The war the church is losing is a war of deception and delusion. The enemy is unseen but very powerful, just as the Assyrian and Babylonian armies were very powerful. This enemy the church faces, the abomination that causes desolation, is the most powerful enemy God’s people have ever faced. As Jesus said, Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive.” The difference is when you look for them, you don’t see that you are completely surrounded and the walls have been broken down, death and destruction are everywhere caused by these dark forces. When the enemy attacked in the Old Testament, you could see them coming and destroying everything in their path. Here king Jehoshaphat did the right thing. 2 Chronicles 20:2 “Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.” The deception /delusion is people gathering thinking all is well with their souls, the worship and preaching is entertaining and uplifting, yet for the most part there is a vast army attacking, people are in captivity, there is famine of hearing the word of the Lord, people are sick, possessed and dying all the while thinking God is blessing them. Instead of trusting in God’s word and crying out to Him as king Jehoshaphat did, they trusted in the words of man and doctrines of demons and God allowed this unseen enemy to bring destruction and desolation even though we were warned it would happen.    

    We have a choice to listen to the enemy or listen to God’s word. Israel had already been destroyed along with the fortified cities of Judah, and now the king of Assyria was coming for Jerusalem. The church really needs to understand how devastating the attack of the enemy can be. The city will be under siege until there is no food or water, that is if they can hold off the enemy from breaking through the walls. You can read about it in 2 Kings 6. This is what happened to Jerusalem when it finally fell. 2 Chronicles 36:17 “He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. 20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.”   

    When king Hezekiah heard the king of Assyria intended to wage war they also went before God and cried out to Him. 2 Chronicles 32:20 “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders 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, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.” Before that happened, King Hezekiah told the people, 2 Chronicles 32:7 “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. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.” Then the enemy sent a message and said, 2 Chronicles 32:13 “Do you not know what I and my predecessors have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? 14 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?” Notice here that the enemy will speak your language. Isaiah 37:13 “Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! 15 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ 16 “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, 17 until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.”   

    The people had a choice; listen to the enemy or listen to Hezekiah’s words to trust God. The enemy does not want you to trust in God because the enemy knows that means defeat. The enemy wants you to trust in yourself because that means victory for our enemy. King Hezekiah had prayed, Isaiah 37:16 “Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. 18 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. 19 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 20 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.” Then God responded, Isaiah 37:21 “Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word the Lord has spoken against him: “Virgin Daughter Zion despises and mocks you. Daughter Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee. 23 Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! 31 Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 32 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. 34 I will defend this city and save it, or my sake and for the sake of David my servant!” 36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.”   

    The deception and delusion are so strong in the church that most do not know they have listened to the enemies offer of life and a false promised land. Leaders across the church have not sought the word of God like king Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah, but sought the words of men and women and satan has exploited that with the offer of success. Luke 4:5 “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Jesus answered correctly but most wanted the authority and splendor offered by satan instead of the authority and power offered by Jesus. Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” This is why the church, though successful from the world’s standard is not seeing healing and demons cast out. There is no power.   

    Today instead of the enemy being defeated, the enemy broke through the wall just as Jeremiah had said. King Zedekiah was captured, his sons killed before him and Jerusalem was destroyed. Jeremiah 37:2 “Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.” When king Hezekiah spoke to the people, they listened but not to the enemy and they trusted God for deliverance. Isaiah 36:21 “But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.” The church needs to once again listen to the word of God and not to the words of men and women who have sold their souls for the world’s authority and splendor. Returning to the word of God means we will be able to say, Isaiah 25:9 “In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” God said, Isaiah 41:9 “You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 12 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. 13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. 14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”

    Don’t listen to the enemy; they are lying as they have nothing to offer you except death and destruction. God’s offer is life and prosperity and He will bring salvation if you trust His word. Isaiah 49:8 “This is what the Lord says: In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, 9 to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’  and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’”  Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”