Our scripture from Isaiah 37:3 is helpful for us in this regard.
They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. (Isaiah 37:3 ESV)
Have you ever been to the carnival and seen the strength test? Ring the bell to win a prize. You want the prize but just cant seem to be able to muster the strength to ring the bell. Sometimes life is like that, if that is you, this message is for you.
I will explain the background to this scripture text in a minute. But for now, I want you to think about the critical moments of pregnancy. The process of giving birth is incredibly tiring, stressful, and to be frank it can be very dangerous. If you are a woman reading this - you can relate to the childbirth experience of being long, exhaustive, and where you just didn't feel as if you had the strength to go through the process.
Have you ever been to the carnival and seen the strength test? Ring the bell to win a prize. You want the prize but just cant seem to be able to muster the strength to ring the bell. Sometimes life is like that, if that is you, this message is for you.
I will explain the background to this scripture text in a minute. But for now, I want you to think about the critical moments of pregnancy. The process of giving birth is incredibly tiring, stressful, and to be frank it can be very dangerous. If you are a woman reading this - you can relate to the childbirth experience of being long, exhaustive, and where you just didn't feel as if you had the strength to go through the process.
I want to talk about giving birth, but not of a child, but of a promise or destiny which God has for us.
Some people when it comes to the word of God have a spontaneous abortion. Jesus talked about that in Mark 4, saying the devil steals the sown word. I wonder how many people have had a destiny or God's purpose for their life aborted?
Some people will never carry God's promises to term because their womb won't accept a promise.
Possessing your promise, is like pregnancy. The joy is not in getting pregnant, pregnancy is the difficulty, rather the rejoicing is in giving birth. Just like there are people who get pregnant but are never able to deliver successfully in the natural, there are a lot of people with glorious promises who will not successfully give birth.
The text we read is part of a communication from Hezekiah King of Israel when the King of Assyria entered Israel and began attacking and overtaking many cities. He sent word to Isaiah and said tell God what's going on here, and specifically tell him that we are in danger of losing this child (our destiny, our nation, the promise of this land), we are at a critical moment, I sense it could be the time for the birth of something wonderful, but we are completely out of strength to deliver the baby.
This message today is for those who have been pregnant with a promise and you sense there is a danger of losing the baby. Hezekiah had been brought to the brink of despair, maybe that is you today.
It is also a warning to those whom God would stir up with a promise that hell is always seeking ways to abort everything God wants to give birth to.
Back to our Bible story:
In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. (Isaiah 36:1 ESV)
One by one the cities of Israel fell into his hand, finally he gets to Jerusalem, and instead of attacking he offers them the idea of surrendering. His speech was very intimidating as you will see, before we get there I want to talk about one of the types of strength that Hezekiah realized he no longer had.
Some people when it comes to the word of God have a spontaneous abortion. Jesus talked about that in Mark 4, saying the devil steals the sown word. I wonder how many people have had a destiny or God's purpose for their life aborted?
Some people will never carry God's promises to term because their womb won't accept a promise.
Possessing your promise, is like pregnancy. The joy is not in getting pregnant, pregnancy is the difficulty, rather the rejoicing is in giving birth. Just like there are people who get pregnant but are never able to deliver successfully in the natural, there are a lot of people with glorious promises who will not successfully give birth.
The text we read is part of a communication from Hezekiah King of Israel when the King of Assyria entered Israel and began attacking and overtaking many cities. He sent word to Isaiah and said tell God what's going on here, and specifically tell him that we are in danger of losing this child (our destiny, our nation, the promise of this land), we are at a critical moment, I sense it could be the time for the birth of something wonderful, but we are completely out of strength to deliver the baby.
This message today is for those who have been pregnant with a promise and you sense there is a danger of losing the baby. Hezekiah had been brought to the brink of despair, maybe that is you today.
It is also a warning to those whom God would stir up with a promise that hell is always seeking ways to abort everything God wants to give birth to.
Back to our Bible story:
In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. (Isaiah 36:1 ESV)
One by one the cities of Israel fell into his hand, finally he gets to Jerusalem, and instead of attacking he offers them the idea of surrendering. His speech was very intimidating as you will see, before we get there I want to talk about one of the types of strength that Hezekiah realized he no longer had.
There are several types of strength that you can run out of in labor:
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Spiritual
But in chapter 36:1the type of strength that I think Hezekiah lost was community strength.
Notice that Hezekiah was living in a day and age when he saw bad things happen to his fortified cities.
Even the believers were under attack.
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Spiritual
But in chapter 36:1the type of strength that I think Hezekiah lost was community strength.
Notice that Hezekiah was living in a day and age when he saw bad things happen to his fortified cities.
Even the believers were under attack.
Hezekiah felt abandoned, he felt alone, he felt like he was the only one left carrying the shield of faith, and he sends word to Isaiah, "I don't know if I can keep this up."
The fortified cities had fallen, Jerusalem was alone. People that Hezekiah thought were pillars, were captured by the enemy, and he realized that the protection of being in a group was gone. He was on his own and he was fearful of his ability to make it.
What is interesting is that when the Assyrians come to Jerusalem instead of attacking with military might they attack instead with words. Some people all they have to have is a little intimidation and they will run for the hills. Let me very clear about this, if you are going to live for God and stand on his word, you are going to have to face and learn to deal with intimidating words spoken by the enemy (Isaiah 36:11-12)
The military officers who were better educated, better trained, and also spoke multiple languages, and also probably war experienced were concerned the rank and file who weren't as well prepared would melt in fear so they tried to get Sennacherib's men to speak only to the leaders. They were trying to shield the people from intimidating words. The strong ought to protect the weak, but the truth is that a faith that can't stand intimidating words is not a very good faith.
Sennacherib's men respond: "Shouldn't the guys who are going to eat there own dung and drink their own urine hear what we have to say?" In short we cannot protect people from intimidation, everyone has to face it and learn to overcome it. Our kids will face it in the classroom and on the playground. We will face it on the assembly line and in the boardroom. You will have to deal with it in community meetings and in your prayer closet. There will always be voices to challenge your faith in God.
Another area of attack was that it was the weakest part of the line that was under attack.
All the real attacks you will have in life, will be in your greatest area of weakness.
The enemy always attacks your weakest flank. We tend to ignore our weakest flank. Our General however, sees the need to strengthen the line in that area, and that is why he allows skirmishes along that flank.
How many times have you thought that you would much prefer an attack in an area you were emotionally better prepared to handle?
If I was your enemy I would scan your lines for your weakest flank and attack there. God knows our weakest flanks and the most often used way to build up that flank is to allow it to be attacked so that we become better warriors in that area. The flu shot is a little sickness to able us to handle a big one. So are life's trials.
How do you think the rank and file took those words. The men will eat their own dung and drink their own urine? Those words were not said in a vacuum, Sennacherib's army was there to back them up. Those were scary words. Scary words will make you run from your promise or to God, which have you been doing?
So we see Sennacherib sent his field commander to Jerusalem to intimidate Judah into surrendering. The enemy often invades our lives to taunt and test our trust in the Lord. He does it with disturbing words and or thoughts.
There have been countless destiny abortions because of scary thoughts.
"God is not going help you, if he was you wouldn't be where you already are in this situation."
How many times have you thought that you would much prefer an attack in an area you were emotionally better prepared to handle?
If I was your enemy I would scan your lines for your weakest flank and attack there. God knows our weakest flanks and the most often used way to build up that flank is to allow it to be attacked so that we become better warriors in that area. The flu shot is a little sickness to able us to handle a big one. So are life's trials.
How do you think the rank and file took those words. The men will eat their own dung and drink their own urine? Those words were not said in a vacuum, Sennacherib's army was there to back them up. Those were scary words. Scary words will make you run from your promise or to God, which have you been doing?
So we see Sennacherib sent his field commander to Jerusalem to intimidate Judah into surrendering. The enemy often invades our lives to taunt and test our trust in the Lord. He does it with disturbing words and or thoughts.
There have been countless destiny abortions because of scary thoughts.
"God is not going help you, if he was you wouldn't be where you already are in this situation."
"You are not going to make it."
"It's too late."
Now I know that at this time Sennacherib was just using words, but the words were backed up by his massive standing army.
Words alone won't get you to quit or give up, it is when they are conveyed and you can see just on the horizon the build up of enemy forces.
This was a very real and dangerous battle for the very life of the Jewish nation.
This is the story of the do or die battle we often find ourselves in.
It is the story of the enemies continual attempt to abort everything God has and desires for us.
Whether it be a promised future. A calling. A healing. A breakthrough. A turn around for your marriage or your business. A restoration of a relationship. For your children to serve God
Bringing to birth God's promises is often akin to warfare. It is a fight often with armies with superior forces. The bible says we are not fighting against flesh and blood! There are powers of darkness, spiritual wickedness in high places. Whenever you are troubled by the thought of who you are fighting against, calm yourself by reminding yourself of who it is on your side in the fight with you. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
Here are some helpful thoughts to help you when facing enemy of your soul.
1. When the enemy gets in your face. Turn your face from him towards God.
It is the story of the enemies continual attempt to abort everything God has and desires for us.
Whether it be a promised future. A calling. A healing. A breakthrough. A turn around for your marriage or your business. A restoration of a relationship. For your children to serve God
Bringing to birth God's promises is often akin to warfare. It is a fight often with armies with superior forces. The bible says we are not fighting against flesh and blood! There are powers of darkness, spiritual wickedness in high places. Whenever you are troubled by the thought of who you are fighting against, calm yourself by reminding yourself of who it is on your side in the fight with you. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
Here are some helpful thoughts to help you when facing enemy of your soul.
1. When the enemy gets in your face. Turn your face from him towards God.
Hezekiah went to the temple and then sent word to the prophet Isaiah and he sought a word from the Lord.
As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. (Isaiah 37:1-2 ESV)
That same sentiment is offered up by the prophet Habakkuk and I love his wording: (Message version)
What’s God going to say to my questions? I’m braced for the worst. I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I’ll wait to see what God says, how he’ll answer my complaint. (Habakkuk 2:1 MSG)
As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. (Isaiah 37:1-2 ESV)
That same sentiment is offered up by the prophet Habakkuk and I love his wording: (Message version)
What’s God going to say to my questions? I’m braced for the worst. I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I’ll wait to see what God says, how he’ll answer my complaint. (Habakkuk 2:1 MSG)
When you get in a mess, get in the Word and don't leave it till you feel God has given you a promise of some comfort that will help carry your through.
2. Realize that before God gives victory He often gives a postdated check that you must wait before cashing.
Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord : Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’” (Isaiah 37:6-7 ESV)
Sometimes in life God gives us an answer that is like a post dated check. In other words we have a promise but don't know when we can cash it in.
So He gives us an answer but doesn't tell us when we get what we want.
So don't be surprised in life, when God's answer is trust me it will be all right. I will take care of it, everything will be Ok, stop worrying, rest in Me. The check is post dated. We have the answer, but we don't know when it will be accomplished. Till then we have to walk by faith. It is amazing how many people who are supposed to live by faith, fall apart when God asks them to walk in faith. We are a microwave society, and sometimes God seems to move at a glacial pace.
The whole events of Isaiah 36, 37 is a long unfolding story. The fact fortified cities fell, doesn't mean they fell overnight. There would have been a siege and some would have held out for quite some time. The trouble took time to mount and rise to dangerous levels, it was a process. The answer would be the same.
So Hezekiah get this word and nothing changes from his perspective. After a while Rabshakeh leaves, but his army stays, he goes back to his master Sennacherib, whom he finds has moved from where he thought he was to someplace else. He tracks him down, and somewhere in this process he withdraws his troops. This may have been over a period of weeks or months.
What I am trying to say is this, sometimes God's answer to us is, "trust Me it will be alright." And it will.
-You can trust Him, because He is trustworthy
-You can trust Him, because it is impossible for Him to lie
-You can trust Him, because He loves you.
- You can trust Him, because if anybody's check is good, His is!
The baby will be delivered, but the labor may last a little longer than you wanted.
Trust Him is the word Isaiah sent back, and it is the word of the Lord for some of you today.
Sermon inspired by Maurice Mccarthy
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