Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria…Isa 37:21 NKJV

In their great book THE MIRACLE OF FREEDOM – SEVEN TIPPING POINTS THAT SAVED THE WORLD, the authors Chris and Ted Stewart designate this battle, at the gates of Jerusalem, a battle that the Lord fought supernaturally, as the first great tipping point that brought about the freedom that is enjoyed in the world today. This campaign is recorded in the Word of God, as well as in the secular histories of the Assyrian empire.

The Assyrian army had come out of Nineveh to the north of Jerusalem like a steamroller, crushing everything in its path. The Assyrians were ferocious in combat and absolutely cruel in the treatment of anyone who stood against them. They would send the heads of hundreds of their victims, usually the senior men of the city they conquered, to the next city, demanding their surrender. If they surrendered, many would still be killed, although most would become slaves. If they chose not to surrender, but to fight, they would all be killed without mercy.

King Hezekiah, who was supported by the prophet Isaiah, chose to defy the king of Assyria, and rely upon YAHWEH, the Holy One of Israel…

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NKJV

What you must understand is that the Assyrian army was the most powerful human force in the world at that time. Little Jerusalem was nothing but a speed bump on the road to Egypt for the Assyrian king. Sennacherib was incensed, angered and frustrated that he even had to spend time and resources to crush this little kingdom. Who were they, and who was their God YAHWEH?

The thing that I want you to see is that prayer from the lips of one who is in tune (Matthew 18:19 agree – harmonize) with the living God is the most powerful reality in the universe.

The Assyrian emissary brought a letter from the king demanding the surrender of Jerusalem (it also can be inferred from the Assyrian custom that he brought the aforementioned evidence of what they had done to other cities). Hezekiah received that letter, read it, and did the most beautiful thing in the world. He took that cursed letter and laid it before the Lord!

Let’s read the record of Hezekiah’s act and his subsequent prayer…

And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it, and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying: 16 O LORD of hosts, 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. 17 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 18 Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 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 have destroyed them. 20 Now, therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.” Isa 37:14-20 NKJV

Dear one, can you see the Word of God? Casting ALL your care upon Him, YAHWEH, because He cares for you! There is a point where the human heart gets so open, so honest, that God can come in and lift every burden. Let Him in! Let Him take that burden, that care, that blasphemy of the enemy who says, where is your God? You may have a letter that says eviction in thirty days! Or a letter that says the diagnosis is…! Or a letter that says your job has been terminated! Spread it before the Lord! Take it to the house of the living God, and talk with Him about it…

Look at Yahweh’s response…

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him:

“The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head behind your back!

She said NO! to the king of Assyria…

“Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have, you raised your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel. Isa 37:21-23 NKJV

Those are fighting words…the Lord of Hosts is going to fight!

“Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:

‘He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor build a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return; and he shall not come into this city,’ says the LORD. ‘For I will defend this city, to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.'” Isa 37:33-35 NKJV

What happened to the Assyrians? Bless God forever!

Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses–all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh. Isa 37:36-37 NKJV

It all happened because Hezekiah prayed.

What are you facing? You have a choice: you can surrender it to God, or you can surrender to the devil. God can crush that thing if you let Him. The effectual fervent prayer of a man or woman who is in tune and walking with God releases the Lord of hosts to deal with the situation. It will happen BECAUSE YOU HAVE PRAYED!

Remember dear ones; we must be about our Father’s business…