…an army of the LORD, ready for battle.

When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, "We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place." But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, "Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there." So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there. (2 Kings 6:8-10 NLT)

Sometimes we can get confused by the happenings in the world around us.  That’s because we only see things in the world around us.  Time and time again, God tries to communicate to us that there is more to this life than just this life.  There’s more to this world than just what we see in this world.  The king of Aram saw this world.  Elisha clearly saw more.

The king of Aram became very upset over this…"Go and find out where he is," the king commanded, "so I can send troops to seize him." And the report came back: "Elisha is at Dothan." So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. (2 Kings 6:11a, 13-14 NLT)

The king of Aram wanted to stop the man who saw more than this world.  He wanted to stop the God who was thwarting his plans.  There’s only one problem with this approach: God can not be stopped.  That’s because God sees both “worlds” – the world that we see and the world that we do not.  Plus, God is all-powerful and unstoppable.  To win the battles in this life, we need to be on the same side as the one who wins the war in both worlds.  God equips us to win the battles…and the war.

When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Oh, sir, what will we do now?" the young man cried to Elisha. "Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!" The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. (2 Kings 6:15-17 NLT)

How about you?  What do you see? Do you see the “army” of problems that you face in this life?  Or, do you see what the LORD has provided to equip you in battle?  What do spy with your little eye?

…grace for the humble.

The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the LORD had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. (2 Kings 5:1 NLT)

The king wanted his commander to be healed and he heard that there was a prophet in Israel.  So the king of Aram sent Naaman to find Elisha.  When Naaman went to meet with the prophet, Elisha anticipated his arrival and sent a messenger to tell Naaman what he needed to do to be healed: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River” (2 Kings 5:10b).

But Naaman became angry and stalked away. "I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!" he said. "I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me! Aren't the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?" So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. (2 Kings 5:11-12 NLT)

Sometime, we can lose sight of the nature of our relationship with God.  God is not a genie in a lamp.  God is not our servant or slave.  God is not our table waiter or checkout clerk.  God is God.  God is the creator of the heavens and the earth – all that is seen and unseen.  God knit you together in your mother’s womb, brought you into this life with the first breath that you breathed, and still holds together the very atoms that make up every cell of your existence.  God doesn’t need to do things our way.  We need to do things God’s way.  To do that, we need humility.

But his officers tried to reason with him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'" So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child's, and he was healed! (2 Kings 5:13-14 NLT)

Humility is not about beating ourselves up.  God doesn’t want us to beat up someone made in the image of God.  Humility is about being honest about God, honest about ourselves, and living out our role in life as we allow the LORD to be the Lord of our lives.  When we do, the LORD gives us grace (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6; Proverbs 3:34).

Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel..." (2 Kings 5:15a NLT)

How about you?  Have you met anyone who is humble before God?  Do you see God giving that person grace (gifts)?  Are you humble before the LORD?  Do you see God’s grace in your life?

…the LORD answering prayers.

One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. She said to her husband, "I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. (2 Kings 4:8-9 NLT)

This woman and her husband set up a room for Elisha, so he could use their place as a “home base” for his prophetic work in the area.  The couple could not bear children, so Elisha inquired from the LORD and God granted the couple a child.

One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters. Suddenly he cried out, "My head hurts! My head hurts!" His father said to one of the servants, "Carry him home to his mother." So the servant took him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But around noontime he died. (2 Kings 4:18-20 NLT)

The mom, as you would expect, was distraught.  She went out of town and found the prophet Elisha to ask him to call upon the LORD.  Elisha returned with her to see the boy.

When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet's bed. He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the LORD. (2 Kings 4:32-33 NLT)

The LORD answered Elisha’s prayer for the boy to be born in the first place.  Now Elisha was asking God to give him life again.

Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! (2 Kings 4:35 NLT)

The LORD answers prayers.  Elisha was a righteous man whose prayers had a great impact (James 5:16).  Sometimes, when we are walking together with God, we see a great impact from our prayers because God says “yes” to us, too.  Sometimes, though, we don’t see the answer we want because the LORD is saying, “No.”  Other times, we don’t see the answer because God says, “Slow down.  Not yet.”  Since it’s difficult to discern the difference between the last two answers, it’s always good to keep on praying.  Who knows? The LORD may say “yes” to your prayer this time.

How about you?  Do you pray?  Have you seen the LORD’s answer to your prayers before?  Are you still waiting for God’s answer to other prayers?  Do you continue in prayer?

…God provides.

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, "My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the LORD. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves." (2 Kings 4:1 NLT)

Sometimes, the ways of this world just don’t seem to work in our favor.  You accept the job that will provide income for your lifetime, then the layoffs begin.  You get a good education so you will be valuable, then the marketplace gets flooded with people with your degree.  You try to do things right, but you still end up jobless, in debt, and with no apparent way out.

"What can I do to help you?" Elisha asked. "Tell me, what do you have in the house?" "Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil," she replied. And Elisha said, "Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled." (2 Kings 4:2-4 NLT)

People often come to me as a preacher/teacher wanting money.  I guess they figure that churches have more money than others, or at least they will be more generous with that money.  What they don’t know, though, is that churches are sustained by the will of God just like we are as individuals.  In other words, God provides what we need to do what God wants us to do – nothing more – nothing less.  Church leaders are instructed by God to do the same thing Elijah does here and many other apostles/prophets/pastors/teachers do throughout the pages of Scriptures.  They answer the request with, “Trust God.”

So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim! "Bring me another jar," she said to one of her sons. "There aren't any more!" he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. (2 Kings 4:5-6 NLT)

Until you’ve experienced it first hand, it’s difficult to understand.  It seems counterintuitive to start reading Scripture because your Gas and Electric bill is due.  It doesn’t seem to make sense to start praying because your house or car is about to be repossessed.  It’s hard to bring ourselves to do something, like attending church services, that seems completely unrelated to our problem, like finding a job.  But that’s exactly what God is trying to get us to do.

When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, "Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over." (2 Kings 4:7 NLT)

How about you?  Do you trust God for your provision?  Do you follow God’s instructions in order to receive that provision?  When you do receive God’s provision, do you thank God for providing?  Do you see God provide?

…the LORD is working in my family.

We’ve been watching Israel (the north) and Judah (the south) as they fight their own battles to walk together with God.  The north is not doing so well.  Their kings have been leading the people to worship false gods.  The south is doing better, as they follow the LORD and walk in His ways.  Even with this difference, they recognize that they are all “brothers,” as all twelve tribes came from one man: Israel.

But after Ahab's death, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So King Joram promptly mustered the army of Israel and marched from Samaria. On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?" And Jehoshaphat replied, "Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses." Then Jehoshaphat asked, "What route will we take?" "We will attack from the wilderness of Edom," Joram replied. The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals. "What should we do?" the king of Israel cried out. "The LORD has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us." (2 Kings 3:5-10 NLT)

Life can be complicated – especially with family.  Some family members walk with God.  Others say they are believers, but it’s hard to hear it in their words or see it in their actions.  Others, still, don’t want to have anything to do with God.  This makes every decision complicated, because we want to walk with God ourselves and help them to do the same.  We don’t want to let their unbelief pull us away from a Garden Walk.

But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD with us? If there is, we can ask the LORD what to do through him." One of King Joram's officers replied, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah's personal assistant. " Jehoshaphat said, "Yes, the LORD speaks through him." So the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom went to consult with Elisha. "Why are you coming to me?" Elisha asked the king of Israel. "Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!" But King Joram of Israel said, "No! For it was the LORD who called us three kings here--only to be defeated by the king of Moab!" Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn't even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah. (2 Kings 3:11-14 NLT)

The principle is simple, though.  We learn to love.  We love people no matter what “category” we think they are in.  We love our enemies.  We love our neighbors.  And, yes, we love our family – no matter what.  Building relationships with people can be a struggle and, yes, we run the risk of falling ourselves.  But when we don’t fall, we have placed ourselves in a position where God can work in and through us to be a blessing to those we care about most.

Now bring me someone who can play the harp." While the harp was being played, the power of the LORD came upon Elisha, and he said, "This is what the LORD says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water! You will see neither wind nor rain, says the LORD, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals. But this is only a simple thing for the LORD, for He will make you victorious over the army of Moab! You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones." (2 Kings 3:15-19 NLT)

Jehoshaphat, who was walking with God, said yes to his fellow-Israelite “brother,” Joram, who was not walking with God.  Because of that relationship, Jehoshaphat was able to introduce God into their decision-making process.  Elijah was not only called, but shared a message from the LORD because Jehoshaphat was there.  Joram, now, will have a front row seat to the power of God in action.

The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere. Meanwhile, when the people of Moab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border. But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites--like blood. "It's blood!" the Moabites exclaimed. "The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let's go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!" But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went. (2 Kings 3:20-24 NLT)

How about you?  Are you the family member who is fighting God, acting like you follow God, or who is actually walking together with God?  Do you love your enemies, your neighbors, and especially your family – even when it is difficult?  Do you allow God to work through you to bring God into their lives?  Is the LORD working through you to empower your family?

…the Spirit of a prophet.

We saw last week as Elijah, one of the most significant prophets of all time, was taken up into the heavens by the LORD.  Elisha, his protégé, had requested a double-portion of Elijah’s spirit.  As he watched his mentor lifted up into the heavens, he knew that the LORD had answered his request with a, “Yes.”

Elisha picked up Elijah's cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah's cloak and cried out, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, "Elijah's spirit rests upon Elisha!" And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. (2 Kings 2:13-15 NLT)

Elisha now has the Spirit of a prophet.  He not only knew this because of the event with Elijah.  He knew it because of the miraculous signs the LORD was performing through him.  Now a group of prophets knew it as well.

One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. "We have a problem, my lord," they told him. "This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive." Elisha said, "Bring me a new bowl with salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, "This is what the LORD says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility. " And the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said. (2 Kings 2:19-22 NLT)

Now the leaders of Jericho, and all the townspeople, knew that Elisha was a prophet as well.  His fame was growing just like his predecessor. Elisha has the Spirit of a prophet.  He has the Spirit of God.

How about you?  Do you have the Spirit of God?  Do you recognize when someone else has the LORD’s Spirit?  How can you tell?  When do you see the Spirit?