Faithful Preparation in Times of Spiritual Drought

After being away for several weeks, it is a joy to gather again with the church family, to worship, and to open God’s Word together. There is nothing like being in the presence of God’s people, sharing in the fellowship and encouragement that comes from being united in Christ. In these past weeks, much has happened—both in our church and in the world. We celebrate the faithfulness of God at our Greenbrier campus, with nearly a thousand baptisms and thousands of decisions for Christ. We also grieve the loss of Christian leaders and face the uncertainty of government shutdowns and global unrest. Yet, in all these things, we are reminded that our hope and provision come not from the world, but from the Lord, our Shepherd, who supplies all our needs.

Turning to 2 Kings 3, we encounter three kings facing a desperate situation: they run out of water in the wilderness on their way to battle. This story raises a question for all of us: What do you do when the water runs out—when resources are gone, when you’re in a desert season, when you face battles you didn’t expect? The answer begins with seeking a word from God. In crisis, it’s easy to blame God or others, but what we truly need is to hear from Him. Jehoshaphat, a godly king, sought out the prophet Elisha, demonstrating the importance of spiritual discernment and the need to shut out voices of blame and confusion.

God’s answer, delivered through Elisha, was unexpected: “Dig ditches in the valley.” Before the miracle, there was a call to action—a work of faith. Faith is not passive; it prepares for God’s provision even when there is no visible sign of rain. The size of the blessing is often determined by the depth of our preparation. Digging ditches is hard, messy work, but it makes room for God to send living water. Sometimes, God’s blessings overflow to those who don’t deserve it, simply because of the faithfulness of a remnant. At the same time, we must be careful about the company we keep, as the battles of others can become our own.

Finally, worship is essential in the waiting. Elisha called for a musician, and it was in the atmosphere of worship that God’s word and provision came. Worship is not just a response to victory; it is the posture of faith as we wait for God to move. In every dry and barren place, God meets us when we put our faith into action, dig our ditches, and worship while we wait. The living water and victory come from Him alone.

Key Takeaways

• 1. When facing a spiritual drought or crisis, the first and most vital step is to seek a word from God. The voices of blame, fear, or confusion will only cloud your discernment. True clarity and direction come when you intentionally shut out the noise and pursue God’s voice above all others. [57:22]
• 2. Faith is not merely belief—it is action. God often calls us to prepare for His provision before we see any evidence of it. Digging ditches in a dry valley may seem pointless, but it is the work of faith that creates capacity for God’s blessing. The miracle is often proportional to the preparation; God sends water where we have made room for it. [64:54]
• 3. The company you keep can determine the battles you face and the blessings you receive. Jehoshaphat found himself in a crisis because of his alliances, while Joram received undeserved blessing because of Jehoshaphat’s faithfulness. Be discerning about your relationships—friends can either draw you into unnecessary battles or bring you into the overflow of God’s favor. [67:08]
• 4. Worship is not just a celebration after the victory; it is the posture that prepares your heart to receive from God. Elisha did not receive God’s word until he entered into worship. In seasons of waiting, worship sets the stage for breakthrough, aligning your heart with God’s presence and opening you to hear His voice. [69:29]
• 5. God’s provision often comes suddenly, but the preparation is slow and messy. The water appeared “suddenly” in the morning, but the ditches were dug over time, with sweat and perseverance. Don’t despise the hard work of preparation—whether in your marriage, family, or spiritual life. The living water and victory God brings are worth every effort to make room for Him. [74:56]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [42:46] - Greetings and Updates
• [44:56] - Celebrating Greenbrier’s 10 Years
• [45:38] - Responding to Tragedy and Boldness in Faith
• [47:12] - Government Shutdown and God’s Provision
• [47:56] - Praying for Peace and Hostages
• [50:39] - Introduction to 2 Kings 3: The Three Kings
• [51:13] - Desert Seasons and Unexpected Battles
• [55:19] - Real Fun vs. Fake Fun: The Need for Connection
• [56:02] - The Word of God in Crisis
• [58:20] - Annoyed and Anointed: Elisha’s Response
• [60:24] - Degrees of Evil and the Need for Discernment
• [63:11] - The Work of Faith: Digging Ditches
• [69:11] - Worship During the Wait
• [74:39] - God’s Sudden Provision and the Value of Preparation
• [76:35] - Keep Digging: Vision for the Church
• [78:17] - Victory in the Blood and Living Water
• [79:16] - Invitation and Response

Bible Reading

2 Kings 3:4-20 (ESV) — (This is the main text for the sermon and study.)

> 4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he had to deliver to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.
> 5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
> 6 So King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.
> 7 And he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he said, “I will go; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
> 8 Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”
> 9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them.
> 10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”
> 11 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?” Then one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”
> 12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
> 13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the LORD who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”
> 14 And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.
> 15 But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.
> 16 And he said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’
> 17 For thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’
> 18 This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD. He will also give the Moabites into your hand,
> 19 and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
> 20 The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.

Observation Questions

1. What crisis did the three kings face in the wilderness, and how did they initially respond?
2. According to the passage, what was Jehoshaphat’s first step when faced with the crisis?
3. What unusual instruction did God give through Elisha, and what did it require from the people?
4. What role did worship play in Elisha receiving God’s word for the kings?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jehoshaphat insisted on seeking a word from God instead of just acting on the crisis? What does this reveal about his character and priorities?
2. The instruction to “dig ditches” came before there was any sign of rain or water. What does this teach about the relationship between faith and action?
3. The sermon mentioned that Joram received blessing because of Jehoshaphat’s faithfulness, and Jehoshaphat faced trouble because of his alliances. What does this suggest about how our relationships can impact our spiritual lives?
4. Elisha called for a musician before delivering God’s message. Why might worship be important in preparing our hearts to hear from God, especially in times of waiting or crisis?

Application Questions

1. When you face a “desert season” or crisis, what voices do you tend to listen to first—God’s, your own, or others’? What practical steps can you take to seek God’s word above all the noise?
2. Is there an area in your life right now where you feel God is asking you to “dig ditches”—to prepare in faith even though you see no evidence of a solution? What would it look like for you to take a step of faith this week?
3. Think about your closest relationships and friendships. Are there any alliances or connections that are drawing you into unnecessary battles or away from God’s best for you? What changes might God be prompting you to make?
4. The sermon said, “Worship is not just a celebration after the victory; it is the posture that prepares your heart to receive from God.” How can you make worship a regular part of your life, especially when you are waiting for God to move?
5. The water came “suddenly,” but the ditches were dug slowly and with hard work. Is there an area of your life—marriage, family, spiritual growth—where you need to keep digging, even though you haven’t seen results yet? What motivates you to keep going?
6. Have you ever experienced God’s provision or blessing in a way that surprised you or came through someone else’s faithfulness? How did that impact your own faith?
7. The sermon challenged us to “worship while we wait.” What is one specific way you can practice this in your current season—through music, prayer, or another form of worship?