Calling God On The Scene
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Intro
Intro
Text - 2 Kings 2.14-15
14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Title - Calling God On The Scene
Illustration - the 911 emergency call
never busy line
help arrives within 10 minutes - anywhere
responds to all kinds of emergency needs
The Main Point
We have an open and never busy line direct to God
We can CALL on God
anytime of the day or night
anywhere we are in life
for any reason at all
God is inviting us to “call on Him”
God is inviting us to “call on Him”
3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
He wants to answer your prayers!
God is not some anynomous person behind the line of 911
God is Someone who knows and understands us and our situations even before we call on Him!
He wants to show great and mighty things
calling God on the scene is an opportunity new things
God always does things in the supernatural
Just because He can!
because He is God - it is what is expected of Him!
but - God’s “immediate response” is NOT for everyone!
but - God’s “immediate response” is NOT for everyone!
It’s for the true believer!
It’s for the true believer!
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
God says to the wicked…
15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
17 Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?
18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers.
19 You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.
22 “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver:
23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”
It’s for the child of God
It’s for the child of God
Jesus prioritized the children of the kingdom of God to a Greek woman
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Illustration
children call less and less on their parents as they grow old
personal experiences
The Christian life is different -
as we grow up in the faith, we become more and more dependent on God!
Christian maturity brings us closer to God
Christian maturity is about making God more visible in life
It’s for the servant of God
It’s for the servant of God
Elisha claimed his privilege to call God on the scene!
he did not ask for Elijah - he was gone
he called on God to vindicate his call to the ministry
14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
the other prophets knew the anointing is now on Elisha
still they wanted to Elijah
Ways we can call God on the scene
Ways we can call God on the scene
Prayer
Elijah prayed at Mount Carmel
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
It must a prayer of faith
A declaration of faith
Elisha declared his confidence in the God of Elijah
Joshua instructed the sun and the moon
Moses declared that the rebels will die in the most unlikely way - swallowed by the earth
A time of worship
Paul and Silas experienced delivered in a special way
Israel’s enemies were destroyed when Israel went to battle with the priests leading in worship
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!
3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
1 I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We need God “on the scene” today!
We need God “on the scene” today!
The present condition of the world is in dire need of the living presence of God
the world’s condition -
rise and prevalence of evil;
the hopelessness and desperation
the churches’ condition -
spiritual blindness,
confusion,
amnesia
the message churches’ condition
stuck in the life and times of the endtime Elijah!
afraid of discovering new and fresh “knowledge” from the Scripture - they would rather “say what the tape says”
contented on being tagged as “message believer” - there is no more hunger for the greater works of God
God’s children are becoming more independent of God!
message churches are less dependent on the Bible
message believers are less concerned with holiness, godliness and faithfulness!
When Christians are less dependent on God, it is not maturity, it is backsliding!
God is waiting for His people to call Him on the scene!
God is waiting for His people to call Him on the scene!
God wants to be on the scene in our lives!
that’s why He allowed the circumstances to happen
15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
16 As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Song - Reach Out and Touch the Lord (chorus only)