Greater Power!

We don't need to fear because God's power is greater than any and every enemy we'll ever face.

This truth is powerfully illustrated for us in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8a. Here's the context for these words before we read them. King Hezekiah was seeking to be faithful to God (see 2 Chronicles 32:1a). He wasn't perfect, but he had a sensitive heart (see 2 Chronicles 32:24-26). Yet, even though Hezekiah was seeking to be faithful to the Lord, he still faced enemies. In fact, right on the heels of a statement about his faithfulness, we find Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invading Judah (see 2 Chronicles 32:1b).

So this is the context of 2 Chronciles 32:7-8a. Hezekiah is seeking to be faithful, but he still has battles to fight. And he encourages his people with this message: "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 the flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles" (2 Chronicles 32:7-8a, NIV).

The point is clear, isn't it? God's power is greater than any and every enemy!

Now what happened in the rest of this story between Hezekiah and Sennacherib? Well, after the pagan king blasphemed God in his pride, Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed (see 2 Chronicles 32:9-20). Then "the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword" (2 Chronicles 32:21, NIV).

Have you ever heard the little saying: One person plus God is a majority? Well, it's not true. God ALONE is a majority! He doesn't need anyone else to supplement His power.

Be encouraged today; don't be discouraged. Why? Simple: God's power is greater than any and every enemy you'll ever face. Sure, as you seek to live in faithfulness to the Lord, there will be fights that surface. But you don't have to live in fear because God's power is greater than every other power.

Just reflect on the following truths from God's Word...

1 John 4:4, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (NIV).

Romans 8:35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NIV).

John 16:33b, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (NIV).

2 Peter 1:3, "[God's] divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (NIV).

All of these promises in God's Word and many more ARE true. We're not crossing our fingers and holding our breath in hopes that they're true - they ARE true because God's Word is truth (see John 17:17). This is why we march into battle with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17b, NIV). "For the word of God is living and active" (Hebrews 4:12a, NIV), and "[we don't] live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4b, NIV).

Remember: God's power is greater than any enemy you'll face today or on any other day!

Blessings...