Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel."
But Elisha said, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?"
"Yes, I know," Elisha replied, "but do not speak of it."
Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho."
And he replied, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.
The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, "Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?"
"Yes, I know," he replied, "but do not speak of it."
Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan."
And he replied, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two of them walked on.
Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
"You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours — otherwise not."
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. "Look," they said, "we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley."
"No," Elisha replied, "do not send them."
But they persisted until he was too ashamed to refuse. So he said, "Send them." And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him. When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"
2 Kings 2:1-18
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Can you remember the time that you received the Spirit of the Lord into your life for the first time?
I know I can.
It was such an awesome feeling…and one that continues to repeat itself as the Spirit is alive and well inside me daily.
But it just wasn’t enough for me to just receive the Spirit. No…I needed to do something with it once I received it. In fact, by way of Christ’s Great Commission, I knew I was required to spread the Spirit to all I would meet, baptizing and teaching others…helping them become new creations in the Lord Jesus.
Well, in our scripture passage from the 2nd Chapter of 2 Kings, we see a passing of the Spirit take place…this time from one prophet to the one chosen to be his successor.
We pick up in Chapter 2 with Elijah and Elisha on their way from Gilgal. And scripture makes sure we know that Elijah is not long for earth as the Lord would soon take him to heaven in a whirlwind.
While on the way from Gilgal, Elijah told Elisha to remain behind as he was called by the Lord to go to Bethel. Elisha, faithful to Elijah and knowing that the Lord had selected him to take his place, refused to stay behind saying:
"As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you."
And Elisha made good on his promise, going with Elijah to Bethel.
Once there, Elisha was confronted by a “company of…prophets” who asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?" Elisha admitted he knew what was to come but asked that the prophets not discuss it further.
Meanwhile, Elijah was set to move out once again, this time heading to Jericho by order of the Lord. And again, he urges Elisha to remain behind but Elisha refuses again saying:
"As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you."
And so they traveled on to Jericho.
Once in Jericho, Elisha was once again approached by a “company of…prophets” who, like the ones in Bethel, asked, "Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?"
Again, Elisha responded that he knew but did not wish to talk further about it.
This was followed by Elijah speaking to Elisha for a third time, asking him to stay in Jericho as he answered the Lord’s call to go to the Jordan.
And as in the two prior instances, Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you."
And Elijah and Elisha went on to the Jordan.
As they got to the river, Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground…similar to the way that Moses had divided the Red Sea so Israel could escape Pharoah’s oppression (Exodus 14)…and how the Jordan had spread wide as the Ark of the Covenant, carried by the priests, passed through and allowed all of Israel to cross as well into the Promised Land in the early days of Joshua’s leadership (Joshua 3).
Now we read where “fifty men of the company of the prophets…stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped and then crossed at the Jordan. And there they remained after Elijah and Elisha crossed to the other side.
Scripture tells us that after Elijah and Elisha had crossed, Elijah asked Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
This was quite a question and reminded me of when the Lord spoke to Solomon in a dream. You may recall that the Lord opened Himself up to the king and asked him what he would like the Lord to give?
And Solomon asked for a discerning heart so he could “distinguish between right and wrong”.
Now, Elisha asked what he might want from Elijah, known to have the power of God in him, asks for a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit…which in essence was asking for a double portion of the Lord’s Spirit within him. His words showed the Lord he was indeed ready to take over and follow in Elijah’s footsteps.
Well, we read where Elijah replies to Elisha’s request by placing one condition on the Spirit inheritance Elisha sought. All Elisha had to do was be able to see Elijah as he was taken from earth into heaven by the Lord. And with that, they continued to walk along.
As they were “walking along and talking together”, scripture tells us that “a chariot of fire and horses of fire” suddenly appeared, separating Elisha and Elijah. Elijah was then swept up “to heaven in a whirlwind”…an act witnessed by Elisha who cried out:
"My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!"
And with that…Elisha saw him no more.
So had Elisha received the inheritance he asked for? Had a double portion of the Spirit been passed onto him?
Let’s see what our scripture tells us.
For we read that Elisha “picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back” to stand “on the bank of the Jordan”. Once there, he “took the cloak…and struck the water with it saying, “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?"
And as he struck the water, it “divided to the right and to the left”, allowing him to cross back over to the other side. Indeed, the Spirit had been passed. Elisha was now ready to carry on Elijah’s prophetic legacy.
As Elisha returned to the “company of the prophets from Jericho”, they too knew that the Spirit had been passed saying, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." We read where they bowed down before him and then asked if they could go and search for Elijah. The prophets were confused and thought that the Lord had simply picked Elijah up and set him back down in another place…like on a mountain or valley. Elisha tried to discourage them from going but the men persisted and went off anyways, searching for three days to no avail before returning to Elisha in Jericho who reminded them, “Didn't I tell you not to go?"
As we now follow Elisha’s work for the Lord we will indeed see that he not only received the Spirit…a double portion at that…but he also will put the Spirit to work.
The Lord expects nothing less than that from anyone He passes His Spirit to.
So how well are you putting His Spirit to use if you’ve received it?
The Lord is watching with great expectation.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
IDENTIFIED WITH GOD
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!' "
Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.
At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, "Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!' "
"If I am a man of God," Elijah replied, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.
So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. "Man of God," he begged, "please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!"
The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.
2 Kings 1:1-8, 16-18
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 1 of 2 Kings opened, we found King Ahaziah, king of Samaria, bedridden after falling through the lattice of his upper room. Wanting to know whether he would ever recover, he sent messengers to consult the false god of Ekron, Baal-Zebub.
As the messengers traveled to carry out the king’s order, they met Elijah, God’s prophet, who had been sent by an angel of the Lord to intercept them and send the following message from the Lord back to Ahaziah:
“Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!"
When the messengers returned with the message, Ahaziah defiantly sent “a captain with his company of fifty men” to confront Elijah and bring him in. And as the captain and his men found Elijah “sitting on the top of a hill”, he gave the following order:
"Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!' "
Of interest here was that Elijah was identified immediately as a “man of God”…big “G”. The order wasn’t, “You! Come down!” or “In the name of King of Samaria, I order you to come down!”
No…the order was “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’”
Now…I guess that could have been enough. Elijah had been identified as a “man of God” but that could be said about anyone. How could the identification be validated?
Well, Elijah answered that question. For we read where he says to the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!"
And that’s exactly what did happen.
For “fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men”. Indeed, Elijah was a man of God…the one and only true God…the only God who could do what had just happened.
Now THAT’s validation!
Well, it was obvious that the captain and his men never returned to King Ahaziah so he decided to send out “another captain with his fifty men” with the same task...to bring in Elijah.
Just as the first captain did, the second captain approached Elijah and gave him an order, this time with a little more urgency:
"Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!' "
Again, note that the captain identifies Elijah as a “man of God” and, just like the time before, Elijah replies, "If I am a man of God may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” and that’s what happened. Another captain and his men consumed by “the fire of God” sent from heaven.
So for a second time, King Ahaziah failed to receive his captain and men back. You would think he would just give up at this point but he doesn’t. For we read where he decides to send “a third captain with his fifty men” to try and accomplish what the two before them could not.
Now, imagine you are the third captain. You know two have gone before you and neither returned. Neither did any of the 100 men who had gone with them.
How would you feel?
Well, we should not be surprised that the third captain decided to take a different approach when he went to Elijah. Instead of approaching him with an order, the third captain went with a request…a humble request for mercy as he fell on his knees and begged:
“Man of God, please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!"
His approach worked. For no fire came from heaven onto him or his men. They were spared because the captain humbly acknowledged Elijah as a man of God…falling down before him just as he would fall down before the Lord Himself if He were present.
Sadly, it took fire from heaven twice consuming a group of men for Elijah to be truly seen as a man of God. The two captains who made demands didn’t really believe that Elijah was God’s representative. So God showed them. And by the time the third captain and his men came, there was no hesitation in acknowledging that God was with Elijah. And this time God rewarded the captain and his men with their lives.
Friends, how often are we like the first two captains? We say we are in a place of God or identify someone as being of God but we don’t really believe He’s present…until we see some form of proof…some validation that confirms identification.
That kind of behavior got two captains and 100 men burned to ash.
Indeed, we have so much to learn from the third captain who fell on his knees at the mention of the name of God…in this case attached to the prophet Elijah. For in identifying Elijah with God, the captain fell before him as if he were falling before God Himself, asking for mercy…knowing he would not live except by the Lord’s grace and pardon.
And it was this humbleness that saved him…just as it will save all of us who approach God’s mercy throne with the same sense of unworthiness and humility. The third captain showed that he was too a man of God through his actions and attitude…a man who saw God as His Ruler and Redeemer.
Come to think about it…any other true man or woman of God would behave in the same way.
Would you?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!' "
Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.
At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, "Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!' "
"If I am a man of God," Elijah replied, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.
So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. "Man of God," he begged, "please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!"
The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.
2 Kings 1:1-8, 16-18
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 1 of 2 Kings opened, we found King Ahaziah, king of Samaria, bedridden after falling through the lattice of his upper room. Wanting to know whether he would ever recover, he sent messengers to consult the false god of Ekron, Baal-Zebub.
As the messengers traveled to carry out the king’s order, they met Elijah, God’s prophet, who had been sent by an angel of the Lord to intercept them and send the following message from the Lord back to Ahaziah:
“Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!"
When the messengers returned with the message, Ahaziah defiantly sent “a captain with his company of fifty men” to confront Elijah and bring him in. And as the captain and his men found Elijah “sitting on the top of a hill”, he gave the following order:
"Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!' "
Of interest here was that Elijah was identified immediately as a “man of God”…big “G”. The order wasn’t, “You! Come down!” or “In the name of King of Samaria, I order you to come down!”
No…the order was “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’”
Now…I guess that could have been enough. Elijah had been identified as a “man of God” but that could be said about anyone. How could the identification be validated?
Well, Elijah answered that question. For we read where he says to the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!"
And that’s exactly what did happen.
For “fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men”. Indeed, Elijah was a man of God…the one and only true God…the only God who could do what had just happened.
Now THAT’s validation!
Well, it was obvious that the captain and his men never returned to King Ahaziah so he decided to send out “another captain with his fifty men” with the same task...to bring in Elijah.
Just as the first captain did, the second captain approached Elijah and gave him an order, this time with a little more urgency:
"Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!' "
Again, note that the captain identifies Elijah as a “man of God” and, just like the time before, Elijah replies, "If I am a man of God may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” and that’s what happened. Another captain and his men consumed by “the fire of God” sent from heaven.
So for a second time, King Ahaziah failed to receive his captain and men back. You would think he would just give up at this point but he doesn’t. For we read where he decides to send “a third captain with his fifty men” to try and accomplish what the two before them could not.
Now, imagine you are the third captain. You know two have gone before you and neither returned. Neither did any of the 100 men who had gone with them.
How would you feel?
Well, we should not be surprised that the third captain decided to take a different approach when he went to Elijah. Instead of approaching him with an order, the third captain went with a request…a humble request for mercy as he fell on his knees and begged:
“Man of God, please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!"
His approach worked. For no fire came from heaven onto him or his men. They were spared because the captain humbly acknowledged Elijah as a man of God…falling down before him just as he would fall down before the Lord Himself if He were present.
Sadly, it took fire from heaven twice consuming a group of men for Elijah to be truly seen as a man of God. The two captains who made demands didn’t really believe that Elijah was God’s representative. So God showed them. And by the time the third captain and his men came, there was no hesitation in acknowledging that God was with Elijah. And this time God rewarded the captain and his men with their lives.
Friends, how often are we like the first two captains? We say we are in a place of God or identify someone as being of God but we don’t really believe He’s present…until we see some form of proof…some validation that confirms identification.
That kind of behavior got two captains and 100 men burned to ash.
Indeed, we have so much to learn from the third captain who fell on his knees at the mention of the name of God…in this case attached to the prophet Elijah. For in identifying Elijah with God, the captain fell before him as if he were falling before God Himself, asking for mercy…knowing he would not live except by the Lord’s grace and pardon.
And it was this humbleness that saved him…just as it will save all of us who approach God’s mercy throne with the same sense of unworthiness and humility. The third captain showed that he was too a man of God through his actions and attitude…a man who saw God as His Ruler and Redeemer.
Come to think about it…any other true man or woman of God would behave in the same way.
Would you?
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Monday, September 28, 2009
FALLING DOWN
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
After Ahab's death, Moab rebelled against Israel. Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, "Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury."
But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?' Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!' " So Elijah went.
When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, "Why have you come back?"
"A man came to meet us," they replied. "And he said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, "This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" ' "
The king asked them, "What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?"
They replied, "He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist."
The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite."
He (Elijah) told the king, "This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.
Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. As for all the other events of Ahaziah's reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 1:1-8, 16-18
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
One spiritual truth that will never change is this:
When we choose to sin and do evil in the sight of the Lord, we fall in failure down before Him.
So as Chapter 22 of 1 Kings closed, we read about the path of evil sinfulness that King Ahaziah chose to walk. And as Chapter 1 of 2 Kings open, we see that Ahaziah fell down…literally. In fact, scripture tells us Ahaziah suffered a terrible injury after “falling through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria”. Confined to his bed and wanting to know whether he would ever recover, Ahaziah sends messengers…not to the Lord…but rather to “Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron” to get some insight. And in doing so, we see that Ahaziah has learned little from his fall. For he chooses again to do evil over good…and this time, the Lord has had enough.
For as Ahaziah sends out his messengers, we see the Lord summon a messenger of his own…the reliable, faithful prophet Elijah. Ironically, the Lord had used Elijah to send messages to Ahaziah’s father, Ahab, who had done evil many times before his son came to power (1 Kings 16-22). You’ll remember how much Ahab despised Elijah and attempted to have him killed but each time, the Lord guided Elijah out of harm’s way.
So as Ahaziah, Ahab’s son, lay in bed his messengers went off to consult the false god, Baal-Zebub and while they were on their way, they encountered Elijah who had been sent by an “angel of the Lord” to “meet the messengers” and send a message from the Lord back to their king. They were to say to Ahaziah:
“Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!' "
So the messengers did what Elijah told them to do, returning to Ahaziah who asked, “Why have you come back?"
The messengers shared with Ahaziah about their encounter with a man who had given them the message to share. As Ahaziah asked for a description of the man, he quickly realized who the message had come from…Elijah the Tishbite.
So three times Ahaziah sent a captain and a company of fifty men to Elijah. The first two groups were consumed by fire after Elijah spoke, validating him as a man of God and the representative of the one and only God. The third group came but this time the captain fell on his knees, acknowledged Elijah as a “man of God” and found mercy for himself and his men. The Lord then sends Elijah himself to Ahaziah with the message.
Elijah carries out God’s order and gives Ahaziah the same message that the first messengers had when they returned, making sure Ahaziah knew it was from the Lord:
“Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!"
And that’s exactly what happened. Ahaziah died in bed…fallen…sinful…unsaved.
Friends, this is what happens to anyone who chooses to allow sin to reign in their lives. God’s word from Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia tells us that “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:8). In other words, one who decides to choose sin over righteousness gains the reward of demise.
Conversely, we also read in Galatians that “the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”. Pleasing the Spirit means we dedicate ourselves to live for the Lord in everything we do…and in doing so, we please the Spirit because as we live for the Lord, we embody all that the Father and the Son wish for us to stand for. And when we stand firm on the foundation of the Lord, there is no falling…no failing…only solid ground that promises to be there for us eternally. Death and destruction gives way to life and life forever.
So where are you in your life?
Failing and falling toward destruction as you sow to please your sinful nature? Or standing firmly on the Lord’s foundation of righteousness, seeking to please His Holy Spirit to gain the eternal life that He wishes for you to have?
It really does come down to a matter of choice…which the Lord grants to all of us. He doesn’t want us to come to Him because we’re forced to. No…He wants us to come to Him willingly…and to fall into His arms of love and life…the only place we should ever want to fall.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
After Ahab's death, Moab rebelled against Israel. Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, "Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury."
But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?' Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!' " So Elijah went.
When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, "Why have you come back?"
"A man came to meet us," they replied. "And he said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, "This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" ' "
The king asked them, "What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?"
They replied, "He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist."
The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite."
He (Elijah) told the king, "This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.
Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. As for all the other events of Ahaziah's reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 1:1-8, 16-18
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
One spiritual truth that will never change is this:
When we choose to sin and do evil in the sight of the Lord, we fall in failure down before Him.
So as Chapter 22 of 1 Kings closed, we read about the path of evil sinfulness that King Ahaziah chose to walk. And as Chapter 1 of 2 Kings open, we see that Ahaziah fell down…literally. In fact, scripture tells us Ahaziah suffered a terrible injury after “falling through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria”. Confined to his bed and wanting to know whether he would ever recover, Ahaziah sends messengers…not to the Lord…but rather to “Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron” to get some insight. And in doing so, we see that Ahaziah has learned little from his fall. For he chooses again to do evil over good…and this time, the Lord has had enough.
For as Ahaziah sends out his messengers, we see the Lord summon a messenger of his own…the reliable, faithful prophet Elijah. Ironically, the Lord had used Elijah to send messages to Ahaziah’s father, Ahab, who had done evil many times before his son came to power (1 Kings 16-22). You’ll remember how much Ahab despised Elijah and attempted to have him killed but each time, the Lord guided Elijah out of harm’s way.
So as Ahaziah, Ahab’s son, lay in bed his messengers went off to consult the false god, Baal-Zebub and while they were on their way, they encountered Elijah who had been sent by an “angel of the Lord” to “meet the messengers” and send a message from the Lord back to their king. They were to say to Ahaziah:
“Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!' "
So the messengers did what Elijah told them to do, returning to Ahaziah who asked, “Why have you come back?"
The messengers shared with Ahaziah about their encounter with a man who had given them the message to share. As Ahaziah asked for a description of the man, he quickly realized who the message had come from…Elijah the Tishbite.
So three times Ahaziah sent a captain and a company of fifty men to Elijah. The first two groups were consumed by fire after Elijah spoke, validating him as a man of God and the representative of the one and only God. The third group came but this time the captain fell on his knees, acknowledged Elijah as a “man of God” and found mercy for himself and his men. The Lord then sends Elijah himself to Ahaziah with the message.
Elijah carries out God’s order and gives Ahaziah the same message that the first messengers had when they returned, making sure Ahaziah knew it was from the Lord:
“Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!"
And that’s exactly what happened. Ahaziah died in bed…fallen…sinful…unsaved.
Friends, this is what happens to anyone who chooses to allow sin to reign in their lives. God’s word from Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia tells us that “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:8). In other words, one who decides to choose sin over righteousness gains the reward of demise.
Conversely, we also read in Galatians that “the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”. Pleasing the Spirit means we dedicate ourselves to live for the Lord in everything we do…and in doing so, we please the Spirit because as we live for the Lord, we embody all that the Father and the Son wish for us to stand for. And when we stand firm on the foundation of the Lord, there is no falling…no failing…only solid ground that promises to be there for us eternally. Death and destruction gives way to life and life forever.
So where are you in your life?
Failing and falling toward destruction as you sow to please your sinful nature? Or standing firmly on the Lord’s foundation of righteousness, seeking to please His Holy Spirit to gain the eternal life that He wishes for you to have?
It really does come down to a matter of choice…which the Lord grants to all of us. He doesn’t want us to come to Him because we’re forced to. No…He wants us to come to Him willingly…and to fall into His arms of love and life…the only place we should ever want to fall.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, September 27, 2009
WHAT WOULD BE WRITTEN ABOUT YOU?
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
As for the other events of Jehoshaphat's reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa. There was then no king in Edom; a deputy ruled.
Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail —they were wrecked at Ezion Geber. At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my men sail with your men," but Jehoshaphat refused.
Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him.
Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. He served and worshiped Baal and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.
1 Kings 22:41-53
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
If someone were to write an account of your life after you died, what would be written about you? Would you be proud or ashamed of what would be said?
As we see in today’s scripture, there were often accounts given regarding how people lived, particularly those who were in positions of leadership such as kings.
At the end of 1st Kings, Chapter 22…the last words of the book…we see two accounts given…one on the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, and the other on the king of Israel, Ahaziah. And as we will see, the accounts are strikingly different based on the way these two kings lived and led.
First, we read about Jehoshaphat.
We’re told that he was the son of Asa…a king who the scriptures praised as doing what was “right in the eyes of the Lord” and for having a “heart fully committed to the Lord all his life” (1 Kings 15:11,14). Certainly words that anyone would want written about them.
So how would Jehoshaphat fare in his life? Would he follow in the ways of his father?
As we see, he did just that. For the scriptures tell us that Jehoshaphat “”walked in the ways of his father” and “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”. Further to his credit, we read where he “rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who remained there even after the reign of his father” and remained “at peace with the king of Israel”.
Indeed, Jehoshaphat had lived a life that was pleasing to the Lord.
Contrast that now with the king of Israel, Ahaziah, who followed his father Ahab to assume the throne 17 years into Jehoshaphat’s reign.
Ahaziah’s father, Ahab, had made quite a name for himself…and not in any good way. Scripture tells us that he “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him” and “did more to provoke the Lord…to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. (1 Kings 16:30,33)
So how would his son turn out when he had his turn at leading? Would he repeat the mistakes of his father? Or would he take a stand and turn Israel back toward the Lord?
The answers come in what was written about him.
Back to our passage…
For there we find that Ahaziah “reigned over Israel two years” and during that time, “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam”…all who had “caused Israel to sin”. Ahaziah “served and worshiped” the false god Baal and “provoked the Lord…to anger, just as his father had done”.
And that’s how the Chapter ends. Nothing else is said about Ahaziah.
But what else needs to be said?
Ahaziah had every opportunity to do what Jehoshaphat had done. He could have opted to do good and live a life that was pleasing to the Lord. And if he had, you can bet there would have been a lot written about him and what he accomplished in service to God. But he didn’t choose that path. Instead, he traveled the evil road like those who had lived before him and carried on their reputation.
Indeed, not much was written regarding Ahaziah. The Lord will not boast in evil ways…in those who blatantly violate His word, will and way. In fact, not only will little be written about them but they can also bank on their name not written in another place…the Book of Life (Revelation 20). And that omission will result in their name being cast into “lake of fire”, obliterated forever.
So again…what will be written about you when your life on earth is over? Will you be praised for being faithful to the Lord’s will word and way, finding your way to continued life eternal through Christ Jesus as your name is found in the Book of Life? Or will you find that you are remembered only for your evil, sinful ways when your life ends…and when I say end, I mean really over with no chance at eternity as your name is left out of the Book of Life?
We all have a choice to be as good or bad as we want to be. How will you choose?
Your decision will make all the difference in what will be written about you one day…and whether your name is found among those the Lord calls to Him forever. Please make the right one. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
As for the other events of Jehoshaphat's reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa. There was then no king in Edom; a deputy ruled.
Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail —they were wrecked at Ezion Geber. At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my men sail with your men," but Jehoshaphat refused.
Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him.
Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. He served and worshiped Baal and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.
1 Kings 22:41-53
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
If someone were to write an account of your life after you died, what would be written about you? Would you be proud or ashamed of what would be said?
As we see in today’s scripture, there were often accounts given regarding how people lived, particularly those who were in positions of leadership such as kings.
At the end of 1st Kings, Chapter 22…the last words of the book…we see two accounts given…one on the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, and the other on the king of Israel, Ahaziah. And as we will see, the accounts are strikingly different based on the way these two kings lived and led.
First, we read about Jehoshaphat.
We’re told that he was the son of Asa…a king who the scriptures praised as doing what was “right in the eyes of the Lord” and for having a “heart fully committed to the Lord all his life” (1 Kings 15:11,14). Certainly words that anyone would want written about them.
So how would Jehoshaphat fare in his life? Would he follow in the ways of his father?
As we see, he did just that. For the scriptures tell us that Jehoshaphat “”walked in the ways of his father” and “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”. Further to his credit, we read where he “rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who remained there even after the reign of his father” and remained “at peace with the king of Israel”.
Indeed, Jehoshaphat had lived a life that was pleasing to the Lord.
Contrast that now with the king of Israel, Ahaziah, who followed his father Ahab to assume the throne 17 years into Jehoshaphat’s reign.
Ahaziah’s father, Ahab, had made quite a name for himself…and not in any good way. Scripture tells us that he “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him” and “did more to provoke the Lord…to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. (1 Kings 16:30,33)
So how would his son turn out when he had his turn at leading? Would he repeat the mistakes of his father? Or would he take a stand and turn Israel back toward the Lord?
The answers come in what was written about him.
Back to our passage…
For there we find that Ahaziah “reigned over Israel two years” and during that time, “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam”…all who had “caused Israel to sin”. Ahaziah “served and worshiped” the false god Baal and “provoked the Lord…to anger, just as his father had done”.
And that’s how the Chapter ends. Nothing else is said about Ahaziah.
But what else needs to be said?
Ahaziah had every opportunity to do what Jehoshaphat had done. He could have opted to do good and live a life that was pleasing to the Lord. And if he had, you can bet there would have been a lot written about him and what he accomplished in service to God. But he didn’t choose that path. Instead, he traveled the evil road like those who had lived before him and carried on their reputation.
Indeed, not much was written regarding Ahaziah. The Lord will not boast in evil ways…in those who blatantly violate His word, will and way. In fact, not only will little be written about them but they can also bank on their name not written in another place…the Book of Life (Revelation 20). And that omission will result in their name being cast into “lake of fire”, obliterated forever.
So again…what will be written about you when your life on earth is over? Will you be praised for being faithful to the Lord’s will word and way, finding your way to continued life eternal through Christ Jesus as your name is found in the Book of Life? Or will you find that you are remembered only for your evil, sinful ways when your life ends…and when I say end, I mean really over with no chance at eternity as your name is left out of the Book of Life?
We all have a choice to be as good or bad as we want to be. How will you choose?
Your decision will make all the difference in what will be written about you one day…and whether your name is found among those the Lord calls to Him forever. Please make the right one. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
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