God's Answers To Leadership

God's Answers To Leadership 

II Kings 19:28-31 NKJV

[28] 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. [29] ‘This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And in the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. [30] And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward. [31] For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.’

When a leader prays, most essentially , it is to  seek divine guidance, wisdom, and strength from God, to navigate the challenges and responsibilities of leadership roles. This may involve asking for the ability to make good decisions, serve others with compassion, and remain humble in the face of authority. At crucial times like this, it is for God to intervene in problems beyond leadership capacity. The act of prayer seeks to align our leadership actions with  God's purpose and to seek divine direction in the leadership pursuit. In this matter, Hezekiah knew God was interested in Judah. John Warden explains this complexity of being prayerful as a leader. "It is not how smart, well intentioned or knowledgeable we are because our competence, skills and talents are simply not enough for the task of leading others...That role is just too big for us to handle without continual prayer. Like Paul, we need to seek God with urgency and intentionality. Today's vignette is an answer to that intentionality. 

    So God answered King Hezekiah. Isaiah prophesied Sennacherib's fall. Guzik says, " God knew how to find the Assyrians. And because Assyria went too far in blaspheming the One who made all their success possible". The dramatic way God says He will take them out is the very way Assyrians used in relocating captives. Then in  vv. 29-31, God says he will prosper Judah as they win. God is not yet done with you. The enemy will not appear to win forever. God knows how to fight for you. There's an answer coming.And its now.  Good morning.

Hezekiah's Burden In Prayers

Hezekiah's Burden In Prayers 

II Kings 19:15-19 NKJV

[15] Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: “O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. [16] Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. [17] Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, [18] and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. [19] Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.” Lord

The prayers sre few verses in summary, but must have taken hours to pray. Until you listen to it in the spirit, you may miss the burden, the pain, and the nuances of this intercession. This was a real difficult prayer. It draws on the spirit and the soul. Its not that you're looking for fine language to impress the throne. Its a desperation not to be undressed.

   When you have nothing else to hold unto but God, you will understand why you could enter the prayer room and come out five hours later. If anyone ever asks you what you prayed sbout for so long, you'll have a few verses too. You can't summarize the cry of a child before the father. Nothing else matters at such moments until the pain is lifted. We've had to cry desperate prayers of this nature and God moved. All our prayers need to beike this.

    Hezekiah began by acknowledging that God is in charge. He lays a foundation for what he's about to say. He knows that God can hear a whisper, but he told God in human terms to pay attention to his needs.

Patterson and Austel describe what he was doing in these words. “As a child bringing his broken toy to his father for repair, so Hezekiah laid the issues in God’s sight for resolution.” Notice that he was satisfied, in the first letter, for the prophet to pray, but in the second letter, he went to the temple by himself. Its okay for others to intercede, but God's  interested in your prayers too.

   Hezekiah acknowledged that the King of Assyria defeated other nations including Israel because their gods were no God. Then he invited God for a showdown. Feel the invitation. Is this how deep your prayers are? If you were God, and you were busy, Hezekiah's prayers will turn your attention. How was your last cry for help? Jesus prayed a similar prayer so much that his sweat became like blood. Some medical folks said the burden was so heavy, the cappilaries began to burst into sweats. Maybe we need to burst a few cappilleries  just to breathe an air of freedom. Maybe! You can do that, cant you? Good morning.

Our God Answers Prayers

Our God Answers Prayers.

II Kings 19:8-10 NKJV

[8] Then the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish. [9] And the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, “Look, he has come out to make war with you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, [10] “Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 

There's nothing more exciting as when God speaks, theres an immediate answer. when we pray, Isaiah 65:24 says, "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear". That is a declaration that God can respond and will do it quickly, sometimes even before the prayer is fully spoken. Life is not lived by boasting. It is lived under God's covering.

    When Jesus prayed concerning Lazarus, there was an immediate answer. When there isnt an apparent immediate answers to prayers, it means God has alternate plans. Sometimes the answer is asking you to wait for the right moment. Sometimes, the answer is, I'm arranging a change of plans. In this case God rearranged who was meant to attack who.  Sometimes the best answer is just 'No'. Wisdom is in knowing the difference.

    Prayer is God's ability in us to influence the heavens to our favour. You know, God wont do anything until someone on earth asks him. The reason is simple: God gave the authority on earth to man. Prayer is our invitation for God to interfere in affairs of the earth.  Read the details of what God did in this instance. The Rabshakeh's threat had no meaning. 

   In v.14, when Hezekiah received the letter of Rabshakeh, he went back to God in prayers. " ...and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord". What an ingenious man. He brought the letter for God to read, as if God didn't know the contents already. Do me a favour, bring your cases like this to the very presence of God. Hezekiah was a new testament man in his thinking. Here it is: " 1Pet. 5:7 : casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you". God does.  Prayer is God's way of taking the burden off us, because He cares for us. Don't tell your stories  to anyone anymore. Just go into the closet with God. The answer is coming faster than you imagined. Good morning.

The Spiritual Atmosphere To Prophesy

The Spiritual Atmosphere To Prophesy 

II Kings 19:5-7 NKJV

[5] So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. [6] And Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. [7] Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” 

Today, if Ai was a student, we probably would have scored it high. It describes, " The atmosphere for prophecy" 

as " a spiritual environment where individuals are receptive to hearing God's voice through prophetic messages, characterized by deep faith, expectancy, openness to the Holy Spirit, and a sense of reverence, allowing for the accurate discernment and delivery of prophetic words; essentially, a space where people are actively seeking God's guidance and revelation". In such atmosphere, " hearts are mended and futures are rewritten by the hand of God", and God assures His people of His continuous covering. To get into such atmosphere,  theologians would talk about worship, humility and receptivity. 

   There are ,however, moments we cant wait for these protocols. This would  be desperate moments. So Isaiah did not wait for the choir. He blurted out in the prophetic because the pain of the King and the people was much. This is like a sudden change of climate. Norma Gray says that this atmosphere is created by a combination of the spirit, the words and the energy of the moment. God had to answer the people.

   The phrase, " do not be afraid", appears about 365 times in the Bible. Its like taking a capsule each day for a year. God took the blasphemy of Assyria personally. So God was going to deal with Assyria using the strategy of rumour. The power of rumour in warfare lies in its stealth. Someone says that rumour can " circulate under radar, making it difficult to trace its origins or debunk them as fabrications". In 1940, French forces suffered defeat through  unfounded tales of casualties and impending doom by agents of Hitler. Rumour is a war strategy. Four lepers went to the camp of the Phillistines, and they heard a rumour. May your enemies hear a rumour. 

    God was going to give Assyria what they brought to Judah. God will give your enemy what they planned for you. The atmosphere is changing. God's on your side. That enemy will die by its rumour. I'm waiting for your testimonies. Good morning.

Hezekiah's Response

Hezekiah's Response 

II Kings 19:1-4 NKJV

[1] And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. [2] Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. [3] And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth. [4] It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”

In communication, there has to be a response. Its called feedbacks. It is 

 " the response given by the receiver of a message, which indicates whether they understood the message and allows the sender to know if their communication was effective; it can be verbal, nonverbal cues like body language, or a more direct response with thoughts or reactions to what was said".  "When feedback is withheld, it means that someone is choosing not to provide constructive criticism or positive reinforcement about someone else's performance, behavior, or work, essentially preventing them from learning and improving, potentially leading to stagnation and missed opportunities for growth". That is what Judah did to the Rabshakeh. They chosed instead to talk to God 

     Read v.1 again. Hezekiah went to talk to a higher authority, God. David Guzik is very ardent over what  Hezekiah did. " Hezekiah’s initial reaction was good. He saw the situation for what it really was. Often, when we are in some kind of trial or difficulty, we handle it poorly because we never see the situation accurately. Jerusalem’s situation was desperate and Hezekiah knew it". How would you have handled this situation? That's what makes the difference between winners and loosers under God. It is not lack of power by God. You must acknowledge God first. You must have faith that He alone has the final answer. This may be very difficult for very active people, but it must be done.

   The next thing Hezekiah did was to make an appeal to the Prophet Isaiah for intercession. Notice his colorful language: that children have come to birth, but there's no strength to push forth. May our God who rules over life affairs send you strength from now and forever. You will push forth anything, any project, any vision under God. Good morning.

When Silence Is Golden

When Silence Is Golden 

II Kings 18:35-37 NKJV

[35] Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’ ” [36] But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” [37] Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Its difficult to ascertain where the proverb that speech is silver, and silence is golden began. There's a Bible verse, however, that says, " In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, but he that refraineth his lips is wise." (Proverbs, 10:19). It carries the same connotation. Today's read must have been a clear demonstration of this wisdom. You don't have to speak every time to show your opinions. There's a time to be silent.

   My Ai explains that the phrase " means that staying quiet or not speaking is often the best course of action, implying that silence is more valuable than speech in certain situations, usually when it comes to avoiding conflict, preserving secrets, or allowing for thoughtful reflection". Apostle Peter should have attended this school. He didn't. Well, the officers of King Hezekiah demonstrated a high level of emotional intelligence in this matter. They waited unti they got to their King. V.36. Then they tore their clothes. This was a Jewish practice of expressing grief or other  kinds of emotions.

   The real deal is ro know when silence is golden and speech is silver. The answer is in Prov. 26:4-5 when you're engaged with a 'fool'. There's a time to speak so that the fool may not appear too wise in his conciet, but not when you are trying to win a warfare. Well, they came to the King. Now they could express themselves. No matter what happens to you, dont cry for the devil. If you must cry, go into prayer, return to the King, and cry to God. Good morning.

The devil is never satisfied

The Devil Is Never Satisfied 

II Kings 18:17-20 NKJV

[17] Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh from Lachish, with a great army against Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, which was on the highway to the Fuller’s Field. [18] And when they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.

[19] Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust? 

[20] You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? 

The devil is never satisfied. Its major focus of attack is your confidence. Miriam Webster describes confidence as, " a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances". It goes on to say that confidence  is " faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way". Attacking one's confidence is a war strategy. King Sennacherib of Assyria sent Rab-shakeh, a field commander with  tauntings to King Hezekiah and Judah. Judah had 

rebelled from the control of Assyria. The first point of attack to reduce Judah was their confidence. 

    He asks them on whom they trusted. Who you trust is very important to how you win. Unfortunately, Rab-shakeh, had mistaken Hezekiah's revival for a crushing oppression on the people of Judah. Angela Parlin says, " We have confidence before God because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. That confidence comes from Christ’s work for us–His sacrifice which covers us once and for all–and grows because of His work in us". I love the New Tastement. Hezekiah couldn't say that, but he had faith in the deliverance of Jehovah. The focus is : Who do you trust because the devil  is never satisfied with apologetics. If your strategy comes from God and His word, you'll be sure of victory. If you beg the devil, it will be back. You can take that to the bank. Today, do what Judah did. Pull down all contrary dependence and altars and put faith in His word. You're coming out. Good morning.