Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION:

A- Background

1- The beginning of Elisha’s ministry established him as Elijah’s successor.

2- God had demonstrated that Elisha was his anointed prophet.

a- Parting the Jordan River

b- Healing the waters of Jericho.

c- Judging the young men at Bethel.

3- While his predecessor had operated as a lone-ranger type prophet and sent most of his time withdrawn from people, Elisha seemed to do the opposite.

4- In our text we will find another appearance of Elisha through which God worked powerfully.

5- In the midst of this incident, we will find three potent lessons we need to remember.

I- THERE IS A PROBLEM WHEN LOYALTY OVERRIDES GODLY DISCERNMENT.

(2 Kings 3:1-8)

A- Loyalty can be misguided and misplaced.

1- Jehoshaphat was a godly king.

a- He had God’s approval.

(2 Chronicles 20:32)

b- He worshipped and served God and encouraged his people to do likewise.

(2 Chronicles 19:4)

(2 Chronicles 20:18)

2- Jehoshaphat misplaced his loyalty and made the misguided decision to ally with the ungodly.

1- He allied himself with the wicked King Ahab.

(2 Chronicles 18:1-3)

2- He allied himself with Joram, son of Ahab.

(2 Kings 3:6-8)

B- Loyalty should never override godly discernment.

1- In both cases, Jehoshaphat allowed his loyalty to override his discernment.

2- We are warned not to ally with unbelievers.

(2 Corinthians 6:14)

(2 Corinthians 6:17)

II- THERE IS A PROBLEM WHEN PRIDE REPLACES SEEKING GOD’S DIRECTION.

(2 Kings 3:9-12)

A- Making plans without considering God’s will demonstrates an issue of pride.

(2 Kings 3:1-6,9)

1- We are to seek God’s will in all that we do.

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

a- Refusing to ask for God’s guidance means that we think we can handle things ourselves.

b- The result is often disastrous.

B- Blaming God for our bad decisions demonstrates an issue of pride.

(2 Kings 3:9-10)

1- Joram failed to consult God about his plans to attack Moab, but was ready to blame God when things did not go as planned.

2- How many times do people want to blame God for things that He was never consulted about to begin with!

3- When we blame God for the consequences of our own bad decisions, we are demanding that God serve us (role reversal).

C- Wisdom dictates that we seek God for the answer.

(2 Kings 3:11-12)

1- King Jehoshaphat wisely desired to consult with God for the remedy instead of blindly blaming God.

2- when problems arise , The wise course of action is to turn to God for guidance.

(Isaiah 55:6)

III- THERE IS A POWER THAT CAN TRUMP OUR PROBLEMS AVAILABLE FROM GOD ALONE.

(2 Kings 3:13-27)

A- God is always present and ready to answer.

(2 Kings 3:13-15)

1- Joram persisted in blaming God.

a- God had not “called” the three kings to fight with Moab.

God had never been consulted about King Joram’s plans.

2- In spite of the attitude of Joram, God was still available and ready to give the answer.

(2 Kings 3:15)

a- One righteous person (Jehoshaphat) made a huge difference in the situation.

(2 Kings 3:14)

B- God has a plan when there seems to be no other plan.

(2 Kings 3:16-19)

1- The situation looked hopeless.

2- God was going to send water when there was no visible source of water.

(2 Kings 3:17)

3- God was going to snatch victory out of the jaws of certain defeat.

(2 Kings 3:18)

4- God had a plan in which the three kings were to participate.

(2 Kings 3:19)

5- God has often turned negative situations into opportunities in which He wants us to participate for His glory.

a- The feeding of the 5,000.

(Luke 9:10-17)

b- The Account of the Thundering Legion

The story of the Thundering Legion is in substance as follows: When the Emperor Marcus Aurelius led an expedition against the Quadi in 174, his army, exhausted by thirst, was on the point of falling an easy prey to the enemy.

It was then that the soldiers of the Twelfth Legion, which was composed of Christians, prayed to their God for help.

Forthwith a heavy thunderstorm arose, bringing the desired relief to the Romans, but terrifying and dispersing the barbarians.

Hereupon the emperor issued a decree forbidding the persecution of the Christians and to the Twelfth Legion he gave the surname of fulminata, or fulminea, that is, "thundering."

The earliest reference to this occurrence from a Christian source was made by Tertullian ("Apologeticum," v, and To Scapula 4).

He is quoted by Eusebius (Church History V.5), who also cites Apollinaris of Hierapolis, a contemporary of Aurelius, as an authority for the alleged miracle.

Later Christian authorities are Orosius (Hist.

adv.

paganos, VII, xv), Gregory of Nyssa (Oratio II in XL martyres), Jerome (Eusebii Chron., and.

174), and Xiphilinus (Dionis Nicaei rer.

Rom.

epitome, LXXI, ix, x).

C- God has the power to bring victory out of seeming certain defeat.

(2 Kings 3:20-27)

1- God fulfilled his promise to Jehoshaphat and Joram.

2- God miraculously provided water and the means of military victory at the same time.

3- God has the power to accomplish whatever is required.

(Revelation 1:8)

CONCLUSION: