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You
So if you want to go ladies you're welcome to go
But you gotta it's teen girls and up only unless it's a child that is nursing. Okay. Otherwise anyone that is not
It that falls within that void is not permitted. So
Just because there's a lot of sharp needles and scissors. It's not because they don't like them up there. They do
But it's because you know, you don't want kids running around getting poked in the eye
Christmas caroling also if you have
You know, I'm not a the the the the ornament thing is probably not a big pull for me either, you know
it's not a real draw, but the
The Christmas caroling on the other hand is another story and not just because there's cookies and hot cocoa afterward
But because of the fact that actually going out and spreading Christmas cheer is funner than you might think
So if you've never gone Christmas caroling if you're kind of those people who like me in the past
Found it to be kind of hokey and just kind of not my thing, you know
Sometimes you just got to try new things, you know, sometimes you just got to dip your toes in those waters
You might find out you like them. You might say this is comfortable, you know
And you might want to do it like I do now every year every year I go out there
and sing and enjoy
The lights and everything. So if you're if you're shy if you're apprehensive about going don't be because we go in a group of 20
You can fade away into the crowd that you're in and and mumble
You know through the through a couple of you don't have to know all the carols will give you sheet music
It's a really good time. Trust me. I wouldn't lie to you
Okay, so if anyone here wants to go I know my i'm taking my whole family up there in the church van
but that's going to leave us I think like
Probably comfortably we could fit three or four people
But uh, you know that so I have some seating but if you want to go i'd really encourage you to go
Plus it's a great time to fellowship with the Tempe church around the holiday
So you I don't know if you picked up on the fact that I really want you to go if you can make it
so anyway
Just because I like it so much but then again, you know, it might not be your thing either. So
Anyway, we're gonna go ahead and count up the soul winning going back to
Monday
And then Tuesday
Wednesday
And then there was nothing today unless oh you got some what'd you get? How many five?
Nice
Praise the lord
Did you go this afternoon with a group or something?
No, you did great. Well, you have to tell me where your neighborhood is because that sounds like a pretty good neighborhood
So that'll do it for announcements. We'll go ahead and sing another song before we get to the people tonight
All right
We're 23
Yeah, all right, let's turn our handles to song number 423
Joy to the world
Oh
Pass the offering plate as it goes around you can follow along with me answering from second kings 13
The second kings 13 tonight
Second kings chapter number 13 beginning in verse 1 the bible reads
The three and 20th year of joash the son of aaziah king of judah
johoa has the son of jay who began to reign over israel and samaria
And reigned 17 years and he did that which was evil in the sight of the lord and followed after the sins of jaraboham
The son of nebap which made israel to sin
He departed not there from and the anger of the lord was kindled against israel and he delivered them into the hand of hazael
King of syria and into the hand of ben hadad the son of hazael all their days and johoa has besought the lord
And the lord hearkened unto him
For he saw the oppression of israel
Because the king of syria oppressed them
The lord gave israel a savior so that they went out from under the hand of the syrians
And the children of israel dwelt in their tents as before time
Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of jaraboham who made israel to sin
Who made israel sin, but walked therein
And there remain it rained the grove also in samaria neither did he leave of the people of johoa has but 50 horsemen
And 10 chariots and 10 000 footmen the king of syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust by threshing
Now the rest of the acts of johoa has and all that he did
And his might are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of israel?
And johoa has slept with his fathers and they buried him in samaria and joe ash's son reigned in his stead
In the 30 and seventh year of joe ash the king of judah began johoa ash the son of joe has to reign over israel in samaria
And reigned 16 years and he did that which is evil in the sight of the lord
And he departed not from all the sins of jereboam the son of nebat who made israel sin, but he walked therein
And the rest of the acts of joe ash all that he did in his might wherewith he fought against amaziah king of juda
Are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of israel?
And joe ash slept with his fathers and jereboam sat upon his throne
And joe ash was buried in samaria with the kings of israel
Now elisha was fallen sick of the sickness whereof he died and joe ash the king of israel
Came down unto him and wept over his face and said oh my father my father
the chariot of israel and the horseman thereof
And elisha said unto him take bow and arrows and he took unto him bow and arrows
And he put to the king of israel
Excuse me
He said to the king of israel put thine hand upon the bow and he put his hand upon it
And elisha put his hands up upon the king's hands and he opened the window eastward and he
He said, excuse me
And he said open the window eastward and he opened it and elisha said shoot and he shot
And he's and he said the area of the lord's deliverance and the aerial arrow of deliverance from syria
For thou shalt smite the syrians in afec till they'll have consumed them
And he said take the arrows and he took them and he said unto the king of israel smite the ground
And he smote thrice and stayed the man of god was wroth with him and said thou shouldest have smitten five or six times
Then said hadst thou smitten syria till thou was consumed
Whereas now thou shalt smite syria, but thrice
And elisha died and they buried him and the bands of the moabites invaded the land at the end coming in of the year
And it came to pass as they were burying a man
Behold they spied a band of men and they cast the man into the sepulcher of elisha
And the man was let down and touched the bones of elisha. He revived and stood up on his feet
But hasael the king of syria oppressed
Uh israel all the days of jehoahaz and the word excuse me and the lord was gracious unto them
And had compassion on them and respect unto them because of his covenant with abraham isaac and jacob
It would not destroy them neither cast he them from his presence as yet
So hasael king of syria died and ben hadad his son reigned in his stead and jehoash the son of jehoahaz
Took again out of the hand of ben hadad the son of israel
The cities which he had taken out of the hand the hand of the joe has his father by war
Three times did joe ash beat him and recovered the cities of israel. Let's go ahead and pray dear lord again
Thank you for this time to come together
I pray that you would meet with us tonight and lord that you would just bless the preaching of your word
Be asked in christ's name. Amen
So in chapter 13, we're kind of dealing with these
Next couple of succession of kings going through the land of israel kind of picking the story out back there that the northern kingdom
And it kind of gives us that point of reference there in verse 1 and 3 and 20th year of joash the son of aaziah
king of judah
Jehoahaz the son of jehu began to reign over israel in samaria and reign 17 years. So we're starting out with
Jehoahaz
And it says about joe has in verse 2 and he did that which was evil in the sight of the lord
And followed the sins of jeroboam the son of nebat which made israel to sin
He departed not from them. So there's nothing really new here as we're just kind of seeing the same thing play out. You're just seeing another
King go bad stay in idolatry not getting right and we're just seeing you know
We're about halfway down that downward spile and just utter destruction when it comes to
uh, the king of israel or the the the the nation of israel rather so they're kind of
We're we're rounding third here with israel. They're about to just be completely wiped out, you know in just a few more kings
but we've got joe has here and notice, you know as close as they are to the end and all the things that they've already kind of
suffered thus far
That they're still continuing in that specific sin of jeroboam, right? Who's the guy who originally set up?
These calves right so this sin is just carrying on that one sin is just going from generation to generation to generation to generation
one after the next
You know that should tell us something that you know, we think in our lives. We're just going to have one sin
We're just got this one, you know, it's it's it
Maybe to us. It's not a big deal. We don't always understand the repercussions
That our sin could have on other people even for generations, you know, this is something that
If you've been paying attention through the this book
You've just seen that specific sin just being mentioned repeatedly the sin of jeroboam the sin of jeroboam just over and over
This is coming up. We should take heed to that
Why well verse three and the anger the lord was kindled against israel and he delivered them into the hand of hasael king of syria
And into the hand of ben hadad the son of hasael all their days. So, you know
God doesn't take this lightly, you know, god wants us to
Be obedient and to do the things that we ought to do
And he is a god that judges, you know, maybe we're never going to fall into such a gross sin
probably none of us is gonna
You know start leading god's people into just full-blown idolatry and things like that
However, you know, we could also have other sins that upset god don't get this idea
That you know, it's god only gets mad about big sins
Like what jeroboam did what israel's doing here that god is only upset when we do really bad things, you know, god
Gets upset and god has anger and god is you know, uh bothered, you know by our sins no matter how big or small they are
Because god is a righteous and holy god, you know, god is is pure and holy and righteous
You know nothing that makes a lie can enter into his kingdom
You know, he can he is you know
So holy and so righteous we can't even fathom it, you know, why why would we sit there and think
That some little sin, you know isn't going to upset god obviously some sins are worse than others
You know, obviously, you know
Somebody doing something, you know stealing some minuscule thing that nobody's going to miss or whatever
Isn't as bad as you know adultery or something like that, you know
That's important to understand because people they get completely out of whack. They just think all sins equal. We know that's not true
Right, but we don't want to go to the other extreme and think
Well, my sin's not as bad as so-and-so's sin
or you know, I I'm I know I'm not as bad as I used to be and
You know, we don't want to fall into that either because those sins still upset god
I mean why read a story like this and just kind of think well
I'm, no jeroboam, you know, I mean you say who would do that? Uh, the people were reading about
You know the people they're they're getting some things right, you know, they're turning to god
They're seeking god we see it in the story
It says in verse four and jahoa has besought the lord and the lord hearkened unto him
Right. However, you know the grove remained he did not depart from these other sins
We've seen that you know play out throughout this book multiple times
So, you know people
need to have a
proper understanding of the fact that god
Is upset by all sin and again, I I get it we're not going to be
Sinless i'm not up here preaching that we're all need to be these sinless people that are just going to be perfect in every way
That's an unrealistic expectation
It boggles the mind to think that there's people out there that actually think that that there's people out there that actually preach and teach
That you need to be sinless in your life
And if you aren't you're going to go straight to hell that
The blood of christ isn't enough to atone for your sin praise god for the blood of christ that washes us from all sin
That even in our sinful condition, you know, uh that that permanent sinful condition that we all have
We can still go to heaven being made new in him, right?
But don't go to the other extreme and think well, you know, i'm good, you know because I have the blood of christ
It's all by grace anyway, so let me just have these little pet sins in my life, you know
Those little things upset god and to whom much is given shall also much be required, you know people can
You know, maybe uh clean up their life or maybe not have a life that needs cleaned up
And start to think that you know, they're going to be okay because they're not as bad as somebody else
You know the bible says they that compare themselves among themselves are not wise
You know who who's the person you should compare yourself to it's christ
You know, you should get in any you know in any type of comparison
When it comes to sin saying well, i'm not as bad at so-and-so. Well, are you as good as christ?
Okay, then you still have some work to do buddy
You know or it might be when you're comparing people
Inter in other terms maybe not when it comes to things thinking well, you know, this person's better than this person in something
You know, they might they might be start being like the corinthians, you know, they might start to be carnal and think you know
I am of paul and I am of apollos
What did paul say to that was paul crucified for you?
No
It was christ
You know christ is the one that has has died for you not paul. We so we shouldn't get this carnal attitude of comparing people
you know
in any way in terms of of
You know who's who might be better than another person there. No one's as good as christ. That's the point i'm making
You know, we all have that work to do
And god is not a god to just be treated like he's not going to
You know
Clean house or take care of business, you know
And this is an important message because you know again people think well i'm i'm doing i'm not as bad as some other people
I mean, i'm not i'm reading the bible and i'm like wow, of course they had it coming. I mean look at what they did
and we might not be doing that but
You know, it's not like god doesn't see those little things, too
And that's why the christian life is a battle and will be every single day of your christian life
It will be a constant process of always trying to get better
Maybe even falling back and having to start over again. The point is to always keep moving forward
Because stopping is just going to make it worse staying in sin is just going to make it worse
It's not like god's going to let up. Okay
I mean god's just going to continue to put the pressure on
Till one or two things happen
You either get right
You know or
Who knows, you know, it could get to the place where he kills people takes him home
You say god's mean man, that sounds rough well, you know, i'm just showing you what the bible says, you know
This is the word of god. So
Uh, you might think god's mean it's just that he's stern
You know, we often get upset with the people in our lives that
You know, uh are or maybe come across as stern or strict
You know because of the the the hammer that they're bringing down because the rules that they put in place
But are we really upset with them?
Or are we upset for what they're standing for?
Are we upset with the messenger?
Or are we upset with the actual message, you know when you get angry about what the preacher preaches or angry about?
Mom or dad says or some brother comes to you or whoever and someone points out something in the bible and says
You know, well you're doing this. This is what the bible says you get upset with this, you know
That person you need to check yourself because who you're really mad at is god, okay
And obviously god is stern, you know, god is a very stern god
He's strict
You know because he's righteous. It's his nature to be that way. How could he not be that way think about it, right?
But also, you know god is very merciful and we see that in the story as well
Which is also required of him
It's it's got by god his nature requires him to be both stern and merciful
Stern because he's righteous and holy but merciful because of the fact that he's loving, you know, god is love
And to be merciful and to be compassionate and to take pity on people
You know is one of the greatest manifestations of love that there is so we would you know, obviously you would expect to see that
Manifest from god his love his mercy
And we do in the story he's he's in verse three his anger is kindled
He's delivering them into the hand of hazale king of syria
And into the hand of ben hadad the son of hazale all their days. He's just spanking them
And jahoa has besought the lord and the lord hearkened unto him
Before he saw the oppression of israel
so it's not just that he
hearkened unto him because of the fact that jahoa has
Besought the lord, I mean jahoa has definitely had to seek the lord
The lord had to be besought, right?
And that got you know god's attention in a manner of speaking, right?
But it says that he hearkened unto him not just because of the prayer of jahoa has like, all right
I'll do it just because you keep bugging me
But because he saw the oppression of israel
You know speaking of god saw and it it bothered him. He doesn't like to see his people oppressed
God's not this sick god who likes to punish his own people
He's a righteous god who will punish his own people. He's a holy god who will chasten every one of his children
You know any any loving parent who chastens their child and by the way
If you don't chase your child the bible says you don't love them
It says the complete opposite says you actually hate that child if you do not chase them
physically with corporal punishment, okay
But any parent who does that doesn't get it's not like they're looking forward to it
It's not like they with glee are spanking their children
You know, they would prefer to never have to do that again
You know, but because they have to be stern and make sure the rules are followed
Just like we have the god has to make sure his rules are followed, you know
They have to be stern they have to be even, you know come across even as maybe a little cold
Right a little hard
But you know, don't forget also that god is compassionate he doesn't enjoy seeing the oppression he doesn't enjoy
People being hurt unnecessarily it saddens him
It says that he saw the oppression of israel
Because the king of syria oppressed them right and it was like well, wait a minute. Who is it that sent him?
Well, he sent him right
God doesn't like seeing having to send the judgment that he sends
It doesn't bring him pleasure. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, right?
Let alone his own people
And then it says in verse five again showing us god's compassionate hatred the lord god gave
Israel a savior so that they went out from under the hand of the syrians
And the children of israel dwelt in their tents as before time, okay
So he's sending them a savior they're going out from the hand of their oppressors the syrians
And they're dwelling in their tents
As before time the bible says so what does it mean by they're dwelling in their tents, right?
Because it's out you read that you're like there's a savior god's you know
Seeing the oppression he's delivering them and then they're dwelling in tents
Now I know some of you really like the idea of dwelling in tents
I know some of you that just is just filling you with excitement to even hear it. You just think about the idea
Of getting some plastic bag on some sticks on some rough ground
And just think that's the greatest thing since sliced bread
And more power to you, you know go out there and and
And sleep in the woods, whatever I get it. I enjoy it for like
The first 10 minutes of the first night. It's a lot of fun, right?
You know, it's great time
But you know, so so, you know, you might read the story and think how is that being delivered when you're dwelling in tents, right?
Because it's not like there are some nomadic people at this point. They're they are the nation of israel, right?
This isn't abraham or isaac or some other
Semi-nomadic, you know patriarch that's just kind of going around as a herdman
this is the an established nation with walled cities with
You know fortifications. So how is so I know you read that it's like well, how how is that being?
It sounds like you'd be more vulnerable to dwelling in a tent
you know some of you that
Enjoy sleeping in tents. Maybe that's why you enjoy it so much
You don't understand how vulnerable you are sleeping in a tent
You know wrapped up in your sleeping bag looking like a little
Little burrito to a bear, you know, but you're like you're already pre pre wrapped
If you sleep out there long enough, you're even pre-seasoned
Right and he's smelling you and he's just licking his chops. But oh, you're okay
Because there's this thin layer of polyester between you and like a 900 pound bear with razor sharp claws
You're going to be fine out there, right?
Okay
You can see what a fan I am of camping
tents
So you read that you think how is this a blessing to be dwelling in a tent, right?
You think well, maybe it's referring to
The feast of tabernacles, you know, that's something that they would do. They would make those booths. Is it referring to that?
No, I don't believe that's it at all just because of the context it says in verse six
Nevertheless, they departed out from the sins of the house of jeroboam
Who made israel sin?
the walk they're in and they remain the grave also in samaria, so it's not like
you know israel hasn't been the
The the picture of of godly worship in a long time. It's not like they just all of a sudden
Are digging out some old testament
You know some old testament practice out of the law and saying well, let's get back to this
And that's not what it means. I I don't believe that
Well, I think it's showing us here
Excuse me
By the fact that they're dwelling in tents
Is that god is delivering them miraculously?
in their hardship
Just remember they're beings. They're being oppressed right by the king of syria
and by oppression, it doesn't mean that he's just
Excuse me, you know
Ah that he's just uh
You know taxing them or something he's like attacking them with armies
Excuse me, i'm having a fit up here
But it says that they departed not from the sins of the house of jeroboam who made israel sin but walk there in
Ah and remain in the grove also in samaria
What was I saying
Uh
The context was uh, oh, yeah, so they're they're uh, forgive me i'm trying not to keep keep coughing
Can someone bring me a water anybody?
Sometimes I have these time to time
I swear i'm not smoking
Cigarettes or anything else
Anyways, let's just move along here i've lost my train of thought
So, oh, yeah, so they the god's protection is miraculous. That's what I was trying to say because they're dwelling in these tents, right?
And uh, that doesn't sound like it's very like they're being protected. That's not a very protective covering
You know, they're they're out there vulnerable, but it's because you know, they're being oppressed
So to be in a tent after you've had some kings just stomping on your head, you know, it's a proof of god's miraculous
deliverance
notice verse seven
Neither did he leave of the people to jahoa has but 50 horsemen and 10 chariots and 10 000 footmen. So it's not like
They were delivered by their own hand the bible is very specifically telling us their numbers have just been utterly depleted
And in spite of that fact, they're still able to just dwell in tents meaning they're safe to just be
In these tents, they're not having to move their tent from one location to another
Quickly trying to evade the enemy they're able to just pitch their tent wherever they please in their land
And just be at ease and be safe. It sounds pretty nice, doesn't it?
And not just for the campers amongst us
It sounds very nice
To be blessed by god in that way to have god's protection in your life
It does to me anyway, I mean I I really like the idea of having god's protective hand in my life
Having god shield me and protect me from enemies that want to
Harm me harm those around me
From the snares of the devil the fiery darts of the wicked that are out there
From the principalities and powers in high places. It's nice to know that god
Is protecting us
To know that we that camp the angel lord campeth about them that fear him, right? It's a great blessing in the christian life
So
Which is an important thing to think about this time of year
Because of the fact
This time of year people think about all the things they don't have or all the things that they want
Look if god never gave you another blessing, you know, the fact that he's just protected you
He has permanently sealed you from the fires of hell
What else what else do you need like if you've got no other blessings you could
You should be able to just live the rest of your life with a smile on your face
because you're saved
and it's important to remember this time of year because everyone's thinking about
All the stuff they're going to get all the things that they want
you know all you know, and i'm not against giving gifts or people getting things and
Enjoying nice things but i'm just saying look if not having those things
Just leaves you depressed and just not enjoying life
You know
You need to take inventory of what's really important to you and and as the song says count your many blessings one by one
It just might surprise you what the lord has done, you know
You could start with salvation and just kind of you could start at that whole list and just stop with salvation
But you know god is so good that that's not where the list stops. God protects us in this life miraculously
In some instances when we don't even deserve that protection what has israel done here to deserve to dwell so safely
They cried out they prayed
Oh
Wow, great
What what a coincidence you got chastened and all of a sudden it made you upset and you cried out to god
What you know, that's just a natural reaction to that kind of thing you'd expect
But here they are being blessed miraculously by the lord
You know because god is that good, you know, we want this in our life
to be protected
How do you get that it's through obedience?
You know, that's that's what's so frightening when you see people just
You brush off the word of god
Or just knowingly do things just completely contrary to the bible
You know people doing it's like oh is it gonna upset you it's like i'm the least of your worries
You know if you want to start going and doing things
That you know aren't right that you know upset god's like don't worry about me
Don't worry, you know about upset mom. I mean go ahead and worry about that, too
But you know a lot of times that's not enough of a deterrent for people to not to do things that that
Are going to upset god they that's where their thinking ends
Oh, if i'm not gonna you know, if I do this, it's only gonna upset
You know some you know
Earthly figure some carnal person who's just who has no power really to do anything other than maybe
Tell them how upset they are or whatever
But what about if it's upsetting god
God can reach down and touch you wherever and whenever he wants god can do that
So we should desire to have rather be on the blessing side of god to be protected from these things
Through obedience
Our obedience god's compassion come together leads to a life of blessing really does
I honestly think we're going to get to heaven
And and god's going to just show us. I protected you here. I mean, I think god protects us sometimes and we don't even realize it happened
We just moved and like god just orchestrates something and says no that's i'm not going to let that happen to them today
And he's just shielding us through life
So then why do bad things happen because god still allows things to come into our life godly people still suffer
right
Right
It's not like just because you're saved you're never going to suffer
It's just that you're not going to suffer above that which you are able to to handle
Unnecessarily obviously there's things to be learned from suffering there inherently there is suffering in life
Let's not add god's, you know anger on top of it
Let's not go make life harder than it needs to be
You know good people are still going to suffer let's jump ahead in the story for sake of time
I mean look at verse 14
Now elijah was fallen sick of the sickness wherewith he died
So think about that phrase there. He thought he was felling sick
With the sickness where of he died
It seems to me. It's like it didn't just it doesn't just say he well elijah was sick
And he died
He got sick and died. He got sick with the sickness of which he died
Meaning he's probably suffering some physical ailments
Along the way
You know when he's getting maybe he's getting in his old age here
And he's he's being he's sick more often. It's finally it's the sickness, but it's not just
Another bout of whatever chronic thing he's suffering from perhaps, but it's actually the sickness that's going to finally take his life
It's not you know, it sounds when I read that it sounds to me
He didn't just live his life with a perfectly clean bill of health and then just at the last minute got sick and died
Showing us what
That godly people still suffer that they still are going to go through things
You know and and we shouldn't get this attitude that if we go through something that you know
God hates us or god's angry or god, you know, god's blessing is in our life. God just might be blessing us in some other way
Just not that way
Or god maybe god's not allowing things to get as bad as they could be
So he's sick here
and it says
He was sickness of the sickness where he died and joe ash the king of israel came down unto him and wept over his face
And said oh my father my father the chariot of israel and the horseman thereof and I think he's just kind of referring to
You know that they're they're being impressed here
because we're you know
We just saw that they're they're being oppressed through all these generations. He's kind of it's kind of just an exclamation of
You know, we're in such a bad way. What are we going to do without you? You know, we need the man of god
And it goes to show you that you know because this joe ash is not the best guy either
You know, he's these guys are committing sin, but it goes to show you that
Even when wicked people seek god, they seek counsel from the man of god
They can still
Recover and do things that god can still show because god's compassion and mercy is so great
He won't even be able to extend grace unto them. Maybe not to the degree which they could have had
but to some degree
It says and elijah said unto him take bows and arrows and he took him bows and arrows
He said to the king of israel
Put thine hand upon the bow and he put his hand upon it
And elijah put his hands upon the king's hands
And he said open the window eastward and he opened it
Then elijah said elijah said shoot and he shot
And he said the arrow of the lord's deliverance and the arrow of the deliverance from syria for thou will smite the syrians in afek
Till thou have consumed them
I mean, that's good news. He's getting there, right?
I mean put yourself in in in the king's shoes in the story
You're coming to the man of god who's about to pass off and you're lamenting
The fact that you're being oppressed. Oh the chariot of israel the horseman thereof
Because to me that's what it sounds to me
He's complaining about he's concerned about because then he's giving him this armament, you know, he's giving him the bows the arrows
he's telling him to shoot and then
He and it's and then he's telling him. Oh, you're gonna smite them, you know, you're going to defeat the syrians
It's it's they're related. Okay, that's there's a
Why would he just shift gears and talk about some military victory if that's not what he was complaining about to begin with
Okay, hopefully you're following along with that
But think about how excited you would be if you had received your unanswered prayer
If you went to somebody and said hey, I need help. I need counsel and then they gave you the answer
They said oh, yeah, I got this problem. I have this trial i'm going through this thing. I need this prayer, whatever
And they're like, oh, well, here you go. This is exactly what you need to do
This year you go
You'd be like, yes. All right, I mean do this. I mean, wouldn't you be excited about that?
Think about you know the things you want and when you get them don't aren't you excited?
Are you people ever excited about anything ever? I'm just kidding
Think about like, you know, maybe you're applying for that job you really want. I this is just a personal example
Needing a better job. Have you ever literally leapt in the air over receiving good news?
None of you. Oh some of the kids have all right. Well, you don't lose that son
Don't let the world snatch that away from you
Because apparently some of these other people it's already happened, you know, you don't be like them, you know
Not me though. I have literally leapt in the air
Might not have been that high
But it was as high as I could leap
Okay, because I was what I was excited about getting good news
right
When we hear good news, it ought to make us excited
I mean if i'm this king here and i'm going oh
You know our military woes we're oppressed and he's like shoot the arrow you're gonna win
I mean think about the opposite you're i'm sorry buddy tough luck. Hey. Hey, good luck. I'll see you on the other side
You know, good luck with that. No, he's like you got it you asked for it. You got it. I mean you just
right
That's not really what happens in the story though
You know, he's one of these people i've never met them, you know who don't get excited about receiving good news
He's not one of these people, you know
Who or or he is one of these people rather. I don't know who they are who have never leapt
They're receiving good news. I mean, I I don't know anyone like that. But here we have an example of that
Say how is this an example of that?
It says uh there that he shot and then in verse 18 and he said take the arrows and he took them
And he said unto the king of israel smite upon the ground and he smoked thrice and stayed
right
So he's he's like take it. Okay, take the arrows i'll smite three times
Right, he smites he smites the ground
But
Notice there it says that he it says that he uh, he said he took them and he said unto the king of israel
Smite upon the ground. Did he tell him how many times to smite?
He just says smite the ground
He gives him this great news. He gives him this fabulous news that he wanted to hear about a victory and he says smite the ground
So he's like, okay and he hits the ground
three times
And then he kind of stops that's what it's that's what the bible's it's painting this picture
He smote upon the ground and he smote three times thrice and he stayed so he's kind of stopping like was that enough?
Is that enough?
I know it's verse 19
And the man of god was wroth. It's like what did I do wrong? I smote the ground just like you said
He's disappointed. He's angered by the fact that this person is not excited
About the good news that he'd just gotten
He's it's bothering him that that he that this guy, you know, it's just one of these three smiting
Three, you know these one of these three smiters, you know
He he how many times that he's the kind of guy that would only smite thrice, you know
That's not the kind of guy I want to hang around
You know one of these three times smiters
It's bothering him he's wroth about it. This guy is not excited enough. He has no zeal
That's what it is. It's an absence of zeal
He's real. He's real emotional. He's really worked up when he comes to him with his problem
When he comes to him and says, oh the chariot, uh, and the horseman thereof. Oh
You're dying. What are we gonna do? He's real man. He's real
He's real animated
You know, he's real passionate
He's real excited to go there and weep over the man of god and lament his condition
And then when he actually gets the answer that he needs he's like, okay. All right. Yeah, okay
Cool
You know and then he's like smite the ground with these arrows
Yeah
Thanks for that answer
And he's just like why aren't you why aren't you just exuberant over what you just heard? Why aren't you just leaping? Why aren't you just
Fired up, you know and he says
Uh, it says there and he smote the ground thrice and the man of god was wroth with him and said thou shouldst have smitten
five or six times
Then thou had smitten the syrians till thou hadst consumed it
Whereas now thou shalt smite theory of syria, but thrice he's like you could have wiped them out
but because you just have this kind of ho-hum attitude just this kind of
I guess i'll just take what I can get, you know
Well, then you're that's what you're going to get out of it
You smite thrice. You're only going to get thrice
You know, so the the application here is stay excited
About the good news of the gospel stay excited about the fact that you're born again stay excited and look I know sometimes
We have to we have to make ourselves excited
You know sometimes, you know newsflash, you know, this might come as a shock, but sometimes I have to come here
and i'm not
Always thrilled to get up here in front of everybody
and try to
Spur everyone on that's my job. You know, I gotta do it i'm privileged but i'm i'm carnal and fleshly too. I'm just a man
You know, I get it when people come in they kind of it's been a long week I get it
You know, but that can't become the the prevailing sentiment in our life where we're just kind of
That's not good
That's not how we want to be in the christian life just
It's not good enough
That's not that's not going to get us what we need. It's not going to help anybody
The syrians are still going to be there. You know, they're still going to you're not going to do everything you could have done
And sometimes we have to make ourselves and that's kind of what you see in the story. He's just like smite
Doesn't tell him how many times
Let's see what you got and see how much how excited you really are. Let's see how
What you really want to do?
Says well you smite thrice that's all you're going to get
And elisha died and they buried him it says in verse 20 and the bands of the mobites invaded the land at the in
At the coming end of the year, so that's a whole other group of people
I'm real
Sorry about all the coughing tonight and it and it came to pass as they were burying a man that behold
They they spied a band of men and they cast him into the sepulchre of elisha
And the man was let down and touched the bones of elisha that he revived
And stood up on his feet by hasael king of syria oppressed israel all the days of johaz
So these last this last section it kind of jumps back. I don't know if you're catching that
i'm, not going to
Bore you by trying to you know, all follow along with how the story is laid out
But it kind of jumps back to the previous king
If you read it through you can figure it out
Verse 23 is just more of this kind of recap and the lord was gracious unto them and compassionate
Because he respected them because of his covenant with abraham isaac and jacob
so again, it's not because they have just become so righteous and are
dwelling, you know observing the feast of tabernacles and have turned themselves around it's because he's
Doesn't like to see his people oppressed
He doesn't like having to judge them and he's going to preserve them a little longer because of the covenant he made with their forefathers
It's because of that promise that he made to them in the past. That's the only reason he at this point is still
Preserving them and at that last phrase is important
Because it says neither he cast them from his presence as yet meaning at some point
God is going to cast him them from his presence
You know and this is what you'd like to see get through the zionists head
That at some point god was just said said i'm done with israel
That he said, you know, he's going to
You know take the kingdom of god get from them and give it unto a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof
You know those two little words as yet at the end of that verse there in verse 23
Carry a lot of weight don't they doctrinally?
He's never going to be done with israel
He was finished with them
Thousands of years ago and scattered them
Into all lands, you know israel and then and then later judah and I know he brought them back
You know and then put them under roman rule
And then ultimately dispersed them again completely and destroyed their whole city, you know in 70 a.d after they crucified christ
You know, it's but but yet we have people today
thinking that somehow
The people that are over there in that land today are god's chosen people
Simply by virtue of the blood that's in their veins
Which is polish blood
They're not even you telling me those are arabs over there because they're not
You know who the arabs are are the people they're oppressing
The people they're oppressing are probably more closely related to their so-called, you know ancestors than they are by a long shot
Okay, so it's kind of ironic, isn't it?
But that's what's happened. You know, you say why why is that not understood in baptist churches?
It's because people don't read their bibles
They can't even understand little words like as yet because they probably because they've never read them
and just and the you know
The devil through false doctrine and bible colleges
You know being infiltrated their skull-filled reference bibles and all this other nonsense has just pulled the wool over their eyes
On this particular doctrine
Which is why we don't fly the flag of any nation in here america or you know, i'm going off I gotta stop but
It's just frustrating folks. It's just frustrating to have something so plain as day in your face in the scripture and to just see people
Is that really what it means though?
Yeah
Neither cast you from them from his presence as yet
And that casting was a scattering
And and mixing it wasn't there's no one there to bring back
There's a remnant but even they are eventually mixed in with the assyrians that became what is known as the samaritans in jesus day
I gotta wrap it up
I want to make this last point here
If you would go to john four real quick, we'll go there real quick
I'll read to you for the last verse of second kings 13. We're going to come back. So
Let's make one last point
It says there
At the end that joe joe ash the son of joe has took him again unto him the son of ben hadad
And joe has his father by war three times to joe ash beat him and recovered the cities of israel
So just like was prophesied by elisha you smite thrice you're gonna get thrice
You're gonna beat him three times you could have wiped him out all he gets three because that's all you put into it, right?
And that's a principle that is repeated throughout scripture if you go to john four look at verse 36
jesus said
Let's back it up 35 say not in there are yet four months and then cometh the harvest he's saying
Don't wait sit around waiting to work. He's saying now's the time to work the day cometh when no man can work, okay
Walk in the light while you have the light, right? We have the light of the gospel now we have
To the ability to go out and shine it, okay
But he's basically he says here behold I say unto you lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they are
White already to harvest, you know, he said in matthew pray ye the lord of harvest that he may send forth labors into his harvest
And he that reapeth receiveth wages
Who's receiving the wages?
He that reapeth
meaning if you don't reap
You don't you know if you don't receive right?
So, you know the lesson here is to work, you know
You need to work if you want to receive you need to be out there reaping right and if all you reap is
All you get is
If you're one of these people that reaps more and wants to or work more and is excited and is zealous
Well, you're going to get more back, you know
How is it that some people go out, you know
And I know sometimes the areas that we have or and not everybody can do
As much as other people but it's still the principle applies people that do more get more
I mean it applies an area area of life anything you focus on in life. You're going to get better at
hopefully
You know unless you know, I understand there's probably exceptions to that rule where you're just never going to get this or whatever
I know i've struggled in those areas. Probably more i'd like to admit but
You know, that's a pretty you get in what you put you get out what you put in
I mean, that's just a kind of a thing you you know whatsoever man. So it that shall he also reap
You know, i've gotten really good at x y and z
But i'm really lacking in this other area. Well, how are you spending your time?
You know, that's right. That's the answer. That's it's that really that simple
And you know and I say that as kind of a warning but that should also be very encouraging isn't it
To know that if you apply yourself at something you will get better at
You apply yourself at something you're going to obviously there's a great spiritual application here
But you know that should encourage us in any area of our life
You spend your time studying or reading or working at something you're going to get you're going to know more about it
You're going to be better at it. You're going to you're going to improve
You know, and this is something that people I think don't understand and they sell themselves so short in life
They sit there and they and they they think that there's some kind of like unique snowflake
in the wrong kind of way and by and there I don't know if there is a right kind of way to be a new
snowflake, but
They sit there and think oh that would never work for me because I have all these these uh,
You know things about me that are a detriment that prevent me from improving
Me from improving
You know, they think they have an inferiority complex so to speak
You think that wouldn't work for me? Well, you know, I don't believe that
Obviously sometimes we have a where people are more inclined to excel in certain areas
Sometimes we need to find out what that thing is that we're good at and and and then apply ourselves
but you should that should encourage you that if you apply yourself at something that you're
You know have some level of ability in you will excel
You know, it's kind of like when I first moved here, you know, i'm just trying to pull out a personal example here
You know, I knew nothing about locksmithing
Nothing I watched a few youtube videos about how to back out a cylinder out of a out of a
Lock and put it back in without freezing the thing up. None of you have any idea what i'm talking about
Right, but that's about all I knew
You know, but I applied myself I took that low level job I went in I read books I watched videos
I talked to guys I listened
I wrote notes down I applied myself
You know, I went out and I reaped and I received wages I sewed and I reaped i'm only illustrating that because
You know, I use myself as a good example because obviously if I can do it you very well know you could do it
You I shouldn't have to say that to you at this point you should be I should be telling you that you should all be
Encouraged by that about the fact that's coming out of my mouth
That it's me that's telling you that that oh you succeeded at something brother corbin, huh?
Well if he can do it
Because he really is that special unique snowflake. That's flawed
Right
Just kidding. Okay. I am flawed, right?
Right
I was cleaning about this this whole thing here, but
You know, i'm just saying look apply yourself. You can succeed you will receive wages now
Let's apply it real quick at the end here
to spiritual matters
Because obviously that's something that we see working in the real world all the time
You have some skill
You learn about it. You get better at it. It profits you more in the real world a lot of times you can see those
Wages right then there, right?
You apply yourself on the job you do well on the job
You get the raise
It's it's tangible. It's right now. You have the results when it comes to spiritual things. It doesn't always work that way. Does it?
Sometimes when it comes to spiritual things
We won't see the benefits of it maybe for years if ever
We might not see some of the our think about it. Have we been rewarded for our work here on earth?
I mean unless you guys got some glorious mansion
I'm looking around. I don't think I don't
Don't take this the wrong way, but i'm not seeing any
new bodies
self-included
right
Please tell me there's not a glorified body out there in the crowd tonight because i'm going to be sorely disappointed
Okay
Right, but think about it
What do we obviously the glorified body is something we get just through our inheritance in christ, right?
But you know the wages that we're going to see the reward that christ has
When he comes with him to give every man according to his works
When do you get that when he comes to give every man we don't get that now. That's
This principle doesn't always work in spiritual things, but it will work for you in this world. I believe that
And it will work for you in spiritual things too. You just won't see it now
Sometimes it comes later look at verse 38. He said I sent you to reap
That where on ye bestowed no labor
right
Other men labored and he entered into their labors and reaped
So he's referring that there's these other this other group of people that went out and they labored
And you're the one that's going in and reaping it meaning the people that labored there. They didn't reap
They had to wait for that reaping to come, okay
That's the principle i'm trying to pull out of that. All right go back to second kings 13
We'll look we'll see another example of this with elisha elisha's last act
Brings a guy back from the dead
When does he do it when he's already dead when his corpse is already
rotting and rot head sounds like
It says it touched the bones there in verse 21 of elisha and he revived and stood up
I mean elisha is reaping after he's dead and gone
He's still doing works down here
you know
So the here's the application is that
You know if you are like an elisha in life, you know, if you are an obedient person if you follow the lord
You're going to still have trials. You're still he was still sick
You know, none of us is going to live forever
But you could through your obedience do great things and reap
Not just in this life but afterwards and you kind of see the application here too of leaving a legacy behind
of leaving something
behind for the next generation
You know, that's something that should motivate us
You know, we might not have the biggest church
But what if we raise up the next generation?
And someone goes out of this church and starts a great church, you know, what if we what if you know?
A hand just a few handful of people come out of a church like this and go on to do great works and look
There are great works
This is one of them. I believe that
But there are other great works that could be done all across this country great churches that could be started
I mean whole cities that could be reached
You know and it just very well may be that they are touched, you know, and by another generation
That those cities those places those souls are revived there
by you know
Somebody that's somebody that comes out of here, you know, maybe a church that is not as
big numerically
But can still do great things even into the next generation. I mean this maybe this church, you know in my lifetime
Never becomes some great huge big thing
But it goes on to become that later
I mean that'd be that would be a huge blessing even if it just stayed the way it was for generations that in itself would
be
A huge blessing that if god just what kept his protected hand on it as he has thus far that would be a huge blessing
But how are you going to get it through obedience?
Because god as we started in the beginning
Is a is a is a stern god a just god a holy god. He will punish
but there's also just these all
Kinds of innumerable blessings that wait for us
All kinds of reaping and receiving that can be done if we obey and then we will be blessed
Let's go ahead and pray dear lord again. Thank you for the promise that we have
Lord that if we labor we will reap lord help us to
Not be weary in well doing lord so that we may reap in due season. We ask these things in christ's name. Amen
Let's go ahead and have one more song before we go
You
Me
Thank you
You