WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.500 And so we read these stories about two meals and perhaps we ask the question, why does the Bible have another story about stew? 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:19.500 ! Why does this, you know, kind of near disaster meal get recorded in the Bible? 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:29.259 Why is this story of the bringing of some bread and corn and a simple meal for a group of prophets during a famine, why is it there? 00:00:29.380 --> 00:00:39.159 What does it have to say to us in our day where I'm going to take a guess that for many of us we live and maybe have always lived with full cupboards. 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:48.760 We live in a city full of cafes, restaurants, fine dining. It can seem so far removed for most of our experience. 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:57.600 We might find it interesting. We might be curious. But can these stories help us to know God? 00:00:58.700 --> 00:01:08.299 Can these stories help us to live by faith? Can these stories help us to understand God's redeeming love? 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:14.740 And wonderfully the answer is yes. And we're going to see that together. 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:24.099 Our two meals, they're right at the very end of chapter 4, and they form the climax of this great chapter. 00:01:24.739 --> 00:01:32.060 It's a pattern that we're seeing of here are all the different ways that God is showing His faithfulness and His power. 00:01:32.060 --> 00:01:45.280 You might think in the Gospels, Mark chapter 4 and Mark chapter 5 are recorded story after story showing Jesus' power over storms and over diseases and sickness and death. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:57.640 And here in 2 Kings chapter 4, and I'm thankful to Dale Ralph Davis, the Bible commentator, we see God's power over debt in the first seven verses. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.379 And then over death in verses 8 to 37. 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:05.240 And then danger when we come to that first meal. 00:02:05.620 --> 00:02:09.120 And then deficiency as we come to the second meal. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:19.480 There is another pattern in inviting the people of God then and now to recognize the faithfulness and the power of God. 00:02:19.480 --> 00:02:27.020 So that they and we would leave behind idols that have been failing them. 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:30.620 Because there's a backdrop, and the backdrop has been faithless worshipers. 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:34.620 And these stories become another invitation. 00:02:35.980 --> 00:02:40.420 Come to the feast of God's covenant love and grace. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:44.060 Don't go running to the idols that ultimately cannot satisfy. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:51.819 Another reason why I think this story matters, because when we kind of take a step back, 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:57.980 we maybe begin to see some parallels with our own day, with our own society, and maybe even our own stories. 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:10.759 As we followed the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, we've also been recognizing at different points the nation, God's people, have been wandering away from their God. 00:03:12.139 --> 00:03:19.439 They are a society that have been experiencing hardship and losses of various kinds, in part because of God's judgment. 00:03:20.519 --> 00:03:25.459 We have met a people searching around for security and hope. 00:03:25.460 --> 00:03:29.520 And that's what's led so many of them to run, to put their trust in Baal. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:34.319 So they've set up idols in their lives, but still they're coming up empty. 00:03:36.100 --> 00:03:37.379 Sounds somewhat familiar. 00:03:38.860 --> 00:03:46.680 Well, into this scene, as we've seen over the weeks, God, through his prophet, calls the people to repentance and to faith. 00:03:47.659 --> 00:03:55.060 He invites them to see that the answer to their longings is found in returning to relationship with God. 00:03:55.460 --> 00:04:00.980 And this story of his dealings with the prophets and these meals helps us towards that. 00:04:03.740 --> 00:04:07.319 Maybe we're here this evening and we feel somewhat spiritually hungry. 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:09.700 Maybe we're running dry. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:11.360 Life has been busy. 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:12.540 Life has been demanding. 00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:21.639 Maybe we're aware as we look back over weeks or months of mistakes and missteps in our Christian life. 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:25.360 Maybe it's simply the case that we're not sure. 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:27.519 Do I trust God? 00:04:28.219 --> 00:04:30.379 Can I trust God? 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:38.439 If we find ourselves in any of those kind of situations, then these meals, I think, are given to us by God. 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:48.139 Because they help us to encounter the God who is so merciful as to reverse the curse and the danger. 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:53.740 The God who is so kind as to satisfy hunger. 00:04:55.319 --> 00:05:01.060 And as we understand that Elisha points us towards the one who is greater than himself, towards Jesus. 00:05:01.060 --> 00:05:04.560 The one who is both true prophet and true God. 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:09.600 As we understand that Jesus in the gospel reverses the curse of sin and death. 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:13.980 As he satisfies the deep longing of hungry souls. 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:20.240 We're invited once again to the love and goodness and salvation of God that we find from him. 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:28.740 Before we jump into the stories, we need to recognize the backdrop that's very clearly given to us. 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:33.519 Right at the beginning of verse 38, we're reminded there was a famine in that region. 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:41.280 I think one of the challenges that we find in entering into biblical stories is that sometimes their world is so different to ours. 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:47.040 So just by way of contrast, I was looking at the news this week looking for food-related stories. 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:52.900 So I discovered, maybe you've noticed this if you do the shopping regularly, you like to tally things up. 00:05:52.899 --> 00:05:58.839 The price of orange juice has risen 134% in the last five years. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:01.959 It's a good indicator of the cost of living struggle. 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:03.699 So we have that. 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:10.799 There was also the story, maybe you saw, of parents caring for their kids and having to skip meals. 00:06:11.599 --> 00:06:13.799 Because there's not enough for everybody in the family. 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:17.399 Food poverty is a huge challenge. 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:21.879 We know that from the rise of the food bank movement and the growing demand. 00:06:22.539 --> 00:06:32.199 But in God's mercy, here in the UK, we do not know anything that comes close to famine conditions. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:40.939 We can't imagine that daily battle for whole communities and nations to survive. 00:06:41.459 --> 00:06:43.259 We see it on our screens, though. 00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:47.480 Those people who are literally on the bread line. 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:54.639 The ache, the fear for themselves and for dependence. 00:06:55.860 --> 00:07:07.159 We don't live wondering, will one bad harvest, will one locust invasion, will one failure of the rains to come lead to disaster and death? 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:12.920 And so it's really important that we work hard to enter into the story. 00:07:13.020 --> 00:07:15.780 Otherwise, we won't get the significance. 00:07:17.220 --> 00:07:19.140 And so we're told there's a famine. 00:07:20.440 --> 00:07:26.840 And we also know, as we often see so often in the Bible, that this famine has a cause. 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:36.719 The prophetic ministry, we especially see this with Elijah, is of him coming to announce God's judgment on his people's unfaithfulness. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:41.359 Remember when Elijah appears on the scene, he appears right in the royal court and tells Ahab, 00:07:41.679 --> 00:07:46.759 there's not going to be any rain that comes for three years except at his word. 00:07:47.799 --> 00:07:51.819 The people had turned wholesale to worship the idol Baal. 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:56.360 He was their hope for plenty, for life, security. 00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:04.199 And instead, because of their unfaithfulness, they are now brought into a situation of famine and judgment and the threat of death. 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:07.480 So that's here in our backdrop. 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:13.519 And it's here, usefully, for the people in their day, but also for us that we might see the contrast 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:20.180 between what God offers versus what the idols can't offer. 00:08:20.180 --> 00:08:27.780 So our plan for this evening is that we're going to look at each of these meals and we're going to follow the pattern that we find there. 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:31.319 Maybe you noticed it as we read them. 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:35.879 In each of them, we encounter a particular worshiper. 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:38.659 We encounter a problem. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:44.180 And then we're brought to see Elisha the prophet and God's answer. 00:08:44.179 --> 00:08:51.839 And we're going to use the two stories, one after the other, to help us to see the different ways that God expresses his faithfulness. 00:08:52.899 --> 00:09:00.379 To help us to see different ways God wants us to know that he is greater than anything, anyone else that we might place our trust in. 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:06.399 That ultimately for us, that we would see Jesus as the only Savior who can truly meet our needs. 00:09:07.099 --> 00:09:09.879 Who can truly satisfy the deep hunger of our soul. 00:09:10.579 --> 00:09:13.199 That we would come and keep coming to him to be satisfied. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:15.180 So let's look at the first meal together. 00:09:15.340 --> 00:09:16.900 It's there beginning at verse 38. 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:20.560 Where we see God by his prophet reverses the curse. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:23.420 Okay, so we're reminded Elisha returned to Gilgal. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:25.840 There was a famine in that region. 00:09:26.400 --> 00:09:29.080 While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, 00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:32.180 put on the large pot and cook some stew for these prophets. 00:09:32.300 --> 00:09:37.300 Okay, so when you've got a famine, you know, we know every resource is going to be precious. 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:45.459 And into that setting, isn't Elisha's generosity, his hospitality really striking? 00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:50.299 Remember, prophets are God's representatives. 00:09:51.359 --> 00:09:56.579 And here, Elisha represents for us the generous, hospitable heart of God. 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:59.679 His willingness to show mercy and to meet needs. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:04.979 Well, as the story develops, we meet this group of worshipers. 00:10:05.079 --> 00:10:09.919 But attention really draws, is really drawn towards one worshiper in particular. 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:18.059 But before we see that, just to recognize that as God promised, 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:21.939 a faithful band of worshipers remained. 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:26.019 There was a lot of talk in the prophets about a remnant who will remain. 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:30.919 Or again, we could go back to Elijah's story, where Elijah was kind of bemoaning the fact, 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:34.179 thinking he was the only faithful follower of God left. 00:10:35.319 --> 00:10:38.460 And he was told there's 3,000 who aren't bowing down to Baal. 00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:42.340 And so this little group of 20 are part of that faithful. 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:50.720 They're still following God, but they too are suffering the conditions of famine. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:54.259 And we know that because we meet them in verse 39, 00:10:54.480 --> 00:11:00.040 foraging around for any kind of herbs and plants they could possibly eat to add into the stew. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:04.399 So God is faithful. 00:11:05.160 --> 00:11:09.240 He is preserving and protecting his church. 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:14.120 But that doesn't mean that they or we will be immune from trials. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:21.159 God's people are not cocooned from the effects of God's judgment on the nations. 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:26.460 They live in the same society as their fellow Israelites. 00:11:26.560 --> 00:11:28.200 That while they are being faithful, 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:35.259 that they are still experiencing the effects of God's judgment in the form of famine. 00:11:36.100 --> 00:11:41.419 We live in the same society as the people around us. 00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:45.479 And how should we live in that light? 00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:51.500 Perhaps we can think of the words of the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles, 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:54.879 reminding them to seek the welfare of the city. 00:11:56.659 --> 00:11:58.919 But here we find a group of prophets. 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:02.399 They're being faithful, but they're experiencing famine. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:06.839 They're foraging around to try and find food to add to the stew. 00:12:06.839 --> 00:12:10.079 And then we discover the problem. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:18.000 This poor prophet who makes a mistake while he's out gathering some gourds. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:22.720 One time and one time only, I've eaten foraged food. 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:30.879 We had a mushroom pie served by a friend that was foraged from a nearby forest. 00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:34.280 They worked for an environmental company. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:36.819 So they were trusted. 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:40.439 But it's still quite a nerve-wracking experience. 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:43.720 What if they got the mushroom wrong? 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:46.899 And I was like, oh, it's nice to wake up the next day. 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:48.019 No ill effects. 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:50.139 But that's not the story here. 00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:53.759 This one guy thinks he's doing a great turn for the prophets. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:58.199 He finds a gourd and he sticks it all in his clothes and he throws it in the stew. 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:04.280 And then when it's all cooked up with the first taste, the cry goes up. 00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:05.879 There's panic. 00:13:07.020 --> 00:13:08.259 Death in the pot. 00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:11.000 The stews become toxic. 00:13:11.640 --> 00:13:15.620 It would be deadly if they were to keep on eating it. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:19.400 So again, we might think, okay, it's a bad meal. 00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:20.940 What do you do with a bad meal? 00:13:21.040 --> 00:13:23.259 You throw it in the bin and you cook something else. 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:27.740 You know, we have the Great British Bake Off and MasterChef and the recipe goes wrong. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:28.980 We see it multiple times. 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:31.019 They'll just bin it and start again. 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:37.319 That's fine in a time of plenty, but that doesn't work in a time of famine. 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:41.340 Now they have nothing to eat. 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:44.759 And into that situation steps Elisha. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:47.240 Elisha said, get some flour. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.580 He put it into the pot and said, serve it to the people to eat. 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:53.560 And there was nothing harmful in the pot. 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:58.060 The flour is just flour. 00:13:58.780 --> 00:14:01.660 It's not some kind of antitoxin. 00:14:02.300 --> 00:14:06.080 Rather, it is a sign to strengthen faith. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:13.300 You can well imagine that group of 20 prophets, maybe the one guy in particular, retelling the story. 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:17.900 Remember that day we came to Elisha's house and we were cooking up that stew 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:20.139 and someone threw in the toxic mushrooms. 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:24.139 And then Elisha, the prophet, threw in the flour. 00:14:24.699 --> 00:14:27.019 And the meal was saved and our lives were spared. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.379 God does that. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:33.079 Like whenever we have the Lord's Supper, 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:36.740 God is giving us signs to strengthen our faith. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:42.139 Signs to help us to remember His love and His mercy for us. 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:44.220 Because that's what happens here. 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:50.199 God works a miracle of mercy, but also a miracle of necessity. 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:54.340 It's not in a sense really dramatic. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:56.580 It's not someone being raised from the dead. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:03.059 But it is one of His faithful prophets being able to eat safely for another day. 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:06.980 Now they can come and eat and live. 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:10.659 I really like the story of the stew. 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:14.360 It seems kind of small and incidental. 00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:18.560 But I think there's a lot of things that we can take for it when we think about 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:22.039 how it shows us that God cares for His church. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:28.259 In this chapter, we've already seen God caring for widows, keeping them from starvation. 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:34.220 But now He does it for a little band of faithful prophets. 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:41.179 Again, to read church history, to discover the story of global mission, 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:49.639 is to see in so many ways that God is still in the business of protecting and building up His church. 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:54.220 Sometimes in really dramatic ways, sometimes in really simple ways. 00:15:54.220 --> 00:16:01.240 Perhaps we can think back to not that long ago when Adam came to speak to us. 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:08.899 God protecting the church in Iran, bringing down a regime, 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:14.060 causing so many tens of thousands to become followers of Jesus. 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:18.259 And despite all the hostility, that church continues to grow. 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:22.200 God cares for His church. 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:25.060 He cares for our everyday needs. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.240 He cares that we need a meal. 00:16:29.520 --> 00:16:33.900 But the story also tells us about a God who can redeem mistakes. 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.840 You know, spare a thought for that poor prophet. 00:16:37.400 --> 00:16:39.980 As soon as the cry goes up and he realizes, 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:44.379 I didn't mean any harm. 00:16:45.400 --> 00:16:46.360 But look what's happened. 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:50.560 Creating disaster through a simple mistake. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:53.959 And so when God redeems the meal, 00:16:54.859 --> 00:16:58.399 He's also in His kindness redeeming that prophet's hard work. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:01.759 He was trying just as hard as everybody else to provide. 00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:05.500 He just didn't know what he was doing. 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:09.960 I want to suggest that's really good news. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.819 When we stop and think, 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:14.799 are there ever times where we have, 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:18.180 despite our best intentions perhaps, 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.700 said the wrong thing? 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:25.359 Have we ever tried to help, 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:28.380 but somehow we've managed to make things worse? 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:34.360 Have we failed someone despite our best efforts? 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.780 I think there's a wonderful comfort 00:17:37.780 --> 00:17:41.180 when we recognize that God in His grace 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:44.680 is in the business of redeeming lives, 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:47.160 redeeming all creation one day, 00:17:47.260 --> 00:17:53.400 but also redeeming our own mistakes and our works. 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:55.200 In Psalm 90, 00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:58.400 the only Psalm that Moses wrote, 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:01.500 he reflects on how short life is. 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:05.100 And as that Psalm concludes, 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.360 he prays, 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:09.400 Lord, establish the work of our hands. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:12.700 Yes, establish the work of our hands. 00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.620 And we go to the New Testament, 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:18.920 we discover that that prayer is answered 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:19.920 for the people of God 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:22.280 because of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:24.940 At the end of 1 Corinthians 15, 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:28.740 we get this lengthy apologetic that Paul gives 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:32.099 as to why the resurrection is true. 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:36.899 And he concludes that since Jesus is raised and ascended 00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:38.279 and will return, 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:41.160 and we will have glorified bodies one day 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.240 in a renewed earth, 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.019 he says this, 00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:46.319 know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:49.920 The God of resurrection and redemption. 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:55.839 He's able to redeem every gourd that we pick, 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:59.819 every cup of water that we offer in Jesus' name, 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:02.379 every time spent with others, 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:04.319 every effort, however small, 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:06.059 taken to encourage others. 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.259 God sees it, 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.039 he loves it, 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:09.220 he values it, 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:10.720 and he can redeem. 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:14.660 But the story also tells us 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:17.599 about a God who reverses the curse, 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:20.439 who is able to act in power 00:19:20.439 --> 00:19:21.939 so that in the place of death, 00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:22.799 there is life. 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:26.959 What was infected by poison by God 00:19:26.959 --> 00:19:27.959 can be made clean. 00:19:28.959 --> 00:19:30.839 It gives us a window into the gospel. 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.899 Here is Jesus, 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.939 the great prophet, 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.279 the greater than Elisha, 00:19:37.959 --> 00:19:40.740 sent by his father into a sin-sick world. 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:43.039 And what does Jesus do for us? 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:46.420 He draws out the poison of sin on the cross 00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:48.740 as he takes it into himself, 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.940 as he becomes sin, 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.740 as he bears the penalty. 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:54.500 So that as we come to him in faith, 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.740 by God's grace, 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.639 we are made clean. 00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.319 Though we deserve death, 00:19:59.399 --> 00:20:01.200 we can have life. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.519 Jesus, 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.200 the true prophet, 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:08.339 offers us hospitality. 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.619 He says to us, 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.399 come to me, 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:13.820 receive what I offer. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.440 Recognize that in me, 00:20:16.540 --> 00:20:19.380 the curse of sin and death is reversed. 00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:22.440 There is now nothing harmful in the pot 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:25.040 for those of us who are trusting in Jesus. 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:28.660 And we received his invitation 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:33.259 to understand that he graciously offers us himself. 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:36.440 He offers us to forgive our sin, 00:20:37.040 --> 00:20:38.680 to give us life with God, 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.820 the love of God. 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:41.779 And all we need is faith 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:43.980 to receive his mercy. 00:20:46.679 --> 00:20:49.159 And if we have received that mercy, 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:52.659 our life takes on a certain pattern. 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:55.220 It was the Sri Lankan pastor, 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.139 D.T. Niles, 00:20:56.679 --> 00:20:57.720 who put it this way, 00:20:57.779 --> 00:21:00.019 we become one beggar telling another 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:01.980 where to find bread. 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:04.860 In all humility, 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.440 perhaps like Elisha, 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.460 through hospitality, 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:11.620 we seek to give people Christ 00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:13.000 with our lives 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:15.140 and with our words. 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:17.360 So that's the first meal 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:18.839 where God by his prophet 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:20.000 reverses the curse. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.579 Now let's turn to the second meal 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:23.180 where God by his prophet 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.980 satisfies hunger. 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.259 So remember, 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:28.019 we're still in the situation of famine. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.839 We've had the first story, 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:31.640 which is about poison, I guess. 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:35.279 The second is about portion size. 00:21:36.360 --> 00:21:38.799 There are 20 loaves that are brought 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.220 and there's the understanding 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.319 that's not going to be enough 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:45.620 to feed a hungry 100 men. 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:48.719 We meet in verse 42, 00:21:49.199 --> 00:21:50.379 a different worshiper. 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:53.279 A man came from Baal, Shalisha, 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.899 bringing the mad of God, 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.599 20 loaves of barley bread 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:58.399 baked from the first ripe corn 00:21:58.399 --> 00:22:00.659 along with some ears of new corn. 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:03.299 He's an unnamed worshiper, 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:06.659 but his place of belonging is named. 00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:10.479 Doesn't it sound like he's from Baal country? 00:22:12.239 --> 00:22:13.099 Isn't this amazing 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:14.799 that someone from Baal territory 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.519 has become a true worshiper? 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:20.619 And his action is remarkable. 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:23.200 In a time of famine, 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.000 here is a sacrificial act of worship. 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.980 Here is this unnamed worshiper 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:33.039 bringing a first fruits offering 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:35.799 to the man of God, Elisha, 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:39.639 in a display of generosity and faith 00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:42.859 and dependence on God to provide. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:48.220 But we see a new problem, 00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:48.859 don't we? 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.799 Even as much as there's 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.180 that wonderful generosity 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:55.119 and we see Elisha's impulse again, 00:22:55.919 --> 00:22:58.200 give it to the people to eat. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.720 Here's the problem. 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:01.159 How can I set this 00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:04.039 before 100 people? 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.379 Elisha wants to show 00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:07.720 God's generous goodness 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:10.180 to the crowd around him, 00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:13.060 but there's not enough to go around. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:16.720 Now we may have had situations 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:18.140 in our own hospitality, 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:21.740 maybe church catering have had this sometimes, 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:23.080 where you're desperately trying 00:23:23.080 --> 00:23:24.740 to stretch a meal. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.039 You're looking, 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:27.660 what can I pad this out with? 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.799 How can I add some vegetables, 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.820 maybe some bread 00:23:29.820 --> 00:23:32.160 for those unexpected guests? 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.740 This moves way beyond 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:37.000 just padding out a meal. 00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:40.360 This is a definite deficiency 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:43.259 of bread and corn. 00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:45.920 But again, we see how the prophet of God 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.080 provides the answer. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:52.540 Elisha answered halfway through verse 43, 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:54.519 give it to the people to eat 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:57.740 for this is what the Lord says. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.279 They will eat 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.960 and have some leftover. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.759 Then he set it before them 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.460 and they ate 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.599 and had some leftover 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:06.099 in case we miss it, 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:09.220 according to the word of the Lord. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.940 Instead of famine, 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:12.299 there's this moment of feast 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.599 and the key to the feast 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.799 is the word of the Lord. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.579 And the word of the Lord 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:20.460 is a word of power 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.819 and generosity. 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:24.240 He supplies above and beyond. 00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.019 There's famine, 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.420 but they all eat 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.220 and are satisfied 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.740 and there's plenty left over. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:31.740 It's a miracle of multiplication 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:33.180 because what God says, 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:34.460 He does. 00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.599 And again, 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.539 to just think about this 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:40.379 very simple story, 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:43.039 to recognize again 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.599 that it's showing to us, 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:48.559 God cares for everyday needs. 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.420 He is providing 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:52.319 for the physical needs 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.639 of His faithful people. 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:58.480 He is showing to those men that day 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.579 and He is showing, 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.599 as this message would spread, 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.980 He's showing to the nation, 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:05.700 put your trust in the Lord God. 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.460 Don't put your trust 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:09.140 in Baal or an idol. 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:14.039 It reminds us, 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:14.440 doesn't it, 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:16.599 that Jesus taught us to pray, 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.620 give us today 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:20.079 our daily bread. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.579 bread. 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:22.439 That we are invited 00:25:22.439 --> 00:25:24.259 to a sense of dependence 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.759 upon our Father 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:29.000 to care for our everyday needs. 00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:30.480 And when we remember 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.059 that Jesus would quote 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:33.079 from Deuteronomy 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:34.960 in His time of temptation, 00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:36.559 man shall not live 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.500 by bread alone, 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.399 but by every word 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.480 that comes from the mouth 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.419 of the Lord, 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.559 we are reminded 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.720 that God also cares 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.000 for our spiritual needs. 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.879 We need bread, 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:47.340 but we also need 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:48.100 to be fed 00:25:48.100 --> 00:25:50.300 on God's word. 00:25:51.520 --> 00:25:53.120 And maybe in our setting, 00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:55.360 the challenge for us 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:55.920 becomes, 00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:58.060 how can I express 00:25:58.060 --> 00:25:59.300 true dependence, 00:26:00.300 --> 00:26:00.880 true thankfulness, 00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:04.080 when my cupboards are full, 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.780 when I just nip 00:26:05.780 --> 00:26:07.120 to the local supermarket 00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:09.720 to buy my groceries, 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.880 when I'm kind of disconnected 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:13.360 from production 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.400 and farming? 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.740 How do we make 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:18.640 our moments of giving thanks 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.580 before a meal 00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:21.620 a genuine moment 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:22.160 of worship? 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:25.720 But then spiritually as well, 00:26:26.300 --> 00:26:27.280 the challenge for us, 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:29.600 how do we resist 00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:32.780 the junk food 00:26:32.780 --> 00:26:36.060 in order to pursue 00:26:36.060 --> 00:26:37.060 the healthy diet 00:26:37.060 --> 00:26:37.960 of God's word? 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.480 And I'm sure you know 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.200 what I mean by that. 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:41.680 How do we resist 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.840 all the temptation 00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:44.259 towards distraction 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:46.059 to fill in our life 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:47.160 with lots of noise 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:48.640 that's ultimately empty 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:51.299 in order to be still, 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:53.259 to know our God 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.620 and to spend time 00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:55.460 in His word? 00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:57.080 Because God cares 00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:58.059 for our everyday needs 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.960 and our greatest need 00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.819 is to know Him. 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:02.759 But this story, 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.900 like so many in the Bible, 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.840 tells us that God 00:27:04.840 --> 00:27:05.799 is the all-powerful 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.559 King of creation, 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.580 but He's not too big, 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.640 He's not too distant, 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.620 He does see, 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:11.579 He does care. 00:27:12.179 --> 00:27:12.919 And so we're invited 00:27:12.919 --> 00:27:14.059 to pray and to trust. 00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:17.039 But it also reminds us 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:19.199 that God is worthy 00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:20.579 of worship. 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:24.399 Even in famine times, 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:26.099 God is worthy 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:27.279 of worship. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:33.099 as we see this worshiper 00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:35.619 expressing gratitude. 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.619 When we were down 00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:40.339 in the Lake District, 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.480 we were in a little village church, 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.059 but the head 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:44.440 of Keswick Ministries 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.099 was preaching. 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.639 And he's preaching 00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.819 about that lovely passage 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:49.460 in Luke's Gospel 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:52.420 where Jesus is at a meal 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.660 and the woman comes 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:55.000 and breaks the really 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:56.019 expensive bottle 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.640 of perfume 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:58.500 and anoints Jesus' head. 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:01.240 And Jesus honors 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.680 that woman 00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.880 for that really 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:05.320 extravagant gift. 00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:07.100 But just a few pages 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:07.900 earlier, 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:10.240 Jesus also honors 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.680 the woman 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:12.080 who comes to the temple 00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:13.900 and drops in 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:15.660 two pennies. 00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:17.259 because it's not 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.340 the size of the gift. 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.340 It's not whether we bring 00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:20.920 20 loaves of bread 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.500 or two. 00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.720 It's all about 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.960 the heart 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.960 that seeks to honor 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.400 and to worship 00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:28.420 God. 00:28:29.580 --> 00:28:30.560 And it's amazing 00:28:30.560 --> 00:28:31.640 to see that even 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:32.400 in the midst 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.040 of a famine 00:28:33.040 --> 00:28:33.540 when you think, 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.360 wow, you could feel 00:28:34.360 --> 00:28:35.240 so much bitterness 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:36.360 towards God. 00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:37.460 God, why are you 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.720 allowing this to happen? 00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:40.620 God, I'm being faithful. 00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:42.240 Why am I not 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.620 having plenty? 00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:45.279 But even in famine, 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:48.040 God was melting hearts 00:28:48.040 --> 00:28:49.440 with His love 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.680 and with His faithfulness. 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:52.320 And worship was seen 00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:53.100 as a response. 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:56.220 And how much more 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.900 do we want that 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.560 to be the case 00:28:57.560 --> 00:28:58.200 for ourselves 00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.220 as we have experienced 00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.360 so much more 00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.200 of God's love 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.759 and goodness 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.640 towards us 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:04.100 in His giving us 00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:04.840 the Lord Jesus. 00:29:05.540 --> 00:29:06.759 As we understand 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.560 so clearly 00:29:07.560 --> 00:29:08.220 that He holds 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:09.240 nothing back 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.940 as He gives us 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.480 His Son. 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:15.140 Gospel grace 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:17.759 produces generosity 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:20.420 as we feast 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.220 on the Gospel. 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.640 As we remember 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.220 His goodness 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.800 to us 00:29:24.800 --> 00:29:25.600 in the Lord Jesus. 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.740 The story also 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.620 helps us to see 00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:30.200 that God 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.960 and God alone 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.700 satisfies 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.920 the deepest hungers 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:33.600 that we feel. 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:35.900 Again, 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.360 as we see 00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:36.960 the connection 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.580 between 00:29:37.580 --> 00:29:38.660 Elisha 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.820 and Jesus. 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.039 Jesus, 00:29:40.679 --> 00:29:41.500 the one parable 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.139 that's recorded 00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:43.559 in all four Gospels 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.200 is the feeding 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:45.099 of the 5,000. 00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:45.939 We heard a section 00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:47.159 of John 6. 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:49.159 And as we hear 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:50.220 the parallels, 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.359 we recognize 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:52.839 Jesus is being 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:54.579 presented to us 00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:56.139 in the Gospels 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:56.700 as the one 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.319 who is greater 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.019 than Elisha. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.139 The one who would 00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:00.139 come after Elijah 00:30:00.139 --> 00:30:00.980 but be greater. 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:03.220 And in the story 00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.039 of Jesus feeding 00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:04.960 the 5,000, 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:06.099 the gap 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:07.099 between supply 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.680 and demand 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.680 is far, 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.559 far greater. 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:11.319 It's not 20 loaves 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:11.819 for 100, 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.640 it's five loaves 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.220 and two fish 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.140 for 5,000, 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.740 but Jesus supplies. 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.059 In that story, 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:19.059 we have the servants, 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:19.819 the disciples, 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.720 expressing helplessness. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:22.960 How in the world 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.539 can we take 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.440 so little 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.720 and make it work 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.539 for so many? 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:29.500 Jesus speaks. 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.059 Jesus gives thanks 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.720 to the Father. 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:32.819 And again, 00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:33.379 there's a feast 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.180 with leftovers. 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.059 But Jesus, 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:36.799 in John's Gospel, 00:30:36.899 --> 00:30:37.359 he doesn't just 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.139 leave us there, 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:39.139 he then takes 00:30:39.139 --> 00:30:39.659 the crowd 00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:41.279 towards a deeper 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.599 hunger, 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.079 doesn't he? 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:44.240 That hunger 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:45.200 to be right 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.940 with God, 00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:48.799 to find eternal life 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.659 in relationship 00:30:49.659 --> 00:30:50.420 with God. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.779 And he presents 00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:53.299 himself as the way 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.399 to receive 00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:55.639 that life from God. 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.359 As he says, 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.139 work for the food 00:30:58.139 --> 00:30:58.779 that endures 00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.659 to eternal life 00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:00.299 and then shortly 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.980 after he says, 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.639 I am the food 00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.220 that endures 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.180 to eternal life. 00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:05.700 And so he calls 00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.339 people then 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.059 and now, 00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:08.839 come to him 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:10.339 and we will never 00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:10.960 go hungry. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.559 Come to him 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.899 and we will have 00:31:13.899 --> 00:31:15.920 eternal life. 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.839 Elisha's day 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.279 and our day 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:21.279 are not so different 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.460 in that there are 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.379 lots of people 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:24.859 casting around today 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:26.440 to find satisfaction 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.240 and security. 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.700 I noticed this week 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.620 an article speaking 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.880 about a rising interest 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:33.460 in astrology 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:36.100 and in the New Age 00:31:36.100 --> 00:31:36.600 movement. 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:39.120 There's a recovery 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:41.100 of ancient mystics 00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:41.559 and people 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.940 trying to try 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:44.019 mysticism, 00:31:44.580 --> 00:31:45.380 the practices 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:47.740 of the ancient mystics 00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:48.960 looking to find 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:50.460 some kind of connection 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.279 with God. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:54.740 those efforts 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.720 will come up empty. 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.519 But also 00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.460 and encouragingly 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:00.339 we hear reports 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:00.899 of many 00:32:00.899 --> 00:32:01.980 connecting with 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:02.700 Christian unions 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.539 on campus, 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:05.319 rising church 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.059 attendances, 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.799 a huge interest 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.859 in Christian conferences. 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:09.700 If you were at Keswick 00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:10.799 you know it was packed out. 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.899 Prayer movements 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.720 beginning across 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.359 the country. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:16.759 There is a day 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.899 of spiritual 00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:18.740 opportunity 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:20.819 and we pray 00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.640 that it would lead 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:23.400 to spiritual harvest. 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.539 That the famine 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.339 experience 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:26.960 would lead 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:28.140 to feasting 00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:29.000 in God's goodness. 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:31.799 And it's our 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:32.579 calling 00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:35.079 to invite people 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:36.120 to know 00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:38.079 not just what God 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.319 offers 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.460 but who God offers. 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.000 Because He offers 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.539 His Son. 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.720 He offers a love 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.740 so great 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:46.059 that He would 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.019 enter into 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:48.420 the problems 00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.039 and the suffering 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.859 of this world. 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.059 He came 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.920 to seek 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.940 and to save 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:54.140 sin sick 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.740 broken 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.980 hurting people. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:56.859 Those who are 00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:58.160 cut off by nature 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:59.259 from our Creator 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.319 from the source 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:00.960 of life. 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.099 In love 00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:04.019 He goes to the cross 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.839 to reconcile 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.779 to renew 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.799 and to restore. 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.240 And Jesus 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.880 from heaven 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:11.420 by the Spirit 00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.039 has given us 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.839 that invitation 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:14.259 and He wants us 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:15.319 to give the invitation 00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:16.299 come to the feast 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:18.099 to know that we can 00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:18.959 bring ourselves 00:33:18.959 --> 00:33:19.980 we can bring 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:21.139 our mistakes 00:33:21.139 --> 00:33:22.019 our missteps 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.759 we can bring 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.799 our worship 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:25.439 and He will graciously 00:33:25.439 --> 00:33:26.759 meet our deficiency 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:26.799 ! 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:28.339 He will graciously 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:29.000 supply 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:30.279 all our needs! 00:33:30.879 --> 00:33:32.159 He is the true prophet! 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.559 He is the true 00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.279 bread of life! 00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:34.939 He has 00:33:34.939 --> 00:33:36.439 reversed the curse! 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.419 He can 00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:38.279 and He does 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.379 satisfy 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:41.519 all our hunger!