When All Seems Hopeless

Dr. George Bannister

Woodville Baptist Church

Life lessons from Elisha • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

2 Kings 6:1–7

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2 Kings 6:1-7

2 Kings 6:1–7 NLT

1 One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. 2 Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.” “All right,” he told them, “go ahead.” 3 “Please come with us,” someone suggested. “I will,” he said. 4 So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. 5 But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!” 6 “Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. 7 “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.

INTRODUCTION:

God has plans for his people. Here's a blueprint for physical and spiritual growth for his church. Virtually everyone here would, if I asked, say, “yes, I want our church to grow!” many times, however, it seems that Murphy's law comes into operation in church work. It seems that the harder we try, the more discouragement and problems plague us. When these times come, we need to remember the incidents recorded in our text from the life of Elisha, the prophet of God.

Let's notice some facts from second kings the 6th chapter.

I. GOD PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY IN THE FACE OF DISASTER. (2 Kings 6:1-7)

2 Kings 6:1–7 NLT

A. A plan to meet a legitimate need. (2 Kings 6:1-2)

2 Kings 6:1–2 (NLT)

1 One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small.

2 Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.” “All right,” he told them, “go ahead.”

1. The need to expand, to grow is legitimate.

a. God intends for Growth to occur.

Personal Growth (2 Peter 3:18)

2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

Kingdom Growth (Luke 14:23)

Luke 14:23 (NLT)

23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.

Church Growth (Acts 2:41, 47)

Acts 2:41 (NLT)

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Acts 2:47 (NLT)

47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

2. A house can't be built without materials and tools. God will provide them if we ask.

a. (Matthew 9:38)

Matthew 9:38 (NLT)

38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

3. God will be with us, if we seek his presence, power and supply.

(Matthew 28:19-20)

Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT)

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

B. When God comes through, he expects us to act! (2 Kings 6:4-7)

2 Kings 6:4–7 (NLT)

4 So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees.

5 But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”

6 “Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.

7 “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.

1. Setbacks occur when it seems to be the worst time. (2 Kings 6:5)

2 Kings 6:5 (NLT)

5 But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”

a) The prophet was liable for the loss of the axe head.

The prophet had borrowed the ax.

Iron axe heads were rare and very expensive.

The prophet was very poor.

The result would have been a debt that would have been impossible for the profit to pay.

Without the axe head to cut lumber, the work would have come to a stop.

b) Sometimes it seems that setbacks occur just when progress is beginning to take place.

Satan often steps in to create circumstances to derail God’s work.

We must not be blind to his tactics.

(Ephesians 6:10-13)

Ephesians 6:10–13 (NLT)

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

2. Supernatural deliverance comes at the bleakest moment. (2 Kings 6:6).

2 Kings 6:6 (NLT)

6 “Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.

a) How in the world could the ax head that had fallen into the river be found?

by nature, iron does not float - it sinks!

God miraculously made the ax head float!

b) When we encounter setbacks, we must seek God for the answer!

(1 John 5:14-15)

1 John 5:14–15 (NLT)

14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

(James 4:2)

James 4:2 (NLT)

2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

3. Servants must obey and act when God performs miracles. (2 Kings 6:7)

2 Kings 6:7 (NLT)

7 “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.

(Luke 6:46)

Luke 6:46 (NLT)

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

a) The prophet’s widow had to be obedient. (2 Kings 4)

b) Naaman the leper had to be obedient. (2 Kings 5)

II. GOD PROVIDES DELIVERANCE IN THE FACE OF HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE ODDS. (2 Kings 6:8-23)

2 Kings 6:8–23 (NLT)

8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”

9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”

10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.

11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”

12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”

13 “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.”

14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.

16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

18 As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.

19 Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria.

20 As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”

22 “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.”

23 So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.

A. Satan cannot prevail as we look to the Lord for help. (2 Kings 6:8-12)

2 Kings 6:8–12 (NLT)

8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”

9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”

10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.

11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”

12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”

1. If we submit to and seek the Lord, he will direct our paths.

(Proverbs 3:6)

Proverbs 3:6 (NLT)

6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

a) We need to be careful to heed his directions continually!

B. If God is for us, no force in the world can stop us. (2 Kings 6:13-23)

2 Kings 6:13–23 (NLT)