Section 1

This teaching centers on 2 Kings 18:31–33, where the king of Assyria delivers a calculated message to the people of Israel, urging them not to trust King Hezekiah or the Lord. Instead, he offers what sounds like peace, security, provision, and even abundance, if they will simply surrender. He paints a picture of comfort and survival, promising vineyards, water, grain, and a future that looks familiar and safe. Yet every promise is built on deception. What he is truly asking is not coexistence, but submission, and what he deliberately withholds is the cost: exile, loss of freedom, and slavery. This is not peace at all, but a trap disguised as mercy.

Section 2

The heart of the lie is revealed in the king’s bold claim that the Lord will not deliver Israel. This is the same lie that originates with Satan and is echoed by the world and reinforced by the flesh. Satan’s core message has always been that God cannot be trusted to help, protect, or provide. The world amplifies this lie through systems that promote self-righteousness, self-reliance, and false security, while dismissing God as unnecessary or ineffective. Even the flesh joins in, whispering impatience, doubt, and fear when God’s timing feels slow. Together, these voices form a unified deception: make peace with your enemy, surrender your trust in God, and everything will be easier.

Section 3

The answer to this lie is truth, and truth is found in the Word of God. Scripture consistently declares that help comes from the Lord, not from surrendering to the enemy, the world, or the flesh. God has helped before, He is helping now, and He will help again. Believers are not called to negotiate with deception, but to stand firmly in truth. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the words of Jesus will never fail. When the lie says God will not help, faith responds with certainty that He will. Victory is not found in false peace, but in trusting God completely and refusing to surrender to anything that contradicts His promises.

Section 1

This teaching begins with an honest and difficult question: why doesn’t everyone say yes to Jesus? Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4:3–4, the answer is not framed as an intellectual failure or a lack of evidence, but as a spiritual condition. The gospel itself is described as veiled, not because it lacks truth or power, but because unbelievers are blinded by the god of this age. This blindness prevents them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For those who have said yes to Jesus, life becomes fuller, richer, and more alive, often to the point where it is impossible to imagine life without Him. That contrast makes the resistance of others confusing and even painful, especially when those people are family or close friends.

Section 2

The passage makes clear that unbelief is not merely stubbornness but captivity to a lie. The enemy actively works to distort truth, using pride and pleasure as his primary tools, and he does so through thoughts, perceptions, and influences rather than obvious displays. Spiritual warfare, therefore, is real, constant, and often unrecognized, even by believers. The increase in pressure, discouragement, and internal battles is not accidental but evidence of that warfare intensifying. Yet this opposition does not signal defeat; instead, it often accompanies moments when God is preparing to move powerfully. The enemy’s goal is to discourage, but God uses resistance to deepen dependence, sharpen faith, and strengthen resolve.

Section 3

The response to this reality is not argumentation or clever debate, but surrender and prayer. Scripture is clear that victory comes through submitting to God, resisting the devil, and trusting that he will flee. Effective spiritual warfare flows from alignment with God, fervent prayer, and perseverance over time. Many come to faith only after years or decades of intercession on their behalf, because persistent prayer breaks the power of darkness and lifts the veil. Jesus came to set captives free, not only from sin but from Satan’s grip, and believers are called to stand in that gap. When the darkness lifts, clarity follows, and hearts are finally able to say yes to Jesus with understanding and joy.

Section 1

This passage in 1 Samuel chapter 2, verses 27 through 29, brings us face to face with a sobering confrontation between God and Eli through a prophet. Eli’s sons were abusing their priestly role in grotesque ways, taking offerings meant for God before they were sacrificed and engaging in open immorality. Even more troubling was Eli’s failure to act. As both a father and the high priest, he neglected his responsibility to correct, discipline, and protect the sacred trust entrusted to his family. God reminds Eli that the priesthood was not an accident or a casual assignment, but a divine calling established through Aaron, meant to be carried with reverence, humility, and obedience. This moment underscores that spiritual leadership is not optional stewardship; it is a holy responsibility directly accountable to God Himself.

Section 2

The heart of God’s rebuke cuts deeply when He asks Eli why he honors his sons more than God. This is not merely about parental affection, but about misplaced loyalty and distorted priorities. Scripture consistently affirms that God must come first, without exception, even above family. Jesus later echoes this same truth in the Gospels, making it unmistakably clear that loving anyone more than God disqualifies a person from faithful discipleship. Eli’s silence and tolerance allowed corruption to flourish, and his passive participation benefited him materially. The misuse of spiritual authority for personal gain, whether through money, influence, or comfort, provokes God’s righteous correction. This is not confined to the Old Testament; it is a timeless warning that reverence for God cannot be compromised.

Section 3

This account serves as a powerful reminder that all believers are stewards before God, entrusted with responsibilities that must reflect His character. Whether one holds formal spiritual leadership or simply manages what God has placed in their care, misuse invites discipline. God expects gratitude instead of greed, faithfulness instead of self-interest, and obedience instead of convenience. The judgment that ultimately fell upon Eli’s household shows that God takes His holiness seriously, in every covenant. The lesson is clear and enduring: everything belongs to God, everything flows from Him, and He must remain first. When He is honored above all else, everything else finds its proper place.