer of agreement (Corporate Prayer) Acts 1:14; 2:42 etc..
8. There is also praying in the Spirit Ephesians 6:18.
The devil knows the power embedded in prayer that it can scatter any satanic gathering mounted against:
A nation,
family or
Child of God.
That is why he does everything possible to keep people away from praying.
Will you allow him to succeed in your life?
PRAYER IS THE SOLUTION TO YOUR ENEMIES` SIEGE
1. King Hezekiah of Judah and prophet Isaiah offered a corporate prayer, also called a prayer of agreement, against the siege of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and God intervened and defeated their strong enemy. 2 Chronicles 32:20-22
2. Daniel prayed and the satanic gang-up of his enemies was neutralized by God and He made all of them meat for the lions. Daniel 6:3-22
3. Esther and her people prayed and the perfect plan of Haman backfired on him. He died a shameful death. Esther 3:1-6; 4:16; 7:9-10
PRAYERLESSNESS HELPS YOUR ENEMIES TO PREVAIL
1. Without God we can do nothing, John 15:5
2. By strength shall no man prevail,1 Samuel 2:9.
3. We need to serve God so that we can enjoy all His promises and be able to call on Him for intervention whenever storm arises. Psalm 50:15
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Exodus 23:25-27
25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
26 There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
27 I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
4. King Zedekiah of Judah did not serve God unlike King Josiah and Hezekiah and when the king of Babylon laid siege against Jerusalem for a considerable long time, there was much famine. He did not repent and cry to God, rather he tried to escape by his own wisdom. He was caught and taken to Babylon where all his sons were slaughtered before him and they also plucked out his eyes. (2 Kings 25:1-7).
5. When a man fails to pray, his enemies will reign supreme in his life. As a matter of fact, the devil will take charge of his destiny. John 10:10.
CONCLUSION:
A closed mouth is a closed destiny and a prayerless man is a defeated man.
Call on God and He will deliver you from the enemies´ siege.
Prayer lifts up the hand of God, but prayerlessness encourages the devil to continue with his destruction.
Trust God who is able to save.
