HoHum:
In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, when they finally get to the old knight guarding the Holy Grail, Donavon, with the help of Elsa, choses a cup from which to drink. Elsa chooses the cup -- a solid gold, emerald encrusted goblet. Donovan instantly takes it from her. Donovan looks at it and says: "Oh, yes. It's more beautiful than I'd ever imagined. This certainly is the cup of the King of Kings.” Well, it is not the right cup and Donovan dies. The old knight says: “He chose… poorly.” May we chose wisely when it comes to missions and Faith Promise.
WBTU:
The city of Samaria was under siege by the Syrian army, led by King Ben Hadad. A great famine came upon the city because of the siege. So great was the famine that unclean food was sold for exorbitant amounts of money and families were driven to cannibalize their children.
Read 2 Kings 7:3-10
Thesis: We chose poorly when we do not tell, when we do not share
For instances:
I. We chose poorly when we know and do not tell
The main characters of our story are 4 lepers. Given the detestable disease of these 4 men, their place was at the entrance to the city gate. These men were just sitting ducks if the Syrians decided to invade the city. But they were not invading the city, they were just letting the famine take its toll. As beggars, their survival was dependent on alms given by generous citizens, but due to the siege, the people they normally counted on for daily provisions had nothing to give. They were obviously doomed to starve to death. And so they reasoned together that since they were going to die anyway, why not take matters into their own hands. Look again at vs. 4. As evening descended on the plain surrounding Samaria, these 4 unnamed men made their way down the road that led into the enemy’s camp. Soon they would know their fate. What they had no way of knowing was that God had gone before them. The chronicler of the king’s history reveals what these lepers had no foreknowledge of. The Lord caused the Arameans to hear the sound of an approaching army, and they fled in absolute panic. They left everything and ran for their lives. They left their campfires burning. They left their sandals at the entrance to their tents. They left their wineskins, their crusty bread and their stores of food. This in incredible, given the distance to their home country, they even left their horses! Enter the 4 lepers. To their great amazement and joy, and completely unknown to the people back in town, the famine and imprisonment were over. In their exuberance, the lepers proceeded to the first tent, where they gorged themselves on dried fish, cheese and sweet dates. They lifted wineskins to their lips and guzzled until the red juice dripped down their beards. It had been weeks since they had even seen such food, let alone eaten any. They feasted, stopping only long enough to grab some money and clothes, and quickly hid them for future use. Even then, their hunger persisted so they returned to the camp for more free food and clothing. Finally, their appetites satisfied and their futures secured, they realized the enormity of their situation. they remembered that the city of Samaria was in desperate straits. They had to decide whether or not to tell the good news of abundance to the city or to keep their good fortune to themselves. They became convicted. Look at vs. 9.
These are days of good news. Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). We should say with Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:16: Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! Jeremiah tried to hold it in but could not. Jeremiah 20:9: “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”
Polio was eradicated from America by a Dr. Jonas Salk who developed a vaccine. We should ever be grateful that Dr. Salk shared his vaccine with the world. What if Dr. Salk had refused to share it? Think of every mother whose child’s body was twisted and deformed. Think of every family who suffered the death of a child. Why, every grieving parent at the gravesite would rise up in condemnation. Some say that a cure for cancer has been found. It would be criminal for someone or some lab to have a cure for cancer and fail to share it with the world. The world suffers from a cancer of the soul, and it stumbles under the weight of unforgiven sin. They long for a way to be forgiven. Their life is surrounded by darkness. They experience the prospects of hell while we enjoy the fruits of the gospel. The world cries out, “Please, someone give me the cure.” We have it. Silence violates every principle of the gospel. Punishment is pronounced on those who are silent (their blood is on our hands- Ezekiel 33:6). There is no such thing as a silent church or a silent Christian who did the Lord’s will. No great Christian has ever majored on being quiet about the gospel.
Why do we often fail to share the good news of the gospel?
1. We feel unqualified to share news that is so good. “What if they ask me questions about God I can’t answer?”
2. Christians are afraid that others won’t believe the good news when it is shared. Similar thing happened to the lepers- king did not believe them- read vs. 11-12. Can these lepers be trusted? Yes, we need people from the community to validate our message. Jesus was talking to a Samaritan woman at a well. We find in John 4:28-30: “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.” Might take a while but need to share and then they will come.
3. Christians fail to understand the urgency of the situation. “Someday I’ll share Jesus with my friends. I’m just waiting for the right time.” One of the king’s servants understood the urgency- what have we to lose- read vs. 13-15. Notice the results in vs. 16- “The people went out and plundered the Aramean camp.”
As followers of Jesus, we are called to share good news. In the early church, they preached (told) under difficult circumstances. Acts 8:4: “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Philip went to Samaria and “proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). From that time until the present, “good news” is the best description of our message.
Although we are separated by centuries of history and thousands of miles geographically, the news hasn’t changed much. Amazingly, the good news the lepers found in the empty Syrian camp strongly resembles the good news we have found in Jesus Christ. The desperation of those around us is the same, and the possibilities are just as joyous and life giving.
We speak the good news of nourishment to those who are starving. Only Jesus can satisfy the deep hunger within each of us. Isaiah 55:1-2: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” Jesus said to the woman in John 4:14: "whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”
We speak good news of freedom for those who are enslaved. Think of the spiritual and emotional bondage those around us experience every day: those addicted to the numbing effect of drugs and alcohol; those caught in patterns of sexual addiction; those who can’t get past the pain of their past; those who are disgusted with themselves and are sure God can’t love them; those who are depressed and feel no worth; those who have been abused in a variety of ways; those who lie and hide from others. These kinds of sin are nothing more than imprisonment. It’s so like being trapped in the filth, desperation and disgust behind the walls of Samaria. But there is a way out. Romans 8:1-2: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Why us? Like the lepers, we may be unworthy spokespeople for God, but we are qualified simply because of what we know. We have found nourishment and freedom in Christ. We speak good news because we have experienced it. Love people and lead them to a relationship with Christ.
II. We chose poorly when we have and do not share.
Notice that the lepers picked up silver, gold and clothing- vs. 8. More than they could ever need or want. The twin of silence is selfishness with God’s goods. We have choices to make with our money- may we chose wisely. How much of God’s money is used to buy luxuries for God’s people, preventing the church from being able to share? How many of us are wearing suits bought with God’s money? How many of us are driving cars that have been purchased with God’s money? How many of us are taking vacations with God’s money? How many of us live in luxury while missionaries are without the basic necessities, without Bibles, without funds to send out more evangelists? While the city starves, we live in luxury. We are asking to give beyond what normally give to the church for Faith Promise. Make a pledge- God will help us to fulfill it. Maybe made poor choices with money and now in debt. According to financial experts, the percentage of Americans in debt is around 80%. 8 in 10 Americans have some form of consumer debt, and the average debt in America is $38,000 not including mortgage debt. Owing money just seems to be a way of life for Americans, as collectively we have $14 trillion in debt. How can this change? Get on a budget and start with a tithe- helps to get finances in order. God will bless as we give and start to make wise choices. Are we going to be like the lepers in the first tent- I got mine and no concern about others. Are we going to be like the lepers in the second tent? “We are not doing what is right”- vs. 9. Why has America been so blessed? Look at the ending of the calling of Abraham in Genesis 12:3: “All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you”- that is talking about Jesus Christ but Vs. 2 is more for us-“I will bless you… and you will be a blessing”
