Vision For 2024

VISION FOR 2024

2 Kgs. 6:8-17

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: WHAT THE FISH WEIGHED

1. Doug was in the process of describing a 30 pound bass he'd caught recently after fighting it for three hours, when Bill interrupted his story.

2. "There’s no way I believe you caught a 30 pound bass!” Bill said. “Let me see a picture of that fish!" Doug gave him one.

3. After examining it, Bill said, "From what I see, you’d be lucky if that fish even weighed 10 pounds!"

4. "Well," Doug said with a face of consternation, "A fish can lose an awful lot of weight during three hours of fighting!"

B. TEXT

8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” 9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. 11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” 12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”...14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

C. THESIS

1. We serve a God who is all-powerful! Many times the Enemy has tried to bring down the people of God, but God always frustrates his efforts.

2. Those who have a great God frequently see God do spectacular things. Spiritual vision is important. Why? Because spiritual vision can determine:

a. Your success or failure as a Christian;

b. The scope of the work you'll do for the Lord;

c. Whether you'll be a Giant in the land of Pygmies or a Pygmy in the land of Giants!

3. Title; "Vision for 2024"

I. HEAVENLY SURVEILLANCE

A. REVELATION OF A SPY

1. The King of Aram was conducting “Cat and Mouse” ambushes; but the King of Israel had inside information. The ambushes were foiled.

2. You know, the Holy Spirit can warn us of approaching dangers too, if we stay in communion with God!

3. Strange, that the king of Israel would listen to the Elisha’s WARNINGS OF INVASION, but not HIS WARNINGS ABOUT the danger of his SIN! Be careful you don’t pick and choose which parts of the Word you obey!

4. At a Cabinet meeting, the King of Aram asked, "... which of you is for the King of Israel? (vs. 11).

5. Shocking revelation: Elisha "tells the King of Israel what you speak in your bedroom" (vs. 12).

6. Modern technology has become pretty intrusive; drones fly around our houses; satellites photograph us; Google Street View takes street-side shots of everything and puts it on the internet! But they can’t see in your house yet! (Unless the NSA taps your phone or computer).

B. IS YOUR PRIVATE LIFE EXPOSED TO GOD?

1. God knows everything! We can’t think our sins are going undetected. If God knew what BenHadad was speaking in his bedroom, does He know YOUR deepest secrets? Yes! But most of are ignorant that’s there’s not one thought or word we say that isn’t known by God, but the Assyrian knew it!

2. Scriptures: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” Prov. 15:3. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” Heb. 4:13. “The Lord….will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.” 1 Cor. 4:5.

3. HUMOR. GOING TO HIS FIRST CONFESSION...A nervous seven-year-old grandson asked his mom what he could expect. "Confession is where you tell all the bad things you've done to the priest," she told him. He looked relieved; "Good. I haven't done anything bad to the priest."