Eat This Book
Read Proverbs Chapter 22
2 Chronicles 32
1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.
4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
16 And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
17 He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
21 And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
22 Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
23 And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the Lord: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.
25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.
29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.
30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
The POFW Daily Bible Reading 
Moving/packing with Jesus……
This chapter means to me favor with Lord of Lords.
The Lord seems like if we humble outselves unto Him we will be favored in His sight.
ilove to humble with God, husband, parents,neighbors, enemies, and the church, ect.
church=awsome, Jesus’body,blood,redemption of sins…..love peace…offering of praising…and love offerings….ect.!!!!
Thank you POFW
21 And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
22 Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
*********God is on our side as long as we are on HIS.*********************
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Humility the Key to prosper with GOD
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.
Prov 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.
Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be 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. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 32:8
Who are you exalting?
Many times when the enemy comes against us , we sometimes look at our trials and say LORD I can’t do this. And we make our trials bigger than what they truly are. We’ve become blinded by the lies of the enemy and have forgotten of what the Word of the Lord says and what he has brought us out of in the past. We are so quick to give the enemy glory, and he(devil) begins to be exalted.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11 KJV)
When it comes to battle we are to be ready at all times, be on gaurd and ready to fight. And fight till the end and never give up! Be reminded of how the Lord has fought your battles in the past, and He has given you the Victory, if He did it once He’ll do it again. We(POFW) are an army of ONE!!!!
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV)
This chapter illustrates mindset. Sennacherib came to destroy them, first within by sending his servants out to speak lies to the people. Albeit Hezekiah was steadfast, prayed and God (Jesus) delivered them. One must have the correct mindset for this world and the deceiver are still today going about speaking lies, which is drawing people away from God (Jesus). This is why one must read the Word of God and listen to the preaching of the Word, so that one knows the truth and the importance of prayer. May the good Lord Bless you all in Jesus name, Amen
Sing with me….. Great and Mighty is our God!, Great and mighty…is our God….
It’s odd what will catch my attention in these scriptures from day to day. Could it be what is going on in my own life that draws my attention to certain scriptures and words? Could it be God preparing me for what lies ahead today? Maybe both.
When Hezekiah found himself under siege he did not simply respond to the threat. He took counsel. How often do we respond to situations that should have been counseled before action? I have been guilty of this. Can you imagine, you wake up and prepare to leave your home and find thugs camped out on your lawn. Would you step into the fracas and “get some” as the saying goes? Or, have we learned to seek counsel from our advocate, God before acting? Do you believe the outcome of this particular event would have been different had Hezekiah simply responded with aggression?
God will never leave us or forsake us. We sometimes leave God and wonder why we are going thru what we are and all the time God is wanting us to come back to him. Don’t let your troubles be bigger than God. Tell your troubles your God is bigger. So it is wise to hang with positive people and not be entertained with the wrong people. My God is bigger than any trail if we just turn it over to him and step out of the way.
Pride will end at the place of destruction or at the alter of repentance.
21 And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
King Assyria pride landed him shamefaced and he died. On the other hand Hezekiah recognized the pride in his heart and humbled himself.
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
vs 5 When the enemy was coming they repaired the wall that was broken down. Why wasn’t repaired earlier? The enemy of our souls will surely come, so we need to be constantly vigilant and keep the “walls” to our soul repaired through study, prayer, fasting and gathering together with believers. Waiting untill a problem exist is not the time to repair our relationship with God. We may not have enough time to get it right.
More For Us Than Against Us…
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
There are always more with us then with them. Only 1/3 of the angels fell…and all those angels were singers…Michael the angel of war and Gaberiel the preacher is still at their posts.
The only way we lose is to LISTEN TO THE SONGS OF THE DEVIL…which are always lies.
Sing songs of Zion and forsake R&B, Hip Hop, Rock and Country. Get on the winning side.
THE PROGRESSION OF VICTORY AND A GOOD ENDING
31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
The Word of GOD teaches us in Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. GOD is not nearly as interested in our activities and actions as he is to know what is in our heart. The heart is known by what comes out of us during trying times.
Hezekiah established a pattern for Victory by doing what was in his heart.
1. He communicated and conversed with his Leaders about his plan. vs. 3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.: SEEK COUNSEL – GET HELP
2. He “CUT OFF” the water supply to the enemy that was using his resources. vs. 4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?: STOP FEEDING THE ENEMY – CUT OFF THE ADVERSARY
3. He strengthened himself. 5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. PREPARE YOURSELF – PRAY, FAST, STUDY THE WORD OF GOD.
4. He encouraged those around him. 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. BE AN ENCOURAGER – SPEAK THINGS OF FAITH.
5. He cried unto the LORD. 20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, HE PRAYED FERVENTLY – ENGAGE IN WARFARE PRAYER AND WATCH GOD WORK
6. He REAPED. 23 And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth. VICTORY BRINGS HONOR AND BLESSING
7. He humbled HIMSELF. 26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. HUMBLE YOURSELF AND YOU WILL NOT NEED TO BE HUMBLED.
Faith and Humility are the major keys to VICTORY these 2 attributes will help us in making GOD decisions.
iPray
iWork
iGive
iReap
God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
Sometimes when things are going so right, we find ourselves in a place where we feel like we have been diserted and alone. But never fear, the word declares “Lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the earth.” He will never leave nor forsake us, it just might be a time of testing what is in our heart!!!
Is our relationship with the Lord strong enough to stand a time of silence?
What’s a yapping dog to a runaway freight train?
The servants of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, faced the children of God with the boldness of a lion.
They roared blasphemies challenging the authority of the creator of the universe. Judah’s enemy attacked who they were, who their God was, and their past victories.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The roaring, or howling or the enemy is meant to intimidate, cause us to lose faith, and run from God.
The enemy used the weakness of Israel, idolatry, to attack them and make them fall.
Hezekiah knew better. He didn’t let the intimidating of the enemy stop him from believing in God.
Once the enemy shut his trap God quickly squashed him like a bug!
v8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our GOD to help us, and fight our battles.And the people rest themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
There are something’s that don’t belong to the world( the enemy is not our friend ) GOD have given us HIS Blood bought bride HIS NAME JESUS, HIS WORD, Prayer,Praise, worship and consecration, for HIS body to use and not for outsiders.
As HIS glorious church we have a right to trust and depend upon HIS WORD, building walls of truth. ( Remove not not the ancient landmark; which thy fathers have set.
GOD’S Word is full of good advise . We have nothing to fear, turn it over to JESUS, HE will handle it and fight our battles.
HE is our ONLY secure foundation :
JESUS CHRIST 1Cor. 3 :11
GOD’s hand and anointing is upon POFW. HE has a great future in store for us. We must stay in the ship no matter what may come or what it looks like, and stand behind the man of GOD our Pastor.
GOD IS HERE, and there is a flowing river you can be filled with the Holy Ghost. HE is our comforter and our total complete rest.
8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
We are victories and more than conquers through Christ Jesus our Lord.
-If God be for us who can be against us.
-There is no weapons formed against us.
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. -Psalms 18:39
Be encouraged because when the enemy rises up against us we can stand on the word of God.
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. -Psalms 18:30
The Test of the Test.
31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
Many time we think that when we go through a test ,that God is angry with us. When in fact sometimes a test is just that, a test to see what will we do. Sometimes when I felt as though God had left me, I was reminded that He will test us to see how strong our faith is in Him, and this verse proves just that. God will never leave you or forsake you. He is always right by your side.
Fake fruit
As I was walking on outreach I noticed some of the people had fake flowers in their flower beds. At first i chuckled and though that is an easy way to look nice in a drought. I noticed several houses that had the fake flowers. Then as I pondered on it some more I thought of fake fruit. These people are showing people fake fruits in their lives.
In our scriptures it was seen in the king who came to fight Hezekaih. His fake fruit got him by for a while. The other gods that he wared against also had their own fake fruits. Fake peace, fake joy, fake love, fake security. . . He thought that since his fake was more than their fake that his god had to be real, BUT!! He found out with Hezekaih that his god was fake too! After he realized that his was fake he went back home and in to his god’s church. Then to complete his vicious let down about how fake his god really was his own child killed him in his fake church.
The Bible says we are to judge people’s fruit. When you look at the fruits of the people around you need to really look at if the fruit is real or fake. People can put up some nice looking fakes. Like the fakes in the flower bed we have to look beyond that first glance. If you keep looking you will see that your god is not better than Jesus/God. You will see that you will only have an arm of flesh because all the other god’s are fake.
Look carefully at the other person’s fruit. It might look good but it could just be a show.
13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
A direct challenge
The captain told many as they were entering a great luxury ship ” God himself cannot sink this ship”, — this happened to be the great Titanic setting off on it’s madden voyage.
Man often decides to put God and his power below theirs, always to find, they loose. The devil has tried his best, and will never best God. All too often we as christians forget that we have the victory, and forget how to walk in it. While we will have to work. While we will have to fight. We have already won. We need not fear, God has given us this city, to tear down all the false gods and to reach the lost. Let’s go in faith that we have the victory and that Christ will see to it that we reach the lost, but we must not grow faint…
TRASH TALKERS ALWAYS GET THERE MOUTH SHUT
Don’t talk trash about my God. He is not going to be mocked.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6;7
You have to be pretty stupid to mock God.
The greatest boxer ever to fight left his legacy sore because he mocked God. Cassius Clay had a big mouth and by some peoples opinion he had a right to talk so much trash, but he would soon mock the wrong man when he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
“must not bend down to the good Man above,”
is what Muhammad Ali said to a reporter about Joe Fraizer being a christain. Joe Fraizer would soon be his first defeat. Muhammad Ali left the earth mumbling and making no sense. Is it because he mocked God almighty? Did God let his brains get smacked in because he talked so much trash like in this chapter?
You may have a great army or be a great fighter but you cant fight God.
Choosing FAITH
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Hebrews 11:32-34 KJV)
“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…”
Our FAITH will unlock the victory, and we must choose in whom we believe; our faith is a choice, whether we will hope in Jesus and receive victory or not.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15 KJV)
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:22-24 KJV)
Verse 7&8 tells us not to fear or be dismayed because there are more with us than be against us! The king of Assyria was against the people of God but he fought them with a arm of flesh. The Lord’s army fights in the spirit! ” For the weapons of our warfare are not carnel but might through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”
The way that the King of Assyria ‘fought’ against Hezekiah was underhanded and used subtle tactics to discourage the people of Jerusalem. This is exactly the way Satan attacks us: cast doubt on our Pastor or our Leadership, tells us we can win against such a mighty foe, then tells the people outright lies to bring them fear, doubt and finally confusion. Hezekiah rightly says that the Assyrian king fights against them with an arm of flesh! Our warfare is not carnal-it’s praise & worship! Hezekiah prays for God’s help and almost immediately the roaring lion tucks his tail and returns home! Praise! Prayer! Worship! God’s Word! That’s what we teach kids in GForce and it really does defeat the enemy!
The world trys to get us to believe there is no God. If we stand firm he will show up and fight the battle for us. All we need to do is lean on Him!!