9/2/21-DO NOT BE AFRAID OF WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD!

Those timely words were spoken to King Hezekiah when Sennacherib sent his messengers to threaten Judah. We cannot prevent all bad news or evil reports. But we can prevent it from taking root in our hearts and overwhelming us. There’s a right response and a wrong response to everything we hear. Thankfully we have recorded for us examples that we may emulate. The power behind the promise is our victory.

The key to overcoming fear is knowing who to call and where to go. We must be careful not to share what we’ve heard or are experiencing with just anyone simply because they’re Christians. In those moments we need to discern the voices around us. Fear will tempt us to want to share what we’ve heard but what we need is a word from the Lord. Once we’ve heard from Him, that’s the Word we hold to no matter what. Isaiah the prophet said these words to Israel and it should serve as a template for us all: “ In quietness and confidence is your strength.” Israel was looking to Egypt for help but the Lord reminded them that His help was enough. Isaiah 30.

The news Hezekiah had received wasn’t good. As a matter of fact it was terrifying. He had instructed the people not to respond, but what he couldn’t prevent was what they had heard. His first response was to seek a word from the Lord, his second response was to present the situation before the Lord. He prayed a prayer that gave evidence to who God is, rehearsing the attributes and characteristics of Jehovah. The news pointed him in the right direction. Not to the help of man but to God. If the word you’ve received doesn’t bring peace then you’ve shared what you’ve heard with the wrong people.

ACT ONE:

“When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and went into the Temple of the Lord. And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in burlap, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. They told him, “This is what King Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby. But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!” After King Hezekiah’s officials delivered the king’s message to Isaiah, the prophet replied, “Say to your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against Me from the Assyrian king’s messengers.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭19:1-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

ACT TWO:

“After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, You are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God. “It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭19:14-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Word:

“Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer about King Sennacherib of Assyria.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭19:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s all the confirmation we need. “God has heard our prayer.” We don’t need to tell another soul about what we’ve heard. When Hannah received her word from Eli, she got up, washed her face, changed her countenance and went and had a feast (1 Samuel 1:9-18). When you’ve heard from the Lord, enter into that quiet place of rest while you wait on the manifestation. The news may shake us temporarily, but it shouldn’t paralyze us. It should move us to action. Our faith is our fallback plan. We must never allow the enemy’s taunting to unnerve us. What did God say? What word has He given you in your moment of uncertainty? Hold to it. Don’t speak of the problem, speak of the solution.

What peace must’ve come to Hezekiah’s heart when Isaiah sent word that he needn’t be afraid of what he heard. That word is for you today. Have you received an evil report? Spread the report before the Lord and rehearse all the times the Lord has been faithful. Rehearse all the times He’s shown up when the darkness had swallowed up the light. Speak to His greatness. Hezekiah acknowledged that what he had heard was true, but he also acknowledged that God was greater than the report. He wanted God to intervene for one purpose only. Here it is:

“Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that YOU alone, O Lord, are God.” 2 Kings‬ ‭19:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s why we call on Him. That’s why we believe in Him. That’s why we surround ourselves with voices that speak His Word only. We don’t need people freaking out, wringing their hands asking us what we are going to do? We need a Word from the Lord that will put Him on display as our Great Defender. Our only Healer and Provider, our only answer and hope. So what have you heard? To whom have you run? God has given us His Holy Spirit to speak His Word to us. In the Old Testament they didn’t have the Comforter indwelling them, they relied on the prophets. In the New Testament, we have One Just like Jesus. He reminds us constantly of all Jesus has spoken. As we’re yielded to Him, we hear His whispers “don’t be afraid of what you’ve heard, don’t be moved by what you see.” Run with that. Hold to that. Allow Him to be your victory, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that He alone is God.

“When I had nothing, desperate and defeated, I cried out to the Lord and He heard me, bringing His miracle-deliverance when I needed it most. The Angel of Yahweh stooped down to listen as I prayed, encircling me, empowering me, and showing me how to escape. He will do this for everyone who fears God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:6-7‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant

September 2, 2021