Spradlin: Defense wins championships

LITTLE ROCK - Michael Spradlin, president of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn., encouraged pastors attending the pastors’ conference to remember that defense wins championships - that is if the Lord is your Defender.

The pastors’ conference was held Oct. 31 at First Baptist Church, Little Rock, Monday, Oct. 31, prior to the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) annual meeting Nov. 1-2.

Speaking from Isaiah 37:21 and following, Spradlin told the story of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, who attempted to attack the Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah.

Because of the history of the cruelty of the Assyrians to their captives, Spradlin said Hezekiah knew that if he lost the war, he and his entire family would be wiped out. However, he also knew that God had made a promise that the line of David, of which Hezekiah was a member, would not cease, he continued.

Ultimately, according to the passage, Hezekiah and his army were victorious, though they were outnumbered, because God was on their side.

In vs. 36-38, Sennacherib was not only defeated when the angel of the Lord killed 138,000 of his warriors as they slept, he was killed by his sons.

Speaking of Sennacherib’s final demise, Spradlin said, “Beware when you mock the one true God.”

“Nothing stands against our God,” he said. “Our God is mighty, wonderful, holy and unapproachable … You can’t surprise him.” “We can’t say anything except ‘You are the one true God.’”

Spradlin said God will always defend His work, His will and His people.

He compared Hezekiah’s worry about the situation to Christians today, noting though he was worried, God had already won the battle.

“This just goes to show that defense wins championships if the Lord is your defender,” said Spradlin.

He reminded pastors to “stand in the shadow of the cross, in the love of Jesus” when facing difficulties.

“When you want to be victorious, defense does win championships if you are washed in the blood of Jesus,” he said in conclusion. “Jesus will always step out and say, ‘don’t mess with My family.’”

Read more from the pastors’ conference in the Nov. 17 edition of the Arkansas Baptist News.