Praise Chapel Of Anaheim
“The Spirit of Lethargy”
“Pastor Albert Garcia
Sunday, May 24, 2009

TEXT: 2 Kings 13:14-19

INTRODUCTION: Lately I have noticed that there is a spirit of Lethargy in the church.

Ø Some giving up.

Ø Some serving God halfheartedly.

Ø Some doing their ministry with no desire or zeal.

Ø Some with no desire of even coming to church.

Ø Today I want to speak on “The Spirit of Lethargy”

Ø I will cover 3 areas.

o The definition of Spiritual lethargy.

o The causes of Spiritual lethargy.

o The consequences of submitting oneself to the spirit of lethargy.

o How to overcome the spirit of lethargy.

I. THE DEFINITION OF SPIRITUAL LETHARGY.

a. Definition of the word lethargy.

1. Webster.

a. “Abnormal drowsiness.”

b. “The quality or state of being lazy sluggish or indifferent”

2. Oxford English Dictionary.

3. Medical Dictionary.

a. “A lowered level of consciousness, with drowsiness, listlessness, and apathy.”

b. “A condition of indifference.”

One said…
“Lack of energy, sluggish, uninterested or inactive”

b. Definition of Spiritual lethargy.

1. One describes it in the following manner.

a. “Lack of energy”

b. “Being lazy in spiritual matters”

1. For example such as prayer, Bible study, coming to church, ministry, living for God.

c. In our text we see king Jehoash suffering from a spirit of lethargy. (lllustrate)

1. (V 18-19) “Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. ¹⁹The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”

II. CAUSES OF SPIRITUAL LETHARGY.

a. Stress or overexertion.

1. When one has been under great amount of stress or overexertion for long periods of time it can bring about a spirit of lethargy.

a. For example.

1. Stressing about finances.

2. Stressing about marriage or children.

3. Working endless hours. (Burning the candle at both ends)

4. Going through long periods of suffering, sorrow or trial.

2. In our text King Jehoash is lethargic because of the continual stresses that he was facing in life.

a. He had previously went to war against Syria, and the Syrians had humiliated and defeated Israel.

1. Israel was left only with ten chariots , fifty horsemen and ten thousand foot soldiers.

2. This was a relative small number in comparison to the Syrian army which was the largest army at the time.

a. (V 7) “Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust at threshing time.

b. Now King Jehoash was facing war again with the Syrians. (The Syrians were oppressing Israel!)

1. To make things worse the man of God was dying.

2. King Jehoash had great concerns of going to war without the direction of the man of God.

a. (V 14) “Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

3. Elijah the prophet had to fight the spirit of lethargy.

a. After the battle of mount Carmel queen Jezebel sought to kill him and he felt lathergic.

1. 1 Kings 19:3-4 “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

4. Jesus disciples had to fight this spirit of lethargy that was caused by the stresses and sorrows in their lives.

a. Luke 22:39-46

5. Even Jesus had to fight the spirit of lethargy.

a. The Bible tells us in one passage that He was zeleous about the cross .

1. John 12:27 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

b. Then in the garden you hear lethargy in His words and an angel had to come to strengthen Him.

1. Matthew 26:42-43 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

6. Have you been fighting the spirit of lethargy?

a. Unenthusiastic about spiritual matters?

b. Tired?

c. Lazy?

d. No desire to attend church?

e. No desire to pray?

f. No desire to be faithful?

g. No desire to live?

h. No desire for ministry?

i. MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN UNDER LONG PERIODS OF STRESS AND EXAUSTION?

III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUBMITTING TO THE SPIRIT OF LETHARGY.

a. You will fall short of all that God has for you.

1. King Jehoash fell short of what God wanted for him.

a. God wanted him to completely destroy the Syrians but this never came to fruition because he became lethargic.

1. (V 18-19) “Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. ¹⁹The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”

2. Jesus warned the Laodicea church that He would judge it unless they repented from lethargy.

a. Revelation 3:15-16 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit (Greek vomit) you out of my mouth.

b. This means Jesus would allow them to be exposed to tribulation.

One man said…
“Yes, brethren, spiritual lethargy is a sin — a great sin! And it affects not only you, but everyone you know. It spreads like cancer! A lazy, indifferent, lethargic attitude is a deadly cancer!

It causes a person to take God and His laws lightly!

One man said..
“Lethargy can prove to fatal to life”

IV. HOW TO OVERCOME THE SPIRIT OF LETHARGY

a. Get proper nutrition physical rest during times of lethargy.

1. Eat healthy.

2. Get proper sleep. (A good nights rest!)

3. Give your physical body time to recuperate.

4. We find this in the life of Elijah when he was feeling lethargic

a. 1 Kings 19:3-9 (Read!)

b. Rest in Christ.

1. Stop trying to solve everything.

2. Stop trying to be superman.

3. Give Jesus your troubles, stresses and worries.

a. Mark 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

b. 1 Peter 1:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

c. Serve God with all your heart no matter how you feel.

1. For example.

a. If you don’t feel like going to outreach. (Go anyway and outreach with all your heart).

b. If you don’t feel like praying. (Pray anyways and do it with all your heart!)

c. If you don’t feel like working your ministry. (Work it anyways and work it with all your heart)

d. If you don’t feel like coming to church. (Come to church anyways and worship God with all your heart!)

1. Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:6 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

IN CLOSING: Today God wants to help those fighting spiritual lethargy.

Ø Lack of energy.

o Spirit of indifference.

o Lack of enthusiasm.

o Spiritual laziness. (No desire for church, prayer, Bible reading etc)

Ø Some are fighting lethargy because you have gone through long periods of stress and overexertion.

Ø If you don’t overcome this spirit you will fall short of all that God has for you.

o You must get proper nutrition and physical rest.

o Serve God with all your heart no matter how your feel.

o Rest in Christ.

When a person is freezing to death, he feels a pleasant numbness that he does not want to end. He just goes to sleep as he is freezing to death. But when heat is applied, and the blood begins rushing into the affected areas, pain immediately occurs. Thought it hurts, the pain is indicative of rescue and cure. God sends a prophet to people who are cold in their relationship with God—spiritually freezing to death—though they want to stay that way. The prophet turns the heat on, and they become angry with him when he is actually working to make them better. He is often accused of causing their pain.

Jehoash king of Israel never completely defeated Syria because he was lethargic. (They remained a thorn on their side!)

(V 25)