"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Out-numbered
ELCOG 9/16/07
Text: 2 Kings 6:13-16
Tonight we return to the book of 2 Kings and the prophet Elisha. There are so many great messages in the life of Elisha. Tonight I want us to look at the courage and the faith that God protects. Elisha has given a word that upset the King of Aram. He has been warning the King of Israel of the Arameans war strategy and the King of Aram wants to destroy Elisha. He sends a great army to seize Elisha. Elisha’s servant sees the troops he washes his face and looks around and everywhere he looks he sees the horses, the chariots and the army and he runs to Elisha in panic and says, "What will we do now?"
This sounds like a very common question for the people of the church. Oh no! What will we do now? Master, the army of the enemy surrounds us on every side. Help! We are out numbered. What are we going to do? There is no way out. What are we going to do now? We go to sleep in peace and wake up with the enemy all around. But don’t panic…we serve the living God!
Listen to Elisha’s response, "Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side that on theirs"
Don’t be afraid we out number them. Stop your worrying and calm down the force that fights for you is greater than the force that fights against you. It’s alright.
2 Cor. 4:8
8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Cor. 4:9
9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2 Cor. 7:5
5For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
2 Cor. 7:6
6Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
You may have walked out your door tonight and noticed that the army seems to be greater than what you can handle, but God is the great comforter and he comforts those that are cast down. You need to get this is your spirit, if you are cast down, be encouraged that you are in a place that God can lift you up. You are not going to be defeated. You are not going under our army out numbers their army. We are going to be victorious!
Elisha prayed a special prayer, "God please let my servant see" Then the servant’s eyes were open and he saw the hillside around Elisha filled with horses and chariots of fire. Tonight I want to pray a prayer over you that your eyes will be opened. I know that right now you only see the forces against you, but I pray that your eyes will be open so that you can see the chariots of fire that surround you. I don’t think that you understand that God has a vested interest in you. You are his servant, his child and he will protect you. He is a God that will stand with you and fight for you. Look around and see that the hillside is covered with God’s warriors. We out-number the enemy!
Verse 18: The Aramean army began to advance so Elisha prayed that the Lord would make them blind and He did. So Elisha went to the enemy and told them that they were in the wrong city. He then said come on and I will lead you to the right place. Notice: Elisha led the enemy where he wanted him to go.
You need to take control! Instead of being led by your enemy, grab that Devil by the head and take him where you want him to go. You have power over the devil…..put him in his place. Don’t allow them to back you into a corer. You are God’s child and we out-number the enemy’s army. Let us join our faith together and advance the kingdom of God. No more going backwards because of fear. No more going backwards because of intimidation. We out-number the enemy. Be strong and move forward.
Let us take the attitude of David when he faced the giant of the Philistines. Let us become offended that the enemy mocks us and our God. We are not afraid – we are bold and brave.
1 Sam. 17:44
44And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
1 Sam. 17:45
45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
1 Sam. 17:46
46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
1 Sam. 17:48
48And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
It’s time to do something about the giants in our lives. It’s time to charge the enemy. He is setting up camp and plotting against us. Let’s take him! We out number them…..Take up your weapons and charge. We will posses the land. We will win the war. God is on our side and we are the victors!