Elisha

Power Belongeth Unto God

Ken

A quote is attributed to a famous banker, “Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws!” What saith the Scripture? “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God” (Psalm 62:11 KJV). A story is told of the prophet Elisha that he was a man, who had power with God. Where are our Elishas? 

“8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel” (2Kings 6:8-23).

Humbled By God

Ken

Giving you more than you asked? “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). What a wonderful problem! Whenever it happens, we need to confess our lack of faith for not asking for more. When Elisha told the widow to gather empty jars to gather a miraculous flow of valuable olive oil for food and fuel (2Kings 4:1-7), they were miraculously filled as “she poured out” (4:5) until she ran out of jars, then the “oil stayed” (4:6). Elisha told the king of Israel to take a handful of arrows and strike the ground before he shot the arrows out of the window, since the arrows represented the “LORD’s deliverance” (13:17) over Syria. The king struck the ground three times, then stopped (13:18). Elisha became angry. “And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice” (13:19). You suffer, “yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). And, when we ask, we do not ask confidently. LORD, increase our faith that we may realize the superiority of the Holy Spirit working in us and our circumstances far surpasses all of our small requests for things. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him” (Luke 11:13). Teach us the power of Your Spirit working in us. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen.

Confusion to the Enemy

Ken

“Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city” (Psalm 55:9 NIV). Whenever someone is confused, they are confounded in their attempt to accomplish their goals. Likewise, David prayed for the Lord to confuse his enemies, as should we. Elisha prayed for blindness upon the Syrian army, who came to capture him. “And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And He smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha” (2Kings 6:18 KJV). LORD, teach us to wage war victoriously in our Spiritual Warfare. Amen.