The Arm of Flesh
2 Chronicles 32:8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Introduction: Calvary salutations to wonderful children of God. We are privileged to hear and desire words proceeding from the Lord.
🙏 His words will not be a parable unto us in Jesus name
🤔 “IN GOD WE TRUST” is written at the back of every dollar bill. It must have been revelational (Rhema) to designer of American currency then though it may be Logos to many now.
👉 This week, we want to look at “The Arm of Flesh” which refers to human strength, ability or power.
🛑 There MUST be revelations of God’s divine power before anyone can disregard and see the arm of flesh as ineffective and vain.
▶️ Without knowing what God can do, Christians will live under the bondage of fear thereby rely on, and seek help from the arm of flesh.
🛑 Satan, our arch-enemy will always orchestrate what causes fear especially when we resolve to serve God at all cost.
▶️ From our text today, Hezekiah king of Judah encouraged people of Judah when Sennacherib king of Assyria came with powerful mighty warriors to take over fortified cities of Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (NLT) “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are just men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” These words greatly encouraged the people.
🛑 The truth is, without revelational knowledge of the words of God, heart of steel can melt in the battles of life.
▶️ The servant of Elisha saw men of War and was afraid. Elisha had to pray for him to see greater power around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17 (NLT) When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Ah, my lord, what will we do now?” he cried out to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened his servant’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
🛑 Note that only Elisha was surrounded by fire from what the servant saw. Serving men of God without Serving God removes the light of the Word of God to generate fear in the day of trouble, and such servant will be exposed to attack.
🛑 Only closer walk with God reveals greater power that we have as God’s children.
1 John 4:4(AMP) Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
▶️ God wants us to personally have relationship with Him through Jesus Christ Who was sent for our deliverance.
🛑 While Israel under the leadership of king Saul was afraid of Goliath, very young David who experienced the power of God during his battle with a lion and a bear was bold to face Goliath.
👂Hear what David said to Saul as he determined to fight Goliath who was 3 times his stature;
1 Samuel 17:37(NLT ) The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
▶️ Reliance on the Arm of Flesh ultimately breaks a man.
Isaiah 36:6(GNT) You are expecting Egypt to help you, but that would be like using a reed as a walking stick—it would break and would jab your hand. That is what the king of Egypt is like when anyone relies on him.”
🛑 There will always be Woe or great sorrow for anyone who seeks help outside the everlasting Arms of God. The Lord Himself places curse on anyone who makes Arm of Flesh his/her strength.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.
🛑 Scriptures speak about certain destruction for rebellious children of God whose plans are contrary to God’s plans.
Isaiah 30:1(NLT) “Destruction is certain for my rebellious children,” says the Lord. “You make plans that are contrary to my will. You weave a web of plans that are not from my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.
▶️ We MUST acknowledge God in ALL our ways without trusting the Arm of Flesh for us to be in perfect peace.
Isaiah 26:3(AMP) You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
🛑 I have heard about people who committed suicide or landed in psychiatric hospital due to disappointment from the Arm of Flesh. Knowledge of certain destruction for Christians who seek help from the Arm of Flesh should make us to absolutely put our TRUST in God in ALL circumstances.
Isaiah 31:1(NLT) Destruction is certain for those who look to Egypt for help, trusting their cavalry and chariots instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
🛑 God considers His children trusting in the Arm of Flesh to be unfaithful. In order to make Israel feel the way HE feels towards unfaithfulness, HE asked Hosea to marry Gomer Diblaim who was an harlot. A man will accurately tell you how he feels towards an unfaithful wife.
Hosea 1:2(GNT) When the Lord first spoke to Israel through Hosea, he said to Hosea, “Go and get married; your wife will be unfaithful, and your children will be just like her. In the same way my people have left me and become unfaithful.”
🛑 Scriptures warn about trusting your neighbours, friend and even your spouse more than God as they all fall under the Arm of Flesh.
Micah 7:5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
Micah 7:5(GNT) Don’t believe your neighbor or trust your friend. Be careful what you say even to your husband or wife.
✍ Finally brethren, it is better to trust in the Lord than putting confidence in the Arm of Flesh. Most blessed is anyone who absolutely trusts in God, the creator of Heaven and Earth.
Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.
Jeremiah 17:7(AMP) [Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.
✋ Maranatha.