In a time when the world is full of saber rattling, our nation can only stay strong and prepared, if we get real about our motto… “In God We Trust”….
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. v11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. v12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, (it can’t overwhelm you if don’t give it permission) against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. v13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, (one of the words used here is “panoply” which is the full scope of what God has available) that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”.
Since it is Memorial Day Sunday and a time of remembering those who have fought to defend our liberties and the freedoms of other people groups who are our allies and friends in the world. The message I want to share is from an ancient account in 2 Kings chapter three.
It is about 3 kings who formed an alliance in order to face a common enemy (Moab) who was out to annihilate them from the face of the earth. In this account, we see two kinds of people, there are those who represent the folks who look for whoever will tell them what they want to hear…. (That would be The king of Israel and the king of Edom).
It reminds me of the three guys that are out fishing and having a great day just hanging out together, catching fish and spinning yarns, when the lord appears to them. The first guy says, “I’ve suffered from back pain for years. Can you help me Lord?” Hetouches the man’s back, and the guy feels instant relief. The second guy points to his thick glasses and begs for a cure for his poor eyesight which is degenerating. When the Lord tosses the lenses into the lake, the man gains 20/20 vision. As the Lord turns to the third fellow, he instantly recoils and loudly says, “No, no please, don’t touch me! I’m on disability!”
We will only get what we are willing and open to receive…..
So, as we get into this story with the day of battle drawing near, we find that the king of Judah is a Godly king who is desiring to lead his people in the ways of God. But he has been persuaded to join himself with two kings who have lead the people away from God and towards the worship of and sacrifices to idols and false Gods. (if you’re not careful, you can get pulled into something you don’t even believe in, just to please someone else)
I recall when I dropped out of the rock band I had started as a teen, and made a commitment to more fully follow the Lord in my life… the rest of the band hounded me non-stop to continue and to keep the band together, they didn’t care about my choice to follow the Lord. A lot of pressure was put on me, but I just dug more deeply into the word and prayer.
Sometimes you have to be like the boy who fell into the rapids. While they prepared to get rescue equipment together they were concerned that he would get hypothermia and wouldn’t be able to hang onto the rocks long enough for them to save him. When he was rescued, they asked him, how were you able to hang on with all that force of the water pulling against you… He said, “the harder it pulled, the tighter I clung”… THERE YOU GO…. (the harder it pulls, the tighter you cling)!!!
Anyhow, these three kings and the troops who are following them, have ended up in a place without water and other supplies, and the animals are dying for thirst and the troops are barely able to go on. Because they didn’t consult God in their ventures, they have found themselves in a very critical place.
It is in this very critical condition, that they are going up against a very powerful enemy that is better equipped and with plenteous supplies.
Only one king is willing to call on someone who will tell them what they need to hear, even if it’s not what they don’t want to hear…. persuaded the others to call on the prophet Elisha. Elisha’s greatest quality is that He heard from God. This made him the coolest guy in the region!
Listen, you may think no one is noticing, you may feel like the person that no one sees, the most uncool person around. Prophets lived an isolated, lonely life…. No one wanted them, until they had run out of options, then it was cool to be a prophet!
2 Kings 3:12 “And Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) said, The word of the LORD is with Elisha. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him”. (many folks feel that turning to God in a sincere act of obedience is a step down) It says “they went down to him”)indicating that if all else fails, then try God…..
Listen folks, we need to be careful about making God our last resort. It’s like…. “I’ve tried everything else, so I guess I’ll try God”. You might find yourself like the guy who was trying to swim….. Oh, yes, a definition of trying to swim, is DROWNING!!!(I know, I’ve been there)
God is not a back-up plan…. He’s not the spare tire that you put out of sight until you get a flat…. Matthew 6:33 “But you need to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these other things shall be added unto you”.
I heard someone say, “God plus nothing equals everything”!!!
Where is God in your plans, because it’s pretty risky to think you actually know enough, have enough ability, and think you’re cool enough without God…. You can never be cool enough to out-cool God!
It’s like folks who exercise religiously, that means they work out on Easter and Christmas….
I know a young lady who started attending one of the churches we pastored. Her first service she knelt at the front and committed her life to Christ. Her life of drugs, drinking and sex, totally turned around. She was excited about the word of God, and excited about church. She got involved in Youth meetings, home groups and wanted to be there every time the doors were open.
Her parents were not Christians and were alcoholics and were upset at the change in her. They forbade her from attending and even punished her at times. She stopped coming and soon returned to her old ways. (but I’m sure when she ended up in jail, or was on a stretcher, hovering between life and death, her parents were calling out to God)
When people finally come to the end of their rope and there is nowhere left to turn – that’s when most will finally remember that there is a God in Heaven who has the power to turn their circumstances around and answer their cry. It’s too bad that people have to sink so low before turning to Him!
I can tell you that there are some folks that I’m actually praying for God to bring them to the end of themselves, because that’s the point where they will let down all their defenses and all their excuses and allow God to show them who He truly is… (anyone know what I’m talking about. Praise God, He knows how to bring them to that place!
Sometimes you have to fight like the third monkey trying to get on the ark, but be willing to let God decide the outcome!
2 Kings 3:14 “And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not even give you the time of day, or even see you”.
One God fearing king, made all the difference. Thank the Lord, this is telling us that just like God was willing to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for a few righteous, your influence with heaven counts for much, even when you are in the minority. Don’t believe the devil’s lie, that you can’t make a difference. It is our arms God hugs with, it is our words He speaks with, it is our feet he walks with, it is our hearts he uses to show compassion…
You probably aren’t aware that one man saved all of our lives. Now that’s making a difference! Stanislav Petrov, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Soviet army during the Cold War. In 1983, Petrov was on duty in a Soviet missile base when early warning systems erroneously detected an incoming missile strike from the United States. Protocol dictated that the Soviets immediately order a return strike. We were one decision away from nuclear war. But Petrov didn’t push the button. He reasoned that the number of missiles was too small to warrant a counterattack, and he chose todisobey protocol. If he had ordered the required nuclear strike, there’s at least a reasonable chance hundreds of millions would have died. The two countries may have ended up engaged in an all-out nuclear war, leading to billions of deaths and, potentially, the end of civilization as we know it. If we’re being conservative, we might quantify his impact by saying he saved one billion lives. But even that could be an underestimate, because a nuclear war would also have devastating long term fall out. Scientific, artistic, economic and all other forms of progress would be destroyed, leading to a huge loss of life and well-being over the long run. He was only one man, but one man that might have saved the world!
Have you ever felt like the little Dutch boy, who is alone with his finger in the dike, and no one else is even conscious that the dam is about to break….or the boy who kept crying wolf, wolf, and no one was listening till the wolves showed up at their door….. There was a guy who went through an entire day with no one noticing that he even existed. He began to think he was invisible, so he called to try to get an appointment with the doctor, but no one answered. He went to the doctor’s office and the receptionist heard his request, and asked the doctor if he could fit the guy in. The doctor didn’t help matters at all, because he hollered out, Tell him I can’t see him, I can’t see him!
Satan has lied to a lot of people that they just aren’t important. Don’t believe the devil’s lies that you aren’t important and valuable.
So, Don’t let the barking dogs make you stop marching to the beat of another drum….or praising, or dancing, or shouting or continuing to serve with the beat of a different drum….
It reminds me of the story about a young man who went into the military. He trained and trained and one day was chosen among those who were to march in Washington to commemorate Memorial Day. The young man's mother came out to watch that day and as her young son's battalion was practicing, she was heard to proudly say to her friend. “O, look, look, there’s my sweet Johnny. And just look at all those soldiers that are out of step except my sweet boy.”
The way our country has supported and promoted the Special Olympics and many other events that are similar, is just awesome! It’s a statement that every life is valuable and important. I was shocked to hear that in New Zealand, pressure is put on women to have abortions if they find they are carrying down syndrome babies…. Red and yellow, black or white, they are precious in His sight!
God loves special needs children with a special kind of love! Listen we all enjoy the Power Of One through the advances of modern society because of one here, and one there and all the individuals with their unique skills who have made a difference.
We’ve all heard of individuals who have single handedly had a huge impact, upon science, technology, health, physics, religious life, and government.
Hey, Some would call it luck – but we believe that God had the right people in the right place at the right time, allowing them to have an impact that they might not have otherwise had.
The signature of Rembrandt on his paintings, and Michelangelo’s name on a sculpture or Michael Jordon’s signature on a basketball or Ty Cobbs signature on a baseball, makes it valuable. The signature of Jesus by His blood, on your life, makes you very, valuable and one of a kind!
Jesus marched to the beat of a different drum… and He calls us to do the same. Jesus could have come to earth and ruled the world, but instead he wrapped himself in a towel, took a basin of water, and washed the feet of others. When asked by one of his disciples about who was the greatest, Jesus replied In Mark 9:33, that “whoever would be great among you must be the least, he who would lead must be servant of all.”
The highest calling of any Christ follower is primarily to be what God calls them to be, to give back to Him, the gifts they are given… God calls some to be leaders and some to be followers, some to be managers and some to work in the office, some to be foremen and some to be laborers, some to chair boards and some to carry boards. God calls some to be ministers and some to be prime-ministers, some to serve him in a full-time capacity and some to support that call.
It is challenging to hear the world's clamor so loudly and then try to hear the drum beat of heaven the midst of it all. It's challenging to lead and to serve at the same time, to gain riches but be generous, to be successful but not compromising.
Let me return to my text in 2nd Kings, as we look at what God told them to do, that defied all human logic and human reasoning….
OK, so, there was no water to drink, cattle and people are at the point of death, They are far out numbered and out equipped….it is a challenging time and a great time of need…
2 Kings 3:16 “And it came to pass, that the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha. And he said, Thus says the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches”.
Now I don’t know about you…. But I’ve found when it looks the worst, God is doing His best work. And when we feel like digging ditches the least, is when it probably counts the most! I need to stay open to the voice in my spirit that is a lot more accurate than my mood swings, my self-pity, my denials or my soulish attraction to compromise…..
We’ve all been to that place where our spirit is “drier than cracker juice” if we spit, dust would come out, and our heart feels as dead as last year’s spider’s web?
But Lord I just don’t feel like visiting Mrs. Big Mouth…. I don’t feel like inviting Gladys Gossip to lunch… I just want to watch my soap operas, and Lord, American Idol is on tonight.
Those are the times when you will see your greatest victories, so pick up that shovel, and get going!
Sometimes prayer is ditch digging, sometimes taking groceries to a hungry family is digging ditches…
But if you are going to get ready for God to come in His fullness, give Him something to fill!!!
Here’s the rest of the story….2 Kings 3:17&18 “For the LORD says, Youshall not see storm clouds and wind, neither shall you see rain, yet that valley shall be filled with water, that you may drink, both you, and your cattle, and your beasts. And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD. He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand."
Remember when Elijah was sent to the widow of Zarephath , she got the miracle of the oil and the meal, and it kept multiplying as long as she kept pouring…she ran out of pots to pour in and when she stopped pouring, the oil and meal stopped multiplying
There are times when we are called upon to prepare something for God to fill up….and it’s usually In some of the hardest places of our lives. Notice that what the widow woman needed for a miracle was right there in her house, but she didn’t know how to release it. She saw insufficiency but God was wanting her to see plenty!
There was no rain, there were no clouds, and there was no wind, but the next morning, the ditches were filled with water…. And everyone had more than enough to drink…. Full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over!!!!
Now notice that the blessings of the Lord are two pronged…. They bless you, while at the same time, they conquer the enemy of your blessing! God said, this blessing will also defeat the Moabites!
Proverbs 6:31 “When the thief is found, he shall pay sevenfold, he shall give even unto all the substance of his house”.
The same thing that blesses you will defeat your enemy…. Good will overcome evil, Kindness will overcome callousness and indifference, Love will overcome hate, Faith will overcome doubt, Godliness will overcome wickedness….
Hebrews 10:35 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompence of reward. v36 For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise”.
The word recompence here is the Hebrew word “mis-thap-od-os-ee'-ah” which means (to give back or repay all that was lost or taken)
I believe my neighborhood is blessed and better off because I live there, I believe your job is blessed and a better place because you work there, I believe your home is blessed because you are in the family, and I believe that your friends are blessed because you are their friend. You need to declare that through your neighborhood, your job, your home and with your friends…..they are all better off because you are there.
Isaiah 32:2 “And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land”.
You need to tell someone “I do believe pastor is talking about me”
The battle is the Lord’s and the victory is yours! You are more that conquerer… that means that Jesus won the battle so you could enjoy His victory… I used to work 3 jobs when I was younger. I would get my check and I would turn it right over to Winnie. I was conquerer but she was more than conquerer! And that’s what the Lord has made each of you this morning…. YOU ARE MORE THAN CONQUERERS!!!!
Father, in the Name of Jesus, thank you for special blessings today. Open supernatural doors in our lives today. Save and set free! Give us a double portion of your Spirit as we take back everything that has been stolen, delayed or blocked.
We receive the blessing of Emotional Health, Physical Health, Financial Health, Healthy Relationships, Healthy and Thriving Children, Fulfilling Jobs, Happy, Joyful Homes, and Successful Marriages.
We cancel every plot, plan and scheme the enemy has devised against us in the MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS. And we declare that NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US WILL PROSPER. We speak LIFE into every dead situation. And, we thank you that nothing is over until YOU say it's over! We speak prophetically into the lives and situations yet to come. Our households are blessed and our health is blessed.
Our marriages are blessed; Our finances are blessed; Our businesses are blessed; Our jobs are blessed; Our children are blessed; Our grandchildren are blessed; Our parents are blessed; Our siblings are blessed; Our ministries are blessed; and, Our decisions are blessed. Husbands are on the way, and Wives are on the way that are of Your choosing. Mortgages are paid and debts cancelled; Our hearts' desires are on the way; according to YOUR perfect will and plan for our lives. IN JESUS NAME! AMEN!!
