1st John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
This brief passage of scripture gives us the fundamental assurance which we need, that Christ is greater and more powerful than all the hosts of satan combined. This very fact ensures the Christian of victory, when an unwavering faith is exercised in the mighty God. This sacred truth was highlighted in the experience of the Hebrews, when Sennacherib, king of Assyria mustered his forces and fought against Israel, thereby taking many of the fenced cities. What is worthy of note is that because of his victories, the king became very boastful, to the point of reproaching the living God by making a mockery of God's omnipotent power, and also by advising the Children of Israel not to trust in Him. Let's read:
2nd Kings 18:28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: 29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: 30 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
At this sacrilegious speech Hezekiah, king of Judah took the matter to the Lord in prayer, for he realized that it was not merely the Assyrians he was up against, but rather the forces of evil that were arrayed against him, and therefore he would need supernatural help to be victorious. God heard and answered Hezekiah's prayer, for this military campaign would be the last one the king of Assyria would be engaged in, because the Lord took this matter into His own hands and sent the king of Assyria back to his own land to die in utter shame and defeat at the hands of his own sons. Let's read:
2nd Kings 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 37 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
This experience of the power of God being engaged in behalf of His people contains very important lessons for us living in the 21st century, for we are often assaulted and threatened by satanic agencies, against which we have no defense of our own. It is necessary then for us, like Hezekiah, to take these matters to the Lord in prayer, and when we do, God is more than willing and able to come to the defense of His people, for in this way His name is glorified in the eyes of the good and evil alike, and the forces of the enemy suffers stunning defeats.
But it is necessary for us to pray and pray and pray without ceasing. Let's pray when the clouds of discouragement and fear surround us. Let's prayer when it seems like all hope is gone and the enemy of righteousness may seem to triumph. Let's pray as we never prayed before so that the omnipotent power of God will send the "Assyrians" back to their land in shame and defeat.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that points us to our never failing refuge in Christ, and it is our prayer and hope that an intelligent faith in the Living God may be exercised continually, throughout the ups and downs of life. Let's read:
2nd Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
May this be our experience today and forever Amen. God bless!