WELCOME ICEBREAKER

What was your highlight over Christmas?

WORSHIP

Encourage your group that spending time in worship prepares our heart and mind to receive the word.

WORD

Jesus made it clear that He had given us authority over the evil one. (Luke 10:19) Paul reminded us in Ephesians 6:12 that our fight is not with flesh and blood but with the powers of darkness.

The purpose of this lesson is to study how we can exercise that authority. We will look at the life of King Hezekiah when an enemy king attacked him. From this story we can see how the enemy attacked and the victorious strategy that Hezekiah used to win.

As a group read 2 Chronicles 31:20 - 32:22

We see in 32:1 that Hezekiah came under attack after deeds of faithfulness. Sennacherib’s strategy was to win the people over to himself by using psychological warfare. How does Satan use this type of warfare today to lure people to his side?

Why do you think Satan attacks after we have been faithful? How does 1 Peter 5:8-10 relate to this?

Hezekiah does not surrender, but rather takes deliberate steps to prepare himself and his people for victory. What preparations did Hezekiah take to do warfare?

Are you facing any “Sennacheribs” in your life today? How can we incorporate Hezekiah’s military strategy? How important is getting counsel? See Proverbs 20:18, 24:16, 18:1. Where should a believer go for counselling?

The strategy of Satan has not changed over the years. From verse 9 to 18 we read the account of Sennacherib’s attack. As a group discuss the tactics he used. (Undermine God and leaders, lies and deception, unfair comparisons, initiate fear, gossip, taunting, etc.) What did Sennacherib say about Hezekiah, about God, about himself? How does it compare to the tactics that Satan uses today? Have you experienced any of these tactics?

In the end God hears the prayers of Hezekiah and sends just one angel to help. See Isaiah 37:36 for the results!! The results are incredible and the enemy leaves shamefaced. If we put our trust in God and stand our ground the enemy will be forced to leave shamefaced.

WORK

Pray for new believers who have come under attack and have slipped away. Pray for those in the group who are under attack.