2 Kings 6:16

0:00 Well, have you ever been in a situation that a moment hits and you think, oh, I stand no chance on my own here, or if I wasn't with them, or if I didn't have this, I'd be in a lot more trouble also, or have you ever had a friend that you just want to have around if something goes down? Now you're probably like, well, this is getting oddly specific. Where is this going? Well, almost now, a few years ago, our church sent me and a team to Guadalajara to do campus ministry.

0:40 And one of the students that I befriended while we were there may or may not have been a friend, kind of like that, like I just described. So I had found out about these special artisan painted mugs that were unique to the region. And I became extremely determined to get me some of these mugs. and I was telling this friend about that, and he began to join me in this determination to get me some of these coffee mugs, and he tells me, I'm serious, he says, I think I know a place where I can get you some of these mugs, but it might be pretty dangerous. I said, great, well, let me know, let me know if you think of anything else, and so time goes on, and we end up going shopping downtown, it's a huge city, there's millions of people that live here, we're with students, we're shopping, and we, the friend is with us, and he looks at me, and he says, hey, I

1:43 think there's a market over here, where there's going to be some of those coffee mugs we talked about. And I was like, awesome, let's go. And so we go, there's a roof, it's like kind of inside, there's stalls, they're selling, you know, woodworking, paint, all sorts of different stuff. We go through, we eventually find the mugs. It's awesome, I'm happy, he's happy, we're all happy. We go on, and I start to notice as time goes on, and it's late afternoon, and I'm like, why are some of these places closing or closed? And it kind of seems like it's thinning out here.

2:17 More time goes on, that continues, and it gets to the point where I look around a bit later, and we're like the only people here almost at this point. I lock eyes with the friend, and the friend says, quote, I think we should leave now. Not something you usually hear. I guess my face had a reaction that you would typically have when somebody would say something in that setting that you're in. And he looks at me again and says, I think we probably need to leave.

2:50 Okay. I look at the leader of our group, and we appropriately let them know to not raise alarm. And we leave. Obviously, we made it. But if you've ever been in a situation like that, nothing else matters. My plans don't matter. My own abilities don't matter anymore. Everything became, I'm with that guy. I'm with him. Well, as biblical analogies or comparisons go, none can be perfect.

3:22 But that's where we find ourselves in our passage tonight. Elijah, a prophet, is in a much more dire circumstance. The armies of Syria are after him. Now they've surrounded him in a city. Open up your Bibles with me to 2 Kings 6.16. If you haven't already, 2 Kings 6.16. He said, do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.

3:56 He said, do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. What I'm trying to convince you of tonight is we, of all people, should have courage and hope in the face of anything, Not because of us, but because of the God that we're with. We of all people should have courage and hope in the face of anything. Not because of us, but because of the God that we're with. We're going to have two reflections tonight.

4:29 Firstly, let the driving force of your life be the power and might of your king and not fear. Let the driving force of your life be the power and might of your king and not fear. Secondly, take your eyes off your circumstances and onto your king. Take your eyes off your circumstances and onto your king. So firstly, the driving force of our lives should be the power and might of our king and not fear.

5:02 Why do we get afraid? I mean, really, think about yourself. Think about what really makes you act afraid. What's happening in your heart or in your mind when that goes on? Think about the things you do in response. Why? Is there a pattern or the same or similar things that cause you to do this? Look, maybe you're not facing a horrifying siege. Obviously, none of us are right now. None of us are facing all the horrors that come with that.

5:36 But we act fearful because of things that people say to us. We get afraid when something doesn't go the way we thought it would. We freak out when we lose something. When we don't get the reaction or the outcome that we want. We respond in sin. We respond in anger. Or we respond cowardly. Maybe your fear is getting told a thing that you don't want to hear, a hard thing that you don't want to hear.

6:08 Maybe nothing scares you more than having an uncomfortable conversation, a gospel conversation, with one of the closest people in your life. And yet that's exactly what they need. What's the things or things that cause you to act this way? Maybe it's what terrifies you most, the thing that you're most scared to lose. Maybe you need to have some hard prayers with the Lord or have some hard conversations with church members that love you and want to help.

6:45 Maybe you're almost constantly discouraged by sin or brokenness around you or in yourself. And it feels like a constant tactical retreat for you. Maybe it's paralyzing. But remember that Israel, and specifically the prophet Elisha, weren't sustained because they were great, but because God is. Maybe you're not facing a horrifying Syrian army. But we have things that make us think that the new heavens and new earth can't come quicker.

7:22 So let your heart, what's on your mind, let your courage be rooted in these words here. And this, just look at the passage again. It's real. It's actually grounded in something. Everlasting, all-sustaining, all-powerful. It's the best possible reason for courage that exists. Elisha was completely surrounded. By a king that the whole world would say is bigger, better, badder, and stronger.

7:59 Even worldly visible signs would say that Elisha was done for or cooked, as the kids would say, especially in youth group. But his king was bigger and better and had a much stronger army than the king of Syria. Just as it is true for you in Christ today. It's the best possible reason for courage that exists.

8:31 Just imagine for a moment the imagery that Elisha saw. The massive Syrian army surrounding the city that he's in. But then, surrounding them, the flaming chariots and horses and armies. Despite everything else that people would say or what's visible in the world, in fact, it's the only real reason for courage that actually exists. That wouldn't be laughable.

9:02 It's laughable for the king of Syria or anyone else in the world to have confidence going up against the God of the universe. How often do you take time to marinate on the passages of scripture that you might even say are scary? I'm talking about the ones that kind of snap you awake a little bit. I'm talking about the ones that Hobby Lobby or whoever aren't going to print on a big sign for your living room. Think about Matthew 10, 28.

9:35 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. And many more like that. While it's good to let passages like this simmer and let the hit land like Chris talked about last week, but it's also incredibly encouraging because of the cross of Christ, you and I can be on his side, that same God, the God who is the Lord over the armies of the chariots of fire. If we're in Christ, he's on our side. Just like we heard this morning, if you are in his hand, there's nothing that can take you out of it. I love how Greg described it as war this morning. And we get to witness this morning. We saw three of our own declare into the microphone and into the cosmos where they stand not on their own but

10:41 on who their king is the public the declaration joining the fight just as we're with them in it and by a true profession the lord will never abandon them or the rest of us Did Israel take losses? Absolutely. Did bad things happen to them? Absolutely. They were flawed as we were. They were in a fallen world with mighty enemies.

11:13 But you read through Kings, you read through the Old Testament, you see God's faithfulness, his protection and provision with his undeserving people. Obviously, we don't live in a time of kings anymore. Life is much different for lots of reasons. But the human heart has the same issues. And there is still a good God that redeems and protects. Our courage isn't even in the fact that we'll win or lose today.

11:48 Emphasis on today. It isn't that we'll get exactly what we want. Or that we'll even be physically safe. So when we win, or when we lose, when we get what we want, or we don't, if we lose what we love, if we're in danger or harmed, when struggles come our way, our hope, our confidence is grounded in the same reason Elisha didn't need to be afraid that day.

12:21 Those who are with us are more than those who are with them, the enemy. So whether it seems like we're winning or losing or struggling or thriving, in Christ, in the end, we win victory over sin and darkness. We're redeemed, made whole because of the one that we're with. All other things crumble, all other things pass away. There's nothing else that will stand above the Lord's redeeming work of his people.

12:56 So let it be the hope in our hearts, the peace in our minds, and the praise on our lips that the God of the Bible is Lord over our city, our workplace, our school, our country, over all the world as we just prayed for. He will judge both you and I, and we stand no chance unless the resurrected Son of God stands in our place. He didn't do it because we were great.

13:27 He didn't do it because we deserved it. He didn't do it because he had to. He did it because he did it. His love and protection for you is endless in Christ if you're united to him. Because he crushes his enemies and protects the people he loves. So run to him. And not away like the world does. For some of you, when you're with family, it may not feel much like home.

14:02 Or much like your family in Christ because they're not yet your family in Christ. Maybe it's hard, rocky soil. Maybe it's even hostile or combative, not warm like you'd want it to be. Maybe you have friends like this. Maybe your workplace is like this. Brother, sister, you can walk with comfort, with confidence, with courage, and the hope that you have the king of the universe with you.

14:37 God is bigger and better than any of your problems, your worries, your enemies, or your fears. And like Greg said this morning, you have the mother of all bombs. You have the Moab. You have the solution for your unbelieving friends or family or co-workers. You have exactly what they need. So take it to the Lord and say the words. You have the sword we read about this morning in Ephesians.

15:10 So use it. Second reflection. Take your eyes off your circumstances and on to your king. The last and likely quicker reflection. Jeez, that sounds familiar, doesn't it? Greg, brother, if you're listening, this is discipleship in action. I mean, what can I say? When life gets more serious than artisan mugs or sketchy markets, what's our hope?

15:44 How do we respond? You know exactly what the best news is. You know what the best news is. And it's totally counterintuitive to what the world would say or think. The world's answer is inward or something about us or something drummed up about the universe or the world or us. But what's true may be hard to hear, at least for some at first, but it's that you can't handle it.

16:19 You and I can't do it. We alone aren't enough. It's the gospel. Before I got saved, I just couldn't really grasp that. For many, the source of courage or hope is anything but the creator. That's what it was for me. I looked inward towards myself. I had the answers. I could handle it. I look to myself, to others, to things in the world. And it's a tragedy.

16:51 So many people, including us as Christians before we were saved, weren't or still aren't living for what they were made to do. We're weak. But in Christ, the one we're with isn't. We fail. but the one that we're with doesn't we're fickle and unreliable but the one we're with never is we're unjust and cruel but the one that we're with is the source of all goodness and justice our courage and hope isn't grounded in anything about us or in reaction to our circumstances, but in everything about who our Lord is. Maybe you're in a bind financially that feels impossible. Maybe you or a loved one just can't seem to finally get healthy again. Maybe it

17:52 feels like you can't get victory over that sin. Maybe you're discouraged by the state of your family, or maybe you're discouraged by the state of the nation or the state of the world. Maybe you just feel overwhelmed. Maybe you're afraid to say or do the thing that really needs to be done. What's our hope? What's our reason for courage? I will remember the deeds of the Lord. Yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds.

18:24 Your way, O God, is holy. What God is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders. You have made known your might among the peoples. You, with your arm, redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. When the water saw you, O God, when the water saw you, they were afraid. Indeed, the deep trembled. Your way was through the sea. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. He is more powerful than your greatest enemy or all your enemies combined.

19:01 He is bigger than your biggest problem. In fact, he solved it. He's better than the worst thing that could happen to you on earth. His grace is stronger than the worst thing you could think about yourself or that someone could say about you. His mercy is deeper than your darkest sin. His justice is better than anything you could imagine yourself. In all this, so is his care for you and Christ.

19:34 Christ stands for his people, the church. So link arms with them, with us. Remember the vessel that the Lord gave you that he uses to bring you home, the church. And remember the Moab from this morning that you have, like Greg said. I mean, what does Elisha do in our passage? He prays. What is prayer? It's recognizing that you alone can't accomplish something, but God can.

20:09 So take your eyes off your circumstances and onto your king. We of all people should have courage and the hope in the face of anything. So let's live together with that win at our backs. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we thank you that you are a Lord that protects your people, that guides your people. We thank you that we don't have to live life on our own, that we don't have to stand on our own righteousness, that you stood in our place in your son, that his life, that he lived the life that we should have lived and he died the death that we deserved.

20:45 And now he intercedes for us. So Lord, we pray that we can live a life worthy of this. We pray all these things in the name of your son. Amen.