Jacob Jackson
February 14, 2021
Note: The transcript below is automatically generated and will contain errors.
Transcript:
Kings chapter 6 our first passage will be coming from there this morning second Kings chapter 6
and in a moment, we will begin in verse 8 Second Kings chapter 6 beginning in verse 8 in just a moment. I don’t think there’s any question that we’re moving into a difficult time in history and this in this nation’s history and in the history of or at least certainly the most difficult time in most of our ability to remember I think that with all this talk of making the views that
The the Bible teaches I should say the views that the Bible teaches defining those things as such as domestic terrorism the or as or as hate speech and therefore worthy of punishment if you quote the Bible, I think that there will see that as we go forward things are going to get much more difficult before they get better people will lose their jobs. People will lose potentially there.
their families their children people will lose their friends and they will lose and they will suffer because of these things for standing for the Bible and teaching the things that the Bible teaches and so whenever you go through times like that, it’s very challenging no doubt and and so
The the the idea that there are strength in numbers that there are people who think what you think and people who believe what you believe will become increasingly important. And so we’ve had a lot of talk, of course in the past year about the assembly and the necessity of that and and our ability to continue to stay faithful because God has given us the blessing of the assembly so we ought not squander that but there’s an even more
Important Fellowship that we have and that is with God himself. And so as we if it is to be that that we are to suffer for the sake of God because of the things that he has taught us to do to believe to teach the things that will bring us life. Then we need to always remember that God is with us and that he has not forsaken us.
No matter what it is that we that no matter how it feels like that. We are going to be overcome by evil and by the world and by the Numbers around us because make no mistake about it right now. We are a minority. In fact, we don’t probably don’t even show up as a blip on any statistics.
But as but as things get more difficult should they get more difficult in the future? Those numbers will even dwindle more because people will succumb to the pressure and they will submit themselves to all the idols of the world the government to The Experts to science to their families. All of the idols of the world will overcome and they will seem more numerous and more powerful than God and people will bow to those things.
And people will and people will be led Away by those things losing sight of the fact that God is really in control. And God is with us this morning or today. So this morning we’re going to look at a few passages where we were it has been demonstrated or where at least people believe that God was with them and would always be with them. And in fact God would take care of all of the cares and troubles that and the warfare’s that we
To be engaged in here on this Earth. So we’re going to open this morning looking at the count of Elijah here and second Kings chapter 6 and beginning in verse 8, then the king of Syria warred against Israel and took counsel with the servants saying in such and such place shall be my Camp. So he’s planning a war and he’s trying to strategically figure out the best way to do this and the man of God sent into the king of Israel saying beware that they’ll pass not such a place for
Or the other the syrians are come down and the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of and saved himself. They’re not once nor twice. So this happened multiple times that the king of Syria is confounded by.
The knowledge that the king of Israel has about his plans. And so the the king of Syria is going to be really upset about this. He spent a lot of time planning this and working with his advisors to come up with the best strategy and all of that effort is wasted because his because the king of Israel seems to already know what’s going on verse 11, therefore the heart of the king of Syria or sort was sore troubled for this thing and he called his servants and said unto them.
Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? He’s saying I have a traitor. I have a snitch here and I want to know who is the Spy you need to tell me who the Spy is because I’m tired of losing to the king of Israel. I ought to be able to beat him. He shouldn’t even know that I’m coming and I’ve spent all this time planning and one of his servants said none my Lord O King, but Elijah the prophet that is in Israel. Telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speaketh in thy bed chamber.
So this there was this Elijah. He was a prophet that is in Israel. That is he could speak the he could speak the truth. He could speak the words of God and he’s telling the king of Israel the things that you say in private. So this Elijah he has a way to know what you think what you’re saying in private. He’s a prophet.
He can repeat the things that you are planning with your not only with your advisors, but the things that you say to yourself at night whenever you’re in bed, and so the king of Syria said go and spy where he is that I’m a sin and fetch him and it was told him saying behold. He is in Dothan their force and either horses and chariots and a great host and they came by night and compacity about so they figured out where Elijah was a
She wasn’t hiding. I’m sure it wasn’t that difficult. They figured out where Elijah was and he’s going to bring Elijah to him. He no doubt thinks that there is the that there is that if he can harness this this man who can speak the things that of someone’s thoughts than then he’ll surely win this war with Israel. So he wants to capture Elijah
Shh and either imprison him or kill him but most likely he wants to to to leverage that to his benefit.
And so Elijah wakes up one morning and the city is compassed about that is it is circled about with horses and chariots. So this should have struck fear in their hearts. No doubt and you can see that his servant here panics. He says alas my master how shall we do? What are we going to do?
The city is under siege now.
The city is under siege and we don’t even know why why.
Why is this happen to us?
Everything seemed normal a day ago whenever we went to bed, but we wake up this morning and now we’re under siege as suddenly as that. So what is the prophet say and he answered fear not so we’re going to stop right there. The first thing he says is fear not whenever people around us are acting afraid whenever people around us feel desperate.
The first thing we need to say to them is fear not it’s impossible to be rational. It is impossible to be logical and is impossible to obey God. If you have fear it’s impossible now doesn’t mean that you can’t be afraid or that I mean, it doesn’t mean that fear isn’t natural is what I mean to say there are times that you’re going to because of the flesh. We’re going to feel this pull of fear, but what if we do that it will always distract us from God.
Will not be able to see we will be blind just like the servant is to what the reality of the situation is as long as we continue in fear. So Elijah.
The first thing he says is fear not.
For they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
The servant couldn’t see that all he saw was these chariots and these men who were ready to burn the city down if necessary and and so his fear blinds him to what’s going on beyond that to the things that Elijah could see and so Elijah prayed and said Lord, I pray the open his eyes that he may see.
And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots and fire round about Elijah.
And so the man of God was protected by God.
The man of God who through the spirit saw the reality of the situation he understood that they were not alone that they were not compassed about by these men and these chariots. In fact, they were compassed about by chariots and Fire.
The mountain was full of horses and chariots and fire round about Elisha. The man of God was protected with the host of God.
Elijah
was able through the spirit to show his servant that there was nothing to be afraid of and so at this point it wouldn’t have mattered if Elijah had been captured. It wouldn’t have mattered if Elijah had been taken back to Syria. It wouldn’t have mattered if Elijah and his servant had died because God was still there.
And whatever happened would have been.
to work the purpose of God
But that’s not what happened. Elijah was protected by God and eventually the things that Elijah asked for were the things that God gave to him. He smote them with blindness and so forth.
And so the reality of the situation is that for the person of God the person who has the spirit of God who has God dwelling in him. God is protecting us roundabout with a host of Chariots and horses and indeed fire.
and so the question this morning and going forward as all of us if it need be that we suffer for the cause of Christ if we suffer for the things that we believe do we believe this
can we believe this?
The men in the Bible the men in the Bible who encountered troubles they believe this and they trusted in God. Let’s read a few passages from Psalms Psalm. 125. Let’s begin there.
We’re going to stay in psalm for just hit a few of them here Psalm 125.
Verse 1 and 2 they that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which cannot be removed. But abideth forever as the mountains are round about Jerusalem. So the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever the mountains around Jerusalem made it impossible to take that City and to destroy it they were protected by these immovable.
bodies that are rooted deep in the Earth
and so the they that trust in the Lord are just like that.
No matter what happens to us. No matter what people try to do to us. No matter what people say and no matter what the conditions going on all around were protected and we cannot be moved because we are grounded.
And the Lord establishes us and keeps us so that we will live forever notice what he says here. He doesn’t say that you’ll have a good life. He doesn’t say that he doesn’t say that you will everything will go fine for you until you die.
Notice what he says they that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth forever those who trust in the Lord will abide forever.
No, one can take that away from you the ability to abide forever. As long as you trust in the Lord, you can give that away with your fear. You can give that away with your Disobedience, but no one can take that from you because God has established you forever Psalm 91 verse 5.
Psalm 91 verse 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night nor for the arrow that flieth by day. You will not be afraid of the arrow that flies by day of someone is shooting at you.
Because you were righteous do not be afraid.
There is no reason to be afraid because he covers you with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust. There’s the idea of trust again trust is essential to being stable in this life his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror By Night the word Terror here was also the word that they use for screams. So if you’re laying in bed, have you lay you lay in bed in a tent at night?
And you hear the wild sounds of the animals and the middle of the night. You hear the coyote yipping you hear the cattle bawling and sometimes it sounds like screaming for some reason.
Or maybe you’ve heard a cat whale in the middle of the night those things can cause Terror you feel vulnerable. You don’t know where it is. Exactly. It’s dark, you know, you won’t see them coming certainly won’t hear them or smell them.
If they were to come after you they would be upon you and the only way you know, they’re there is because you can hear their screams in the middle of the night. Imagine you’re in a prison in someone is being tortured in the middle of night and you hear the screams. Would that not invoke Terror in you?
The day May Come the day May Come.
It certainly would not be unique in the time of History if that day were to come back again.
But he says here that whenever you whenever you are confronted with the terror by night.
You will not be afraid.
Why because you trust in him and he is established you to abide forever Psalm 118 and verse 6.
Psalm 118 over 6. The Lord is on my side just like he was on Elijah side.
And no one can deny it. The Lord is on my side. I will not fear what can man do unto me.
The servant was afraid and he thought that there was nothing they could do the Chariots and the men of War and the horses they were on the outside of the city and there was no way to overcome that from the inside.
But he says here the Lord is on my side.
It doesn’t matter which side of the wall you’re on if you’re in prison or if you’re on the outside the Lord is on your side if you trust in him and Obey him what can man do to me in verse 10 All Nations Compass me about but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them?
Even though everyone even though everyone is surrounding you and threatening you.
You will be able to overcome that.
There is nothing that they can do to destroy you.
Unless you willingly give it up.
Psalm 108 verse 13
So I’m going to wait and verse 13 through God we shall do valiantly.
For he it is the shall tread down our enemies.
It might look like we’re Lee were losing it might look like we’re in prison, but God is on our side and if we are Valiant in his power if we trust in him.
Then we will be able to overcome ultimately.
and even indeed
as they if they were to persecute us for the things that we believe in the things that we read from the Bible. If we do not give up those things then they can never overcome us and the truth of the Bible will always destroy them doesn’t matter if they kill us or imprison us or take our jobs away or starve us. It doesn’t matter because by holding on to the truth of God, we have already defeated them.
Look at verse 12 the previous verse give us help from trouble for vein is the help of man many will seek to MIT to flatter men to seek the help of mankind to overcome the times of troubles.
But it will do nothing ultimately in the end. They will lose because only through God and trust in him not trust in man. Only entrusted only the trusting God will help us to be valiantly to be Valiant and To Tread down our enemies and again as long as we keep the faith. We Heap coals of fire upon their head.
And they will feel trampled.
even if we don’t physically do so Psalm 56 and verse 4
I’m pointing out so many passages in the songs because I think it is really hit me recently how much the Psalms are neglected. There’s a lot of faith in these passages.
A lot of things that are relevant to us today. This isn’t just some man in a primitive civilization. Wow a thousand or two years ago.
These are these are truths.
And these are examples of faith that we have that we can live by today verse 4 of Psalm 56. If God will pray in God. I will praise his word and God I have put my trust. I will not fear what flesh can do to me.
They can do some very terrible things to you. It’s true.
Those things might be psychological or they might be physical.
they will try and they have
and they are but if I put my trust in God then I will not fear what they can do to me. There is no fear.
Because I know that God has Compass me roundabout and indeed them to with chariots and fire. There’s nothing that they can do Psalm 3 verse 6.
Psalm 3 verse 6
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about.
Arise O Lord, save me oh my God for thou Hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone that has broken the teeth of the ungodly salvation belongs with unto the Lord. Thy blessing is upon. Thy people no man can save you only God can save you.
And no matter what they do, ultimately they will be knocked down because no evil can stand and no evil will stand on that day and God knows the things that we go through.
The lesson here that we have seen is that God is always with us we are not alone.
Whenever they separate us whenever they put us in prison.
Whenever they take away our our the Comforts that we have in the flesh. It should only make us stronger because it should only make us realize.
That the only the last thing we have is God if we give that up we literally have nothing.
At that point all we have is the word of God, but in fact we have more than that because even though thousands of people ten thousands of people Compass themselves roundabout. God will come in and he will take over. Let’s shift gears a little bit and turn to Romans chapter 8
the men of old
Whether it’s the Old Testament or the New Testament, they believed that God was there for them they believed that God would be their salvation and would help them.
And nothing has changed God is still the same God that he was then his people are still his people are still here and we still seek for salvation through him.
Because he has promised it.
The psalmist knew that he had promised salvation Elijah new.
That God had promised to take care of him. God doesn’t want to see us suffer any more than we want to see our children suffer.
But we have great blessings in him Romans 8:31 beginning what shall we say? Then to these things? If God be for us who can be against us?
If God is for you, there is no one that can stand up against that.
As long as we are doing the right thing as long as we are trusting in truth and not our own knowledge or the knowledge of other people who don’t even believe in him as long as we believe in him and we have put that put our trust in that in the truth. Then who can be against us.
He the spared not his own son, but delivered him up for his for us all how shall he not how shall he not with him? So freely give to us all things. God sent his son to die.
And unless you’re a parent. It’s probably challenging to understand the ramifications of that I would die for my family pretty easily. I would die for many of you. No doubt.
But would I send my son to die?
I would not do that.
The most difficult thing that you could do is not to die. Yes, that’s challenging. That’s difficult. That’s a huge sacrifice. But even more difficult than that is to send your son your only son to die. God did that the most difficult thing possible the most difficult thing for a father to do God did that. Is there nothing else that he won’t do for you everything else pales in comparison giving you food giving you raiment giving you
Joy
he’s already given you his son.
He’s not going to hold anything else back from you.
And so he will freely give us all things who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect. It is God that justify us.
If you get caught doing righteousness and you get punished for that, there is nothing that they can there is nothing they can do to condemn you because God justifies you you may suffer.
But you will be exalted because God justifies.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or Peril or sword?
As it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter nay in all these things. We are more than conquerors through him that loved us they may kill us, but we will conquer they may take our clothes from us, but we will conquer and we will be warm.
They may starve us they may threaten us with weapons, but we will conquer even if we are all killed all the day long.
It doesn’t matter.
Christ himself was killed and led as a lamb to the slaughter.
And look at where he is today on the right hand of God.
Do not value any of these things more than your relationship with God and he will exalt you verse 38 for I am persuaded.
I believe and you cannot take that from me.
That neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ. Jesus our lord.
There is nothing.
That can take that away from us unless we give it up as I already said nothing can take that away from us. He is already given to a given it to us and he is already promised us it’s done. It’s ours for the taking but we cannot give it up do not fear do not be like the servant with his eyes closed who couldn’t see that God was in control and that God was about to win the battle for them.
Instead be a like Elijah who looks around and realizes.
That while they’re persecuting you behind them is God and he’s going to fix the situation Hebrews chapter 13.
our next Passage
Hebrews chapter 13
beginning of verse 5
let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me there is nothing that man can do to me to remove the fact that the Lord is my helper.
He exists outside of all of us and he is more powerful than all of us.
The Lord will always be our helper as long as we do not abandon him.
There’s also a little nugget of wisdom here that we need to remember. Should we be persecuted in verse 5?
Let your conversation be without covetousness. So turn away from Desiring the things of the world and be content with such things as you have.
Whenever they take away our jobs because we stand up.
for the truth
whenever they take away our homes or our clothing.
And I think that especially means something today right with it’s so cold outside today.
I think that especially means something imagine if you were out on the street.
Imagine if they took away your comfort because of what you had spoken from God’s word and the way that you lived your life not bowing to their gods.
But instead prostrating yourself before the true and living God.
He says be content with such things as you have because the moment that you start Desiring those other things the things that you have lost the things that you could have.
If you were to just give in.
And do what they want you to do then it’s all lost and you forget that. God will never leave you nor forsake you.
So as we’re persecuted.
Which I believe will occur.
It’s not a matter of if it’s a matter of when because that’s the natural state of Christians and human beings is to be ruled by a few persecuted. So it maybe it won’t be us. Maybe some something will happen in the Lord will save us now, but even if he doesn’t at some point
People will suffer and we have to remember to be content with such things as we have because God has given us because he will not leave us or forsake us. He has given us everything that we need.
First Peter chapter 3 just a few pages over
First Peter chapter 3 beginning in verse 10
for he that will love life and see good days. Let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him is shoe evil and do good. Let him seek peace and in suet for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. So if you want to live a long life,
And remember Peter is writing here to people who are being persecuted. So this is in the context of persecution. And how do we behave in persecution? He says do not give up doing good. Of course in verse 9. He says don’t retaliate. So in the context here, he’s saying always do good always turn away from Evil. Do not speak evil of other people.
seek peace and pursue it and God will keep his
Eyes on you and he will listen to your prayers. But whenever you turn to do evil, he will turn his face from you.
And who is he that will harm you if you be followers of them, which is good.
If you be followers of that, which is good.
So we have the word of God before us we know what is good because he has blessed us with that knowledge. We know what is good. We know what is truth and if we follow that and live by that
The no one will be able to harm us.
We will have the ability to have life through him.
But and if you suffer for righteousness sake happy are you and be not afraid of their Terror? Neither be troubled. There’s the word Terror again do not be afraid do not be troubled do not have fear.
So he says if you do good no one will be able to harm you that is they won’t have a reason to but people will make up reasons or they’ll just simply be unjust. So he says here I’m not promising you won’t suffer. It’s absolutely possible because we live in a world with evil people and very often times those evil. People are in control.
But be happy knowing.
That you were doing it for the right reason.
If you suffer for doing for for doing evil, then you deserve that but if you suffer for doing good then you know, you’re making a difference.
The only reason they punish people who are doing right is because they know it’s making a difference if you weren’t making a difference they leave you alone and ignore you.
But they’re not willing to do that because they know.
What’s happening?
and despite all that despite the fact that they could have caused you to suffer for righteousness sake look at verse 15, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear even though you’re going to risk
punishment and tribulation
You still have the obligation to give the answer to every month every man that asks you for why it is that you trust in the Lord. We cannot just because things are rough in the world. We cannot hide who we are. We cannot deny God and Christ.
We need to trust that he will take care of us and give that answer to every man. Why do you not bow to science? Why are you not afraid whenever the darwinists are telling you that everyone is going to die.
Because I trust in the Lord.
you’re not bowing and so we’re going to
force you to stay in your home or we’re going to force you into a camp.
This is happening right now in Canada. And Canada is not far removed from us.
Because people are saying no I trust in the Lord and he never said the things that you are saying and they say fine. We’re going to take away your job your license to practice your job and you’re not going to be allowed to leave your home and we’re going to put a tracker on you. This is happening right now.
Not very far from here.
All because we don’t believe the darwinists we believe what God Said.
And that’s just one example. It could be anything else.
It could be anything else.
Who knows what it’ll be because they will always invent new ways to disobey God though. None of them are actually new.
But it will always be something some way that they can.
Persecute the people of God and go against him continue their he says for it is better if the will of God be so that you suffer for well doing them for evil doing it may be that God allows you to suffer for well doing but all that does is help you to realize even more perfectly how much you need him.
And how much his salvation is going to be worth for you someday?
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust.
That he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit, even if they kill you, you’re still alive by the spirit because all of us have the spirit today.
Jesus Christ the most
Perfect, man the only perfect man.
Still died because of other people Us in fact, so how are we going to repay that are we going to turn our backs on him?
Are we going to act in fear?
And be afraid did he act out of fear? No he acted out of love. And so that’s should be our driving force today.
That he might bring us to God the more you suffer for being just the closer. It should take you to God not further away.
John chapter first John chapter 4
our last passage is morning first John chapter 4 and verse for ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you.
Then he that is in the world.
This passage this idea that greater is God.
Than the world is repeated. So many times in the scriptures if they were really simple if it were so easy for us to just you know to just acknowledge that and let it soak in then they wouldn’t have to repeat it over and over and over. Look at how many books we read from this morning.
And every one of them the same thing greater Is God and we can overcome them.
Because he is greater and notice what he says here. Ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you.
Than he that is in the world. This should remind you of the passage that we started with.
Those chariots and the fire surrounding the syrians.
Was far more powerful.
Then their chariots and their horses.
But notice what he says here.
In the case of Elijah and the syrians the power of God was outside the city surrounding them, but look at what he says here.
He says because greater is he that is in you.
Then he that is in the world the power that surrounded.
The syrians on that day. We now have in US
He is in us. We have the spirit today. We have the truth and if we live by the truth, then we like Christ will be quickened by that Spirit. The power is in us now Galatians 2:20. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless. I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh. I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself.
For me he gave himself for you. What are you willing to give for him?
Your measly little life here on this Earth that whenever it’s over you’re going to live spiritually for an eternity.
This is nothing.
We should be a be willing to give up our lives to give up our Behavior to give up our lusts to give up our cares and our idols and our knowledge.
To allow Christ to live in us to be crucified with him figuratively mentally or indeed physically, even I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless. I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me. Why because he gave himself for me. There is nothing that we should be holding back from him. So with that this morning the lesson is yours.
As we go through the rest of this week and and and people make us uncomfortable or or we come up with a question. Should I say something right now to my friend will they turn away from me? And will they not be my friend anymore?
Will I lose my job if I say no, that’s not honest that happened to my brother one time.
He pointed out some theft and they fired him.
So it is possible.
It is possible that you will suffer because you stand up for the cause of Christ. But you know, what if you if you suffer for him, you will be glorified in the end. And so
the small things or the big things we give them all to him and we live for him because we have been crucified with him and he lives in us and he is greater than all of us and everything.
If you need the prayers of the congregation, we pray that you would come forward. If you need to be baptized. We pray that you would make that known and and we will rejoice with you this morning as you restore or create a relationship with him and all these things. We pray that you would do while we stand and sing.