Mykuhl, my pastor spoke once about decision-making , especially in a crunch and your question jogged my memory. He referred us to the story in 2 Kings 6:8-23.
I love Elisha! Here are my sermon notes from my pastor's message:
Circumstances and the Holy Spirit June 25/06 Bob Leach
Being controlled by circumstances perpetuates immaturity.
Three ways you can experience negative circumstances:
1. God-brought – for the purpose of enlarging your faith.
Response: Remain faithful and obedient to God
2. The enemy – for the purpose of hindering and discouraging you.
Response: Remain faithful and obedient to God
3. Self – by violating God’s Word and making bad decisions.
Response: Repent and get your heart right with God
I You or the King
Elisha was doing Kingdom work – He had a heart for the king and his kingdom.
--am I living for the King and the Kingdom or for myself? How valuable am I to the Kingdom? I am called to make my life count for Him.
· If I involve myself in the Kingdom, the King will involve Himself in me!
II Provoking the Enemy v.11-14
The enemy tries to stop me by discouragement, fear, contentment with the status quo, negative circumstances.
III Two Responses to Negative Circumstances v.15-17
A. The Servant
· He was a new servant to Elisha – unfamiliar with Elisha’s ways and the spiritual
· He looked at his circumstances through logic and reason
· He was gripped with fear and unbelief
His response was, “Oh no! What do we do now?”
B. Elisha
· He was experienced in spiritual warfare
· He looked at his circumstances through eyes of faith
· He faced his circumstances with courage
He never had an “Oh no!” moment, Based on his past with a kingdom lifestyle.
His response was, “What do we do next?”
Run? Fear? Be overcome?
Develop a GOD perspective! Believe what God says about me. He looked beyond the natural into the spiritual. Kingdom people walking in the Holy Spirit view things differently.
IV. The Result v.18-23
Isaiah 31:1 Destruction is CERTAIN for those who look to Egypt for help, trusting in their cavalry and chariots instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. NLT
Egypt = natural, reason and logic
Spirit-led people realize the answer isn’t natural. It’s supernatural!
· God intervenes in our circumstances when we live for him first.
· Natural solutions to negative circumstances lead to destruction
God gave the answer / strategy to Elisha. There is always a solution with God.
· Not always do we need to pray for INTERVENTION! Elisha was given a PLAN!
· God wants to use us to conquer!
· “I will help you DO IT YOURSELF!”
· It builds faith and courage…Be like Elisha!
Elisha's servant was confronted with a horrific sight and called out to Elisha. What did Elisha do? Did he stop everything and consult with God for His will? No, being full of the wisdom of God, he just acted. You see, when we are walking with the Lord, we will always encounter situations in life where we have to make some important decisions, but if we are all prayed up for the day, we can rest assured to have the blessing of the Lord at work in us so that whatever we decide, God will go before it and bless it. As Elisha, God gives us the ability to decide what to do, which serves to build up our faith and courage.
I love Elisha! Here are my sermon notes from my pastor's message:
Circumstances and the Holy Spirit June 25/06 Bob Leach
Being controlled by circumstances perpetuates immaturity.
Three ways you can experience negative circumstances:
1. God-brought – for the purpose of enlarging your faith.
Response: Remain faithful and obedient to God
2. The enemy – for the purpose of hindering and discouraging you.
Response: Remain faithful and obedient to God
3. Self – by violating God’s Word and making bad decisions.
Response: Repent and get your heart right with God
I You or the King
Elisha was doing Kingdom work – He had a heart for the king and his kingdom.
--am I living for the King and the Kingdom or for myself? How valuable am I to the Kingdom? I am called to make my life count for Him.
· If I involve myself in the Kingdom, the King will involve Himself in me!
II Provoking the Enemy v.11-14
The enemy tries to stop me by discouragement, fear, contentment with the status quo, negative circumstances.
III Two Responses to Negative Circumstances v.15-17
A. The Servant
· He was a new servant to Elisha – unfamiliar with Elisha’s ways and the spiritual
· He looked at his circumstances through logic and reason
· He was gripped with fear and unbelief
His response was, “Oh no! What do we do now?”
B. Elisha
· He was experienced in spiritual warfare
· He looked at his circumstances through eyes of faith
· He faced his circumstances with courage
He never had an “Oh no!” moment, Based on his past with a kingdom lifestyle.
His response was, “What do we do next?”
Run? Fear? Be overcome?
Develop a GOD perspective! Believe what God says about me. He looked beyond the natural into the spiritual. Kingdom people walking in the Holy Spirit view things differently.
IV. The Result v.18-23
Isaiah 31:1 Destruction is CERTAIN for those who look to Egypt for help, trusting in their cavalry and chariots instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. NLT
Egypt = natural, reason and logic
Spirit-led people realize the answer isn’t natural. It’s supernatural!
· God intervenes in our circumstances when we live for him first.
· Natural solutions to negative circumstances lead to destruction
God gave the answer / strategy to Elisha. There is always a solution with God.
· Not always do we need to pray for INTERVENTION! Elisha was given a PLAN!
· God wants to use us to conquer!
· “I will help you DO IT YOURSELF!”
· It builds faith and courage…Be like Elisha!
Elisha's servant was confronted with a horrific sight and called out to Elisha. What did Elisha do? Did he stop everything and consult with God for His will? No, being full of the wisdom of God, he just acted. You see, when we are walking with the Lord, we will always encounter situations in life where we have to make some important decisions, but if we are all prayed up for the day, we can rest assured to have the blessing of the Lord at work in us so that whatever we decide, God will go before it and bless it. As Elisha, God gives us the ability to decide what to do, which serves to build up our faith and courage.