God’s Banner Over Us While We Reign Here On Earth

Psalm 20:1-5; 60:4-5,11-12; Romans 5:17-21; REVELATION 5:10; 2 CHRONICLES 29:1-3; 31:20-21 Psalms 20:1-5
– 1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
– 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
– 3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
– 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
– 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

Introduction
Psalm 20:1-5. You want to underline this in your Bible – “the Lord fulfill all thy petitions” this will begin to happen even from this day on in Jesus name.
ch 60:4-5,11-12
– 4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
– 5 That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.
– 11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
– 12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Through God, we shall do valiantly.
Today, we are looking at GOD’S BANNER OVER US WHILE WE REIGN HERE ON EARTH. God’s banner over you while He lifts you up and promotes you, and sets you on the throne. While you are reigning here on earth, His banner will be over you.
Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” From the sin of Adam and Eve, sin has reigned and had dominion over everyone on earth, but by virtue of redemption and atonement made at Calvary, we have abundant grace to reign in life.
vs 21 “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” We shall reign.
Revelation 5:10 “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Your prayer will be “O Lord count me among them”.
2 Chronicles 29:1. If we are going to reign, many have gone before us leaving a trail, leaving for us an example and a model of how to reign on earth in our own situation and circumstances. Hezekiah “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord” If he looked at what men thought, or expected, what his father and the elders with him had done, he would have acted differently. But he looked up to the Lord and did what was right in His sight. There were three people in Hezekiah’s life who influenced him positively:

1. King david:
He took David as an example to follow. He did according to David, his forefather. David did so well that God set him as a model for kings to follow in Judah and Jerusalem.

2 . Moses The Law-Giver:
Through him, the children of Israel got the laws of God written on tables of stone. These laws are given to kings in Israel to read and follow.

3 . Isaiah The Prophet
Who ministered during the reign of five kings, that is, three kings before Hezekiah.
From the very first month and year of his reign, Hezekiah did well throughout Judah. Under the positive influence of these three great people of God, he ruled well (II Chronicles 31:20-21).
Royalty, ruling and reigning in Israel and Judah was limited and restricted, even in this present world, but as for us believers, we are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ by grace. We will reign here and in eternity, Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:28-29. Between the bond and the free, the Jew and Gentile, the rich and poor, the high and low, the middle wall of partition is broken down totally.
The believers’ reign on earth is greater than that of King Hezekiah, or any other king, but we have a whole lot to learn from him.

A. Personal Reflection And Readiness With A Prepared Heart – Ii Kings 18:1-6
When are we going to reign? Now!!! Although David was not the direct father of Hezekiah and lived many centuries before him, Hezekiah nonetheless chose to follow David’s good model. All the time of the Judges down to Samuel, Solomon and others, the graven images and high groves were retained, but Hezekiah came and reformed the entire nation, he also removed the brazen serpent God instructed Moses to put up, which the people have turned into an idol. May you be a reformer where you are. Hezekiah had on the one hand, a good example in David, and on the other hand, a law giver and instructor in the person of Moses.
II Chronicles 29:1-3. Hezekiah started doing good from the very first year of his reign, he did not waste any time. He did not waste any time. Some people, on getting to a position, waste several years. It is unimaginable that a reformer will fold his/her arms. They usually spring into action. When you follow the written word of a good example, your life will be different.

Hezekiah trusted the Lord, unlike any other king in Judah before him. He clave to God and did not depart from following Him. As a reformer, he was bold, courageous, he was reflecting, practical and proactive.

vs 4-5,15. He went into every section, he commanded the priests and the Levites to sanctify themselves, as well as the house of the Lord. Promptly, they followed his instructions to the letter. All the unclean things they packed out and dumped them in Brook Kidron (vs 16). Hezekiah had a prepared heart, he reflected deeply, sought the Lord, wrought righteousness in obedience, and served the Lord with all his heart. He was able to effect the needed reformation in the land. As we look at our own standard and perfect example, Jesus Christ and we reflect, our lives will be turned around richer and greater than Hezekiah’s. Have a readily prepared heart for the outpouring of God’s blessings upon your life (Job 11:13-18; Job 22:21-28; Proverbs 16:1-3).

B. PRACTICAL RENEWAL AND RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH A PURPOSEFUL HEART

If the record of your lives were to be taken, will we go through several pages before we see anything tangible? Today, angels will record something good about you. Before leaving your house each day, if you don’t make up your mind as to the pattern and model you are going to follow, or make up your mind to live and please God as a matter of compulsion, society and people around you will determine and derail your destiny.

Anywhere you are, be it Babylon, Rome or Lagos, you must be focused on pleasing the Lord alone. We must have a purpose in our hearts like Daniel (Daniel 1:8). With all the evil kings that reigned before him, and the infectious evil of idolatry, Hezekiah chose to be different, he was determined to do good.

Hezekiah chose to live his life different from his father, Ahaz. He made up his mind to swim against the tide. Dead fish flow with the river because it has no life, but live fishes swim to any direction they choose. Be prepared to swim against the tide of evil (Psalm 17:3).

A purposeful and determined life’s goal is established by counsel. Anytime problems arose, Hezekiah sent for Isaiah for counseling. Seek divine counsel always (Proverbs 15:22-26, 15:22-24). Hezekiah took the letter from Sennacherib to the house of God. Prophet Isaiah assured him by the word of the Lord, thst by the way he came, by the same way he would go back (Psalm 33:8-19). Thank God you are chosen! The counsel of the Lord shall stand over your lives! And only one night, an angel of the Lord smote 185,000 soldiers of Assyria on behalf of Hezekiah!

– Welcome to victory!
– Welcome to the reigning life!
– Welcome to the conquering life!

Isaiah 44:24-26
24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

God always stand by to defend His own, He did it for Hezekiah, now, it is your turn.

C. PASSIONATE REQUEST AND RESOLUTENESS WITH A PERFECT HEART: II Kings 20:1-6

Hezekiah received a prophecy from Isaiah that he should put his house in order because he would die. Negative prophecy/dream is not the end of life. It’s just the signal of a new beginning. Hezekiah did not complain to Prophet Isaiah, neither did he ask him for prayer, rather, he prayed to God directly, bringing to remembrance all the good works he had done. He had a record, so also, you ought to have a record: you have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Your name is written in the book of life.

vs 5. God turned Isaiah back to Hezekiah, the man who refused to die. So he died not! Every negative prophecy pronounced on your life is shattered. God will hear your prayers and a change is going to happen. He has your name recorded in the Book of Life, washed by the Blood of the Lamb – you cannot die young. Whatever you say No to will not happen. God called Hezekiah ‘the captain of my people’ it is important for you to know what God calls you. He promised to heal Hezekiah and granted him additional 15 years!

What if Hezekiah accepted the words of Isaiah, a major prophet as final? Thank God he did not.
II Kings 20:1-5. Below are the lessons we learnt from Hezekiah:

1. A Perplexing Problem vs – 1
2. A Prophetic Pronouncement vs – 1
3. His Passionate Prayer – vs 2
4. His Perfect Portrait – vs 3
5. The Prompt Performance – vs 4
6. The Positive Promise – vs 5
7. His Prolonged Period – vs 6 Extension of his life, expansion of blessings – Psalm 91:1-16.
Satan cannot come under the shadow of the Almighty. You are secure.

Start counting your 15 years from the time your life was supposed to end, not from now. God promised to satisfy us with long life.

Something practical, positive, purposeful is coming upon your life. Long life, longer life and meaningful life is your portion. What a great and bright day for you!