1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,000 If you would open your Bibles please at 2 00:00:03,000 –> 00:00:08,700 1 Kings and chapter 19. We’ll also be 3 00:00:08,700 –> 00:00:11,000 looking at 2 Kings in chapter 2, 4 00:00:11,000 –> 00:00:14,420 just a few pages further on. We come 5 00:00:14,420 –> 00:00:17,100 today to the last message in our series 6 00:00:17,100 –> 00:00:19,680 on Elijah. I got to tell you, I’m feeling 7 00:00:19,680 –> 00:00:21,940 a little bit like Elijah did. 8 00:00:21,940 –> 00:00:24,100 You know, Elisha did not want to let 9 00:00:24,100 –> 00:00:27,820 Elijah go, and I’m feeling that way 10 00:00:27,940 –> 00:00:30,400 having been so richly blessed by the 11 00:00:30,400 –> 00:00:32,360 study of these scriptures that have 12 00:00:32,360 –> 00:00:35,480 been teaching me so much, and have been 13 00:00:35,480 –> 00:00:37,959 so rich. And there is so much for us to 14 00:00:37,959 –> 00:00:40,919 learn today, as we look at the later 15 00:00:40,919 –> 00:00:45,380 years of Elijah’s life. Now, just to 16 00:00:45,380 –> 00:00:48,000 recap what we have learned, we have seen 17 00:00:48,000 –> 00:00:50,119 that Elijah’s life really was an uphill 18 00:00:50,119 –> 00:00:53,020 struggle all the way. He served during a 19 00:00:53,020 –> 00:00:56,240 period of rampant idolatry. He served 20 00:00:56,340 –> 00:00:58,700 under the reign of the worst king 21 00:00:58,700 –> 00:01:01,820 Israel had known up to that time, and he 22 00:01:01,840 –> 00:01:03,840 served the Lord during a period in which 23 00:01:03,840 –> 00:01:06,519 judgment had come on the nation in the 24 00:01:06,519 –> 00:01:10,239 form of God withholding the reigns. For 25 00:01:10,239 –> 00:01:12,120 some time Elijah’s ministry was hidden. 26 00:01:12,120 –> 00:01:14,620 You remember that though he had always 27 00:01:14,620 –> 00:01:16,519 had this sense in his heart that he 28 00:01:16,519 –> 00:01:18,959 wanted to do more than his fathers had 29 00:01:18,959 –> 00:01:21,660 done, what God did with him was took 30 00:01:21,660 –> 00:01:23,559 him out of his own country and hid him 31 00:01:23,559 –> 00:01:25,720 and gave him a ministry to just one 32 00:01:25,720 –> 00:01:28,580 family and he was in obscurity and he 33 00:01:28,580 –> 00:01:30,180 must have wondered for a long time how 34 00:01:30,180 –> 00:01:32,480 is there going to be anything of 35 00:01:32,480 –> 00:01:35,639 widespread impact that can come from a 36 00:01:35,639 –> 00:01:37,800 ministry that has been hidden in 37 00:01:37,800 –> 00:01:40,360 obscurity for so long, but God brought 38 00:01:40,360 –> 00:01:42,599 him back and then gave to him a 39 00:01:42,599 –> 00:01:46,919 national platform. He was able to call 40 00:01:46,919 –> 00:01:49,599 all Israel to repentance. He was able to 41 00:01:49,599 –> 00:01:53,500 address the nation from Mount Carmel and 42 00:01:53,500 –> 00:01:55,279 not only to address the nation but to 43 00:01:55,320 –> 00:01:58,099 call down fire from heaven so that the 44 00:01:58,099 –> 00:02:00,019 people said, well, now the Lord he is God, 45 00:02:00,019 –> 00:02:02,540 the Lord he is God, but we saw that the 46 00:02:02,540 –> 00:02:04,500 greatest moment in this man’s ministry 47 00:02:04,500 –> 00:02:07,139 also led to his deepest discouragement. 48 00:02:07,139 –> 00:02:09,399 Because while the people were convinced 49 00:02:09,399 –> 00:02:12,339 they were not converted, and at the end 50 00:02:12,339 –> 00:02:14,779 of all the drama on Mount Carmel, Ahab is 51 00:02:14,779 –> 00:02:18,100 still the king and Jezebel is worse than 52 00:02:18,100 –> 00:02:21,320 ever, and Elijah then slumps as it were 53 00:02:21,320 –> 00:02:24,300 into a heap and begins to question what 54 00:02:24,380 –> 00:02:26,300 then was the point of all of this, after 55 00:02:26,300 –> 00:02:28,600 all this ministry, after all this prayer, 56 00:02:28,600 –> 00:02:31,220 after all this sacrifice, after all this 57 00:02:31,220 –> 00:02:35,279 effort, what have I accomplished? What has 58 00:02:35,279 –> 00:02:39,860 come of my life? What is the point? What 59 00:02:39,860 –> 00:02:45,300 difference have I really made? And many 60 00:02:45,300 –> 00:02:47,800 of us and all who serve and extend 61 00:02:47,800 –> 00:02:50,839 themselves in Christian ministry, know 62 00:02:50,839 –> 00:02:53,360 what this place is like. Where that 63 00:02:53,539 –> 00:02:55,440 darkness descends on you and your 64 00:02:55,440 –> 00:02:58,419 energy is drained and the motivation 65 00:02:58,419 –> 00:03:01,240 that you had felt at other times seems 66 00:03:01,240 –> 00:03:03,580 to be gone and you say now, what is the 67 00:03:03,580 –> 00:03:07,100 point of what I am doing? And that’s 68 00:03:07,100 –> 00:03:09,899 where we got to last week, that’s where 69 00:03:09,899 –> 00:03:12,820 Elijah was, and we saw very wonderfully 70 00:03:12,820 –> 00:03:16,479 that God met with him there because God 71 00:03:16,479 –> 00:03:19,020 never abandons his wounded. He draws 72 00:03:19,020 –> 00:03:21,580 near and he meets with his honorably 73 00:03:21,759 –> 00:03:25,139 wounded servants. And today we’re going 74 00:03:25,139 –> 00:03:27,419 to take up the story from that point and 75 00:03:27,419 –> 00:03:30,220 see what came then of the last years of 76 00:03:30,259 –> 00:03:33,160 Elijah’s life. We know only a little 77 00:03:33,160 –> 00:03:36,979 about them, but what we know is full of 78 00:03:36,979 –> 00:03:39,979 encouragement for us today. 79 00:03:40,940 –> 00:03:42,779 Now we noted at several points that 80 00:03:42,779 –> 00:03:44,600 Elijah, in the course of his life and 81 00:03:44,600 –> 00:03:47,020 ministry, achieved less than he had 82 00:03:47,020 –> 00:03:50,580 hoped. It is also true, as we are going 83 00:03:50,580 –> 00:03:53,679 to see today, that he accomplished more 84 00:03:53,679 –> 00:03:57,000 than he had thought. And that is why we 85 00:03:57,000 –> 00:04:00,100 have the subtitle for this series, which 86 00:04:00,100 –> 00:04:03,699 is the surprising influence of a godly 87 00:04:03,699 –> 00:04:06,899 life. There is a surprise that comes at 88 00:04:06,899 –> 00:04:08,860 the end of the story, and we’re going to 89 00:04:08,860 –> 00:04:11,139 see it today. Now I want to give you 90 00:04:11,139 –> 00:04:13,419 very simply three snapshots from the 91 00:04:13,419 –> 00:04:16,160 closing era of Elijah’s life. We’re going 92 00:04:16,160 –> 00:04:19,299 to start by looking at his last years, 93 00:04:19,459 –> 00:04:21,959 then if you can imagine the camera 94 00:04:21,959 –> 00:04:24,679 honing in and zooming in, we’re going to 95 00:04:24,679 –> 00:04:27,799 look at his last day, and then we’re 96 00:04:27,799 –> 00:04:29,940 going to go in even closer, the sort of 97 00:04:29,940 –> 00:04:32,679 macro view, and we’re going to look at 98 00:04:32,679 –> 00:04:35,640 his last moments. And then briefly at the 99 00:04:35,640 –> 00:04:38,459 end we’ll see how the ministry of Elijah 100 00:04:38,459 –> 00:04:41,600 flowed out from all of this. 101 00:04:41,600 –> 00:04:43,640 So I hope you have your Bible open first 102 00:04:43,640 –> 00:04:47,619 at 1 Kings and chapter 19. And we’re 103 00:04:48,019 –> 00:04:49,320 picking it up really in verse 15. 104 00:05:12,119 –> 00:05:14,500 There is new work that Elijah now 105 00:05:14,500 –> 00:05:17,239 has to do, and it is all about launching 106 00:05:17,339 –> 00:05:20,679 the ministry of others. 107 00:05:20,679 –> 00:05:22,820 The wisdom and the kindness of God 108 00:05:22,820 –> 00:05:25,339 is written all over this scene. 109 00:05:25,339 –> 00:05:27,459 Elijah has been in this despair. 110 00:05:27,459 –> 00:05:30,559 The darkness has come down upon him. 111 00:05:30,559 –> 00:05:34,420 And God delivers Elijah out of this darkness 112 00:05:34,420 –> 00:05:37,799 by giving to him three wonderful gifts. 113 00:05:37,799 –> 00:05:40,279 And this is a part of the message 114 00:05:40,279 –> 00:05:41,980 that’s especially for the person 115 00:05:41,980 –> 00:05:43,760 who feels darkness today. 116 00:05:44,760 –> 00:05:49,059 God typically delivers out of periods of darkness 117 00:05:49,059 –> 00:05:54,059 by giving some combination of three wonderful gifts. 118 00:05:54,399 –> 00:05:55,260 And they’re right here. 119 00:05:55,260 –> 00:05:57,420 The first is the gift of work. 120 00:05:57,420 –> 00:06:01,739 Verse 15, go return on your way. 121 00:06:01,739 –> 00:06:03,339 Here’s this man, he is exhausted. 122 00:06:03,339 –> 00:06:05,519 He’s discouraged, and God gives him some period 123 00:06:05,519 –> 00:06:09,179 to recover his strength, as we saw last time. 124 00:06:09,179 –> 00:06:11,760 But after a time, you know, 125 00:06:11,760 –> 00:06:16,079 for a person in darkness to withdraw from others 126 00:06:16,079 –> 00:06:19,559 and simply to brood on their own thoughts 127 00:06:19,559 –> 00:06:23,299 will only make the darkness worse. 128 00:06:23,299 –> 00:06:24,920 I’ve known that in my own experience 129 00:06:24,920 –> 00:06:27,279 and many of you will have known that also. 130 00:06:28,260 –> 00:06:31,679 A.W. Pink makes this very helpful comment, very perceptive. 131 00:06:31,679 –> 00:06:35,720 He says, the only hope for persons in such circumstances 132 00:06:35,720 –> 00:06:38,640 is to come out from their lonely haunts 133 00:06:38,640 –> 00:06:40,720 and to become actively employed 134 00:06:40,720 –> 00:06:43,519 in some useful occupation. 135 00:06:43,519 –> 00:06:46,640 This is the best cure for melancholy, he says, 136 00:06:46,640 –> 00:06:48,500 to set about doing something 137 00:06:48,500 –> 00:06:51,760 which requires muscular exertion 138 00:06:51,760 –> 00:06:54,239 and which will benefit others. 139 00:06:54,239 –> 00:06:55,559 Isn’t that interesting? 140 00:06:55,559 –> 00:06:57,000 You’re in this darkness. 141 00:06:57,000 –> 00:06:58,040 Well, there may be a period 142 00:06:58,040 –> 00:06:59,279 where it’s appropriate for you 143 00:06:59,279 –> 00:07:01,579 to withdraw and to replenish yourself 144 00:07:01,579 –> 00:07:03,760 but at some point God will come and say to you, 145 00:07:03,760 –> 00:07:05,700 now you need to get up, you need to get out, 146 00:07:05,700 –> 00:07:06,820 you need to move forward 147 00:07:06,820 –> 00:07:08,279 and you need to do something 148 00:07:08,399 –> 00:07:11,220 that is going to exert yourself 149 00:07:11,220 –> 00:07:13,519 and is going to be useful to others. 150 00:07:13,519 –> 00:07:17,679 The gift of work is a marvelous gift from God 151 00:07:17,679 –> 00:07:21,100 and it is the first way in which God delivers Elijah 152 00:07:21,100 –> 00:07:22,559 from this darkness. 153 00:07:22,559 –> 00:07:24,640 So, it’s very important that at this point 154 00:07:24,640 –> 00:07:27,260 where Elijah is saying, well, now what have I accomplished? 155 00:07:27,260 –> 00:07:30,959 God does not say, well now you’re an older fellow 156 00:07:30,959 –> 00:07:33,320 and the best thing for you will be to go 157 00:07:33,320 –> 00:07:36,399 and find some spot where you’re out the way 158 00:07:36,440 –> 00:07:39,279 and retire and don’t be in the way. 159 00:07:39,279 –> 00:07:40,779 No, God does not say that to him. 160 00:07:40,779 –> 00:07:45,700 God says, Elijah, I want you to pour your remaining years 161 00:07:46,579 –> 00:07:48,100 into younger people. 162 00:07:48,100 –> 00:07:50,739 There’s a huge contribution you can make in this regard. 163 00:07:50,739 –> 00:07:54,720 Now, go back and exert yourself in this regard 164 00:07:54,720 –> 00:07:58,160 and these younger people will continue the work 165 00:07:58,160 –> 00:08:01,239 that you have begun and you will be surprised by joy 166 00:08:01,239 –> 00:08:04,220 in the fruit that comes from this. 167 00:08:04,239 –> 00:08:06,980 So, Elijah’s role in these later years now 168 00:08:06,980 –> 00:08:09,299 is different from what it was earlier. 169 00:08:09,299 –> 00:08:13,380 He is no longer the only prophetic voice, 170 00:08:13,380 –> 00:08:15,899 he does not now have the national platform 171 00:08:15,899 –> 00:08:18,239 that God gave to him at Mount Carmel, 172 00:08:18,239 –> 00:08:20,660 but there is work for him to do 173 00:08:20,660 –> 00:08:22,200 and what I want you to see today 174 00:08:22,200 –> 00:08:25,920 is that the work God gave him in this later era of his life 175 00:08:25,920 –> 00:08:27,640 actually proved to be more fruitful 176 00:08:27,640 –> 00:08:29,500 than anything else he’d ever done before. 177 00:08:29,500 –> 00:08:31,619 That’s a great encouragement. 178 00:08:31,619 –> 00:08:33,140 So God gives him the gift of work, 179 00:08:33,140 –> 00:08:34,700 get up, get moving, go and do something 180 00:08:34,700 –> 00:08:36,700 that’s useful to others. 181 00:08:36,700 –> 00:08:40,559 Second, God gives to him the gift of a promise. 182 00:08:40,559 –> 00:08:41,979 That’s in verse 18. 183 00:08:42,840 –> 00:08:47,840 The Lord says, I will have 7,000 in Israel. 184 00:08:49,039 –> 00:08:51,739 Now remember how often Elijah has been saying, 185 00:08:51,739 –> 00:08:55,000 I’m the only one, I, even I only am left 186 00:08:55,000 –> 00:08:56,859 and God answers that in verse 18. 187 00:08:56,859 –> 00:09:00,880 He says, there will be 7,000. 188 00:09:01,820 –> 00:09:05,440 Now the ESV, the English Standard Version, 189 00:09:05,440 –> 00:09:08,419 the Pew Bible that we’re using is absolutely right 190 00:09:08,419 –> 00:09:11,940 in translating this statement in the future tense. 191 00:09:11,940 –> 00:09:13,419 I know that some other versions of it 192 00:09:13,419 –> 00:09:16,340 in the present tense, there is wide discussion on that, 193 00:09:16,340 –> 00:09:18,559 I’m wholly persuaded that this is 194 00:09:18,559 –> 00:09:22,539 a future tense statement because it is a promise. 195 00:09:22,539 –> 00:09:25,500 If there were 7,000 others at that time, 196 00:09:25,500 –> 00:09:28,299 Elijah would have known something about them. 197 00:09:28,320 –> 00:09:31,020 There were not at that time, this is a future promise, 198 00:09:31,020 –> 00:09:33,219 this is what is going to happen. 199 00:09:34,179 –> 00:09:35,679 Elijah, what you see at the moment 200 00:09:35,679 –> 00:09:38,299 is just small seeds, small growth, 201 00:09:38,299 –> 00:09:40,179 but I tell you what’s on the horizon. 202 00:09:40,179 –> 00:09:45,179 I will have 7,000 in Israel, God says. 203 00:09:45,200 –> 00:09:49,419 And so there’s this promise of the future fruitfulness 204 00:09:49,419 –> 00:09:51,739 of the work that Elijah has begun. 205 00:09:51,739 –> 00:09:54,359 Plant seeds and God will make them grow. 206 00:09:55,380 –> 00:09:57,260 The word of God is living seed, 207 00:09:57,659 –> 00:09:59,440 you plant it in the lives of people, 208 00:09:59,440 –> 00:10:01,500 it looks like there’s nothing there on the surface, 209 00:10:01,500 –> 00:10:02,840 but the seed is under the ground, 210 00:10:02,840 –> 00:10:04,539 you water it with your prayers, 211 00:10:05,619 –> 00:10:07,780 and God gives the growth. 212 00:10:08,780 –> 00:10:11,099 And here’s this wonderful promise Elijah, 213 00:10:11,099 –> 00:10:12,960 more is going to come of your ministry 214 00:10:12,960 –> 00:10:14,179 before you come up to Heaven 215 00:10:14,179 –> 00:10:16,520 than you have every realized. 216 00:10:16,520 –> 00:10:18,140 Don’t give up. 217 00:10:18,140 –> 00:10:21,280 So the gift of work, the gift of a marvelous promise, 218 00:10:21,280 –> 00:10:23,940 and then the gift of friendship. 219 00:10:23,940 –> 00:10:28,900 Verse 19, the focus of Elijah’s work in this last season 220 00:10:28,900 –> 00:10:30,940 is on finding others, 221 00:10:30,940 –> 00:10:33,419 and here’s this man who for so long 222 00:10:33,419 –> 00:10:34,739 has really worked on his own. 223 00:10:34,739 –> 00:10:36,500 He’s been very isolated. 224 00:10:36,500 –> 00:10:40,440 It’s often lonely work, and it certainly was for Elijah, 225 00:10:40,440 –> 00:10:43,099 but now in this season of his ministry, 226 00:10:43,099 –> 00:10:47,140 God gives to him the gift of a friend 227 00:10:47,140 –> 00:10:50,479 and of a partner in his ministry, 228 00:10:50,479 –> 00:10:53,140 and I’m sure that must’ve seemed quite strange to Elijah. 229 00:10:53,179 –> 00:10:55,440 The man is really used to working on his own, 230 00:10:55,440 –> 00:10:58,640 won’t find it easy to adjust to working with others, 231 00:10:58,640 –> 00:11:03,640 but it proved to be one of the great blessings of his life 232 00:11:04,359 –> 00:11:07,719 so that more was accomplished in the later era 233 00:11:07,719 –> 00:11:11,140 than had ever been accomplished before. 234 00:11:12,280 –> 00:11:14,359 Now, you may be saying, you’ve said that twice. 235 00:11:14,359 –> 00:11:15,380 Where are you getting this 236 00:11:15,380 –> 00:11:17,679 that more was accomplished in this last era? 237 00:11:18,719 –> 00:11:20,880 Well, would you turn over with me in your Bible 238 00:11:20,919 –> 00:11:24,960 a couple of pages to 2 Kings 2. 239 00:11:24,960 –> 00:11:26,739 2 Kings 2. 240 00:11:31,940 –> 00:11:36,479 And you will see there that we read about people, 241 00:11:36,479 –> 00:11:39,840 groups of people that we have not heard off before 242 00:11:39,840 –> 00:11:41,880 in the story of Elijah. 243 00:11:43,599 –> 00:11:48,320 Verse three, they go down to this town Bethel and verse three 244 00:11:48,400 –> 00:11:52,280 the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel 245 00:11:52,280 –> 00:11:53,719 came out to meet Elisha. 246 00:11:54,979 –> 00:11:57,859 Okay, look down at verse five and you read this. 247 00:11:57,859 –> 00:12:01,960 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho 248 00:12:01,960 –> 00:12:03,760 came out to meet Elisha. 249 00:12:04,919 –> 00:12:07,119 You read down to verse seven and you see this. 250 00:12:07,119 –> 00:12:12,119 50 men of the sons of the prophets also went 251 00:12:12,159 –> 00:12:17,159 as both Elijah and Elisha were standing by the Jordan. 252 00:12:17,960 –> 00:12:19,799 Now, suddenly this is very different 253 00:12:19,799 –> 00:12:21,859 from anything that we have seen before in the story. 254 00:12:21,859 –> 00:12:23,700 We’ve kept hearing Elijah say I, 255 00:12:23,700 –> 00:12:26,679 even I only am left and I’m the only one and so forth. 256 00:12:26,679 –> 00:12:29,880 Now we’re reading about these sons of the prophet. 257 00:12:30,960 –> 00:12:34,799 Whole communities of men who are committed 258 00:12:34,799 –> 00:12:37,679 to the proclamation of the word of God 259 00:12:37,679 –> 00:12:40,479 and they’re there in Bethel, and they’re there in Jericho, 260 00:12:40,479 –> 00:12:42,119 and they’re there by the Jordan. 261 00:12:43,960 –> 00:12:45,299 What is happening folks? 262 00:12:45,299 –> 00:12:50,299 God was raising up a new generation 263 00:12:50,400 –> 00:12:54,080 of men who would speak his word with clarity and with power. 264 00:12:54,080 –> 00:12:56,380 And that’s what came out of the last era 265 00:12:56,380 –> 00:12:58,659 of Elijah’s ministry. 266 00:12:59,700 –> 00:13:00,979 It’s wonderful. 267 00:13:02,400 –> 00:13:03,580 Different scene. 268 00:13:05,640 –> 00:13:08,460 Now, the Bible does not give us a timeline 269 00:13:08,460 –> 00:13:09,500 of Elijah’s life. 270 00:13:09,500 –> 00:13:11,239 We do not know for sure 271 00:13:11,239 –> 00:13:15,500 how long Elijah and Elisha served together 272 00:13:15,500 –> 00:13:16,859 before Elijah was taken. 273 00:13:16,859 –> 00:13:20,880 One writer speaks of a period of 10 years. 274 00:13:20,880 –> 00:13:23,960 We can’t know for sure, but if that was the case, 275 00:13:23,960 –> 00:13:27,020 it seems reasonable, therefore, to assume 276 00:13:27,020 –> 00:13:31,419 that Elijah and Elisha spent a decade or more 277 00:13:32,500 –> 00:13:37,500 raising up a new generation of godly leaders. 278 00:13:38,080 –> 00:13:40,239 And at the end of Elijah’s life, 279 00:13:40,239 –> 00:13:43,900 he is going round to these folks and he is exhorting them 280 00:13:43,900 –> 00:13:45,599 and he is saying goodbye to them, 281 00:13:47,280 –> 00:13:50,119 and the baton is being passed. 282 00:13:51,419 –> 00:13:55,020 And looking back with the perspective 283 00:13:55,020 –> 00:13:57,960 of the history of the Book of Kings, 284 00:13:58,960 –> 00:14:02,900 this proved to be the most fruitful contribution 285 00:14:02,900 –> 00:14:05,000 of all of Elijah’s ministry. 286 00:14:05,940 –> 00:14:07,940 From the top of Mount Carmel, 287 00:14:07,940 –> 00:14:10,460 he achieved less than he had hoped. 288 00:14:10,460 –> 00:14:12,140 But by the time he went to heaven, 289 00:14:12,140 –> 00:14:16,520 he had accomplished more than he had thought. 290 00:14:18,320 –> 00:14:20,979 Now friends, this is a marvelous vision, 291 00:14:22,340 –> 00:14:25,020 and it is one that we are already embracing 292 00:14:25,020 –> 00:14:27,020 here at The Orchard. 293 00:14:28,739 –> 00:14:31,020 You are already as a congregation, 294 00:14:31,020 –> 00:14:33,739 perhaps more than you know, 295 00:14:33,739 –> 00:14:37,159 pouring into the lives of younger leaders 296 00:14:37,159 –> 00:14:38,880 who are finding their feet 297 00:14:38,880 –> 00:14:42,500 in the ministry of the word of God. 298 00:14:43,979 –> 00:14:47,200 Preachers who proclaim the Bible 299 00:14:47,200 –> 00:14:51,440 will be birthed from congregations that love the Bible, 300 00:14:51,440 –> 00:14:52,280 right? 301 00:14:52,280 –> 00:14:55,039 And we are a congregation that loves the Bible, right? 302 00:14:55,039 –> 00:14:56,659 That’s an amen moment, by the way, isn’t it? 303 00:14:56,659 –> 00:14:57,500 Okay. 304 00:14:57,500 –> 00:15:01,200 We are a congregation that loves the Christ of the Bible 305 00:15:01,200 –> 00:15:03,119 and wants the Christ of the Bible 306 00:15:03,119 –> 00:15:07,859 to be exalted in every way and in every place. 307 00:15:07,859 –> 00:15:11,020 Now, preachers who proclaim the Bible 308 00:15:11,020 –> 00:15:13,340 and exalt the Christ of the Bible 309 00:15:13,340 –> 00:15:15,239 will be birthed from churches, 310 00:15:15,239 –> 00:15:18,159 from congregations that love the Bible 311 00:15:18,159 –> 00:15:20,440 and want to exalt the Christ of the Bible 312 00:15:20,440 –> 00:15:23,039 and have a passion that the scriptures 313 00:15:23,039 –> 00:15:24,359 and that the Christ of scripture 314 00:15:24,359 –> 00:15:26,400 should be at the center of the life of the church 315 00:15:26,400 –> 00:15:28,960 and deeply believe that that is what is renewing 316 00:15:28,960 –> 00:15:31,080 and what is defining for the church. 317 00:15:32,080 –> 00:15:35,640 There are many things that God is enabling 318 00:15:35,640 –> 00:15:37,760 the Orchard to do at this time, 319 00:15:39,000 –> 00:15:40,840 but I have a feeling myself 320 00:15:40,840 –> 00:15:44,440 that if someone were to look back 321 00:15:44,440 –> 00:15:47,200 50 or 100 years from now, 322 00:15:47,200 –> 00:15:49,020 if the Lord had not come by then, 323 00:15:50,799 –> 00:15:52,159 that they may take the view, 324 00:15:52,159 –> 00:15:54,760 as the Book of Kings clearly indicates to us here 325 00:15:54,760 –> 00:15:56,140 with regards to Elijah, 326 00:15:56,140 –> 00:15:58,400 that that would have been 327 00:15:58,400 –> 00:16:01,739 one of the most significant contributions 328 00:16:01,739 –> 00:16:03,140 that the church in our era 329 00:16:04,039 –> 00:16:06,059 had made to the advance of the Gospel 330 00:16:06,059 –> 00:16:08,539 here and around the world. 331 00:16:09,820 –> 00:16:11,599 And friends, just so you know, 332 00:16:11,599 –> 00:16:13,960 this is not kinda latching on an idea. 333 00:16:13,960 –> 00:16:18,080 As I see it, I speak personally here as a pastor. 334 00:16:18,080 –> 00:16:19,239 This is not an option. 335 00:16:19,239 –> 00:16:21,020 This is a biblical command. 336 00:16:22,200 –> 00:16:25,200 I’m thinking of 2 Timothy 2 and verse 2, 337 00:16:25,200 –> 00:16:27,000 which is a verse addressed to pastor. 338 00:16:27,000 –> 00:16:28,239 So it’s addressed to me. 339 00:16:29,239 –> 00:16:30,719 And so I feel a responsibility in regard to it. 340 00:16:30,719 –> 00:16:33,479 Paul says to Timothy who was a pastor, 341 00:16:33,479 –> 00:16:37,520 he says, Timothy, what you have heard from me, 342 00:16:37,520 –> 00:16:42,520 in trust to faithful men who will teach others. 343 00:16:44,460 –> 00:16:46,599 So this passion, as you folks know already, 344 00:16:46,599 –> 00:16:48,960 because I’ve spoken about it at different times before. 345 00:16:48,960 –> 00:16:49,840 I speak about it today 346 00:16:49,840 –> 00:16:52,479 just because it obviously arises from the scripture, 347 00:16:52,479 –> 00:16:54,179 how could you not speak about it today 348 00:16:54,179 –> 00:16:56,719 because this is what the Bible here is about. 349 00:16:56,880 –> 00:17:00,260 This passion runs deep and strong in my own heart. 350 00:17:02,099 –> 00:17:05,380 And I invite you to be joining me in this prayer. 351 00:17:05,380 –> 00:17:10,380 Lord, make us useful in raising up sons of the prophets 352 00:17:12,500 –> 00:17:16,939 who will speak your word with clarity and with power 353 00:17:16,939 –> 00:17:19,339 and we’ll be doing it in the greater Chicago area 354 00:17:19,339 –> 00:17:21,979 and around the world over this next generation. 355 00:17:21,979 –> 00:17:26,380 Make us a church that because we love the Bible 356 00:17:26,380 –> 00:17:29,739 and the Christ of the Bible births 357 00:17:30,800 –> 00:17:33,800 those who will proclaim the Bible 358 00:17:33,800 –> 00:17:37,479 and the Christ of the Bible. 359 00:17:37,479 –> 00:17:41,219 That’s worth extending ourselves for. 360 00:17:42,880 –> 00:17:44,040 It’s a wonderful thing. 361 00:17:45,000 –> 00:17:48,560 So here are the godly leaders last years. 362 00:17:50,560 –> 00:17:55,560 And it was the most fruitful era of his life, wonderful. 363 00:17:56,719 –> 00:17:58,760 Those of you who are mid-life and beyond, 364 00:17:58,760 –> 00:18:00,280 perhaps this will prove true view 365 00:18:00,280 –> 00:18:02,099 as you pour into the lives of others, 366 00:18:03,160 –> 00:18:04,719 that your most useful years 367 00:18:04,719 –> 00:18:06,540 and your longest lasting contribution 368 00:18:06,540 –> 00:18:08,599 will not be what you thought it would be, 369 00:18:09,959 –> 00:18:11,400 but is something that God 370 00:18:11,400 –> 00:18:15,640 will bless more than you ever imagined, wonderful. 371 00:18:15,640 –> 00:18:18,599 Second, a godly leaders last day. 372 00:18:18,599 –> 00:18:20,560 Staying in 2 Kings and chapter two 373 00:18:20,560 –> 00:18:23,760 and moving the camera in a little more here, 374 00:18:23,819 –> 00:18:26,839 we have this description that we’re given here 375 00:18:26,839 –> 00:18:31,000 of Elijah’s last day on the earth 376 00:18:31,000 –> 00:18:34,119 before he’s taken up into the presence of the Lord. 377 00:18:34,119 –> 00:18:36,380 And what an amazing day it was. 378 00:18:37,959 –> 00:18:40,079 Verse one, when the Lord was about 379 00:18:40,079 –> 00:18:43,760 to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, 380 00:18:43,760 –> 00:18:48,300 Elijah and Elijah were on their way to Gilgal. 381 00:18:48,300 –> 00:18:50,680 Now of course, Elijah was one of only two people 382 00:18:50,680 –> 00:18:52,040 who went from earth to heaven 383 00:18:52,040 –> 00:18:53,839 without passing through death. 384 00:18:53,839 –> 00:18:55,640 The other one, of course, was Enoch, 385 00:18:55,640 –> 00:19:00,640 who walked with God and he was not because God took him. 386 00:19:00,760 –> 00:19:02,760 And so here, think of this. 387 00:19:02,760 –> 00:19:05,300 He’s on earth, and he goes to heaven, 388 00:19:05,300 –> 00:19:07,319 and he doesn’t pass through death. 389 00:19:07,319 –> 00:19:08,900 He’s just caught up in the swirlwind 390 00:19:08,900 –> 00:19:10,979 and taken directly there, amazing. 391 00:19:12,079 –> 00:19:14,880 What this means is that on the last day of his lifetime, 392 00:19:14,880 –> 00:19:16,060 he was actually quite vigorous, 393 00:19:16,060 –> 00:19:18,020 quite healthy and quite strong. 394 00:19:19,319 –> 00:19:21,939 For us, what happens is that we gradually 395 00:19:22,020 –> 00:19:24,420 lose strength over a period of time 396 00:19:24,420 –> 00:19:26,099 until we’re no longer able to continue 397 00:19:26,099 –> 00:19:28,699 in this life, and then Christ takes us. 398 00:19:28,699 –> 00:19:31,099 But he was taken at a moment where he was 399 00:19:31,099 –> 00:19:32,819 vigorous and where he was strong, 400 00:19:32,819 –> 00:19:35,339 and it seems that he knew that this was the day 401 00:19:35,339 –> 00:19:36,439 when he was going to be taken. 402 00:19:36,439 –> 00:19:38,380 Certainly Elisha knew that and certainly 403 00:19:38,380 –> 00:19:40,660 the sons of the prophets also knew that 404 00:19:40,660 –> 00:19:42,699 from what we are told here. 405 00:19:42,699 –> 00:19:46,339 And so he used his last day 406 00:19:46,339 –> 00:19:49,140 to make this sort of farewell tour 407 00:19:49,160 –> 00:19:52,619 in which he visited the sons of the prophets 408 00:19:52,619 –> 00:19:55,780 at these various locations before he crosses 409 00:19:55,780 –> 00:19:57,260 the Jordan River. 410 00:19:57,260 –> 00:19:58,699 The geography is fascinating, 411 00:19:58,699 –> 00:20:02,579 Elijah must have traveled between 25 and 30 miles 412 00:20:02,579 –> 00:20:04,660 in this trip, and I have no doubt that he preached 413 00:20:04,660 –> 00:20:06,579 a message at each of these locations 414 00:20:06,579 –> 00:20:10,900 so it was quite a vigorous and strenuous last day 415 00:20:10,900 –> 00:20:14,300 before he went into the presence of the Lord. 416 00:20:15,540 –> 00:20:18,900 Now I just want to pause here for a moment and say this. 417 00:20:18,939 –> 00:20:22,859 What a marvelous thing it is that this man 418 00:20:22,859 –> 00:20:27,199 did not spend his last day on earth making peace with God. 419 00:20:28,380 –> 00:20:30,760 He did not spend his last day on earth 420 00:20:30,760 –> 00:20:35,760 making peace with God because he already had peace with God. 421 00:20:36,880 –> 00:20:41,880 Being justified by faith, we have peace with God 422 00:20:43,520 –> 00:20:47,079 through our Lord Jesus Christ, and on the day that you die, 423 00:20:47,119 –> 00:20:49,420 there’s nothing to be added to that anymore 424 00:20:49,420 –> 00:20:51,160 than there’s anything that you could add to that 425 00:20:51,160 –> 00:20:54,959 on any other day of your life, that’s your security. 426 00:20:54,959 –> 00:20:58,000 There is therefore now no condemnation 427 00:20:58,000 –> 00:21:00,119 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 428 00:21:00,119 –> 00:21:02,500 He knows this when the day of departure comes. 429 00:21:02,500 –> 00:21:05,640 Elijah does not go into some kind of panic 430 00:21:05,640 –> 00:21:08,119 and neither will you if you truly are Christ. 431 00:21:09,140 –> 00:21:14,140 He is peace with God, he stands in grace, 432 00:21:14,439 –> 00:21:17,640 he looks ahead to the hope of glory, 433 00:21:17,640 –> 00:21:19,199 he says I got one more day left, 434 00:21:19,199 –> 00:21:20,660 what’s the best thing I can do with it? 435 00:21:20,660 –> 00:21:23,939 Let’s spend the day saying goodbye to the people I love. 436 00:21:23,939 –> 00:21:25,180 Isn’t that marvelous? 437 00:21:27,420 –> 00:21:29,979 Do you know that you have peace with God today? 438 00:21:31,500 –> 00:21:35,900 Can you say today, I have peace with God, 439 00:21:35,900 –> 00:21:40,660 it is right between me and God, right now, 440 00:21:40,660 –> 00:21:45,520 through Jesus Christ who is my Lord and is my Savior. 441 00:21:47,739 –> 00:21:49,060 Well, whether that day comes now 442 00:21:49,060 –> 00:21:51,400 or whether it comes years from now 443 00:21:51,400 –> 00:21:53,699 there’s nothing that you can ever add to that. 444 00:21:55,300 –> 00:21:56,780 If that is not yet true of you, 445 00:21:56,780 –> 00:21:59,540 I urge you not to wait till the end of the sermon. 446 00:22:01,500 –> 00:22:02,900 You say, right now from your heart, 447 00:22:02,900 –> 00:22:05,439 Lord Jesus Christ I need you as my Savior now, 448 00:22:05,439 –> 00:22:08,219 I need the forgiveness that comes from your cross right now, 449 00:22:08,319 –> 00:22:10,239 I need to be your person right now, 450 00:22:10,239 –> 00:22:12,819 I need to embrace you as Lord as you embrace me, 451 00:22:12,819 –> 00:22:14,560 I need to let go of the sins 452 00:22:14,560 –> 00:22:17,439 and the double life I’ve been hanging onto right now. 453 00:22:17,439 –> 00:22:19,599 I want to be at peace with you now, 454 00:22:19,599 –> 00:22:22,260 don’t leave it to the last day of your life. 455 00:22:22,260 –> 00:22:23,859 You don’t know when that will be. 456 00:22:25,900 –> 00:22:28,839 So here is this man who has peace with God 457 00:22:28,839 –> 00:22:30,520 and what a wonderful picture this is. 458 00:22:30,520 –> 00:22:32,420 He says, now, I’m gonna be with the Lord, 459 00:22:32,420 –> 00:22:34,760 I wanna now say goodbye to my friends, 460 00:22:34,760 –> 00:22:36,660 I want to encourage others 461 00:22:36,660 –> 00:22:38,119 who are going to continue the work 462 00:22:39,020 –> 00:22:40,239 that God has given me to do 463 00:22:40,239 –> 00:22:42,500 and they’re gonna be more fruitful than I have ever been, 464 00:22:42,500 –> 00:22:43,959 so I wanna encourage them to be faithful 465 00:22:43,959 –> 00:22:47,199 and we’re told here that the day begins in Gilgal. 466 00:22:47,199 –> 00:22:49,619 Elijah was going to Bethel, 467 00:22:49,619 –> 00:22:52,719 which is 10 miles west over the mountains. 468 00:22:52,719 –> 00:22:54,579 this is quite a journey, really, 469 00:22:54,579 –> 00:22:57,119 and he says to Elisha, stay here. 470 00:22:57,119 –> 00:22:59,380 Well, if you were Elisha, would you have left him? 471 00:22:59,380 –> 00:23:00,500 Not a chance. 472 00:23:00,500 –> 00:23:02,579 I got one more day with a great man, 473 00:23:02,579 –> 00:23:05,400 I’m gonna stick close to him every minute of the day. 474 00:23:05,400 –> 00:23:06,819 I’m coming with you, Elijah. 475 00:23:07,000 –> 00:23:08,500 I got a 100,000 questions 476 00:23:08,500 –> 00:23:11,280 I gotta get packed into this day before you go. 477 00:23:11,280 –> 00:23:12,780 Isn’t that how you would feel? 478 00:23:12,780 –> 00:23:14,380 I know this is how I would feel. 479 00:23:15,579 –> 00:23:18,060 Elisha’s like a sponge, like a leech, 480 00:23:18,060 –> 00:23:19,420 hanging on to him and saying, 481 00:23:19,420 –> 00:23:21,619 I want every minute that I can with you 482 00:23:21,619 –> 00:23:23,219 and rightly so as well. 483 00:23:23,219 –> 00:23:24,859 So they go to Bethel 484 00:23:24,859 –> 00:23:26,479 and the sons of the prophets there 485 00:23:26,479 –> 00:23:28,719 also knew that this was Elijah’s last day. 486 00:23:28,719 –> 00:23:31,160 They’re prophets, God had evidently revealed this to them 487 00:23:31,160 –> 00:23:34,020 and so verse three, one of them says to Elisha, 488 00:23:34,319 –> 00:23:36,619 do you know that today 489 00:23:36,619 –> 00:23:40,199 the Lord will take away your master from you? 490 00:23:40,199 –> 00:23:41,400 And I just love this, 491 00:23:41,400 –> 00:23:46,000 Elisha says, yes, I know it, now keep quiet. 492 00:23:46,000 –> 00:23:47,199 I love that. 493 00:23:47,199 –> 00:23:48,199 I love that. 494 00:23:48,199 –> 00:23:50,959 He says, look, I know it’s the last day 495 00:23:50,959 –> 00:23:51,959 I got with a great man 496 00:23:51,959 –> 00:23:53,719 and I don’t need you to keep reminding me. 497 00:23:53,719 –> 00:23:54,920 Let me enjoy it. 498 00:23:54,920 –> 00:23:56,119 Let me enjoy it. 499 00:23:57,119 –> 00:23:59,719 And it’s a wonderful touch. 500 00:23:59,719 –> 00:24:02,160 And there will be people in your life 501 00:24:02,160 –> 00:24:05,199 and you can’t imagine your life without them. 502 00:24:06,260 –> 00:24:10,280 And Elisha, I’m sure cannot imagine ministry life 503 00:24:10,280 –> 00:24:13,040 without Elijah, who’s been his best friend 504 00:24:13,040 –> 00:24:15,420 and his mentor and has taught him so much. 505 00:24:15,420 –> 00:24:18,520 Learn everything you can 506 00:24:18,520 –> 00:24:21,920 from older godly people while you have them. 507 00:24:21,920 –> 00:24:24,359 I say to everyone who’s younger in the congregation, 508 00:24:24,359 –> 00:24:27,719 cherish every senior Christian 509 00:24:27,719 –> 00:24:29,880 who has walked with God for years 510 00:24:29,880 –> 00:24:32,640 and use every opportunity that you have 511 00:24:32,640 –> 00:24:35,479 to gain the benefit of their wisdom. 512 00:24:35,479 –> 00:24:38,199 Let’s treasure that for as long as we have 513 00:24:38,199 –> 00:24:40,800 everyone who truly walks with God. 514 00:24:40,800 –> 00:24:42,640 They are gifts to the church 515 00:24:42,640 –> 00:24:44,619 and this church is replete with them. 516 00:24:47,040 –> 00:24:49,400 Then Elijah goes on to Jericho. 517 00:24:49,400 –> 00:24:54,400 That’s 10 miles back in the opposite direction to the east 518 00:24:54,819 –> 00:24:59,140 and he meets with another cohort of these younger men. 519 00:24:59,180 –> 00:25:02,040 What a marvelous day this must’ve been for Elijah. 520 00:25:02,040 –> 00:25:04,280 Must’ve been pretty exhausted after all this travel. 521 00:25:04,280 –> 00:25:06,540 Now he comes, no doubt, preaches another sermon. 522 00:25:06,540 –> 00:25:09,119 Stay faithful, the God who was with me will be with you 523 00:25:09,119 –> 00:25:10,540 and so forth and so on. 524 00:25:10,540 –> 00:25:12,780 Here’s the man who’s been saying half his life, 525 00:25:12,780 –> 00:25:16,640 I even I only am left, and look at what’s happening now. 526 00:25:16,640 –> 00:25:20,540 He’s leaving behind a generation of godly leaders 527 00:25:20,540 –> 00:25:22,420 who speak the truth of the word of God 528 00:25:22,420 –> 00:25:25,119 with clarity and power, and they’re there in Bethel 529 00:25:25,119 –> 00:25:27,219 and they’re there in Jericho, and they’re there in Gilgal, 530 00:25:27,400 –> 00:25:28,579 and they’re there by the Jordan, 531 00:25:28,579 –> 00:25:30,660 and God has multiplied ministry 532 00:25:30,660 –> 00:25:32,599 through this new generation of men. 533 00:25:34,319 –> 00:25:39,319 So the last years leading to the joys of the last day. 534 00:25:42,339 –> 00:25:44,219 One day, what a day it was. 535 00:25:45,900 –> 00:25:48,500 And now let’s zoom in even more closely. 536 00:25:48,500 –> 00:25:52,719 I want us to see together the last moments, 537 00:25:52,719 –> 00:25:55,160 the last moments. 538 00:25:56,099 –> 00:26:00,599 Verse 11, as they went on and talked, 539 00:26:00,599 –> 00:26:05,599 behold chariots of fire and horses of fire 540 00:26:06,459 –> 00:26:09,900 separated the two of them, that’s Elijah and Elisha. 541 00:26:09,900 –> 00:26:11,979 Here’s the separation coming, 542 00:26:11,979 –> 00:26:16,979 and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 543 00:26:20,260 –> 00:26:22,599 What an amazing scene. 544 00:26:23,060 –> 00:26:27,979 One of only two men who goes from earth to heaven 545 00:26:27,979 –> 00:26:30,260 without going through death. 546 00:26:31,959 –> 00:26:36,739 Now, the angels in the Bible are described 547 00:26:36,739 –> 00:26:41,739 as chariots of God, in Psalm 68. 548 00:26:43,219 –> 00:26:45,380 They’re also described in Hebrews chapter one 549 00:26:45,380 –> 00:26:49,900 as winds and as flames of fire. 550 00:26:50,760 –> 00:26:53,920 So when you read about chariots 551 00:26:53,920 –> 00:26:55,479 and when you read about flames 552 00:26:55,479 –> 00:26:58,880 and when you read about whirlwind, 553 00:26:58,880 –> 00:27:02,920 you know for sure that the angels 554 00:27:02,920 –> 00:27:05,119 who are normally invisible to us 555 00:27:05,119 –> 00:27:09,040 are here being made visible to Elijah and to Elisha 556 00:27:09,040 –> 00:27:11,520 and that stooping down, 557 00:27:11,520 –> 00:27:14,000 they are lifting the servant of God 558 00:27:14,000 –> 00:27:18,160 up into the presence of his master. 559 00:27:18,199 –> 00:27:21,880 It is a beautiful and a wonderful picture. 560 00:27:21,880 –> 00:27:25,839 And of course, this is the story in the Bible 561 00:27:25,839 –> 00:27:30,839 that gave rise to the song that is so widely-known, 562 00:27:31,000 –> 00:27:33,239 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. 563 00:27:33,239 –> 00:27:34,359 You know that song? 564 00:27:34,359 –> 00:27:36,140 Come in for to carry me home? 565 00:27:36,140 –> 00:27:37,839 Well, this is exactly where it comes from, 566 00:27:37,839 –> 00:27:39,119 and if you hear it sung, 567 00:27:39,119 –> 00:27:40,439 you might like to bring up this story 568 00:27:40,439 –> 00:27:43,079 and get the conversation into the Bible. 569 00:27:43,079 –> 00:27:44,060 Remember what it says. 570 00:27:44,060 –> 00:27:46,920 I looked over Jordan and what did I see? 571 00:27:46,979 –> 00:27:48,859 Come in for to carry me home, 572 00:27:48,859 –> 00:27:53,859 a band of angels coming after me. 573 00:27:54,020 –> 00:27:56,000 They’re coming for to carry me home. 574 00:27:56,000 –> 00:27:57,939 So swing low, sweet chariot, 575 00:27:57,939 –> 00:28:02,579 coming for to carry me home. 576 00:28:04,339 –> 00:28:07,219 Well, this is a remarkable miracle, obviously, 577 00:28:07,219 –> 00:28:09,579 and the question then is, 578 00:28:09,579 –> 00:28:12,800 but how does it speak to us today? 579 00:28:12,800 –> 00:28:15,660 A faithful preacher has the responsibility 580 00:28:15,660 –> 00:28:17,239 always to ask two questions. 581 00:28:17,239 –> 00:28:19,920 One is, how does this relate to Jesus? 582 00:28:19,920 –> 00:28:22,339 And the other is, how does it relate to us? 583 00:28:23,719 –> 00:28:26,800 And when Christ returns, 584 00:28:26,800 –> 00:28:28,560 we know that those who are alive 585 00:28:28,560 –> 00:28:31,119 will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 586 00:28:32,400 –> 00:28:35,239 We can draw that line of connection for sure. 587 00:28:35,239 –> 00:28:37,920 We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 588 00:28:37,920 –> 00:28:39,079 the New Testament says. 589 00:28:39,079 –> 00:28:41,540 And some of us, perhaps all of us, 590 00:28:41,540 –> 00:28:43,339 may be among these people. 591 00:28:44,239 –> 00:28:46,339 But having said that, 592 00:28:46,339 –> 00:28:48,900 and with that glorious hope ahead of the church, 593 00:28:48,900 –> 00:28:52,520 it remains true that the vast majority of Christians 594 00:28:52,520 –> 00:28:56,060 go from earth to heaven through death, 595 00:28:57,140 –> 00:29:00,619 all of us do until the day of the Lord’s return. 596 00:29:01,579 –> 00:29:04,420 So the question remains, how then does this passage 597 00:29:04,420 –> 00:29:07,400 that seems to describe something absolutely unique 598 00:29:07,400 –> 00:29:10,339 then speak to us? 599 00:29:11,300 –> 00:29:13,979 I pondered this long this week 600 00:29:13,979 –> 00:29:17,380 and found great joy in doing so. 601 00:29:17,380 –> 00:29:19,380 So let me draw your attention to this, 602 00:29:19,380 –> 00:29:23,140 that before Elijah was swept up by the angels, 603 00:29:24,140 –> 00:29:28,239 we are told very significantly that he crossed the Jordan. 604 00:29:29,459 –> 00:29:30,300 Verse eight. 605 00:29:30,300 –> 00:29:34,619 Elijah took his cloak, he’s by the Jordan River, 606 00:29:34,619 –> 00:29:37,979 and he rolled it up and he struck the water 607 00:29:38,000 –> 00:29:42,420 and the water was parted to the one side and to the other 608 00:29:42,420 –> 00:29:46,900 until the two of them could go over on dry ground. 609 00:29:48,219 –> 00:29:49,739 Now you see the significance of this? 610 00:29:49,739 –> 00:29:51,300 Back in the time of Joshua, 611 00:29:51,300 –> 00:29:53,979 when God’s people came into the promised land. 612 00:29:53,979 –> 00:29:56,180 They were coming from the east. 613 00:29:56,180 –> 00:29:59,040 Similarly, the Jordan River was parted 614 00:29:59,040 –> 00:30:00,180 at the time of Joshua. 615 00:30:00,180 –> 00:30:02,979 God did that miracle to bring them into the land 616 00:30:02,979 –> 00:30:05,180 flowing with milk and honey. 617 00:30:05,180 –> 00:30:07,979 But now Elijah is crossing in the opposite direction. 618 00:30:07,979 –> 00:30:10,699 He’s going out, very significant. 619 00:30:10,699 –> 00:30:11,540 He’s going out, 620 00:30:11,540 –> 00:30:14,859 and again God opens the river to give him a safe passage 621 00:30:14,859 –> 00:30:18,140 as he goes out from the earthly Canaan 622 00:30:18,140 –> 00:30:21,619 and towards the Canaan that is above 623 00:30:21,619 –> 00:30:25,739 into the presence of Christ in heaven itself. 624 00:30:25,739 –> 00:30:30,000 Now, you all know that the River Jordan 625 00:30:30,000 –> 00:30:34,140 is often used as a symbol of death, 626 00:30:34,140 –> 00:30:35,979 and that is very familiar to us, 627 00:30:35,979 –> 00:30:37,959 and it’s very relevant here. 628 00:30:37,959 –> 00:30:39,760 We sing these words. 629 00:30:39,760 –> 00:30:44,760 When I tread the verge of Jordan, 630 00:30:44,819 –> 00:30:47,699 bid my anxious fears subside. 631 00:30:47,699 –> 00:30:50,000 Death of death and hell’s destruction, 632 00:30:50,000 –> 00:30:52,560 land me safe on Canaan’s side, 633 00:30:52,560 –> 00:30:55,300 a reference of course there to heaven itself. 634 00:30:55,300 –> 00:30:59,540 That’s a way in which we speak about death, 635 00:30:59,540 –> 00:31:00,819 the verge of Jordan. 636 00:31:00,819 –> 00:31:03,060 Now look at what is happening here. 637 00:31:03,979 –> 00:31:05,959 God has parted the Jordan 638 00:31:07,020 –> 00:31:10,140 to give His people a safe passage 639 00:31:10,140 –> 00:31:14,839 into the Canaan that is above, 640 00:31:14,839 –> 00:31:17,140 and Elijah walks through, 641 00:31:17,140 –> 00:31:20,660 and wonderfully, Elisha walks behind him. 642 00:31:20,660 –> 00:31:23,339 It’s not, of course, Elisha’s time to go, 643 00:31:23,339 –> 00:31:26,079 but he is being reminded in this wonderful event 644 00:31:26,079 –> 00:31:27,520 that when his time comes, 645 00:31:27,520 –> 00:31:30,479 he will be as safe as Elijah was. 646 00:31:30,479 –> 00:31:32,040 What a glorious picture that is 647 00:31:32,079 –> 00:31:33,839 of pointing us to Jesus Christ, 648 00:31:33,839 –> 00:31:37,839 who, by going through death Himself, 649 00:31:37,839 –> 00:31:40,319 by passing through these waters Himself, 650 00:31:40,319 –> 00:31:42,959 has made a safe passage through these waters 651 00:31:42,959 –> 00:31:44,479 for all who follow Him, 652 00:31:44,479 –> 00:31:48,339 just like Elisha followed Elijah. 653 00:31:48,339 –> 00:31:49,920 That is why, as Christian believers, 654 00:31:49,920 –> 00:31:54,040 we can say, for me, let it be Christ. 655 00:31:54,040 –> 00:31:56,680 I want for Christ to live. 656 00:31:57,599 –> 00:32:00,939 When Jordan above me shall roll, 657 00:32:00,939 –> 00:32:03,040 there’s the image of death, 658 00:32:03,040 –> 00:32:06,719 when Jordan above me shall roll no Pang shall be mine, 659 00:32:06,719 –> 00:32:08,180 for in death as in life, 660 00:32:08,180 –> 00:32:12,739 you will whisper your peace to my soul. 661 00:32:12,739 –> 00:32:16,000 Even when the waters of death close over me, 662 00:32:16,000 –> 00:32:19,719 I will be given a safe passage because of Jesus Christ 663 00:32:19,719 –> 00:32:21,000 who has made this passage safe. 664 00:32:21,000 –> 00:32:24,380 I will go through, I will not end here, 665 00:32:24,380 –> 00:32:26,060 I will not be submerged here, 666 00:32:26,060 –> 00:32:28,180 I will go through, I will be taken through 667 00:32:28,180 –> 00:32:31,380 these waters even of death. 668 00:32:31,380 –> 00:32:34,660 Now, put these things together and see this. 669 00:32:36,660 –> 00:32:40,219 Elijah goes through the Jordan 670 00:32:41,640 –> 00:32:46,640 and then is lifted up into the presence of God, 671 00:32:48,939 –> 00:32:53,939 put these two together and you have the perfect picture 672 00:32:54,680 –> 00:32:58,319 of what will happen to every believer, 673 00:32:58,319 –> 00:33:03,060 what will happen to you one day, if you are in Jesus Christ. 674 00:33:03,060 –> 00:33:04,699 What is death for a Christian? 675 00:33:05,579 –> 00:33:08,540 It is to pass safely through the Jordan 676 00:33:08,540 –> 00:33:12,739 and to be lifted up into the presence of God. 677 00:33:12,739 –> 00:33:14,459 Here’s death for a Christian friends. 678 00:33:14,459 –> 00:33:17,739 It is through and up, that’s what it is, 679 00:33:17,739 –> 00:33:22,739 through and up, through death made safe by Jesus Christ, 680 00:33:24,300 –> 00:33:29,300 and up into the presence of Almighty God, 681 00:33:29,540 –> 00:33:33,060 through and up, through and up. 682 00:33:33,060 –> 00:33:35,180 And one day that will be the path 683 00:33:35,180 –> 00:33:38,699 in which the Lord Jesus Christ leads you 684 00:33:38,699 –> 00:33:43,599 as safely as he led Elijah. 685 00:33:45,680 –> 00:33:50,680 His last years, his last day, his last moment. 686 00:33:51,400 –> 00:33:52,099 His last moments. 687 00:33:54,880 –> 00:33:58,640 And finally, I just want to end the series here, 688 00:33:58,640 –> 00:34:00,140 a kind of post script. 689 00:34:01,760 –> 00:34:06,760 I want you to notice the Godly successors first steps, 690 00:34:08,500 –> 00:34:12,280 because it may be some years until some 691 00:34:12,280 –> 00:34:15,020 are called into the presence of Christ 692 00:34:15,020 –> 00:34:19,899 and there is much, much, much work for you to be doing 693 00:34:19,899 –> 00:34:22,360 between now and that day. 694 00:34:22,360 –> 00:34:24,679 Put yourself then in the shoes of young Elisha 695 00:34:26,080 –> 00:34:27,560 and the great man’s gone. 696 00:34:29,000 –> 00:34:31,800 And what in the world is he gonna do now? 697 00:34:33,600 –> 00:34:34,719 And do you notice what he does? 698 00:34:34,719 –> 00:34:36,399 Do verse 12, the first thing he does 699 00:34:36,399 –> 00:34:38,399 is he just tears his clothes 700 00:34:38,399 –> 00:34:39,580 and you know what that is, 701 00:34:39,580 –> 00:34:41,600 it’s an Eastern expression of grief 702 00:34:41,600 –> 00:34:43,860 and it’s a very intense expression of grief. 703 00:34:43,860 –> 00:34:45,860 He rips his own clothes 704 00:34:46,040 –> 00:34:50,040 and I have no doubt that the tears would’ve flowed. 705 00:34:51,439 –> 00:34:53,260 Spurgeon has this beautiful comment, 706 00:34:53,260 –> 00:34:54,100 he says, 707 00:34:54,100 –> 00:34:59,080 Jesus wept and you could not be like Jesus 708 00:34:59,080 –> 00:35:00,979 unless you wept too. 709 00:35:02,060 –> 00:35:04,080 So never be ashamed of the tears 710 00:35:05,080 –> 00:35:07,699 at the loss of someone you dearly love. 711 00:35:07,699 –> 00:35:08,520 Huge hole. 712 00:35:09,600 –> 00:35:11,760 Jesus wept and you could not be like Jesus 713 00:35:11,760 –> 00:35:12,879 unless you wept too. 714 00:35:13,399 –> 00:35:17,120 But what do you do after the grieving? 715 00:35:17,120 –> 00:35:18,780 What do you do after the weeping? 716 00:35:20,300 –> 00:35:23,080 Notice what happens next, verse 13. 717 00:35:23,080 –> 00:35:26,879 He took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him. 718 00:35:29,040 –> 00:35:32,080 Here’s this man and his mentor, his friend, 719 00:35:32,080 –> 00:35:33,760 the one who’s been the center of his world 720 00:35:33,760 –> 00:35:36,820 has been taken up into the presence of the Lord 721 00:35:36,820 –> 00:35:38,600 and what is he to do now? 722 00:35:38,600 –> 00:35:40,639 How can he move forward from here? 723 00:35:40,659 –> 00:35:43,280 And his first instinct has been to tear his clothes, 724 00:35:43,280 –> 00:35:46,879 he’s been weeping and eventually he dries his eyes 725 00:35:46,879 –> 00:35:48,260 and what do I do now? 726 00:35:51,000 –> 00:35:52,719 And they’re right in front of him. 727 00:35:54,399 –> 00:35:57,639 There’s this cloak on the ground 728 00:35:58,739 –> 00:36:01,080 and the Bible tells us quite specifically what has happened. 729 00:36:01,080 –> 00:36:03,679 Elijah’s been taken up into the presence of the Lord, 730 00:36:03,679 –> 00:36:05,239 he’s not gonna need his cloak anymore, 731 00:36:05,239 –> 00:36:07,479 his work is done and as he goes up to Heaven, 732 00:36:07,479 –> 00:36:09,580 the thing floats down from the sky 733 00:36:09,600 –> 00:36:11,879 and lands right in front of Elisha on the ground. 734 00:36:11,879 –> 00:36:14,040 This is the cloak that Elijah had put on 735 00:36:14,040 –> 00:36:16,199 Elisha’s shoulders when he called him. 736 00:36:18,699 –> 00:36:21,379 And Elisha then takes up the cloak 737 00:36:23,280 –> 00:36:24,340 and he puts it on. 738 00:36:25,659 –> 00:36:28,719 The right response after you have grieved the loss 739 00:36:28,719 –> 00:36:31,479 of a Godly person is to carry on the path 740 00:36:31,479 –> 00:36:32,760 in which they walked. 741 00:36:33,899 –> 00:36:35,159 Were they humble? 742 00:36:35,159 –> 00:36:36,760 You be humble now too. 743 00:36:36,760 –> 00:36:37,739 Did they pray? 744 00:36:37,739 –> 00:36:39,739 You give yourself to prayer now too. 745 00:36:42,100 –> 00:36:43,739 Did they engage in some great work? 746 00:36:43,739 –> 00:36:45,780 Are you able to continue that work? 747 00:36:45,780 –> 00:36:47,620 If you’re not, are you able to encourage 748 00:36:47,620 –> 00:36:48,860 someone else who can? 749 00:36:50,239 –> 00:36:52,500 The right response after you have grieved the loss 750 00:36:52,500 –> 00:36:55,919 of a Godly person is to carry on in the path 751 00:36:55,919 –> 00:36:58,300 that they had walked. 752 00:36:59,459 –> 00:37:00,939 And don’t you just love this picture 753 00:37:00,939 –> 00:37:03,620 of this cloak coming floating down? 754 00:37:03,620 –> 00:37:05,800 As Elijah goes up, the thing falls off 755 00:37:06,780 –> 00:37:09,320 and it lies there on the ground. 756 00:37:09,320 –> 00:37:11,340 Doesn’t that make you think of another scene 757 00:37:11,340 –> 00:37:15,120 where the disciples are so grieving Jesus 758 00:37:15,120 –> 00:37:19,080 as he’s taken from them into the presence 759 00:37:19,080 –> 00:37:20,199 of the Father in Heaven. 760 00:37:20,199 –> 00:37:24,280 He ascends, oh what are we gonna do without Jesus? 761 00:37:24,280 –> 00:37:25,439 We’ve had Him right next to us. 762 00:37:25,439 –> 00:37:28,800 We could ask Him questions any day in the last three years 763 00:37:28,800 –> 00:37:30,879 and now He’s up at the right hand of the Father. 764 00:37:30,879 –> 00:37:33,560 Oh, we’re glad about that, but what are we gonna do? 765 00:37:33,560 –> 00:37:35,060 What are we gonna do? 766 00:37:35,100 –> 00:37:38,719 And a few days later, what happens? 767 00:37:38,719 –> 00:37:41,840 The day of Pentecost, remember what Jesus said? 768 00:37:43,419 –> 00:37:46,659 The holy spirit comes and here’s how Jesus describes it, 769 00:37:46,659 –> 00:37:51,560 you will be clothed with power. 770 00:37:52,860 –> 00:37:57,860 The cloak of Christ, the spirit of Christ, 771 00:37:58,080 –> 00:38:00,600 the presence of Christ will rest upon you 772 00:38:01,459 –> 00:38:04,419 so that you are able to do the work of the Master 773 00:38:04,459 –> 00:38:09,459 in the power of his spirit that rests on you. 774 00:38:11,760 –> 00:38:13,959 So Elisha takes his first step 775 00:38:13,959 –> 00:38:16,399 into a whole new era of life. 776 00:38:16,399 –> 00:38:18,939 He casts the cloak down at the Jordan 777 00:38:18,939 –> 00:38:23,080 and God marvelously confirms his presence 778 00:38:23,080 –> 00:38:26,379 with Elisha by doing precisely the same miracle 779 00:38:26,379 –> 00:38:30,340 as Elijah had seen happen on the way out. 780 00:38:30,340 –> 00:38:32,699 And I just love the fact that he asks this question. 781 00:38:32,840 –> 00:38:36,300 And he doesn’t say, where is Elijah? 782 00:38:36,300 –> 00:38:38,739 He says, where is the god of Elijah? 783 00:38:40,040 –> 00:38:44,719 And the answer is, Elijah of course is gone, 784 00:38:44,719 –> 00:38:49,139 but the god of Elijah is right here with you Elisha 785 00:38:49,139 –> 00:38:53,100 and he will never leave you, and he will never forsake you, 786 00:38:53,100 –> 00:38:58,100 and that is the promise of God also to you. 787 00:38:58,639 –> 00:39:03,639 Father, help us especially who are older to end well. 788 00:39:09,080 –> 00:39:13,899 Help us especially who are younger to follow well. 789 00:39:16,179 –> 00:39:19,739 Help us as a church, we pray in your mercy, 790 00:39:20,639 –> 00:39:25,639 to see the multiplying fruit that we have glimpsed 791 00:39:25,820 –> 00:39:27,500 in the scriptures today 792 00:39:28,479 –> 00:39:31,620 for the glory of Christ in the greater Chicago area 793 00:39:31,620 –> 00:39:33,020 and even around the world 794 00:39:33,020 –> 00:39:36,399 and all the people of God together said Amen.