God's Promises Really Do Come True - Believe Him
Sermon Notes
1. What is your problem (6.24-31)?
The problem was that the enemy (Ben-Hadad, king of Aram) had besieged the city of Samaria – surrounding it – slowly starving out its inhabitants to destroy it (24).
The problem was that this siege led to a severe famine (25).
The problem was that this famine became so severe that the price of both food and also manure went through the roof. A donkey’s head (remember that a donkey was an unclean animal, and who eats a donkey’s head anyways) and even bird poop were sky-high. These two examples illustrate the desperation of the plight in Samaria (25).
The problem was that the famine was so severe that cannibalism began to take place (26-29).
The problem was that the king of Samaria blamed God (and Elisha) for this problem (30-31). He concluded that if he could kill God’s prophet he could eliminate God (and his problem) from the picture. Note also his insincerity. He tore his clothes to reveal his sackcloth but his repentance was fake – he had no interest in repentance.
Why is it that there is a temptation to blame God for our problems? Why?
2. If you blame God for your problem, you may have a bigger problem (6.32-33). Don’t blame God for your problem.
Take responsibility for your problem.
Submit to God and learn what He wants you to learn from your problem.
If the king wants to blame God and others, don’t follow him into that trap. It may cost you more than it will cost him. Disobedience to God is always costly.
3. God has an answer for your problem, and it may come in a surprising way
(7.1-19).
God already has a solution in mind for His people. He always does. God is never “caught in a bind.” Remember Romans 8.28.
His solution comes in unusual and fascinating ways. Here it comes through lepers (unclean people), and through His own miracle work. He orchestrates politics and things in the world that we could never imagine in my wildest imaginations.
The generosity of the lepers is the key through which God provides for His people (7.9).
And God, in His own way, takes the enemy out. Peace and food are restored. The enemy is gone.
But is there repentance? Is there a returning to God?
4. Do you believe (7.20)? Don’t miss the truth – BELIEVE!
Elisha had prophesied that the king’s royal officer would see the provision of God, but that he would not taste it personally. Tragically, that came true.
In the rush to get the abundance of food from the abandoned Aramean war camp, the royal officer, who came to get Elisha’s head (6.33) and who disbelieved that God could change history in any such way (7.2), was trampled to death.
He saw God’s provision, but he never tasted of God’s provision. All because of disbelief.
May God forgive us of our disbelief.
Food for Thought/Applying These Truths to Your Life
• What is your problem? As you sit here this morning, what are your biggest problems? Do you believe God wants to work in your life through them?
• Don’t blame God for your problem. Are you blaming God or others for your problems? Don’t. Take responsibility for them. God wants to get your attention through them. Through them He is calling us into a dependence on Him – a desperate dependence on Him. He loves us. He will prove His faithfulness to us if we trust Him.
• He has a generous answer for your problem. He really does. We all know Romans 8.28; “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” The pages of Scripture are filled with the stories of God’s faithfulness in times of desperation.
• Do you believe? (Don’t miss the blessing.) Life’s challenges are always a question of faith – a question of belief. That’s why Jesus said this in John 6;
"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."
Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6.27-29).
As we close this morning, I think of a chorus that I heard long ago. It goes like this;
Only believe, Only believe,
All things are possible, Only believe.
Only believe, Only believe,
All things are possible, Only believe.
Amen.