Life and Death

Kingdoms in Conflict

It is a life or death situation! Imagine that you find yourself lost in the middle of a vast desert. The sun is beating down on you, the sand is burning, and the wind is making you feel as though you were inside a convection oven. Would you know what to do to survive? One myth that has been propagated through Hollywood movies is to get water from a cactus. How many times have we seen a cowboy lost in the desert find a cactus, slice it open, and take a big drink? The reality is that cactuses don’t have much liquid inside and what they do have will only cause you to be nauseous. What then should you do? To preserve your life you need to make sure to preserve your fluids. You want to cover up all your skin to prevent loss of sweat and keep from sunburn. You want to travel during the evening and shelter during the day. And if you happen to come across a flying insect as a bee follow it. They know where to find water. 

The decisions that you make in extreme situations are often life or death decisions. And it is important to know how to survive. In our passage for this Sunday, we come to a life or death decision. It is not about surviving in the desert or making it out of a fire alive. Rather it is about how we respond to the Word of God. For it is our response to God’s word of promise that will bring either life or death. In Deuteronomy 30:19 the Lord lays out this reality to His people. He says, 

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life,” (Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV)  

It is a life or death situation. Those who would choose life must therefore trust in the word of the Lord. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon 2 Kings 8:1-15, Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Kings 19:15-17, Ezekiel 33:11, John 11:25-26, Ephesians 1:7, and Westminster Confession of Faith 33.2. 

As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “We Come, O Christ, to You”, the Acclamation of Praise “Before the Throne of God Above”, and the Hymn of Response “How Firm a Foundation”. 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 that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him! 

Sermon Information 

Text: 2 Kings 8:1-15 

Title: Life and Death 

Outline: 

1. The Lord Brings Life (1-6)
1. By His Word
2. By His Providence
3. By His Grace
2. The Lord Brings Death (7-15)

1. By His Word
2. By His Providence
3. By His Grace

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