LAYING ON OF HANDS

LAYING ON OF HANDS
II Kings 13:15-16
 
"And Elisha said to him [Joash, king of Israel], 'Take a bow and some arrows.' So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, 'Put your hand on the bow.' So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the kings hands."
 
By laying his hands on Joash, Elisha was imparting spiritual significance to a human act. We don't seem to talk much about the laying on of hands, but it is one of the foundational, cardinal doctrines listed in Hebrews 6:1-2. Somehow, there is a transference of spiritual power and authority in that simple act. In Scripture, laying on of hands was used for impartation of ministry (Acts 13:3 and II Timothy 1:6), for healing as Jesus often did, or for spiritual gifting (Acts 19:6). In our times, we are afraid to touch someone for fear of being misunderstood or accused of sexual misconduct. In the process, we have lost the power of laying on of hands and poorer for it.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Laying on of hands is a way to impart spiritual power.
 
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Have a powerful day. Love you.
 
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Honoring Godly Authority

Honoring Godly Authority
II Kings 13:14b
 
"Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over his face, and said, 'Oh my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen.' "
 
Joash (a.k.a. Jehoash) was an ungodly king who did evil in the sight of the LORD (vs. 11). Yet even in his sin, he recognized spiritual authority, and when he heard that Elisha was about to die, he came to honor the man of God. The true strength of any nation is its spiritual heritage -- its preachers and its churches --  and we need to honor godly authority.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The true strength of a nation is not its military or economic might but its godly people.
 
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Have an honoring day. Love you.
 
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THE SUNSET YEARS

THE SUNSET YEARS
II Kings 13:14
 
"Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die."
 
Does it seem strange that such a powerful man of faith who had seen the dead raised and had performed mighty miracles should himself die from some illness? There are those who say that if you have enough faith, you won't get sick. Tell that to the Apostle Paul who prayed to be delivered from his thorn in the flesh (II Corinthians 12:7-8). There are the gifts of faith, and healings, and miracles available to believers (I Corinthians 12). But ultimately it is God's choice how I die. God allows some people to live their sunset years without suffering illness, and others experience great agony. God is God. He will give grace sufficient to the match the need (II Corinthians 12:9), and I will trust Him.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Faith is not an insurance policy against sickness and suffering, but it believes God's promise of grace to face life and death.
 
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Have a faith day. Love you.
 
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"Get Yourself Ready"

GET YOURSELF READY
II Kings 9:1-3
 
"And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, 'Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. Now when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu... Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say, "Thus says the Lord: 'I have anointed you king over Israel.' " Then open the door and flee, and do not delay.' "
 
This is the last recorded act of Elisha before he died. It seems that he was preparing a younger man by giving detailed instructions to follow as he stood in Elisha's place. It is incumbent on the person who has been called by God to a ministry to mentor and instruct the next generation so that the work of the Lord does not die with the leader. This is perhaps the last important thing the man of God will do to make sure that the torch is passed. So, "Get yourself ready."
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: It is important to prepare the next generation so that the ministry continues.
 
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Have a "get ready" day. Love you.
 
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THE TENDER PROPHET

THE TENDER PROPHET
II Kings 8:11-12a
 
"Then [Elisha] set his countenance in a stare until [Hazael] was ashamed; and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, 'Why is my lord weeping?' And he answered, 'Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel.....' "
 
The king of Syria was sick, so he sent Hazael to Elisha to inquire whether he would recover from his sickness. Elisha prophesied that the king would get better but that he would certainly die. Elisha also foresaw that Hazael would become king and that he would do evil to Israel. And Elisha wept. The Lord Jesus also demonstrated a tender spirit. He suffered rejection, but He wept over Jerusalem because he knew the devastation that the city and the people would suffer (Luke 19:41-44). When I speak of hell, or the judgment facing America, or a hard word to a loved one, my message needs to be bathed in tears lest I become harsh and strident in my own spirit.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Speaking harsh truth requires a tender spirit.
 
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Have a tender day. And have a good Memorial Day. Love you.
 
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SHARE THE BLESSING

SHARE THE BLESSING
II Kings 7:8-9
 
"And when the lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it. Then one said to another, 'We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household.' "
 
It must have been like heaven to these hungry lepers. It was a day of good news, but they kept the blessing to themselves. When they finally realized that their selfishness was not right, it was not altruism and care for others that motivated them but fear of punishment. Blessing are to be shared – not just heaped on myself for my own self-indulgence. God didn't save me with the "good news" just so I could go to heaven, but that others might enjoy it also. May my concern for others rise above the legalism of fear of punishment to true concern.  I must not be silent.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The Good News is to be shared.
 
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Have a sharing day. Love you.
 
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EMPTY FEARS

EMPTY FEARS
II Kings 7:5b
 
"And when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there."
 
No doubt these lepers came to the Syrian camp with fear and trembling, knowing that they would probably be captured, abused, and perhaps killed. But to their amazement, they found the camp empty; and so were their fears of the unknown. Often my fears of the unknown cause me to imagine all the worst scenarios that could happen, only to find my fears were unfounded – empty. Whether it just my imagination or whether God took care of the problem is immaterial. God says, "Be anxious for nothing" (Philippians 4:6). I can face the unknown with peace if Jesus goes with me. Everything will be okay.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Trusting God helps me face the unknown with confidence.
 
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Have a confident day. Love you.
 
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"Kill The Messenger" Syndrome

KILL THE MESSENGER SYNDROME
II Kings 6:30-31
 
"Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and as he passed by on the wall, the people looked, and there underneath he had sackcloth on his body. Then he said, 'God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today.' "
 
This is the classic "kill the messenger" response to voices that oppose us. The king knew that times were bad in his kingdom. Instead of crying out to God for help, he thought the answer was to get rid of the man who spoke for God. It is a human tendency to reject what we don't want to hear. But silencing the voice of truth does not solve any problems.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: We need to listen to the messenger, even if we don't like the message.
 
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Have a listening day. Love you.
 
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ABOVE MY PAY-SCALE

ABOVE MY PAY-SCALE
II Kings 6:25-27a
 
"And there was great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver. Then, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, 'Help, my lord, O King!' And he said, 'If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you?' "
 
Things in Samaria were in a horrible condition – so bad that they were dining on dove dropping, and even eating their own children (vss. 28-29)! Even though he was ruler of the kingdom, the king recognized he was unable to help this woman. God tells us to help those who are in need, but wisdom shows that some things are above our pay-scale and ability. We can't solve everyone's problems and meet everyone's needs. They need to turn to God who alone can help them. Looking to others for help to solve our problems will only end in disappointment. But God is able!!!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Only God can meet man's greatest needs.
 
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Have a "turning to God" day. Love you.
 
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THE BLAME GAME

THE BLAME GAME
II Kings 6:24-25, 33b
 
"And it happened after this that Ben Hadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria, and indeed they besieged it....then the king said, 'Surely this calamity is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"
 
The king of Israel was playing the blame game. He blamed God and the man of God for the calamities that beset him and the nation. He even threatened to kill Elisha (vs. 31) thinking that would solve the problems, instead of considering that his own sin and failure  was the cause. I guess it is human nature to blame others for my misfortune rather than taking responsibility for myself. But blaming others – especially the Lord Who is the answer – does not solve the problems.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Instead of blaming others for my misfortune, I need to take an honest evaluation of myself.
 
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Have an honest day. Love you.
 
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The Power Of Grace

THE POWER OF GRACE
II Kings 6:18
 
"So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, 'Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.' And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha."
 
This is a comical episode in the life of Elisha. (God does have a sense of humor!) The Syrians had come to capture Elisha, but because God made them blind, they did not recognize him. So the man of God said, "Follow me and I will take you to Elisha." They followed him, unaware that he was indeed the person they were looking for. When they got to Samaria, the city of the king of Israel, God opened their eyes, and there they were, surrounded and outnumbered by Israelites. Like an excited little child asking permission to do something, the king said, "Can I kill them? Huh? Can I?" But Elisha had another plan – to treat his enemies with grace. So he fed them and sent them home. If he had killed them, the Syrians would have retaliated. Instead, "the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel" (vs. 23). As the Apostle wrote, "If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirst, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head" (Romans 12:20). There is power in grace!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Showing grace to an enemy can accomplish better results than retaliation.
 

SPIRITUAL EYESIGHT

SPIRITUAL EYESIGHT
II Kings 6:17
 
"And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
 
It's an old, old sermon, but it still preaches. Spiritual things seem foolish to the unsaved, and they can only be comprehended with spiritual eyesight. As the Apostle wrote: "The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." We live and work among people who have no spiritual understanding, and godly insight seems "foolishness" to them. Belief in the Bible and Christian faith seems to them to be intellectually inferior because all they can see is the natural. May God open their eyes to the dimension of spiritual reality.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Spirit-filled person sees life differently than the unbeliever.
 
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Have a "vision" day. Love you.
 
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WHAT AM I GONNA DO?

WHAT AM I GONNA DO?
II Kings 6:15-16
 
"And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, 'Alas, my master! What shall we do?' So he answered, 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more
than those who are with them.' "
 
The king of Syria heard that Elisha was at Dothan. So he went with his army to capture him. The sight of this great army struck fear into the heart of Elisha's servant. But Elisha prayed that his eyes would be opened to see the heavenly army that surrounded them (vs. 17). One saw the problem with earthly vision; the other had spiritual vision to see the help God provided. Fear paralyzes so that I can only say, "What am I gonna do?" Faith rests in the confidence that God has an answer. I want to have open eyes to see the heavenly army – the ministering spirits that God sends to help the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A person of faith can rest in the assurance that God provides help for the problems that surround him.
 
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THE WORD OF KNOWEDLGE

THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
 
"Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, 'My camp will be in such and such a place.' And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, 'Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.' "
 
On several occasions, the king of Syria made plans to attack Israel, but nothing was hidden from the omniscient God, and He would reveal those plans to Elisha, the "man of God." In the New Testament, this would be called the Word of Knowledge. Elisha would then inform the king of Israel of those plans so they could avoid a confrontation. The king of Syria thought there was a traitor in his camp, but in reality, it was God who told Elisha the plans the king of Syria was making "in his bedroom" (vs. 12). Nothing is hidden from God, even the plans of the enemy. I can think of specific times when I was impressed in my spirit to change my plans. I believe God was keeping me from harmful situations. He knows what lies ahead of me today. I need to follow His promptings. "The steps of the good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23a). It pays to listen to the voice of my spirit.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The omniscient God knows everything, and He can keep His children from danger if they will heed His promptings.
 
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Have a listening day. Love you.

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TRIVIAL PURSUIT

TRIVIAL PURSUIT
II Kings 6:6-7
 
"So the man of God said, 'Where did it fall?'  And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, 'Pick it up for yourself.' So he reached out his hand and took it."

The loss of an ax head may seem like a trivial thing. But it wasn't trivial to the man who lost it. When God says to cast all our cares on Him (I Peter 5:7), He doesn't mean just the major things. It means "all" – even the trivial. How many times have I misplaced something and God has helped me find it?  God does care about everything that concerns me. "Does Jesus care? Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief." What a wonderful God we serve.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God cares about everything in the lives of His children – even the trivial.
 
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Have a "caring" day. Love you.
 
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ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
II Kings 6:4-5
 
"So [Elijah] went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, 'Alas, master!' For it was borrowed."
 
We all do it from time to time. We borrow to save purchasing an item we may never use again. But accidents happen. If something happens to the borrowed item, the borrower is indebted to either fix it or replace it. A practice I have tried to follow is to return a borrowed item in as good or better shape than when I received it. This can get costly as I have learned the hard way. I borrowed a car from my father-in-law, and put a nice crease down the side of it by hitting a mailbox. Another time I borrowed his pickup/camper for a family vacation and damaged it as well. It cost me both times, both in money and in pride, to get them repaired. The old maxim, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be," is wise counsel, because accidents happen, and, "The borrower is servant to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7b).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Borrowing should not be a habit because it can be expensive.
 
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Have an accident-free day. Love you.
 
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MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION

MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
II Kings 6:1-2
 
"And the sons of the prophet said to Elisha, 'See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.' So he answered, 'Go.' "
 
Elisha's following had grown with the addition of more prophets.  Often a successful ministry is faced with the challenge of the physical church becoming too small for the group. One way to solve the problem is to enlarge the present building to accommodate the people. Another way is for a part of the congregation to go to a new area and build another church. The sons of the prophets did it right. They did not just leave to start a new ministry; they went to the leader and sought permission and blessing to expand the ministry with additional facilities in a different part of the region. God's plan is multiplication and division. It is the division part that sometimes becomes the problem, because if it is done wrong with a spirit of rebellion, it splits the church and causes damage to the Kingdom. The Mothering concept of church growth seems to me to be the better solution.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Church growth is a blessing, but it is also a challenge to handle it in God's way.
 
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Have a "God's way" day.
 
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IS THIS THE TIME?

IS THIS THE TIME?
II Kings 5:26-27
 
"Then [Elisha] said to [Gehazi], 'Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? It is time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.' And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow."
 
Gehazi was not content with the spiritual rewards of ministry – he wanted material rewards also. So he used his position for financial gain. But he ended up with more than he bargained for. It is sad when people who are called to service in God's kingdom get their eyes off of spiritual ministry and onto material reward. Many end up losing their ministry. There is a time of sacrifice and there is a time of reward, but it is all in God's timing. Peter left all to follow Jesus. Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you there is no one who has left house or parents, or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the ages to come eternal life" (Luke 18:29-30). I can testify as a former pastor who ministered in small congregations that there were sacrifices, but in later years God has blessed us materially beyond our imaginations. God is faithful, but His reward will be in His time, not ours. And the real reward is heaven.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The blessings of ministry are not always material, but God will reward sacrifices made for the Kingdom in His time.
 
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Have a rewarding day. Love you.
 
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THE WEB OF DECEPTION

THE WEB OF DECEPTION
II Kings 5:25
 
"Now [Gehazi] went and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, 'Where did you go, Gehazi?' And he said, 'Your servant did not go anywhere.' "
 
Gehazi is a reminder of what happens when a person violates his own conscience. He knew it was wrong to get the "stuff" from Naaman, so he had to lie to get it (vs. 22). Then he hid his sin (vs. 24). Then he lied to the prophet of God (vs. 25). Once a person starts to weave a web of deception, he has to keep weaving with a lie here, a cover-up there, and another lie to cover the other deceptions. One deception leads to another until the sin is exposed. It is always better to live in honesty, even if it costs me something.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: It is better to live in truth and integrity than to have to keep covering my tracks.
 
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Have a truthful day. Love you.
 
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So Near, Yet So Far

SO NEAR, YET SO FAR
II Kings 5:20
 
"But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, 'Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.' "
 
Gehazi was so close to spiritual things – yet so far. He did not share the heart of Elisha because his heart was set on the things of this world. So he "ran after" material reward, just like Judas who betrayed the Lord Jesus. Elisha was not focused on the monetary reward, but on God's calling to minister to those in need. The love of money is a dangerous trap because it will cause me to miss the true reward. "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). "Set your mind [affection, KJV] on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The reward of ministry comes from how much I give, not how much I get.
 
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A LOAD OF DIRT

A LOAD OF DIRT
II Kings 5:17-19
 
"So Naaman said, 'Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD. Yet in this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD please pardon your servant in this thing.' Then [Elisha] said to him, 'Go in peace.' "
 
It seems strange that Naaman wanted to take dirt with him back to Syria. But I think the reason was that he was returning to a pagan culture that worshiped other gods, and he would be required by his position in that culture to bow down to a system that was antagonistic to his new faith in Yahweh. So he wanted to take something with him when he returned to Syria that would be a reminder of his faith in the true God – even if it was just dirt from Israel that was blessed by the prophet. We live in a culture that worships other gods and sometimes we are required to bow down to that culture. It is appropriate that we have symbols to remind us of our faith in the true God. A cross on a church reminds me of Jesus. Or it may be a scripture verse on the wall in my home or my kiosk at work – something that will remind me of my faith.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE – A symbol of faith will help keep the heart focused on Jesus.
 
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Have a "reminded" day. Love you.
 
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