Hope That Delivers: Trusting God's Perfect Plan

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God's Perfect Guidance

Our plans often fall short, but God's guidance is perfect. Just as the king's arrow was directed by Elisha's hands, our lives should be directed by God's hand. Trusting in God's plan, even when it diverges from our own, leads to true victory. In 2 Kings 13, King Jehoash sought help from the prophet Elisha as Israel faced oppression from Aram. Elisha instructed the king to shoot an arrow out of a window, symbolizing the Lord's arrow of victory. This act, devoid of human aim, signifies that true victory is directed by God's hand, not our own plans or efforts. This teaches us that our trust should be in God's guidance rather than our own understanding or plans. When we align our lives with God's direction, we experience true victory and fulfillment.

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where your plans did not go as expected. How can you trust God's guidance in this situation and seek His direction moving forward? [34:56]

Day 2: Avoiding Misplaced Hope

King Jehoash's limited faith and misplaced hope in military strength resulted in only partial victory. Similarly, when we place our hope in worldly solutions or our own strength, we set ourselves up for disappointment. True hope must be rooted in God. In 2 Kings 13, Jehoash's reliance on military might rather than God's power led to a temporary and ultimately futile victory. This mirrors our own tendencies to place hope in worldly solutions rather than in God. We must learn to place our hope in God's power and promises, rather than in our own abilities or external circumstances.

Jeremiah 17:5-7 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.'"

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have been placing your hope in worldly solutions. How can you shift your hope to be rooted in God instead? [42:06]

Day 3: The Importance of Persistent Faith

Elisha's anger at the king's half-hearted effort to strike the ground teaches us the importance of persistent and wholehearted faith. Our commitment to God should be unwavering, reflecting a deep trust in His power and promises. In 2 Kings 13, King Jehoash struck the ground with arrows three times instead of five or six, resulting in a limited victory. This act of half-hearted faith led to limited success, highlighting the consequences of not fully committing to God's instructions. Persistent faith means continually trusting and obeying God, even when it requires effort and perseverance.

James 1:6-8 (ESV): "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt your faith was half-hearted. What steps can you take to cultivate a more persistent and wholehearted faith in your daily walk with God? [43:48]

Day 4: Recognizing God's Enduring Power

The revival of a dead man upon touching Elisha's bones illustrates that God's power transcends human limitations and even death. This miraculous event reminds us that God's power is always at work, offering hope and life in the most unexpected ways. In 2 Kings 13, even after Elisha's death, God's power was evident as a dead man was revived upon touching Elisha's bones. This event serves as a powerful reminder that God's power is not limited by human circumstances or even death. It encourages us to recognize and trust in God's enduring power in our lives.

Ephesians 1:19-20 (ESV): "And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places."

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you need to see God's power at work. How can you trust in His enduring power and seek His intervention in this situation? [53:05]

Day 5: Placing Hope in Jesus Christ

Our ultimate hope should be in Jesus Christ, not in our health, finances, or any other worldly thing. Life's challenges and disappointments are inevitable, but placing our hope in Christ assures us of eternal victory and strength to endure. In 2 Kings 13, the story concludes with a powerful reminder of God's enduring power, even after Elisha's death. This underscores that true hope and victory come from God alone. Our ultimate hope should be in Jesus Christ, whose victory over sin and death assures us of eternal life and enduring strength.

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: Consider the areas of your life where you have placed your hope in worldly things. How can you shift your focus to place your ultimate hope in Jesus Christ and His promises? [54:57]

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound theme of hope that delivers, drawing from 2 Kings 13:14-21. We began by acknowledging the reality that our plans often don't align with God's plans. Using the analogy of GPS systems and personal stories, we illustrated how our trust in human devices and plans can sometimes lead us astray. This set the stage for understanding the deeper spiritual truth that God's guidance is paramount.

In 2 Kings 13, we see King Jehoash seeking help from the prophet Elisha as Israel faces oppression from Aram. Elisha instructs the king to shoot an arrow out of a window, symbolizing the Lord's arrow of victory. This act, devoid of human aim, signifies that true victory is directed by God's hand, not our own plans or efforts. The king's subsequent action of striking the ground with arrows three times, instead of five or six, results in a limited victory, highlighting the consequences of half-hearted faith and misplaced hope.

We then delved into the concept of misplaced hope, where King Jehoash's reliance on military might rather than God's power led to a temporary and ultimately futile victory. This mirrors our own tendencies to place hope in worldly solutions rather than in God. The story concludes with a powerful reminder of God's enduring power, even after Elisha's death, as a dead man is revived upon touching Elisha's bones. This miraculous event underscores that true hope and victory come from God alone.

In our lives, we often face disappointments and challenges that disrupt our plans. Yet, these moments are opportunities to realign our hope with God's sovereign will. Our ultimate hope should be in Jesus Christ, whose victory over sin and death assures us of eternal life and enduring strength.

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Key Takeaways

1. hearted effort to strike the ground teaches us the importance of persistent and wholehearted faith. Our commitment to God should be unwavering, reflecting a deep trust in His power and promises. [43:48]
4. God's Enduring Power: The revival of a dead man upon touching Elisha's bones illustrates that God's power transcends human limitations and even death. This miraculous event reminds us that God's power is always at work, offering hope and life in the most unexpected ways.

5. Hope in Jesus Christ: Our ultimate hope should be in Jesus Christ, not in our health, finances, or any other worldly thing. Life's challenges and disappointments are inevitable, but placing our hope in Christ assures us of eternal victory and strength to endure.

### [43:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:38] - Introduction and Personal Stories
[25:14] - The GPS Analogy
[26:43] - Elk Hunting Story
[29:32] - A Hope That Delivers
[31:21] - The Lord's Arrow of Victory
[34:56] - God's Guidance Over Human Plans
[38:12] - The Enemy's Arrow of Defeat
[42:06] - Misplaced Hope
[43:48] - The Power of Persistent Faith
[45:49] - Lost Hope
[47:42] - Hope That Delivers
[49:27] - Elisha's Power
[51:17] - The Power of God
[53:05] - The Revival Miracle
[54:57] - Hope in Jesus Christ
[56:33] - The Goodness of God
[58:30] - Trusting God's Plan
[64:48] - Testimony and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific instructions did Elisha give to King Jehoash regarding the bow and arrows? ([31:21])
How did King Jehoash respond to Elisha's command to strike the ground with the arrows, and what was Elisha's reaction? ([40:04])
What miraculous event occurred after Elisha's death involving his bones? ([53:05])
How does the story of King Jehoash and Elisha illustrate the theme of misplaced hope? ([42:06])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Elisha was angry with King Jehoash for striking the ground only three times? What does this reveal about the nature of faith and obedience? ([40:04])
How does the revival of the dead man upon touching Elisha's bones serve as a reminder of God's enduring power? ([53:05])
In what ways does the story of King Jehoash reflect our own tendencies to place hope in worldly solutions rather than in God? ([42:06])
How does the analogy of the GPS in the sermon help us understand the importance of trusting in God's guidance over our own plans? ([25:14])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when your plans did not align with God's plans. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([34:56])
King Jehoash's limited faith led to a partial victory. Are there areas in your life where you feel you might be exercising half-hearted faith? How can you commit more fully to trusting God? ([40:04])
The sermon emphasized the importance of persistent faith. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate persistent faith in your daily life? ([43:48])
How can you ensure that your hope is rooted in God rather than in worldly solutions or personal strength? ([42:06])
The story of the dead man revived by touching Elisha's bones illustrates God's power. How can you remind yourself of God's power in your life, especially during challenging times? ([53:05])
The sermon mentioned that our ultimate hope should be in Jesus Christ. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Christ and rely on Him more fully? ([54:57])
Think about a current challenge or disappointment you are facing. How can you realign your hope with God's sovereign will in this situation? ([56:33])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We have a plan for our life. We have directions. We know what's going to happen next. And that's where we are headed. This past week, just one of those crazy weeks, my mother-in-law has been with us for about a month and we were getting ready for my wife to take her back to Kentucky, stay with her a couple of weeks. Then we had a wedding there and it's all planned out. Last Wednesday, my wife had an unexpected surgery." [34:56] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Our hope is in the Lord. It's not. I know these physical bodies are going to quit on us. That can't, our health cannot be our hope. Our finances cannot be our hope. Nothing can be our hope except Jesus Christ." [54:57] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Everything, everything in this world has been affected by the fall, by sin, everything. Your eyes up. Get them on Jesus. You might have even received, and I don't know this about anybody in here, but you might have even received word recently that you're on your way out, that you have some disease. I don't know that, but if you have, man, as difficult as that will be for you and for your loved ones, you're about to step into glory. You're about to get promoted." [56:33] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "The Lord's arrow of victory is not directed by your aim. And he says to the king, take a bow and arrows. I've never had anybody come to my office. And this is something I did with them ever. Never crossed my mind. Take the bow and arrows. So the king gets a bow and arrows. Elisha said to the king of Israel, put your hand on the bow. So the king put his hand on it. And Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. Elisha said, open the east window. So he opened it. Elisha said, shoot. So he shot. And Elisha said, the Lord's arrow of victory." [33:04] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The Lord's arrow of victory is directed by God's hand and his plan. For our life. Do you remember when I preached here before? And I really like you to encourage me by saying, amen. That was one of those points right there. The Lord's arrow of victory is directed by his hand on our life. And we see things all the time. And we wonder why did that happen? Why did God allow that to happen? And I can't answer all of those questions. I just know that he has. He has promised. He has promised that he will take all the things in our lives and he will work it all together for good, which is for his glory and to make us more like Jesus." [36:41] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Sometimes we do sort of the same thing. We want to live our life however we want to live it, but then we want God to give us great victory. And we can even think, stick with me now, we can even think that church, if I will just go to church, I'll be right where God wants me and that will bring me victory. Or if I don't do this as much, then I can have great victory. If I don't do this as much, then I can have great victory. And we're constantly putting our hope in the wrong place. There's only one place to put our hope." [45:49] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When Elisha comes on the scene, when he becomes the prophet of God, he sees the very heavens open and this, this taking away of Elijah. And it just spurs him to cry out about the power of God. And that, that is the power of God. It was the power that Elisha had on him as he was the prophet for Israel. So that is your B, Elisha's power, hope that delivers death of Elisha, Elisha's power." [51:17] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "That's the power that delivers. That's the hope that delivers when our hope is in God, not in anybody, not in anything. It's only in God. Everything else flows out of that relationship with God and living with our hope firmly placed in him, walking with him, living with him, reverencing him, glorifying him in every part of our lives. You'll never, I will never, we will never have the kind of power that was on Elisha living ordinary lives." [53:05] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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