Recently, I had a ministry engagement to fulfill at New Life Harvest COGIC, in my hometown, Buffalo, NY. The Lord showed up in a big way and blessed us richly. Before ministering the word at the Annual Women’s Day, for which I was the guest speaker, I shared my Aunt Mattia’s testimony.
I already love to tell of the goodness of the Lord and the fact that she was present in the sanctuary as a living, breathing, example, made it even more exciting for me.
Several months ago, I had a dream about my aunt, that she was seriously ill and needed to go to the hospital. God frequently deals with me in prophetic dreams, so when He reveals things to me in my sleep, I pay attention. When she got the message, she went to see the doctor. I didn’t know until later that her children had been trying to get her to be seen and she refused. But, gratefully, Aunt Mattia says she believes the word of the Lord when it comes through me, so she took heed.
When she got to the emergency room, her abdomen was distended, as if she was with child. My aunt’s child-bearing years are long-gone and doctors suspected something was wrong. I’ll make a long story short, but she had ovarian cancer and was suffering from what is called “ascites,” when the abdomen fills with fluid in late-stage cancer.
One of the ER doctors told her, from the looks of things, the cancer had spread everywhere. It was likely in her brain and there was nothing that could be done. My cousin broke down. The news was horrible and devastating. That doctor told my aunt he was so blunt because she needed to know the truth and be prepared.
But she didn’t accept that answer. She took that bad news to the Lord. When the report came back, it was Stage 3, but it was contained. Somehow, even though the cancer cells should have been floating freely in that fluid and should have traveled everywhere throughout her body, God didn’t let it happen.
Do you have a testimony of what should have and could have happened had it not been for the Lord? I’m so grateful He spoke to me through a dream and I listened, and obeyed His urging to get a message to my aunt.
Do you want to know the irony in it? That dream came to me during the time I was battling illness before the Lord recently healed me. So, while I was sick, God sent me a life-saving dream. Then, months later, He healed my body.
I had to obey Him in my affliction and by His grace, because He is so good, sovereign and in control, today, my beautiful aunt is cancer-free, and praising God every chance she gets! Isn't God amazing? He is incredible and I will forever praise His name!
Today, God dropped in my spirit the story of Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18-19 and 2 Chronicles 32. I've shared it with you before and He has led me to share it again.
In this biblical account, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, who had invaded Judah and took control of the cities, was after Jerusalem. Hezekiah, the righteous king of Judah, was under attack. The Israelites were fearful because Sennacherib’s reputation preceded him. This king and his army were mighty, and virtually unstoppable.
Nevertheless, Hezekiah told the people in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 , “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”
I love those words: there is a greater power with us than with him. I could shout off of that verse alone.
God is about to turn things all the way around for you. Don't fret one bit over what it looks like!
Well, despite Hezekiah’s unwavering faith, Sennacherib was arrogant and believed he had greater power than God. So he sent his officers to Jerusalem, where these men spoke against Hezekiah and the Lord, for everyone to hear. Hoping to strike fear in their hearts, in 2 Chronicles 32:14, they said this on behalf of Hezekiah's rival king: “Who of all the gods of these nations that my predecessors destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand?”
That level of pride and insolence was staggering, revealing just how full of himself Sennacherib was! He must have been thinking that since he had been on a winning-streak, this time would be no different.
He was about to find out how wrong he was.
When Hezekiah got one of Sennacherib's letters from his messenger containing all the threats, taunts and mocking insults toward God, the Bible says in 2 Kings 19:14, that Hezekiah spread it out before the Lord.
He let God read his mail. He handed it off that bad news and essentially said, Here, Lord; it's for you. The notice may have been addressed to Hezekiah, but he knew the battle wasn't his. Instead of trying to work it out or figure it out, the king was wise enough to know he was in over his head. There was no way he could, on his own, defeat the mighty Assyrian army.
But God could. And the Lord did. God devastated Hezekiah's enemies. The Lord sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men, commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king, according to 2 Chronicles 32:21. Sennacherib had to retreat to his own land in disgrace.
Then, the Bible says Sennacherib was murdered by his own sons while worshiping the false god Nisrok in the temple. His idol god was no match for the only true and living God.
Hezekiah's name means "Yah is my strength" or "Jehovah is my strength." It's so encouraging to know that despite how strong the opposition is, God, your strength, is stronger! That's why the enemy's assault will fall flat.
This ought to excite you. The enemy that is coming against you has to contend with the One who is for you and he's greatly out-matched. So if you have received some bad news, do what Hezekiah did and spread it out before the Lord. Give the Lord your mail. After all, He’s the only one who can do anything about it.
Remind yourself that God goes before you. He is fighting your battle. He is turning that situation around. He is causing all things to work in your favor. The weapon that has been formed will malfunction and fail. The evil plot devised against you will end up working for you, because the One who is strong and mighty is with you.
To remind you of this truth, I’m stirring Isaiah 8:10 NIV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, you will be encouraged by this truth: though you can expect the attack to come, you can also expect the victory to follow. Jehovah, your strength, has it all under control.
No matter what the bad news is, give it to God. It can be related to finances, relationships, work, ministry, health, emotions, whatever. None of that bad news is a surprise to our good God. He has it under control. Rest, trust and know that the same God who dispatched an angel to fight against the army of the Assyrians, is fighting for you.
Check His track record. He never loses.
Now let's pray.
God the attack coming against me in strong, but You are stronger. Thank You for fighting for me and strengthening me through this test. I already know that, through You, I win! In the meantime, while I’m going through this battle, I declare by faith that I am victorious through You. I give You my bad news and say do with it what You will. I trust You completely. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with you. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
Listen to today's podcast!
