Terrorism Will Not Prevail Against the Lord!
It’s been said that those
that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Although we as a nation
of people have not always made the wisest decisions, the opportunity to learn
from history and change our course of action accordingly is available.
The first key decision we
must arrive at is the understanding that our government is not going to save us. It's not that they can't, but they won't. Those who desire to take action are blocked. This president is doing what is in his heart to do, which is rebel
against God. We wonder why the
prescribed course of action, feeble as it is, results in neglect, double-talk, and indecision that leaves America
vulnerable to its enemies. We continue to question WHY this administration, and specifically this president, refuse to acknowledge we are in a war, and WHY there is still no real commitment to call evil for what it is and commit to fighting it. It's because there is an alignment with those that conspire to do evil. When one refuses to destroy an enemy intent on destroying you, then it's because you have agreement with that enemy. This president has taken his stand, but it's not with us. We wonder why treachery and treason go virtually unchallenged but it’s because spiritual darkness has a blinding
effect. We need to stop trying to appeal to our government to wake up and help us and realize THAT IS NOT WHERE HELP IS GOING TO COME FROM. We need to appeal to heaven and look to God for help. God has hardened the hearts of certain
people just like He did to a certain pharaoh thousands of years ago. Moses was
a key leader and prophet that challenged the tyrannical rule of an ungodly
leader, and this leader had exalted himself like a god over the people. He refused to be
held accountable to anyone. Time after time, Moses came with both requests to
let God’s people go, and warnings of what would occur if Pharaoh did not
comply. Pharaoh’s actions, in light of repeated warnings and experiencing certain forms of discipline prior to judgment, were completely illogical. Yet, he persisted
because scripture tells us that God had hardened his heart in order that God
would get the glory.
“But
the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron,
just as the Lord had said to Moses.” Exodus 9:12
The reality is, God simply allowed Pharaoh to continue in his sin, knowing full well that he had already determined to resist God anyway. We know the rest of the
story. Pharaoh was so stubborn that even being warned that he would lose what
was dearest to him, his firstborn son, did not restrain him from continuing to
do evil towards God’s people. His heart was hardened to do what he willed
regardless of what common sense dictated; and, in spite of having to endure
painful lessons along the way he persisted in rebellion. He reproached the living God. In reality, Pharaoh was afraid of God's people, because they multiplied exceedingly. He was determined to rid himself of Israel because he feared losing control and his kingdom. In the end, he lost it all anyway. He could not prevent God's determined will! GOD allowed him to continue for a time so that Jehovah would get the
glory when He delivered his people. It ended badly for that stubborn, hard
hearted pharaoh and his army. This history was made available to everyone to be
able to learn from it. Wisdom shouts it from the rooftops: Do not harden one’s heart
against the Lord or incur the consequences.
There is another account
from history that has captured my attention as of late; it’s the story of
Sennacherib. (Details are found in 2 Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 36 & 37).
Sennacherib was an Assyrian king. A tyrant. He, too, made his boast in his
victories. He conquered many cities and took over 200,000 captives, and built
quite a reputation of terror among those that knew him.
And then, scripture informs
us, this arrogant king ‘entered Judah, encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself.’ 2
Chronicles 32:1. Judah was the southern kingdom of Israel. Within this territory were fortified cities. Strong cities. But Sennacherib assumed they were going to be as easy to conquer as all the others. Now that is arrogant and over confident, and that is what trips up foolish people. Pride causes sin darkened hearts to count their victories too soon. Sounds a lot like the ISIS crisis going on in current world
events, don’t you think? Or perhaps the crisis in our own government?
The problem with pride is
that it boasts of self-will, self-confidence and it doesn’t stop to consider
that every proud, rebellious action will inevitably hit the wall when God says, “Enough
of this.” Sennacherib was about to come face to face with God himself because Sennacherib desired to take the very place that was His. Judah was on God’s watch list. “Judah” means praise. Something
happens when an enemy tries to take the praise out of the mouth of God’s
people. This ungodly king tried to replace their praise with fear and cries of pain. He used terror to turn those cries into self-glorifying worship for his evil deeds. What he hadn't counted on was the fact that God had his man already in place before Sennacherib ever got there. There was a righteous
man in charge over this city, and his name was King Hezekiah. King Hezekiah
worshipped Almighty God, and encouraged the people by saying, “Be strong and
courageous: do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before
all the multitude that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.
With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to
fight our battles.” 2 Chronicles 32:7,8. The people were strengthened by the
words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Sennacherib responded by
sending out his message – a message intended to create fear and intimidation. His messenger structured it in such a way as to immediately create fear and discouragement in those that heard it, but more importantly, to destroy their faith in God. I’m
rephrasing but basically his message said, “Hey, I took all these other cities
and I am going to take yours, too. There is nothing you can do to stop me. Haven’t
you heard about what I’ve done to all those that opposed me? Haven’t you heard
about the terror and fierceness of my army? All the other cities and their gods
couldn’t save them, and you think yours will be any different? Don’t listen to
Hezekiah. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Your king is weak and he can't protect you!” Sennacherib made his boast
against the Lord and against His servants, just as he had done to every other city that he conquered. Those cities were polytheistic. They had many gods, and worshiped at many altars. The significance is this: where false gods were worshiped, thrones of iniquity were constructed in the heavenlies, giving evil spirits dominion over those cities. Of course he could conquer those cities, because Satan had been worshiped in various forms and had been made god of those cities. So, when an evil king wanted to carry out an evil agenda, the dominion had already been given over to the one who desired only to kill, steal and destroy. But Judah was different. Judah was loyal to the true God, Jehovah. What Sennacherib didn’t realize was that his
prescribed time of terrorizing others had run out. He mocked God's ability to preserve God's people and His cities. God was about to teach Sennacherib and his army a very painful lesson.
Whether it's drug cartels, gangs, corrupt government officials or even ISIS and other terrorists, they all operate by intimidating the masses.These sort of giants could make Goliath appear small, but none are more powerful than God. Fear is fear. It's used to control and manipulate others, forcing people to do things against their will. This is called witchcraft, and witchcraft can only have power where self-will and rebellion against the Lord have built a throne for Satan. Think about that. If we want to recover our cities, and recover our nation, then we must TURN BACK to God with all our heart. The only way to dismantle ungodly thrones where Satanic power has been given dominion is to renounce our self-will, our false gods, and worship God with all our heart. Light must become stronger than the darkness.
The enemy will always send out propaganda that is intended to create fear and intimidation in those he is attempting to conquer. It seems that every day we see horrendous videos of ISIS terrorizing anyone within their reach. They have a vicious determination to eradicate Christians. Our government attempts to intimidate anyone that takes a stand for Christ. Those that pray are persecuted, shut down and shut out of certain places because the enemy is trying to send the message loud and clear "Stop praying!" "You are not welcome in my house!!" Satan has claimed America, our cities and our families for himself. Yet, he knows his time is about to run out! Anyone that tries to dominate another first uses the force of intimidation against their opponent. Fearful people are more likely to surrender and allow themselves conquered. We must look beyond what we see in current events to understand the outcome prescribed by the Lord.
The enemy will always send out propaganda that is intended to create fear and intimidation in those he is attempting to conquer. It seems that every day we see horrendous videos of ISIS terrorizing anyone within their reach. They have a vicious determination to eradicate Christians. Our government attempts to intimidate anyone that takes a stand for Christ. Those that pray are persecuted, shut down and shut out of certain places because the enemy is trying to send the message loud and clear "Stop praying!" "You are not welcome in my house!!" Satan has claimed America, our cities and our families for himself. Yet, he knows his time is about to run out! Anyone that tries to dominate another first uses the force of intimidation against their opponent. Fearful people are more likely to surrender and allow themselves conquered. We must look beyond what we see in current events to understand the outcome prescribed by the Lord.
“Whom have you reproached
and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted up your eyes
on high? Against the Holy One of Israel.” (vs.23)
“But I know your dwelling
place, your going out and your coming in, and your rage against Me. Because
your rage against Me and your tumult have come up to My ears, therefore I will
put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back
by the way which you came.’ “ (vs.26:29)
Don’t you love the fact that
God told the arrogant, defiant rebels that HE KNEW where to find them?
GOD
ISSUED A PROCLAMATION AGAINST EVIL
Sennacherib was as good as
dead, he just didn’t realize it yet. He was not going to exalt himself as god over the city! God made a declaration against an evil
king and his army of terrorists, and we can too. As kings and priests, we not
only pray, but we legislate from our seat of authority next to Christ because
we are seated in heavenly places. (See Ephesians 2:6). We also have a seat of
authority that is ABOVE the principalities and powers that are operating in the
earthly realm. We MUST see ourselves in the role of reigning and ruling WITH
CHRIST, for this is essentially how we enforce our King’s laws! If we want evil to be restrained, cut off, and
thwarted, we must operate in kingly authority. Friend, listen to me for a
moment. We cannot allow all our ‘what if’s’ and vain imaginations to neutralize
our faith. This is not a time to think that the government is the only answer
to the problems at hand. God can deliver His people and provide for them with
or without government assistance. He has always proven that! It is not up to
any of us to figure out HOW God will work it all out. That is His job. He used
angels before and He can use them again to accomplish what He wills; but one
thing He cannot do for us is cause us to pray in faith. He cannot cause us to
worship. But when we do, change occurs as a result of those things. Remember the
victory of Judah! Judah means praise! So, do not look at the problems;
focus on having faith in God and exercising the dominion He has already given
you. YOU are not small in His kingdom. He has already given you the mustard
seed of faith that it takes to exercise the faith that is needed. YOU are His
authority in the earth. YOU ARE CALLED FOR THIS!
We are going to take the
Word of the Lord that GOD SPOKE to Sennacherib and declare it against ISIS and
those working together to perpetuate evil. (see text in Isaiah 37:33-35)
THUS
SAYS THE LORD CONCERNING EVIL KINGS, TERRORISTS and EVIL ARMIES:
“You shall not come into
this city nor shoot your weapons here. You will not come before it with your
shields. You will not build a siege against this city, and the way by which you
came you shall return. I repeat, ‘You shall not come into this city,’ says the
Lord and his servants agree. ‘For the Lord will defend this city, to save it.
For His own sake and for His servants sake.’
I declare JESUS is the MOST HIGH GOD over this city!
I declare JESUS is Lord of these people!
I declare JESUS CHRIST is the KING of the nations!
I declare JESUS is our shield and great reward!
Scripture goes on to tell us that when this shamed king of Assyria got back home, he went to worship his god in the temple and his own sons hunted him down and killed him. God delivered His people with a strong hand and HE got the glory.
If we read the Bible then we
are assured that God has already revealed His will, both in historical accounts
such as those mentioned in this article, as well as throughout the New
Testament. Yes, there will be battles. Painful ones. But every battle has a prescribed time
that it must come to an end. God has already shown us His determined will, meaning, it cannot be altered. God's servants prevail over evil. ISIS doesn't win. Terrorism doesn't win. Corrupt government leaders don't win. The government is upon the shoulders of the Lord Jesus Christ and of His kingdom there shall be no end! The New Jerusalem is coming down out of heaven every time we pray and decree God's kingdom rule. Don't entertain those thoughts and allow negative propaganda to make you fearful or double-minded. Every battle has a set time and then God steps in to settle the matter HIS WAY. I truly believe that when a city prays and
worships together, they establish a throne to the Lord that is not easily
removed. When we worship and pray together, we construct a throne to the Lord
and He comes and sits upon that throne. He ‘inhabits the praises of His people,’
according to Psalm 22:3, and where Christ is enthroned, He rules. Psalm 122:5
states that a throne is also a place of judgment. God will issue judgments on
behalf of His people where justice prevails and judgment against the works of
evil must be executed. Not just against acts of terror but in all things. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Your kingdom come and Your will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven!
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