2 Kings 4 [The Message]

Surely one of the great miracles of the Bible is the story of how Elisha brought back to life the son of the Shunamite woman who provided a room for he and Gehazi to use while passing through.

Her son dead, the distressed mother ran to Elisha to plead for him to help. That’s what mothers do. They live for their children.

Elisha ended up devoting a considerable amount of time and energy to praying for the boy’s body. Multiple times, the prophet laid himself over the body, mouth to mouth. He had great faith and would not quit believing. Eventually, the boy sneezed and life came back into him.

Lazarus and Jesus were also raised from the dead. The dead go to be with the Lord for their eternal reward. But in some cases, there is still God’s work to be done by them here on earth. Christ Jesus is the first fruit of resurrection life. We ALL will be raised SOME DAY.

2 Kings 3 [The Message]

Moab and Ammon, two sons of Lot through incest, were constant sources of irritation to Israel and Judah. They were products of the flesh, the general category of human lustful appetites and carnal desires. In the same way a Christian is in a constant struggle with the carnal appetites, Moab was always a thorn to God’s people.

Moab was defeated ONLY when God’s divine assistance was sought. In the same manner, our flesh and its carnal appetites can most effectively be conquered through God’s grace as provided with the infilling of His Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance (moderation and self-restraint): against such there is no law. [Gal. 5:22,23]

2 Kings 2 [The Message]

Elisha saw the power of God in Elijah’s life. He wanted it too. So, when given the opportunity, he followed the old prophet and became his apprentice. In effect, he was along for the ride, hoping to in some way inherit the power his master had. In fact, Elisha wanted a double portion (twice as much) of the power of God on his life.

This is the Biblical pattern of the impartation of God’s power … spiritual apprenticeship.

In 1971, I had just been discharged from the Army and Patty and I were just starting our family. God told me to serve a spiritual apprenticeship to the pastor of the church her parents were attending in Findlay, Ohio. His name was Moses Vegh (pronounced Vay). I never received the preaching gift he had, but I learned SO MUCH about the Church and kingdom protocol etc. He was a very loving man whose gift made you feel special to God. I hope that gift of God’s love has been operative in my life.

2 Kings 1 [The Message]

One of the clearest examples of Elijah’s power with God is the story recorded in this chapter. Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, was king of Israel. He had fallen off a balcony and was on his sickbed. Avoiding God’s counsel, he sent a war troop to inquire of Baalzebub, the idol god of Ekron, whether he would live or die. God told Elijah to intercept them and give him the bad news, “You’re gonna’ die.” Infuriated, Ahaziah sent another war troop to being Elijah back to him.

Seeing them coming, Elijah cried out, “If I be a man of God, let fire come down from Heaven and consume you.” ZAP! It happened. Elijah was clearly known for calling fire down from Heaven.

Mind you, neither God nor His prophets take pleasure in zapping adversaries. But, He defends His Holy Name and so should we.

Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

1 Kings 22 [The Message]

Don’t you often wonder how some politicians can come up with some crazy, non-practical advice on how our nation should go? I do! As Ahab was considering going to war with Ramothgilead, he consulted the prophets, they said, “Sure – go ahead. You will be wildly successful.” In truth, a lying seducing spirit had entered them to give Ahab disastrous advice that eventually led to he death.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits (test, prove, carefully weigh and examine) whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. [1 Jn. 4:1]

1 Kings 20, 21 [The Message]

Ahab was indeed a corrupt king. When his wife had Naboth killed so King Ahab could steal his vineyard, we see the tricks that were pulled to benefit the king at the expense of someone else. (Jezebel arranged for Naboth to be unjustly accused of treason and murdered.)

Leaders who think God doesn’t see their corruption are only fooling themselves. When they advantage themselves at the expense of their subjects, God takes note. Elijah was sent to the king to call him out. This is one big reason why Ahab and Jezebel hated Elijah like they did.

If we think or worry that current leaders escape God’s watchful eye, we are mistaken. God is gracious and always gives men the room to repent and make right. But, His cup gets so full and He must act to preserve the integrity of His Name. Meanwhile, we pray and trust Him to shield us from the effects of such corruption. Biden, Putin, Xi, Jong-un, Zelenskyy … they all are under the scrutiny of heaven for their actions.

Meanwhile, we keep praying and trusting.

1 Kings 19 [The Message]

I suppose we all have images in our mind of what Jezebel looked like … seductive, heavily made-up with lots of eye shadow, manipulative evil look in her eye, revealing clothing. We don’t know. We DO know that she was a devout Baal worshipper and that she was hoppin’ mad when Elijah killed all her prophets. She vowed to murder Elijah. What did he think? He was AFRAID!

He ran to exhaustion, was fed by an angel, and ran some more. His flight was for 40 days until he found himself in a hidden cave in Mt. Horeb. It was there he was visited by God and made to hear God’s voice. It completely changed him. There he received a new life assignment. It was a turning point in his life and ministry.

How about you? Do you have life threatening fears? Are you running? Maybe a season of fasting would yield the same results as Elijah experienced. Listen for God’s Voice. Read His Word. You shall receive power from Him to live the rest of your earthly life. You will have a new emphasis, a new mission. Receive it in Jesus’ Name!

1 Kings 18 [The Message]

King Ahab hated Elijah. He sought to kill him. Ahab thought Elijah was Israel’s problem. Elijah KNEW Ahab and his idolatrous ways was the real problem. To prove his point, Elijah challenged Ahab to assemble all the prophets of Baal (450) and other assorted idol prophets (400) and have a showdown. The God (god) who showed up with fire to consume an offering was indeed the REAL God.

The prophets of Baal went first. Nothing was happening to their offering, so Elijah began taunting them. “Maybe your god is asleep. Cry out louder.” They even began cutting themselves to elicit a response from Baal. They used every religious trick they knew to no avail.

Then, Elijah took action. He requested that his offering be soaked with water. God sent down fire from heaven and licked up the entire offering and the water and the stones and everything. Elijah, with the support of all the people, promptly took the 850 false prophets down the mountain to the Kishon stream and slaughtered them. Elijah was good with fire.

1 Kings 16, 17 [The Message]

While in music school, I had an honors composition assignment to write for chorus and instrumental ensemble. I became so impressed with the life of the prophet Elijah that I made him my theme. My composition was performed by music students from the college and later by the Hope Temple choir of Findlay, Ohio. I remember working on it during the night while my wife lay sleeping in the bed next to my desk. That was nearly 50 years ago. I used her maiden name, Pat Beck, as my pseudonym to acknowledge her latent contribution.

The point is … I was so taken by the dramatic way God used Elijah to annoy the wicked King Ahab of Israel. Elijah was so raw and uncouth they called him “An hairy man.” Yet his message and anointing were the most violent and authentic the nation had ever known. He could call down fire from heaven and consume army troops sent to apprehend him. If we saw him today, we would probably consider him a homeless, street person. But, he had great POWER WITH GOD.

We shall begin a several day examination of his remarkable life and ministry. If I can find a recording of my composition, I will share it.

1 Kings 15 [The Message]

No one loves a clean house more than Patty, my wife of 53 years. She gets “little girl” giggly when our house is clean. (She is very annoyed at the thought of my mess in the garage) After all, cleanliness is not “next to Godliness,” it IS Godliness.

King Asa of Judah did a different type pf cleaning house. When he became king he removed the sodomites (perverted male cult prostitutes) and all the idols prior kings had made. He no doubt evaluated the kingdom and removed what was not pleasing to the Lord.

Paul’s ministry to Ephesus produced a revival in which people cleaned house and brought out all their curious arts (occult, sorcery, and magic books ie. “dark” video games) and burned them in a big heap.

It’s good to really clean house once in a while.