We are not Alone
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning everyone, I hope and pray that you are well.
Today is Mother’s day and I want to say Happy Mother’s day to all the Mothers out there today.
We are incredibly thankful for our Mother’s today and all those wonderful ladies who are mothers to so many today. Thank you for all you do for us and our families. we love and appreciate you more than you will every know..
Now today, I am not going to share a traditional Mother’s day message, instead God has led me in a different direction.
So today I want to ask you a question, when you feel overwhelmed or are facing difficulties, Do you ever feel alone?
I think there are plenty of times we feel this way, even when we have lots of people around us, we can feel alone and helpless in difficult situations.
I think a lot of people have felt alone during this time with Covid 19. I know people who have had loved ones in the hospital and they couldn’t even be there along side of them.
I heard stories of people who have lost loved ones, and they couldn’t do those goodbyes in the way they hoped for…
And so, there are a variety of life situations that make it difficult times to be positive, upbeat and ready to take o all that the day has before us.. and the main reason is we forget to reach out to God.
We fail to remember who He is and the resources and people around us to help us in our time of need.
So with that in mind, lets travel back to the Old Testament again and lets find 2 Kings 6, verses 8 -33
This passage will be out text for this morning as we consider the truth of God’s word, We are not Alone… But I will begin by reading just two verses to set the stage for what God will teach us today.
15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Now for a little background today, we find that Israel has been enduring the attacks of Syria and their mighty forces. But God has been at work for His people and sent word to the King of Israel about the intentions of this Syrian King through the ministry of the prophet Elisha.
If you remember, Elisha is the one who followed the prophet Elijah, and God gave to him a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit . What an incredible gift God has given unto Him.
In the midst of these times, the King of Syria grow angry and decides to take action against those who would seek to help Israel, He is not only warring against the prophet of God, but against God himself and soon he will know and understand that there is one true God who cares for His people and loves them, Reminding them they are never without His presence.
Friends understand when others seek to harm us, God is there and He is for His people.
So lets begin today...
1. Our Days Cannot Always Be Easy....
1. Our Days Cannot Always Be Easy....
It is important for us to know that the course of our days will not always be easy. It is natural for us in this life to experience hardships and trouble. and we don’t understand the why’s… We ask, why me Lord?
I would remind you that the events of life, both good and bad are common to man, simply our world is touched by sin. so while we enjoy the good, bad things will happen to all.
Death comes, tragedy and sickness… no one is immune to such things in this life.
Job, in the Old Testament says this....
1 “Man who is born of a woman
is few of days and full of trouble.
And in our story today the King of Syria is once again seeking to make it hard on the people of Israel. He is sending raids across the borders of Isreal to harass and steal, to harm, capture and yes even kill those who resist.
Verse 8 tells us of the Kings intent
8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.”
He intends to harm Israel and its people.
Can you imagine living in those regions that were threatened by attack? Could you imagine laying down and waking up and all you hold in your heart is fear.
Fear is a tragic, it imprisons people greater than any jail we could be submitted to in this life time. Fear steals, it takes what belongs to us, what God wants for us…peace and sends it far away.
The children of Israel were facing hard times, Yet God was at work, His prophet warned them of the Syrian Kings intent and even the locations of His army and told them not to come by this area or that area, thus keeping the king, His men and the people of Israel safe.
Let me ask you a question:
What are you afraid of today? What is it that threatens to invade your peace and steal your Joy?
I want to encourage you, God is at work on your behalf, He is there everyday and every step of the way. Trust Him and not the difficulty. God will see you through.
Now my friends this brings me to my second thought for the day. Are you ready?
2. Adversaries Seek to Ensnare Us...
2. Adversaries Seek to Ensnare Us...
My friends I want to point out something to you, just as the King of Syria seeks to ensnare and harm Israel, the ole Devil is the one behind his actions, Satan is allows the one who threatens God’s people and seeks to harm them...
The King of Syria is determined to harm Israel....
Lets look back at our text again, lets look at verses 8-14
8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
Now Syria has always fought against God’s people, harassing and harming them. And here in this passage we see the continuation of the King of Syria’s actions. But what he doesn’t think about is the fact that God is at work.
God is sending His prophet to warn the King of Israel as we see in verse 9 and when the King of Syria has failed to capture and defeat some of those areas in Israel that he sought after, well he is upset.
The King of Syria, he assumes there must be a spy in his midst, as we see in verse 11. Now in the midst of his acquisition, One one of his servants knows the truth.
We are not sure how he knew, perhaps he was a former resident, a person who once was once taken into captivity, or he had contact with someone, in either case He knew there was a prophet in the land who the Lord used to warn His people of the intimidate danger they were in...
And upon hearing this new the King seeks to capture the prophet of God, so that he may longer warn the people. But the King’s methodology is faulty. He assumes he’s just battling against one man.. He forget that Elisha is God’s man and to war against him is to war against God.
The picture we see here is one that is true throughout time, Adversaries of God’s people, namely the Devil himself seek to capture us, to hold us and to defeat us. But what they fail to consider is that we are the Lord’s children, and He will fight for us.
My friends understand we are never alone… and that brings me to my third thought for today, we are never alone.
3. We are not Alone.....
3. We are not Alone.....
So often the enemy, the devil seeks to isolate us and make us feel alone, especially when we are going through difficult times, when the battle in or around us is hard.
Why does the enemy do this.... to hurt us, to defeat us. You see if we believe we are alone in the battle then we are defeated. but I would remind you my friends, Jesus has promised you that “He would never leave you or forsake You.”
lets go back to our text today.. we know from our text, verses 13-14 that the King is trying to isolate and capture Elisha the prophet of God.
13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
So he sent a massive army and by night surrounded the city of Dothan in hopes of capturing Elisha.
Now as morning comes we find that Elisha’s servant discovers the army of Syria all around them and is afraid. Look at verse 15
15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
The servant is unnamed, who he is isn’t important, he is the one who serves and helps Elijah. And we know from our text and has begun His day and he discovers this massive army, they have captured the city and desire to capture them as well. I can imagine his thoughts,he might be thinking something like: they want my master Elisha, they will probably just kill me...
And then the servant turns to his master, Elisha, what shall we do.
His servant is afraid, he is scared, death is a real possibility in His mind. He feels alone, outnumbers and defeated already.
That is the tactic of the devil, he seeks to surround us, isolate us and cut us off form the one who loves us. His battle is a battle for the mind that ruins the heart and the life of a person.
What the children of God must remember is this… he promised not to leave us a orphans.. He promised to send us a comforter, the Holy Spirit who would always fill and indwell the believer. He walks with us , guides us, illuminates us with God’s truth and when we are suffering and in despair, when we cannot even pray, the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf Romans 8:26.
And as we look at the text, as the Elisha's servant is wondering what they will do against such a vast Army… Elisha reminds Him they are never alone..
Look at verses 16-17
16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
I love the words of Elisha, do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more, greater, than the men fighting for the King of Syria.
Then Elisha prayed, Lord open the eyes of this young man and let him see the truth.
My heaven people, instead of worrying what’s against us, why are we praying Lord open our eyes and let us see what you are doing in the midst of our struggle. Never doubt my friends that God is with you and he is always at work around you. He knows your every situation and care, struggle and concern and He is at work.
When the servants eyes are opened, He saw the army of God… Horse and chariots of fire… beautiful.
Let me stop right here and ask you a question.. do you see yourself as living victoriously, or defeated?
Do you believe God is at work in and around your life?
You are not alone...
Now just one last thought today...
4. God Brings the Victory (Not Us)...
4. God Brings the Victory (Not Us)...
We must realize that God is always the victor in life, us. He is the one who has won the battle of sin through Jesus death on the cross and He is calling us to come and enjoy the freedom this victory has brought to our lives.
Instead of living in fear and dread, choose to live in the excitement that God has already won the battle, live in that victory.
Now, as the Syrians were about to fight, Elisha prays for the Lord to intervene. Lets look at the last part of our text, verses 18-23
18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
The Syrians came down to fight and Elisha prays… and the battle is won. So Elisha prayed Lord strike them all blind and the Lord did just that..
And it is interesting that Elisha then convinces them they are in the wrong place to seek the man they are after and gets them to allow him to lead them to the place where they may find this man.
So Elisha led them into Samaria and asked the Lord to now open their eyes. And now they are in the midst of Israel’s army and the King of Israel asks Elisha, should we strike them down… and Elisha says no.
Instead they were to feed them and send them away.... And here is what God knew, and the prophet Elisha knew as well. It was over, the battle was won and they would return to their own lands and not return again to bother and harass Isreal.
Wow… In one moment the situation seemed hopeless, defeat was moments away. But with God’s help, with God’s presence we see the victory is won.
God brought the victory that day… Elisha prayed and God fought for them and not a single life was lost on either side.
My friends in our times of overwhelming trouble, when despair seems to tell us “… all is lost...” remember who is at work for your good. Your heavenly Father! All we have to do is trust Him. Live for him and He will do the rest.
I realize that seems so simple, but its true. He is at work for our good. So what do we do:
First.. Put your hope in him… not yourself and anyone else.
Second: Pray always. These best way to find strength and encouragement for the day is through prayer.
Third: Follow God.
Fourth: Let others hear what God has done, in hopes that they might reach out to Him as well.
So let me ask you today… What are you struggling with? What difficulties are you facing? What makes you feel so hopeless today?
Do you realize the Devil seeks to isolate you, But God seeks to hold you and care for you as a loving Father.
Take your cares and fears to Him in prayer today.
Do you know Him as Your Savior and Lord. Have you committed your life to him fully?
Confess those struggles to him… those things that keep you from serving and following like you want..
Ask for forgiveness and live in the truth that you are forgiven. The devil will always seek to accuse you and tell you that you aren’t good enough… but always remember you are.. because Jesus died for you.
Begin that journey today that He has won the battle and you are a victor in Christ Jesus.
Let us pray