THE LIFE OF ELISHA Thus Saith the Lord Lesson 4  09/07/16

Victory over our enemies is a very little thing with God.

Victory over our enemies is a very little thing with God. Miracles are a very small thing to God.

Victory over our enemies is a very little thing with God. Miracles are a very small thing to God. Watching after our relationship with Him daily is a very big thing to God.

23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

The Word from the Lord ~ 2 Kings 3:13-15 13Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

The Word from the Lord ~ 2 Kings 3:13-15 14And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. 15But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

Elisha Rebukes the Kings ~ 2 Kings 3:13-14 13Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” 14And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.

Elisha Rebukes the Kings ~ 2 Kings 3:13-14 13Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” 14And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.

Elisha Rebukes the Kings ~ 2 Kings 3:13-14 13Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” 14And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.

Elisha Rebukes the Kings ~ 2 Kings 3:13-14 But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

Unresolved guilt can only bring a feeling of condemnation and ruin Unresolved guilt can only bring a feeling of condemnation and ruin. Guilt causes man to resort to all kinds of escape mechanisms to stifle the guilt and escape the judgment of God.

Examples of Escape Mechanisms

Examples of Escape Mechanisms Freudian philosophy

Examples of Escape Mechanisms Freudian philosophy Human works or religious systems

Examples of Escape Mechanisms Freudian philosophy Human works or religious systems An appeal to conditions and circumstances

Examples of Escape Mechanisms Freudian philosophy Human works or religious systems An appeal to conditions and circumstances Bargaining with God

Examples of Escape Mechanisms Human works or religious systems An appeal to conditions and circumstances Bargaining with God Confession or admission of guilt without genuine repentance

1Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. 2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2)

We fail to see God’s answers to prayer and His deliverance for a number of reasons.

Failure to honestly confess sin with a view to dealing with a sin. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Ps. 66:18)

Failure to hear and respond to the Word. “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” (Prov. 28:9)

Asking with the wrong motives. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (Jas. 4:3)

Failure to ask in faith, believing God. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (Jas. 1:6)

Domestic problems, wrong relations with others. “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Pet. 3:7)

Failure to know the Lord and to come to God through Jesus Christ. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (Jn. 14:6)

Elisha Rebukes the Kings ~ 2 Kings 3:13-15 14aAnd Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand …”

1For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. (1 Thes. 2:1-4)

3For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. (1 Thes. 2:1-4)

Elisha sternly rebukes Jehoram … …while tacitly rebuking Jehoshaphat.

1Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications 1Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness. 2Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous. (Psalm 143:1-2)

Elisha Prepares to Deliver the Word ~ 2 Kings 3:15 15But now bring me a musician. Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

Not only does the heart need keeping … …it needs preparing so that we might be in a condition to hear, grasp, and respond to the Lord.

18Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. (Psalm 119:18)