Am I the Problem

BE PART OF THE PROBLEM OR BE PART OF THE SOLUTION…

PLEASURE IS A GOOD DISGUISE? We tend to love materialism.

WHY? WHY WHY AM I IN THIS MESS?

THIS MESS AND THIS BATTLE ARE GOING TO KILL ME?

THE TRAP OF SELF-INDULGENCE.

1 Timothy 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

I read about this mouse and a wide mouth glass gallon jar. The farmer put out a wide mouth gallon jar ¾ of the way full of grain and corn. The mouse was so happy to find the jar full of delicious food. He was in mouse heaven. HIS PLEASURE WAS SO GREAT. There was so much food the mouse would never have to look for food again. LIFE WAS EASY AND HE WAS SO COMFORTABLE. He no longer needed to run and exercise. He would eat and sleep in the jar of grain. The mouse freely ate and ate. Then he would sleep and sleep. Then he would eat and eat. This must be heaven the mouse thought. The mouse never paid attention as he was eating. The grain level got lower and lower as he got fatter and fatter.

The mouse now was totally dependent on the grain in the jar. The mouse could only survive by the grain in the jar. The more the mouse ate the lower the level of grain was. He now realizes he was trapped in the jar. He could see out, but he was trapped in the bottom of the jar. At first his weight kept him from jumping out. Now he has no choice. HIS DAILY CHOICES FILLED HIS STOMACH, but as the grain level lowered the poor mouse was trapped by his choices and he had given all his freedom in the barn.

SELF-INDULGENCE CAN BE A DEATH TRAP? WHY? WHY? WHY ARE MY PROBLEMS HURTING ME SO BAD… Maybe we need to learn the lesson that in my problems I might find my solution? Sometimes the worst thing that can happen, might be the best thing? Seems today we have a sense of entitlement and I deserve this. I love downhill and easy daily life. Could it be that your trials, problems and troubles are a real blessing and we just can’t see it? Maybe this negative problem is God stretching and growing your FAITH. There is nothing wrong with having pleasure. But pleasure loving can be a death trap.

WE WANT IT MY WAY --- MATERIALISM AND SIN HAS SET THE TRAP… THE KING AND QUEEN BLAME GOD AND THE PREACHER… THE KING MAKES A VOW… I DON’T LIKE THE MESSAGE OR THE PREACHER…

2 Kings 6:31 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

TWO WOMEN DON’T PRAY, BUT THEY MAKE A DEAL. We will boil and eat your baby and then we will eat my baby. The one lady backs out of the deal. THEY COME RUNNING TO THE KING… SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

TOMORROW! LET US TALK ABOUT CHOICES… THERE HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE DROUGHT… THE PREACHER HEARS FROM GOD… THE PREACHER MAKES A BOLD PREDICTION… TOMORROW THIS PROBLEM WILL HAVE A SOLUTION.

2 Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

TOMORROW, YOU ARE CRAZY, IT CAN’T BE. SIR YOU ARE RIGHT BUT YOU ARE SO WRONG… THE NEGATIVE MAN TAKES TO A PERSONAL PROPHECY ---

2 Kings 7:2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

YOU WILL SEE IT BUT YOU WILL NEVER TASTE THE FOOD…

WE MAY HAVE A BIG PROBLEM BUT MAYBE WE CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION… WE MUST NOT STAY TRAPPED IN THE JAR… LET US TALK CHOICES… WHY SIT HERE UNTIL WE DIE?

2 Kings 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

IS THERE A SOLUTION? THIS PROBLEM IS VERY REAL… WE CAN DO SOMETHING AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE GOD WILL HELP US.

1. WE HAVE A TERRIBLE DISEASE, WE ARE WEAK, THERE IS NOT MUCH WE CAN DO?

2. FOUR LEPROUS MEN HAVE A PROBLEM, CONSIDER OUR CHOICES.

3. IF WE GO INTO THE CITY --- THE FOUR MEN CANNOT LEGALLY GO INTO THE CITY.

4. IF WE GO IN THE CITY WE WILL DIE OF FAMINE.

5. IF WE SIT HERE AND DO NOTHING WE WILL DIE.

6. LET US HEAD TOWARD THE SYRIANS CAMP. THEY MIGHT KILL US BUT MAYBE WE CAN FIND SOME FOOD…

WHO KNOWS MAYBE, JUST MAYBE GOD WILL HELP US…??? GOD HONORS 4 SICK MEN’S EFFORTS AND DOES WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

2 Kings 7:6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

SURE WE HAD A PROBLEM… WHY KEEP SITTING HERE? We are not the problem, with God’s help we are the solution.

2 Kings 7:8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

WHY SIT HERE? MAYBE GOD CAN HELP US BE THE SOLUTION? NOW GOD HAS WORKED A GREAT MIRACLE… BURP? BELCH? WAIT 4 MEN LAUNCHED A MIRACLE… BUT MIRACLE SOLUTIONS ARE TO BE SHARED…

2 Kings 7:9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

THE NEGATIVE KING AND THE NEGATIVE CROWDS SAID THIS IS NOT THE SOLUTION, THIS IS A TRAP? THE NEGATIVE MAN SAW THE PLENTY, HE SAW IT… BUT HE WAS NOT GOING TO ENJOY ONE BITE.

2 Kings 7:17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

IT IS YOUR CHOICE TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM OR TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION…

2 Kings 7:19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

CONCLUSION: Life is about conflict. Seldom are people taught to make creative use of conflict. Often parents and leaders focus on the element of being a problem. Sure life has trouble, trials and problems… we must focus beyond today. There can be resolution by taking a positive course of action. We must learn to clearly recognize our problem. To well define the trial and problem is part of moving toward the solution, diagnosis, analysis, and prognosis. We honestly need to work in love and unity. WITH GOD WE CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS AND OVERWHELM THE NEGATIVE. Be patient.

YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM MY FRIEND. YOU AND GOD ARE THE SOLUTION.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

You cannot stop birds from flying over your head. You can stop them from building nest in your mind. God promises to make a way… we might face the Red Sea, a big giant, a terrible storm that tries to sink your boat, B WE MUST ALLOW OUR FAITH TO BE BIGGER THAN OUR FEARS. Our God prides himself in making ways when there seems to be no way.