Preparing for the Lord's Day
Kingdoms in Conflict
Casablanca is one of the most famous movies of all time. For those of you who have not seen the movie, it takes place at the start of World War II. The plot centers on Rick Blaine who runs a nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco. One night his past love, Ilsa, unexpectedly shows up with her husband Victor. As the movie develops, we find out that Victor is a leader in the French rebellion. The Nazis are after him and Ilsa hopes that Rick will get them safely out of the country.
During the process of planning their escape, Rick and Ilsa fall in love once again. As the climax of the movie approaches, you believe that they will run away together and leave Victor to deal with the Nazis alone. But in one of the most famous scenes in film history, Rick reveals that he has given up his own plane ticket for Victor so that he and Ilsa could fly to safety together. He explains to Ilsa,
Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that.
Rick could see that in the face of the world at war the issues of their lives were very small matters. He could not allow his own desire to be with Ilsa to interfere with the effort to defeat the Nazis. He understood that his problems didn’t amount to a hill of beans compared to the problems of the world. And it was this realization of his own insignificance that allowed him to act in the noblest of ways.
What we find in our text for this Sunday is a situation that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. The text does not speak of kings or of generals. It does not speak to events that changed the course of history or to the reestablishment of the Lord’s worship. In our text, we have an unnamed man who has a need that seems rather small. Yet amid this mundane situation the Lord showed forth his love and power. And what we will see in our text is that we too may live for the glory of God through seeing the weakness of our lives and the power of his love. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon 2 Kings 6:1-7, Romans 12:3, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 10:31, Colossians 1:15-17, and Westminster Shorter Catechism #1.
As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Praise to the Lord the Almighty!”, the Acclamation of Praise “Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power”, and the Hymn of Response “It Is Well With My Soul”. Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives so that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information
Text: 2 Kings 6:1-7
Title: For His Glory
Outline:
- To Live for God’s Glory, We Must Know our Weakness (vv.1-6)
- To Live for God’s Glory, We Must Know His Love (v. 7)
- To Live for God’s Glory, We Must Know His Power (v.7)