2 Kings 3
I want to talk with you this morning about “Delivering the Message”. We’re going to look at 2 Kings 3. You don’t have to be perfect in order to deliver the message, you just need to be willing. A couple months ago I was sharing the gospel with a student at Clemson. His name is Justin. After I shared the gospel with him he wanted to become a Christian. Justin was very open. I came at just the right time. Before I left I prayed for him. “Dear God. Please help Justin to trust in you for his salvation. Please help him to get to know you.” It’s a great feeling when God uses you like that-to see someone leave the darkness and enter the light. But before I left he said, “Um. My name is Jordan, not Justin.” So, I spent the whole time calling him Justin and even praying for “Justin”. I’m glad that God knew his name. You don’t have to be perfect in your delivery. You just need to be willing.
Elisha was a great example of someone who was willing to deliver God’s message. In 2 Kings 3:1-3 it says,
“Jorama son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.”
Elisha was a great example of someone who was willing to deliver God’s message. In 2 Kings 3:1-3 it says,
“Jorama son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.”
Upon closer inspection you’ll find that Joram didn’t destroy the “sacred stone of Baal”. He only put it in storage. Later, Jehu would bring out the idolotrous stone and destroy it:
“They brought the sacred stone out of the temple of Baal and burned it. They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.” 2 Kings 10:26-27
We have to be careful that we don’t put our sin in storage too, waiting to pull it out at a later time. There needs to be a once-and-for-all attitude to be done with it-to destroy it.
Here comes strike two against the people of Israel:
Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to supply the king of Israel with a hundred thousand lambs and with the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So at that time King Joram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel. He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go with you,” he replied. “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” “By what route shall we attack?” he asked. “Through the Desert of Edom,” he answered. So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them. “What!” exclaimed the king of Israel. “Has the LORD called us three kings together only to hand us over to Moab?” But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” 2 Kings 3:4-11
When did the three kings call upon God? It was after they were in trouble. You think they would have called on Him before the battle began. But I think we can all relate to that in some degree. I like to be self-sufficient. So, asking for help sometimes isn’t my natural course of action.
It’s often said that God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. What gave Elisha authority to speak on God’s behalf? He was called by God. His calling wasn’t based on his performance. It had nothing to do with superior genetic potential. In 1 Kings 19:19-21 we see how Elisha was chosen. The passage says,
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.” --1 Kings 19:19-21
We don’t know anything about Elisha before 1 Kings 19. This is his introduction to us. From the appearance of this chapter it seems that Elisha was just busy working. He was plowing a field, a pretty normal thing for many men in that time. There may have been some kind of teachable quality in Elisha that prepared him for this calling. Elijah may have had a chance to get to know him before this meeting. But we don’t know these things. All we know is that God, through Elijah, chose him for this role. He wasn’t in a prophecy contest with other contestants. He didn’t have to take a written exam on the Pentateuch. His calling wasn’t based on His performance.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are qualified so speak God’s word not because we earned it but because of God’s mercy and choice. In Titus 3:4-7 Paul says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared..." Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:1, “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” Delivering the message is a gift from God. We don’t earn the right to share it. A gift is never earned.
What gives us the right to share the gospel and make disciples? In Matthew 28:19-20 it says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The word “Therefore” is very important. In light of the fact that Jesus has been given “All authority in heaven and on earth…” he commands us to go. In other words, Jesus has dominion over everything on the face of this earth, not only over those who are saved but also over those who are lost as well. Just because He rules over all doesn’t mean that everyone will obey Him. It means that He is still King and everyone will bow down to Him at some point in time.
Building relationships and serving the lost doesn’t earn us the right the share the gospel with them. The privilege of sharing the gospel came to us in mercy. And mercy isn’t something you don’t earn. Building relationships and serving others is an important part in our evangelism but it doesn’t earn us the right to evangelize. What earns us the right is the authority of Jesus Christ. We need to be gentle and loving as we serve people around us. In 2 Timothy 3:24-26 Paul says,
“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
What was it that caused Joram’s officer to know that Elisha was qualified to deliver God’s message? Jehosphaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” (2 Kings 3:4-11)
“They brought the sacred stone out of the temple of Baal and burned it. They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.” 2 Kings 10:26-27
We have to be careful that we don’t put our sin in storage too, waiting to pull it out at a later time. There needs to be a once-and-for-all attitude to be done with it-to destroy it.
Here comes strike two against the people of Israel:
Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to supply the king of Israel with a hundred thousand lambs and with the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So at that time King Joram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel. He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go with you,” he replied. “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” “By what route shall we attack?” he asked. “Through the Desert of Edom,” he answered. So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them. “What!” exclaimed the king of Israel. “Has the LORD called us three kings together only to hand us over to Moab?” But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” 2 Kings 3:4-11
When did the three kings call upon God? It was after they were in trouble. You think they would have called on Him before the battle began. But I think we can all relate to that in some degree. I like to be self-sufficient. So, asking for help sometimes isn’t my natural course of action.
It’s often said that God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. What gave Elisha authority to speak on God’s behalf? He was called by God. His calling wasn’t based on his performance. It had nothing to do with superior genetic potential. In 1 Kings 19:19-21 we see how Elisha was chosen. The passage says,
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.” --1 Kings 19:19-21
We don’t know anything about Elisha before 1 Kings 19. This is his introduction to us. From the appearance of this chapter it seems that Elisha was just busy working. He was plowing a field, a pretty normal thing for many men in that time. There may have been some kind of teachable quality in Elisha that prepared him for this calling. Elijah may have had a chance to get to know him before this meeting. But we don’t know these things. All we know is that God, through Elijah, chose him for this role. He wasn’t in a prophecy contest with other contestants. He didn’t have to take a written exam on the Pentateuch. His calling wasn’t based on His performance.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are qualified so speak God’s word not because we earned it but because of God’s mercy and choice. In Titus 3:4-7 Paul says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared..." Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:1, “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” Delivering the message is a gift from God. We don’t earn the right to share it. A gift is never earned.
What gives us the right to share the gospel and make disciples? In Matthew 28:19-20 it says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The word “Therefore” is very important. In light of the fact that Jesus has been given “All authority in heaven and on earth…” he commands us to go. In other words, Jesus has dominion over everything on the face of this earth, not only over those who are saved but also over those who are lost as well. Just because He rules over all doesn’t mean that everyone will obey Him. It means that He is still King and everyone will bow down to Him at some point in time.
Building relationships and serving the lost doesn’t earn us the right the share the gospel with them. The privilege of sharing the gospel came to us in mercy. And mercy isn’t something you don’t earn. Building relationships and serving others is an important part in our evangelism but it doesn’t earn us the right to evangelize. What earns us the right is the authority of Jesus Christ. We need to be gentle and loving as we serve people around us. In 2 Timothy 3:24-26 Paul says,
“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
What was it that caused Joram’s officer to know that Elisha was qualified to deliver God’s message? Jehosphaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” (2 Kings 3:4-11)
The officer knew that Elisha was the successor to Elijah. He knew that Elisha had been with Elijah and had served him. To “pour water on the hands of Elijah” means that Elisha was a servant to Elijah. This isn’t what gave Elisha authority but it was an outward manifestation of an inward calling from God. As disciples of Jesus we are to serve and submit to one another, even to our church leaders. But this is an outward manifestation of an inward calling from God. Jesus said, ““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” He said that “men will know that you are my disciples…” God already knows who are His disciples. He doesn’t need outward manifestations. He knows our hearts. But a lost world doesn’t know until they see our love. So, love is a demonstration to the world that we are His disciples. And Jesus’ authority is what gives us the right to make disciples. Even though Elisha lived under a different covenant he was still a disciple of God.
It doesn’t matter if we want to deliver the message. We’re already delivering a message with our lives whether we realize it or not:
“We are all ministers. You are a preacher, whether you like it or not. Now don’t get angry with me for saying that. There was a man living near our church in Pasadena, when I was pastor there, who was an alcoholic, a real sot. He lived with his mother who was a wonderful Christian lady, and she asked me to talk with him. One day when I saw him staggering down the street, I just sort of detoured him into my study. He sat down and I told him what a sorry fellow he was. He agreed with every bit of it. Then I said to him, ‘Do you know that you are a preacher?’ Well, he stood up and said, ‘Don’t you call me that—I’ll hit you!’ He didn’t mind being called a drunkard or an alcoholic, but he surely didn’t want to be called a preacher! Well, we are all preachers. As I told him, ‘We preach some message by our lives. You are saying something to the world and to those around you by your life. You can’t help it. I live my life unto you and you live your life unto me. It’s just that way. We have that kind of influence.’ My friend, if you are a believer, you are a minister of Christ. What kind of message are you giving?” (McGee, Thru the Bible Vol. 5)
What evidence would show us that there’s a power source in this device? The light. You can’t see the power source but you know it’s there. The power to deliver God’s message comes from an unseen source, Jesus Christ in you. But the demonstration of that source is in the light.
Those who deliver the message need to be willing to speak whatever message the Father wants to be delivered.
Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do we have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the LORD who called us three kings together to hand us over to Moab.” Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or even notice you. But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, “This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you. You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.” The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.” 2 Kings 3:13-20
The goal of our postal deliverer is not to tell us what to do with the mail. She only delivers it. When I receive the message from my cell phone company the responsibility is on me to pay the bill. The postal worker has completed her work faithfully. She’s not responsible for my payment of the bill.
Our responsibility is the same. And it’s not just a responsibility but a joy. In 1 Thessalonians 2:4 it says, “On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” What’s your goal in sharing the message of the gospel? Is your goal to say the least offensive thing? Is it to make the person like you? Is the goal to say the message as quickly as possible so you can get this awkward experience behind you? Or is it to please God? I can relate to all of those bad motivations. The Bible says that God wants us to talk about His wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10), Judgment Day (Acts 17:30-31), and His standard for Judgment Day, the Ten Commandments (Romans 3:19-20). It’s not like every conversation we have needs to have those elements. But we need to be careful that we’re not avoiding those elements all together.
Look at what Jesus said in John 12:49-50, “49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
I want to show a video of a conversation I had with a student just recently. His name is Drew. I just wanted to share a little bit of what it’s like to deliver the message of the gospel.
I want to show a video of a conversation I had with a student just recently. His name is Drew. I just wanted to share a little bit of what it’s like to deliver the message of the gospel.
At this point, the judgment is piling up for them. I can’t imagine what it was like to be Joram and the other two kings. As the musician is playing the calming elevator music the kings were probably sweating and shaking. And at the crescendo of the story Elisha speaks the message. I imagine you could have heard their hearts beating. And, then, surprisingly, it’s a message of mercy. The message was that they will defeat the Moabites. But maybe it shouldn’t be surprising. Afterall, God is God of mercy. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23). The bottom line is that Elisha was willing to say what God wanted him to say. Sometimes a message of mercy needs to be shared, sometimes it’s a message of God’s judgment. The same should be true of us. So, you’re homework is to find out what God wants you to say and then say it. Go ahead and sow it.
Not all evangelism needs to be serious. It can be light-hearted. Sometimes I’ll share something funny to make people lighten-up a little. Here are a few things you can say, if you like. You can tell them it’s an intelligence test, just to make them feel dumb by the time you’re finished.
1. How many of each animal did Moses take into the ark?
Not all evangelism needs to be serious. It can be light-hearted. Sometimes I’ll share something funny to make people lighten-up a little. Here are a few things you can say, if you like. You can tell them it’s an intelligence test, just to make them feel dumb by the time you’re finished.
1. How many of each animal did Moses take into the ark?
2. What is the name of the raised print that deaf people use?
3. Is it possible to end a sentence with the word “the”?
4. Spell the word “shop”. What do you do when you come to a green light?
5. It is noon. You look at the clock. The big hand is on the three. The little hand is on the five. What time is it?
6. Listen carefully: You are the driver of the train. There are thirty people on board. At the first stop ten people get off. At the next stop five people get on. Now for the question: What is the name of the train driver?
Our minds can play tricks on us. If we can be wrong about earthly truth then we need to be very careful that we’re not wrong about spiritual truth. In Proverbs 14:12 it says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” We can depend on God to always tell us the truth about eternity even when our minds may deceive us.
God will find a way to fulfill the promises in His message.
Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them; so every man, young and old, who could bear arms was called up and stationed on the border. When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood. “That’s blood!” they said. “Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!” But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites. They destroyed the towns, and each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left with its stones in place, but men armed with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well. When the king of Moab saw that the battle had gone against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land.” 2 Kings 3:21-27
Who would thought that God would have used water that looked like blood in order to fulfill His promise? This should give us confidence to share the gospel knowing that He will fulfill the promises that are found in the gospel message.
Robert Mounce said, “The late evangelist Dwight L. Moody commented that the gospel is like a lion. All the preacher has to do is open the door of the cage and get out of the way!” (Mounce, The New American Commentary: Romans. Pg 70)
In Luke 24:44 Jesus said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” He said that the Father’s promises “must be fulfilled”.
Elisha was willing to deliver God’s message. Jesus delivered exactly what message the Father wanted. And God’s desire for us is to be willing to deliver the message He has written down for us in this book. It’s up to each of us individually to find out what would please God and just sow it.
Robert Mounce said, “The late evangelist Dwight L. Moody commented that the gospel is like a lion. All the preacher has to do is open the door of the cage and get out of the way!” (Mounce, The New American Commentary: Romans. Pg 70)
In Luke 24:44 Jesus said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” He said that the Father’s promises “must be fulfilled”.
Elisha was willing to deliver God’s message. Jesus delivered exactly what message the Father wanted. And God’s desire for us is to be willing to deliver the message He has written down for us in this book. It’s up to each of us individually to find out what would please God and just sow it.
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