Because One Man Prayed

DG Blog:

Here's another classic message to add to "Boasting Only in the Cross."

John Piper delivered "Winning Battles Through Prayer" on July 19, 1990, at Wheaton College to ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment). Here's how John remembers it:

I recall that this message came together in a dorm room at Wheaton College quite late the night before I was to speak.... What had gripped me and demanded fresh attention was the fact that one single prayer from one man for the glory of God and the protection of his people resulted in 185,000 dead Assyrian soldiers. This is the [portion of the message] that captures my stunned heart that night:

Now the tremendously important point of this story is seen in the words of Isaiah in Isaiah 37:21-22: "Because you have prayed to Me concerning Sennacharib, King of Assyria, this is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him."

Because you have prayed! Because you have prayed, 185,000 enemy soldiers lie dead on the plans of Judah.

Think of it! Just think of it. Does prayer win battles?

Hezekiah, because you have prayed, the strongest king in the known world is gone—off the scene of history. Hezekiah, because you have prayed, the witness of my covenant love for David and my zeal for my name has spread throughout the nations.

Because one man prayed.