Where Is The Victory?

Where is Your Faith?

We never ask the question, “Where is my victory?” when all is well and the sun is shining.

The Foundation

Relationship

2 Kings 18:3-7

• ¹Hezekiah did right by God.

• Hezekiah trusted God.
• Hezekiah clung to the Lord.

Crisis

2 Kings 18:9-16

Hezekiah’s devotion and trust in God did not prevent the ²crisis from overtaking him.

Three Diseases of Faith

Ceasing From Prayer

Hezekiah did not pray and seek God (c.f., 19:1, 14).

Instead, he appealed to Sennacherib in submission to him.

• I have offended.

His offense was not paying the usual tribute money. Not only does he give in to this, but to raise that amount, he had to take gold from God’s temple.

Waiting to See Signs & Wonders

Jesus referred to people in this category as being evil and adulterous.

• Matthew 12:39; 16:4

It is highly likely that Hezekiah was waiting for God to perform some sign or wonder to overturn the present crisis situation.

• After all, Hezekiah trusted and clung to God.

Failure to ³Observe The Manifestations of God

Hezekiah had forgotten the truth of verses 7 and 8.

Hezekiah got where he was only by clinging to God—no other way.

Return to Faith And Victory

Mounting Crisis

Until we turn to God in faith, we can expect the crisis to worsen.

Sennacherib ⁴sends the following message to Hezekiah:

• Your ideas of war are vain.
• Egypt will only harm you.
• Your God will not help you because he sent me to destroy you.
• Give pledges to me and I will give you horses.
• Do not let Hezekiah deceive you.
• Neither Hezekiah nor your God will deliver you.
• None of the gods of the other nations has stopped me from conquering those nations.

Hezekiah’s Victory

The first step to Hezekiah’s victory was a return to prayer.

• He needed to be healed of the first disease of faith.

His next step is to call for the prophet, Isaiah.

• Hezekiah is not waiting for God to do something, rather Hezekiah is putting his own faith into operation.

Here he receives healing for the second disease of faith.

Finally, Hezekiah recalls the manifestations of God and expects God to respond to the reproaches of Sennacherib.

• He further asks Isaiah to pray to that end for the people who are left.

What is Your Crisis?

When you ask God, “Where is my victory?” he will respond with, “Where is your faith?”

• You are always going to get what you are believing for.

It is just easier to believe for failure and disaster.

• Satan is going to make it as difficult for you to cling to God as he possibly can.

Hezekiah Does Not Falter in His Faith

Sennacherib sends a second message to Hezekiah in an attempt to crush his faith and resolve.

• Hezekiah responds by taking Sennacherib’s letter and spreading it before the Lord.
• Hezekiah prays and voices his trust and confidence in God.
• Hezekiah mentions to God that the other nations were not delivered from Sennacherib because they did not trust in and cling to the only true God.

God’s Response to Faith is Victory

Isaiah, God Servant

God answers Hezekiah’s prayer once again through Isaiah.

• God has heard your prayer.
• I will turn Assyria back by the same way she came in.
• Sennacherib shall not enter into Jerusalem.
• That night, the angel of the Lord went out and killed 185,000 Assyrians.
• Sennacherib left and dwelled in Nineveh.

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Last modified: Tuesday January 16, 2007 08:41:25 AM -0800