Sermon Tone Analysis

We have talked a lot about spiritual warfare recently… You have victory through Jesus Christ.

But what do you do when your victory comes with a heavy heart?

What do you do when you are not caving into temptation, or your faith is not shaken, but you are in the place where your heart has sorrow in it?

Tonight I want to talk to the fighters in the room… The ones who are still serving the Lord despite your times of sorrow, those who still have their faith despite their challenges…

(NLT) — 1 Ahab’s son Joram began to rule over Israel in the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah.

He reigned in Samaria twelve years. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother.

He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up. 3 Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had committed and led the people of Israel to commit.

4 King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder.

He used to pay the king of Israel an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.

5 But after Ahab’s death, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

6 So King Joram promptly mustered the army of Israel and marched from Samaria.

7 On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.

Will you join me in battle against him?”

And Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course!

You and I are as one.

My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”

8 Then Jehoshaphat asked, “What route will we take?” “We will attack from the wilderness of Edom,” Joram replied.

9 The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days.

But there was no water for the men or their animals.

10 “What should we do?” the king of Israel cried out.

“The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us.”

Quick recap…

Before this story the nation of Israel split, kind of a long story, but just know it happened.

Now there is the nation of Israel and the nation of Judah.

The kingdom of Moab (Moabites) stoped paying the nation of Israel a tribute, this was something that was often done out of respect, etc.

But all of a sudden stopped, not because they faced hard times but because there was a switch in the king of Israel.

They were saying Joram we respected your father Ahab, but not you.

So King Joram leading the Israelites decided to attack the Moabites, he asks for help from the nation of Edom and from Judah who was lead by king Jehoshaphat who was known for his worship.

In fact Judah means praise.

and Jehoshaphat was the king who put worshipers on the front line of battle in .

So the 3 armies find themselves marching around to the back end of the nation of Moab because that side was less fortified, but that ment they were marching through the wilderness.

They ended up not accounting for the intense heat and the difficult rocky terrain, and they find themselves out of energy before their battle ever starts.

KEY- They found themselves in trouble not because of an attacker, but because of their surroundings.

I know there is someone who knows what its like to be marching in line, doing what you believe to be God’s will, and you find yourself in a dry place, you find yourself in a place of sorrow…

POINT- My surroundings will not dictate my future.

11 But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord with us?

If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him.”

It was worshiper who said we should see what God has to say…

One of King Joram’s officers replied, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here.

He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.”

12 Jehoshaphat said, “Yes, the Lord speaks through him.”

So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom went to consult with Elisha.

13 “Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel.

“Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!”

But King Joram of Israel said, “No!

For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!”

KEY- Sometimes the victory God calls you to is through a dry valley.

KEY-

14 Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.

15 Now bring me someone who can play the harp.”

While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha, 16 and he said, “This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water! 17 You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord, but this valley will be filled with water.

You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals.

18 But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab! 19 You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones.

You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones.”

20 The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared!

It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere.

21 Meanwhile, when the people of Moab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border.

22 But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites—like blood.

23 “It’s blood!” the Moabites exclaimed.

“The three armies must have attacked and killed each other!

Let’s go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!” 24 But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran.

The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went.

There is someone here tonight and you felt like you were just following the voices of God, you felt like you were just following your marching orders and all of the sudden you find that you march yourself into a dry place.

POINT- Sorrow can find a believer at any time.

CHALLENGE- Don’t let your surroundings reflect the condition of your heart.

QUESTION- So what do you do?

POINT- There was a turn to God for direction, but they didn’t get it right away.

(NLT) — 13 “Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel.

“Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!”

But King Joram of Israel said, “No!

For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!” 14 Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.

15 Now bring me someone who can play the harp.”

While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha, 16 and he said, “This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water!

KEY- There were 3 kings representing 3 nations that were present in this time of sorrow.

The plan of God was revealed because one of those kings was there.

You had the nation of Edom.

DEFINE- Edom means Earth.

POINT- Edom represents the things of this world.

KEY- In your time of sorrow the things of this world will not get you out.

Stop looking to the things of this world to bring you out of sorrow.

Stop letting this world attempt to define your worth.

KEY POINT- The only worth the world will put on your life is the worth it looks to get out of your life.

POINT- Edom could not bring about change.

Edom was not responsible for revealing God’s plan in the dry place.

You had the nation of Israel.

DEFINE- Israel means they struggle with God.

POINT- So many times in Israel’s history you see them put on the appearance of religion but not the relationship of religion.

(NLT) — 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother.

He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up.

(NLT) — 13 “Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel.

“Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!”

But King Joram of Israel said, “No!

For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!”

KEY POINT- Religious practices will not get you out of a dry place.

ILLUSTRATION- I know a person who has struggled so often in their life, they use to show up to the church once or twice a week to pray for five minutes then go home.

I asked one time why they did this, why did they feel the need to show up to the church.

They explained that they hoped it would make a difference.

POINT- Israel could not bring about change.

Israel was not responsible for revealing God’s plan in the dry place.

You had the nation of Judah.