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A glimpse

A glimpse

2 Kings 6:15-17 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.” 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.

“And he saw…..” The Lord gave Elisha’s servant a glimpse into a spiritual world that surrounds us every day, and very few have ever seen. The king of Syria had sent a great army after Elisha, but God had sent a greater army to protect him. Elisha was a man of great faith, and God used him in powerful ways throughout his life as Elijah’s successor. The servant in this story was about to hit the panic button when one of life’s situations came at him. He did not know which way to turn, but Elisha simply told him to look up; to focus on where his faith lied and the understanding that God was always in control.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. We all get so wrapped up in our own little worlds and our focus of things in our daily lives. We have families, careers, desires, and the list could go on and on. The world through stresses and strains almost daily tries to us to drag our attention away, or to even readjust our focus to another. But all the strains of life will either take us simply one direction or the other. We will be pulled down into those anxieties of this world, or we will look up to our Lord for the strength He and His army provide. Can you imagine Elisha’s servant’s immediate leap of faith with that glimpse?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I openly battle anxiety and everything that comes with it. I return to God’s Word and prayer daily for the strength He provides through them. It is only through these things that I gain the strength and the faith to fight this war that I cannot see. I am not worthy to even be considered for the tasks my Lord may place before me; but as a soldier for Christ I am only to obey and to rest in the faith He is sovereign, and in complete control. The faith that Elisha’s servant, and even Elisha had is available to us. It will only come with a heart consistently looking upward, and not being dragged downward to the strains that lie before us.

 
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Posted by on September 5, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Warfare

Warfare

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This morning my mind seemed to be in reflection of what the Memorial Day weekend represents. Those fallen heros that have fought and died for our freedom. I thought of the ultimate war, the war against sin; and how Christ had paid the ultimate price with His life, and won the war for eternity for us over sin. I thought of writing of the defeated enemy Satan and how I believe he does not even understand he is already defeated. He is the great deceiver and liar, and he has ultimately deceived himself. But I thought of the Spiritual War that is still prevalent around us with this defeated foe. Satan still works his evil every day in every way to draw you away from Christ. You can’t see this war, but you do feel the very real effects from it. But through the strength and power of God you can still fight in it.

2 Kings 6:15-17 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.” 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.

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible for it gives us a peek into the unseen Spiritual World that surrounds us at every moment of every day. This gives us a glimpse into the unknown, which affects the known we experience. The two are tied together, but yet since we cannot see the Spiritual one before our eyes, we are tempted to dismiss it. The Spiritual battles are fought on plains that we can only fight through the power of God and His Word. 2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. We must fight the sin of pride in believing we can war in the Spirit, and only commit our Spirit to God to fight that war. Our Spirit steep in faith and armed with His Word will realize the battle we are in and follow the leadership of Christ in that battle. Through the training and understanding that comes with time with God in prayer and His Word, we can rest on the assurance of our supreme commander that He will not lead us where He cannot protect us, and that we ultimately win the war.

 
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Posted by on May 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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