Let Go and Let God

Today we are looking at a remarkable story about 2 Kings, 1 Prophet and 4 Lepers

It is a story beginning with desperation and despair and ending with a great victory through the Lord’s intervention and the action of some very unlikely heroes.

It is a story about “letting go and letting God”. Abandoning our lives to Him.

It’s about risking all, and being vulnerable before God.

It’s about the supernatural Word of God changing circumstances

Finally it’s a story that reveals that life is not just about us – it’s about others.

2 Kings 6:8-23 Israel is at war with the Arameans. Elisha continually telling the king of Israel where the Aramean army was located v12. One of the king of Aram’s officers says to the King “Elisha the prophet… tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

So the King of Aram and his army go after Elisha and surround him in a place called Dothan. V15-17 His servant awakes one morning and sees that they are surrounded by an army with horses and chariots. But Elisha says not to worry because v16 those who are with us are more than those who are with them. He asked the Lord to open his servant’s eyes and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Elisha prays in v18 and the Arameans are struck with blindness, and he leads them to the city of Samaria. There Elisha prays again and the Lord opens their eyes. The King of Israel asks if they should kill them. Elisha says no – prepare a great feast for them and send them on their way.

Now that’s what I call victorious living! WE HAVE AUTHORITY. Let Go and Let God.

Luke 10:18-19 …Jesus said I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Time passes and then 2 Kings 6:24-25 READ The Siege of Samaria by the Arameans.

Desperate times – much like our world today as we await Christ’s return.

The King of Israel blames Elisha for the state they are in and goes to execute him. Elisha is aware of all this, and as the King comes to confront him, Elisha hears from God and says in Chapter 7:1 “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.”

In other words – this time tomorrow food is going to be cheap in the city – there will be abundance. A word from God is spoken into that situation. And we shall see the results of this and return to this point.

2 Kings 7:3-9 READ Four lepers.

•   If we go into the City – famine – we’ll die

•   If we stay here – we’ll die

•   If we go to our enemy – they might allow us to live

•   or they might kill us and we’ll die

Their attitude is where we have to get to in our Christian walk. Abandon our lives to God.

POINT 1: ABANDONMENT BRINGS ABUNDANCE

One of the definitions of “abandon” is to yield control, and with it to be free from concern or worry.

Let Go and Let God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight

These lepers were outcast, shunned by their own people, living outside the City and left to fend for themselves. Yet who did God choose that day to save his people from death by starvation? He chose them.

The devil wants us to think we have nothing to offer, we are not smart enough, not eloquent enough, not spiritual enough, to make a difference. But as Ps Chris was saying recently we all have the capacity to make an impact in our world.

God used a little boy with five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000.

He used a destitute widow, down to her last meal, thinking it was all over for her and her son, to feed Elijah when he was in need, and God restored her to a place of abundance. (1 Kings 17)

As the song goes: “a little becomes much as you place it in the Master's hand”

Galatians 2:19-21 The Message

…I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with Him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central… Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

God’s in charge Psalm 31:15 My times are in your hands…… LET GO AND LET GOD

FED UP WITH YOUR LIFE? – CHANGE IT!

Speak to the mountain in front of you (Mark 11:23-24)

The lepers took a RISK. I believe God is saying to us – go on take a risk! Step out. Doing something different. It’s how we will progress to the next level.

Invite someone out for a meal or a coffee – build a bridge. Pray all over it beforehand, during and after. Let God surprise you!

RELATIONSHIPS TAKE TIME SO START BUILDING NOW FOR NEXT YEAR

This is one of the key ways in which we will cause the church to grow and expand God’s Kingdom

POINT 2: GOD’S WORD CHANGES THE CIRCUMSTANCES

God’s word had been spoken into this desperate situation. The supernatural had been released over the natural.

God’s word changed the situation. The Aramean army heard the sound of chariots and horses and a great army. They thought the Israelites had teamed up with the Hittites and Egyptians – and they fled in a panic, leaving everything behind for the four lepers to discover.

God can take care of your enemies. What circumstances are confronting you today?

As we speak the word of God into that situation, our enemies are defeated.

God’s word changes things. If we want to change our lives there are 2 principal strategies as revealed in God’s word.

We change our THOUGHTS and we change our WORDS THOUGHTS Proverbs 23:7 ...As a man thinks within himself, so is he WORDS Proverbs 18:20 The tongue has the power of life and death…

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus is upholding all things by the word of his power

So each day I have some words upholding me:

1.   I have everything I need for life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3)
2.   I am blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2)
3.   I am a soul winner (Proverbs 11:30)
4.   Whatever I do prospers (Psalm 1)

V 9 As the four lepers were enjoying the food and goods they had found, they said “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves… Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”

POINT 3: IT’S NOT ABOUT US –IT’S ABOUT OTHERS

We can identify with the lepers.

We have been brought from darkness to light

1 Peter 2:9 says we have been called you out of darkness into his wonderful light

From no hope to a joyful hope in God

From no future to an eternity with God.

Let’s tell others about it – this week open a dialogue with someone.
You have something to say, something to give.

God had a plan for the lepers – to free their people from starvation. God wants to use you too. We also can go to the enemy’s camp be victorious

The lepers did not wake up that morning and have a revelation that God was going to use them – they just stepped out and God did the rest. Can we learn from this?

We have to rescue people too. Proverbs 11:24 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter

Colossians 1:29 To this end I labour, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.

ABANDONMENT BRINGS ABUNDANCE GOD’S WORD CHANGES THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT’S NOT ABOUT US –IT’S ABOUT OTHERS

Let go and let God

Paul Addison, 16/05/2010