Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

For the past few weeks we have been talking about finding God’s will and what to do when you are not sure.

Today I would like to put some flesh on the bones and look at an example of those who were in the valley desperation

2 Kings 3:1-

We find Jehoram the son of Ahab king over Israel and Jehoshaphat King over Judah

We find Jehoram the son of Ahab king over Israel and Jehoshaphat King over Judah

One a godless man another a man of God

It so happens that the King of Moab has been paying tribute to Ahab but now that he is dead it is time to change the terms of the contract

Jehoram calls for the country to unite because of a national security threat Jehoshaphat agrees

2 Kings 3:9-

After drawing up the battle plans, gathering the troops and setting of on the journey of war they have no water!

Here they are in the middle of the desert, blazing sun, desolate landscape with thousands of troops about to take on the army of the enemy, and no water!

Not a good situation - here we see the opposite responses of the leaders

The situation is desperate - the need for water is life-sustaining - the godless see death and destruction but the Godly see an opportunity for God!

When you are in a dry and weary land where do look for water?

Do you allow the reality of the situation to overwhelm you or do you press in and seek for God’s Word?

In verse 12 the kings go and seek out the Word of God

Now I don’t want you to miss this…access to to God is conditional

You see our access to the Father is conditional also

Ezk

Even in the midst of great trail Jehoram still refused to take responsibility for the mess he created!

His words reveal it all “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

The first steps to hearing God’s voice in the midst of the wilderness is acknowledgement of your need for Him!

You see our access to the Father is conditional also…it is through the Son

It was because of Jehoshaphat and relationship to God that Elisha seeks a word for God for the kings

2 Kings 3:15

2 Kings 3:

WHAT?

The soldiers are weak and suffering, the enemy is at the door, and you want mood music?

Look what it says: “then it happened when the musicians played”

How many know the God centered, anointed worship music changes the atmosphere and we are moved from the natural plane to the supernatural realm of the Spirit of God!

Singing is not just something that we do to fill the space between service start time and everyone showing for the message!

Music is designed to take us to the realm of the Spirit which has been hijacked by the kingdom of darkness!

Elisha’s first response wasn’t to order a geological study of the region, seek support from perhaps a close ally, or even order a few thousand cases of water on-line - he begins to worship and change his focus from the problem to the problem solver

Praise is like fingernails on a chalkboard to the enemy and his cohorts

We need to remember that when we are in the valley God wants us not simply to GO through but to GROW through!

It is not for God’s knowledge that we go through the wilderness but rather so that WE can know what is really in us!

Next week we will pick it up at verse 16