Lakewood Baptist Church

Preacher's Corner

Sermon Outline for Sunday Morning 2/5/2012

Are You Losing Your Focus

2 Kings 2

Focus is important.

2 Kings 2 shows this principle in the account of Elijah and Elisha.

This account reveals that Elisha refused to do anything that would cause him to lose his focus.

Paul also understood this principle when he expressed his desire in Philippians 3:13-14 -

 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. NKJV

If we are followers Christ, we must not allow anything to distract us from our Master.

1. Elisha Refused To Lose Focus, And He Pursued What He Knew.

2 Kings 2:1-6 -

 And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. (2) Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel. (3) Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent!" (4) Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho. (5) Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?" So he answered, "Yes, I know; keep silent!" (6) Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on. NKJV

• Elisha refused to go in any other direction, because he was pursuing what he knew.

1. He knew he was called (1 Kin. 19:16)

2. he knew he had made an irreversible decision (1 Kin. 19:19–21)

3. He knew he had a specific purpose (replace Elijah (1 Kin. 19:16)

4. he knew he had seen God work (when Elijah called for a drought, defeated the prophets of Baal, and brought rain again).

2. Elisha Refused To Lose Focus, And Expected What He Pursued.

2 Kings 2:7-12 -

 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. (8) Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. (9) And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." (10) So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." (11) Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (12) And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. NKJV

• Elisha expected something to happen, because God is always about something.

• He expected that he could participate because God delights to use men and women in His work.

• He remained focused, expecting that God was at work.

3. Elisha Received What He Expected.

2 Kings 2:13-14 -

 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. NKJV

• He was in a position to see God work;

• he witnessed God at work,

• And Elisha received what he expected—the assurance that God was still there and would use him after taking Elijah.

God used the servant who refused to lose his focus and gave him a voice to continue proclaiming His Word.

So, if we will refuse to lose our focus, pursue what we know, expect God to work, and be ready to use what we receive, God will use us beyond all our dreams! /p>

Sunday Evening Service 1/29/2012 2 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="style51"> 5th Sunday Night Singing

5th Sunday night singing - Congregation Sing