tem-po-rar-y hope-full in a hopeless world

2000- foster home- need ask for $1000? in this month?

30 Days later- “just want to let you know an offering was made for you- $1000”

2001- “that offering sat on the treasurers desk for over two weeks” WAAAAAAT?

Imagine how different those 30 days would have been... especially those last few days if I had known that the $ was there

Days of needlessly lost hope

**This is not a “your $ breakthrough is around the corner” message** (sorry)

Not every earthly crisis/lack has a ready solution but every one will have a RESOLUTION. It will all pass

KEY: When we treat every lack and every crisis as temporary, it frees us to discover, enjoy & share all the hope & resources we have in Christ.

Even in the midst of great personal need & crisis. Even in a helpless world in hopeless times.

it’s an unimaginable situation the Syrians are out to take the kingdom of Israel… and God is allowing it. b/c they have turned their back on Him

the Syrians have laid siege to the capitol city of Samaria. No food. No security. Party’s over.

the king is a weak, helpless, morally bankrupt leader. And people are starving. It’s beyond crisis.

“Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria…

…because of the siege, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels [$750], and [a pint] of dove's dung for five shekels [$50] of silver.

$50 for a pint of dove’s doo $750 for a donkey head. DEMAND > SUPPLY big time

So the king is walking along the wall. Imagine- surveying the situation- seeing the enemy on one side, the famine on the other. NO win situation

& as often happens…things pile up & get worse. Why does this surprise us? “it can only get better” NOT.

…a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” And he said, “If the Lord will not help you, how can I help you?”

What she told him next… this was too much...

"This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. '

children have died from starvation. It’s cannibalism or die as well. It gets worse…

So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, 'Give your son, that we may eat him. ' But she has hidden her son.“

Torn coat. Fist shaken at God. Anger- rage- despondency. Someone had to pay. It must be that smug prophet’s fault.

So he vows to kill the prophet. The guy who says “turn to & trust in God”

"May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today."

“now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him.” chillaxin? Death threats & famine? How?

When we treat every lack and every crisis as temporary, it frees us to discover, enjoy & share all the hope & resources we have in Christ.

So the king sends a messenger. And Elisha knew what was up. While he’s telling guys what’s coming…

the messenger came down to him & said, “This trouble is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”

like him, I sometimes blame elisha- God- spouses-bosses..

like him, we give up/in No hope = no endurance.

“maybe 5k, maybe 10k, but the finish line might be moved when you get there.” I wouldn’t last 3k.

When we focus on problems and ignore God’s part in the resolution we set ourselves up to be overwhelmed. Often.

Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: Tomorrow about this time [2gal] of fine flour shall be sold for [$9], [4gal]of barley for [$9], at the gate of Samaria.”

“you’ll see it, but you won’t get to enjoy it”

Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die?

*incurable disease *hopeless famine *worthless leader *unconquerable enemy relevant for us…?

*incurable disease [SIN-MORTALITY] *endless famine [SPIRITUAL/EMOTIONAL LACK]

*worthless leader [NO COMMENT] *unconquerable enemy [WORLD-SELF-DEVIL-DEATH]

They came to the edge of the camp”… All the Syrians gone. Tents full of food & treasure. They booked. Left their stuff.

The lepers gorged. Grabbed. Partied. Rested. Repeated.

Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news.

If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household.” -2Kings 6-7

NOTE: when the lepers told the king’s household, they sent the remaining horses to check it out

KEY: The tighter I hang on to things & compete with my neighbor for scraps in this life The less my hands are open to receive what God has to give

What we grab/hold to in fear is often what keeps us from what we truly need

God is eternal & has made arrangements for everything I need to complete my course through this life… & into the next

When we treat every lack and every crisis as temporary, it frees us to discover, enjoy & share all the hope & resources we have in Christ.

Sometimes we miss the enjoyment of His blessings and the peace of security in Him… because we don’t see past the empty table.

Sometimes we make filling the table- bank account- lonely heart- … the primary pursuit of our lives

…and end up living as poor, discontent, unfulfilled when we christians are richest people in the world. when we christians are richest people in the world.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

…even as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” –Eph 1:3-4

When we make eliminating every lack and solving every crisis our priority, it keeps us from discovering, enjoying & sharing all we have in Christ.

But when we treat every lack and every crisis as temporary, it frees us to discover, enjoy & share all the hope & resources we have in Christ.

We’re the LEPERS! Not only have we discovered a feast… but we’ve had our disease CURED.

why live as beggars when we have discovered the source of LOVE- ACCEPTANCE- FORGIVENESS- PEACE: in Jesus. His Cross. Him.

FF>> 900years Jesus has just fed 5k with 5 ‘s & 2

He has slipped across the lake “Jesus Style” and the people have tracked Him down

and He says something kinda harsh:

"Truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”

Jesus is saying “you are just using Me as another way to fill temporary needs. And that’s lame. Misses the point completely.”

“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you."

…"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

comes to me not hunger believes in me never thirst

…& whoever comes to Me I will never cast out... everyone who …believes … will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” –Jn 6:22-40

THIS IS THE TREASURE WE HAVE This is the hope that keeps us in the race, waiting on God for the lack/crisis of today

When we treat every lack and every crisis as temporary, it frees us to discover, enjoy & share all the hope & resources we have in Christ.

& Because of the Cross, we have all the hope & resources we need, in Christ. This day is a day of good news

Now we can live HOPEFUL & We can share that hope Now we can be HELPFUL Because we have treasure Freely given and free to share

pray

Q&A