The day with dianne Louise

Then Elisha prayed, "lord please open his eyes and let him see." So The Lord opened the servant's eyes. He looked and saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to The Lord, "please strike this nation with blindness." So He struck them with blindness, according to Elisha's word. 2Kings 6:17,18 Right vision sees what is invisible and blindness covers even what is natural. Elisha saw in the Spirit. We need to see in the spirit. What is God doing? What is He saying? We can, like Elisha, pray that we are delivered and that our enemies are blinded. We hear many stories from the bible smuggling times when the bibles were not seen. There must be many such stories. The Lord loves to reveal His mighty acts to His believers and confound those who think they are wise. He is at work, our job is to discover what He is doing and become involved. Amen!

When the king of Aram was waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, "my camp will be at such and such a place." But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "be careful in passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there." Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place that the man of God told him about. The man of God repeatedly warned the king, so the king would be on his guard. The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, "tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?" One of the servants said, " no one, my Lord the king. Elisha the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel every word you speak in your bedroom." 2 Kings 6:8-12 Our God is in charge, we do not call the shots as much as we become enamoured with our positions and the people that follow, He is still God. I think it is funny that the servant told the king that Elisha heard e...

The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "please notice that the place where we live under your supervision is too small for us. Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and build ourselves a place to live there." "Go," he said. Then one said, " please come with your servants." "I'll come," he answered. So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, "oh, my master, it was borrowed!" Then the man of God asked, "where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float. Then he said, "pick it up." So he reached out and took it. 2 Kings 6:1-7 This story has an almost surreal feel to it. This community of prophets are so well mannered, obedient and 'nice'. Don't you agree? Almost like an Amish community. ...

But Elisha questioned him, "wasn't my spirit there when the man got down from the chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves? Therefore, Naaman's skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever." So Gehazi went out of his presence diseased- white as snow. 2 Kings 5:26,27 I have experienced having my spirit be somewhere else and witness something The Lord wanted me to know. I cannot will it, it is supernatural. If I, an ordinary follower of Christ has experienced it then it is safe to assume it is available to all believers. We each have the Holy Spirit residing in us. I am shown things so that I will pray. There are times I will hear someone, or sense someone and a touch will come on my lips and I know to pray for that person. The Holy Spirit wants us to be spiritual people and we become that as we yield to His control. There are times like now when I sense fear an...

Naaman, a commander of tha army for the king of Aram, was a great man in his master's sight and highly regarded because through him The Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a brave warrior, but he had a skin disease. Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, " If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease." So Naaman's went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. Therefore the king of Aram said, "go and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel." 2 Kings 5:1-5 Two people stand out here: the prophet Elisha and the young girl from Israel. Elisha had a proven track record, by diligently doing as The Lord commanded him and not overstepping his brief; the young girl had been raised to know the Lord and respected Elisha, perhaps she had witnessed him in action or perhaps she had...

A man came from Baal-shalisha came to the man if God with his sack full of 20 loaves of barley bread from the first bread of the harvest. Elisha said, "give it to the people to eat." But Elisha's attendant asked," What? Am I to set 20 loaves before 100 men?" "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said, "for this is what The Lord says: " They will eat and they will have some left over."  So he gave it to them, and as The Lord promised they ate and had some left over." 2Kings 4:42-44 Jesus, Son of God, knew scripture and knew the heart of God, for He was the heart of God. Here God used 20 loaves to feed 100, Jesus took 5 small loaves to feed 5,000. God takes the insufficient provision and multiplies it to meet the complete need. If you are facing insufficient today, use what you have and watch for God to work on your behalf. Amen! Elisha was a man who believed God for double anointing and in that anointing stepped out to miracles. Ame...

When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet. He said to his attendant, "put on the large pot and make stew for the sons of the prophets." One went to the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment would hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, but they were unaware of what they were. They served some for the men to eat, but when they ate the stew they cried out, "there's death in the pot, man of God!" And they were unable to eat it. Then Elisha said, "get some meal." He threw it in the pot and said, "serve it for the people to eat." And there was nothing bad in the pot. 2 Kings 4:38-41 Elisha was a more personable prophet than Elijah. We see him interacting with ordinary folk more. Perhaps it had to do with his upbringing. I am sorry but the girl in me laughs at the fact that the men foraged for...

The boy's mother said to Elisha, "as The Lord lives and you yourself live, I will not leave you. So he got up and followed her. 2 Kings 4:30 The Shunamite woman had travelled to Mt Carmel to find Elisha after the death of her son. Although Elisha had sent his servant Gehazi to the boy with his staff the woman had come to find Elisha and was not leaving without him. I like this lady's spirit. I am sure The Lord God Almighty also valued her heart. She had a heart for God and made room for Him in her world. Now, having lost her son she knew what to do: find Elisha and not let him go until he came to restore her son. What made the Shunamite woman believe that Elisha could raise her son? Was it the same faith that made her provide him a place to stay in her home? I believe it was God working in her life. I am grateful for her faith, I can read and be encouraged. We do not know her name yet her story lives in scripture. What a little thing it was to feed Elisha and then provide ...

One day Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent women who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat. Then she said to her husband, " I know that the one who often passes by here is a holy man of God, so let's make a small room upstairs and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp there for him. Whenever he comes he can stay there." 2 kings 4:8-10 I love this story! A woman saw God in his prophet, I believe The Lord revealed it to her. She was hungry for God and did what she knew, she fed the prophet, but there was more, she wanted to house the prophet and give him comfort. She was attracted to God in him. The woman persuaded her husband to build a room and fill it with necessary furniture for the prophet. She never asked for anything in return, perhaps having godliness in her house was enough. But God had a plan. As we read on God provided a son as she was barren, what joy! His plans are best. Even when her son suddenly dies G...

One of the wives of the sons of he prophets cried out to Elisha, "your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared The Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves," Elisha asked her, "what can I do for you? Tell me what do you have in the house?"  She said, "your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil." Then he said, "go and borrow empty containers from everyone- from all your neighbours. Do not get just a few. Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full to one side." So she left. Then after she had shut the door behind her and her sons they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring. When they were full, she said to her son, "bring another container." But he replied, "there aren't any more." Then the oil stopped. She went and told the man of God, he said, "go and sell the oil and pay you...

Elisha picked up the mantle that had fallen off Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle Elijah had dropped and struck the waters, "where is the God of Elijah? He asked. He struck the waters himself, and they parted to the right and to the left, and Elijah crossed over. When the sons of the prophets from Jericho who were facing saw him they said, "the spirit rests on Elisha". Hey came to meet him and bowed down to the ground in front of him. 2 Kings 2:13-15 Elisha had seen Elijah do exactly the same thing. Elijah had asked Elisha what he wanted from him and Elisha had replied, "I want double the spirit of Elijah." This act was proof that the spirit had indeed been given. It was also witnessed by a group of young prophets. Do you know what you want? Are you seeking God for what is yours? Are you a disciple of a great man or woman? Stay faithful and never be put off. Elijah tried three times to leave Elisha and Elisha refu...

The time had come for The Lord to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were travelling from Gilgal, and Elijah said to Elisha, "stay here; The Lord is sending me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, " As The Lord  lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went on to Bethel. 2 Kings 2:1,2 When Elijah had fled from Jezebel he urged his servant to stay behind and the servant did so willingly. I wonder if he had said the same thing as Elisha would the story have changed? From the outset Elisha was passionate and hungry, not wanting to miss out. Nothing would dissuade him. Being able to recognise God for ourselves is important. A servant can be an eternal servant with blinkers on and never progress or have a hunger for more and constantly on the look out for the more. You might be an employee and have an eternal hunger for your own business. To progress you must be hungry and in the process diligent and passionate about your employe...

After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel. Ahaziah. (Ahab's son) had fallen through the latticed window of his upper room in Samaria and was injured. So he sent messengers instructing them: "go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will recover from this injury." But the angel of The Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, "go 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 to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron. Therefore, this is what The Lord says: "you will not get up from your sickbed- you will certainly die."Then Elijah left. 2 Kings 1:1-4 There is only one living God and He is mighty. All other so called gods are fabrications of men's minds. We believe if we can create a god we can control it. However, in former days superstition would have played a large part in deification. Yet the result is the same. Anything we construct out if fear or pride will f...

So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men, and asked them, "should I go against Ramoth-Gilead for war or should I refrain?" They replied, "march up, and The Lord will hand it over to the king." But Jehoshaphat asked, "isn't there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore?"let's us ask him." The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "there is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah. "The king shouldn't say that!" Replied Jehoshaphat" 1 Kings 22:6-8 It is amazing that Ahab had managed to collect another 400 prophets after the 400 that Elijah slayed. It never ceases to amaze how many are keen to get in on the act of prophesy when not having any relationship with the living God. Jehoshaphat knew they were fakes. I wonder what gave them away? What gives away a fake? Pomp? grovelling to the evil king? Language? Whatever it ...

When Ahab hear these words (the judgement of The Lord for killing Naboth), he tore his garments, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted.he lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued. Then the word of The Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: " have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime, because he has humbled himself before Me."  1 kings 21:27-29 Ahab's repentance was shallow yet God accepted his attempt. Judgement still came to Ahab's family, in his son's lifetime. If God has regard for a shallow attempt at righteousness how much more will He consider a righteous man's repentance. God loves repentance. It is His gift to us. He enables us to become right with Him. Why? Because He so values our relationship. We really don't grasp the depth, height and breadth of His love. His love is genuine, when ours is fickle. The value we receive from repentance is determined by how closely we interface with...

Ahab said to Elijah, "so you have caught me, my enemy." Elijah replied, "I have caught you because you have devoted yourself to do what is evil in the Lord's sight". 1 Kings 21:20 Ahab  wanted what was not his and when he could not get it, sulked. As a result his wife Jezebel hatched a plot to have the true owner stoned to death because of a trumped up charge against him. When Ahab got what he wanted he went to take possession and that is when Elijah was despatched by The Lord to confront him. Ahab was continually in trouble because of the choices he made in life. At the core of his being there was not much good. His heart was anywhere but in God's word. Have you ever met anyone like Ahab? They take what is not theirs and have no problem with the decision. They have given themselves to a belief system that is totally false and based on what they themselves want and desire. Each if us have a part if this nature, it is the sin nature we were born into. As Chri...

They camped opposite each other ( Israel and Aram) for seven days. On the seventh day the battle took place, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans -100,000 foot soldiers in one day. The ones who remained fled into the city of Apek, and the walls fell on those 27,000 remaining men. 1 kings 20:29,30 The Israelite army was small (like two small flocks of goats surrounded by a large army). God was in the plan and Ahab followed the plan, to a point. If God lays down the plan then who are we to fear? If He is in control what can we change by worry? Today I headed off to see a client 5 hours drive away and when I had travelled 11/2hours my car lost power and the gear box failed. I happen to have a VWGolf. There is a  recall on many models of VW cars because of a fault in the gear box. I was 10kms outside a small town on my way to another small town. There was a reasonable amount of traffic. Precisely where my car failed the road had just opened up to include a turn off lane for a ce...

In the spring, Benhadad mobilised the Arameans and went up to Aphek to battle Israel. The Israelites mobilised, gathered supplies, and went to fight them. The Israelites camped in front of them like the two little flocks of goats, while the Arameans filled the landscape. Then the man of God approached and said to the king of Israel, "this is what Yahweh says:' because the Arameans have said: Yahweh is a god of the mountains and not a god of the alleys, I will hand over all this great army to you. Then you will know that I am The Lord.'" 1 Kings 20:26-28 Our God is not limited! He is God of all! We cannot put Him in a box and when our enemies scoff at our faith they find themselves in a box. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. Is 30:15 did you know the full rendition of this verse is: 'this is what the sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: ' in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would h...

Then the king of Israel (Ahab) marched out and attacked the Calvary and chariots of Benhadad, king of Aram, and he inflicted a great slaughter on Aram. The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, " go and strengthen yourself, then consider what you should do, for in the spring the king of Aram will march against you." 1 Kings 20:21,22 Now we know scripture tells us that Ahab was a wicked king, but God was with him to defeat a heathen nation. Mind you Ahab was close to being heathen himself. Yet God was with him. If our God, who says He knows the number of hairs on our head is for us, then who can be against us? Romans 8:31  How can we doubt when He shows Himself to be so great? Do you read the scriptures, His stories? They are full of His exploits on behalf of His people. You could argue that He is fickle because He supports a wicked king, yet do you realise that He may be using a wicked king to defeat a man who may harm his faithful in Judah? There is always a...

Now Benhadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Thirty two kings, along with horses and chariots, were with him. He marched up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it. He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, "this is what Benhadad says; "your silver and go,d are mine! And your best wives and children are mine as well!" 1 Kings 20:1-4 In chapter 15 of 1 kings we see that Ahab's predecessor Baasha made was R with King Asa of Judah. Asa took all his gold and silver and sent it to Benhadad and reminded him of the covenant he had with his family, so there was peace between them. Here we see Benhadad come up against Ahab. Benhadad obviously loved the gold and silver and proposed to take Ahab's wives, his best. The naughty person in me wonders if Jezebel would be left behind. Ahab agrees to the terms until Benhadad, in his pride, goes further than his initial demands. Ahab did not seek The Lord, he sought the opinions of the peo...

Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him. 1 Kings 19:19 Elisha was busy working in his current trade. He may have had a heart that sought The Lord and was desirous of being used by God, yet we don't see him idle or wasting time. He was diligent in what he had to do. When Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha we see Elisha respond and run after the prophet. Politely he asked permission to say goodbye to his family, it was given. Elisha next kills the beasts and makes a sacrifice to The Lord, then he follows Elijah and serves him. We know his family must have been well off because he had a team of 12 oxen to plow, he was able to sacrifice the oxen and make a feast for the people, perhaps the people of his village. Position did not prevent Elisha from becoming a servant to Elijah. He was delighted to do so. Anyone waiting to be used by...

Then the word of The Lord came to Elijah and He said to him, "what are you doing here Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your  covenant, torn down your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life." Then He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord's presence." 1 Kings 19:9-11 Notice The Lord did not endorse Elijah's lament, nor did He show pity. Elijah was doing enough with self-pity. Yet, our God did not condemn him. Much like a good father, The Lord instructed Elijah where to go next, giving an anticipation of God's next move. Elijah goes to the mountain and God reveals His power but Elijah waits for His voice, a still, small voice. Again God asks Elijah why he is there and again Elijah replies as before, he has nothing new to add, even in the midst of God being so evident in his care. Elijah was...

Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, "get up and eat." Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, " get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you". So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. He entered a cave. There and spent the night. 1 kings 19:5-9 Does this sound like an uncaring, remote God?  No! Our God is vitally aware of all that transpires. Problems arise when we fail to see His hand and become distressed because things don't go to plan as we imagine they should. Elijah was in distress. He had expected things to go differently and was confronted by the evil Jezebel and he ran. He ran over 100 Kms to the desert and lay down under a broom tree to die. Yet our God sent an...

When he came to Beersheeba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, but he went on a days journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, "I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. 1 Kings 19:3-5 Ever felt chased? Condemned?  Maligned? Ostracized? Alone? Everyone that steps out will struggle with this. Ever prayed a prayer like Elijah's? I have. Fortunately The Lord did not answer Elijah's prayer as requested and likewise ours as requested. God could see what Elijah could not and all would be well. He just needed to be refreshed in The Lord. Our God has so much patience with us and does not judge as we expect. Lift up the limbs that hang down and trust Him to keep you and bring you theoufh amen!

Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a message to Elijah saying: "may the gods punish me and do so severely if I don't make your life like the life of one of the prophets you killed by this time tomorrow." Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. 1 kings 19:1-3 Ahab is a spineless troublemaker. He did not have the intestinal fortitude to repent or deal with Elijah now that he had him. Rather he went and reported to Jezebel and let her loose. This type of person is dangerous. Elijah would have been exhausted. He would have come down from the emotional high of seeing God's faithful appearance and display of power; the destruction of all the prophets of Baal; the intercession for rain; the superhuman run back to Jezreel and now the blatant unrepentant attack by Jezebel and knowing that Ahab had not learnt a thing. It is understandable why Elijah ran. But even in running...

Elijah said to Ahab, "go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm." So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, "go up and look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "there's nothing." Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." On the seventh time, he reported, "there's a cloud as small as a man's hand coming from the sea." The Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, "Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn't stop you." In a little while the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel. The power of The Lord was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:  41-46 A few things I find interesting about this story. In the previou...

Then Elijah ordered them, "seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let even one of them escape." So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon and slaughtered them there. 1 kings 18:40 Death to the idolatry! When I was a teenager there was a big push to destroy all our old records and a sign we were totally the Lords. I ended up with one LP record, a Christian album. I don't know that the young people do that any more and I don't know the value of what we did except we were zealous for The Lord and evangelism. We ran a coffee shop and had teams going downtown to find lost teenagers who wanted to come and talk about Christ. In a back room another team prayed. It was an awesome time. Being zealous and having single focus is good because while you are in that space you are not walking in the flesh as much and being hungry for the word of god consumes you. If there was not a meeting we created one. Friday night was youth discipleship night. We had a mini...

Then Elijah said to the people, "I am the only remaining prophet of The Lord, but Baal prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. Then you call on e name of your God, and I will call on the name of Yahweh. The God who answers with fire He is God," All the people answered, " that sounds good." 1 kings 18:22-24 The people could see a show coming, a demonstration of power. I wonder if they secretly wished that Baal would show up, or did they remember the stories of old? God was planning to show how He was indeed God. Elijah allowed the Baal worship each to go first. They danced and pranced, cut themselves without avail. Finally it was God's turn. Elijah poured three lots of water all over the sacrifice and still God showed up. He had no problem with the odds, He liked t...

So Ahab summoned all the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. Then Elijah approached all the people and said: " how long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him. 1 kings 18:20,21 We can read this and think: ' what a bunch of turkeys!' Yet if the truth be known we hedge our bets, all the time. For example: ' lord heal me, but just to be sure I'll buy all these health food supplements that the guy on-line recommends, because I am following him. Lord help me with my finances but just in case. I'll take out a credit card to help out. Do we trust The Lord or own own efforts? Who is master? Who is Lord? Ahab was so far from God he had no way of return because he could no longer recognise his sin. Elijah was more concerned with the sheep, the people. The people had followed Ahab and had a bit of both:  idolatry and Yahweh. As Jesus said: " a little leaven leavens the whole...

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "is that you, you destroyer of Israel?" Elijah replied, "I have not destroyed Israel, you and your father's house have, because you have abandoned the Lord's commands and followed the Baals. Now summon all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebels table," 1 kings 18:17-19 A face off was coming! Elijah full of the Holy Spirit was challenging the satanic hoarders. How exciting! Our God holds all things in His hands. He is at peace, we need to rest in His peace. He knew He was well able to triumph over all His enemies and went on to do so in front of all Israel. In the night I was awake conversing with The Lord. He said to me, "I am!" I am not striving to be, I am. When you know what you are and what you are capable of you rest no matter what comes against you. He then reminded me that I am in His hands, hands that are at rest. How awes...

After a long time, the word of The Lord came to Elijah in the third year: " go and present yourself to Ahab, I will send rain on the surface of the land." So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria. 1 kings 18:1,2 Ahab was enraged because he could not find Elijah. When God hides something you will not find it until He wants it found. Ahab had gone everywhere, almost, to look for Elijah, but to no avail. Obadiah, a godly man, was a servant of Ahab. Elijah meets him on the road and when Elijah tells him to go and tell Ahab he is back he refuses as he is in fear of God whisking Elijah off again and himself suffering the consequence, Elijah had to assure him. Obadiah knew it was God who took Elijah. You and I can read the account of what happened but everyone else, at that time,  knew it was mysterious and a little mystical. Let us allow God access to our world as Elijah did and let Him create the mystery. He loves it and when you can trust Him, s...

Then the word of The Lord came to Elijah saying: "get up and go to Zarephath that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there." So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. 1 Kings 17:8-10 Elijah had been at a wadi being fed by ravens until the water dried up. Now God is giving him a command to go to a woman in Zarephath. I wonder if he was thinking: ' good! I was wondering what next, a step up. Now I'll be waited on by a woman!" What a surprise when he arrived, no doubt hungry and thirsty. The widow was gathering sticks to light a fire for her last meal. She had a little flour and oil, enough for one last cake. She thought this was the end. She did not show signs that God had spoken to her and prepared her to look after a prophet, one who had caused the drought in the first place. Elijah stepped up to the plate and rought a miracle, one that would continue. Next the son dies, perhaps from malnutrition and El...

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab: "As The Lord God of Israel lives, I stand before Him, and there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!" Then a revelation from The Lord came to him: "Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. You are to drink from the wadi, I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there." 1 Kings 17:1-4 Elijah does not, it seem, come from the Hebrew nation, yet he heard from The Lord and was ardent in following his ways. He boldly stood up to Ahab, a wicked and malevolent ruler. I love how my God had a man in a wicked nation, who would stand for righteousness and boldly proclaim the truth. He stepped out in the power of the Almighty. We see in the above scripture how God had a plan to provide for his man, while at the same time punishing a wicked nation. A drought would come on the land and food would be scarce. The rivers would dry up an...

Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the 38th year of Judah's king Asa; Ahab reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years. Ahab did more to provoke The Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him. During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he set up its gates, according to the word of The Lord He had spoken through Joshua son of Nun, 1 kings 16:29,30, 33,34 Wicked men seemed to prosper but interwoven through all that they plotted and did was the prophesy against them. 1406 BC Joshua son of Nun prophesied about the cost the man who rebuilt Jericho would endure. 869-850 Ahab ruled. So, centuries before Joshua spoke and now his word was made live. Are you enduring a wicked generation, are you abused for the truth you speak? Rise up and speak the word of The Lord, prophesy into the future, speak His words over your world. Be a part of the answer and do...

Asa did what was right in the Lord's eyes, as his ancestor David had done. He banished the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all of the idols that his father had made. He also removed his grandmother Maacah from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image and burned it in the Kidron valley. The high places were not taken away; but Asa's heart was completely devoted to The Lord his entire life. 1 Kings 15:11-14 But in his old age he developed a disease in his feet. V23 2 Chronicles tells us a little more about Asa's feet. It says he did not consult The Lord, only his physicians. It appears although he loved The Lord, he did not trust him with his health. However, he did do something right. Asa's son was Jehoshaphat and he went further, he removed the high places and sought The Lord as a practice before he went to war. He also honoured the man of God.  At the same time Israel suffered at the hands o...

A man of God came from Judah to Bethel by a revelation from The Lord while Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense. The man of God cried out against the altar by a revelation from The Lord: " altar, altar, this is what The Lord says, ' a son will be born to the house of David, named Josiah, and he will sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who are burning incense on you. Human bones will be burned on you. He gave a sign that day. He said, " this is the sign that The Lord has spoken: the altar will now be ripped apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out." I Kings 13:1-3 In 2 kings 23:17 Josiah had the bones of the dead false priests dug up and burned just as the prophesy foretold. This happened some 300 years later. After Solomon the kingdom was divided between Solomon's son Rehoboam, who's foolishness caused him to lose all of the tribes except the tribe of Judah, and Jeroboram son of Nebat. He had refused to listen to th...

The weight of gold that came to Solomon annually was 25 tons, beside what came from merchants, traders merchandise, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land. I Kings 10:14 How do we measure our success? By the amount of sales, souls, churches, by the expanse of our reach? Solomon had it all it appears. Everyone wanted to know him, it seems but what success did he really have? What do we remember about him? He was the wisest man who ever lived and probably the richest but what was his legacy? The kingdom was rent from his sons hands, all but Judah. Why? Because Solomon did not follow The Lord with all his heart and had other idols. Solomon's father loved The Lord with all his heart even though he messed up at times. Yet he was unable to pass this love on. What went wrong? We could all look at our our parenting and see our mistakes. We see our children grow up and make their own choices, some wise, some not. Is there more we could have done? As I grow older I can see that ...

When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to The Lord, "look, I am the one who sinned; I am the one who has done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let your hand be against me and my father's house. 2 Samuel 24:17 David has sinned against The Lord by counting all his soldiers and he knew it. He prayed that his guilt might be removed and the prophet said to him, come back in the morning and I will tell you what The Lord says. The Lord gave David three choices: 3 years of famine; to flee from your foes for three months; or have a plague in your land for three days. David did not know what to choose and left it up to The Lord. He did not want to fall into the hands of men but either the 3 years of famine or the plague was what he gave God the option of choosing. David did in fact make a decision. One was a direct punishment for him and two would involve his people. When he saw the actual devastation of his choice  he was smitten as only a good shephe...

When Solomon was old, his wives seduced him to follow other gods. (V 4) Then The Lord said to Solomon, "since you have done this and did not keep My commandments and My statutes, which I commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. However, I will not do it during your lifetime because of your father David, I will tear it out of your son's hand. Yet I will not tear the entire kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son because of my servant David and because of Jerusalem that I chose." I Kings 11:4, 11-13 Obviously there were prophets and one spoke to Solomon about his behaviour. Nathan had received a word for David when he had sinned by taking Bathsheba and killing her husband. David had heeded God's judgement and repented. We do not see that Solomon heard the word of The Lord or that he repented. Perhaps he had only acknowledged the prophet as one voice, not 'the voice'. All that had been amassed was coming t...

King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom. 1kings 10:23 King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh's daughter.1 Kings10:1 Between these two verses there is a moral chasm. Solomon had given himself to lust, thinking he could hold 'fire in his bosom'!  Where was Nathan the prophet or his successor? We don't hear e voice of God dissuading Solomon as He did Solomon's father David. Solomon appears to have established himself as the ultimate authority without accountability. This caused his downfall. When a man, not matter how clever he is, makes himself accountable to his own interpretation of scripture he is in danger. Being accountable to a team who has the authority to pull you up is important. You need to have given your ear to someone and trust them to be faithful in applying scripture to your life. I have been involved in this exact same situation and knowing that if submission was given to Godly authority we would ...

Solomon and all of Israel with him- a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt-observed the festival at that time in the presence of The Lord our God, seven days, and seven more days-14 days. On the fifteenth day he sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went home to their tents rejoicing and with joyful hearts for all the goodness that The Lord had done for His servant David and for His people Israel. 1kings 8:65,66 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep were slaughtered and offered to The Lord in sacrifice. This then became a large state funded national festival. Two weeks of fellowship, worship and celebration ensued. No wonder the people were happy. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 tells us that fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the sacrifices, even The Lord enjoyed Himself. Solomon was establishing good and sound practices, he did his best in establishing the temple. He chose the best wood and stone, he overlaid the wooden walls with g...

When Solomon finished building the temple of The Lord, the royal palace, and all that Solomon desired to do, The Lord appeared to Solomon a second time just as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. The Lord said to him: "I have heard your prayer and petition you have made before Me. I have consecrated this temple you have built, to put My name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there at all times. As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and in what is right, doing everything I have commanded you, and if you keep My ordinances and My statutes, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David: you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel". 1Kings 9:1-5 The Lord's presence filled the temple, He was present. Solomon had desired a good thing and led the people to worship as they were meant to. God declared Himself faithful to the faithful. "If you walk in integrity, a...

Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father's place, for Hiram had always been friends with David. Solomon sent this message to Hiram: "you know my father David was not able to build a temple for the name of Yahweh his God. This was because of the warfare all around him until The Lord put his enemies under his feet. The Lord God has now given me rest all around; there is no enemy or crisis. So I plan to build a temple for the Name of Yahweh my God, according to what The Lord promised my father David: I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the temple for my name." 1kings 5:1-5 There are seasons and men for those seasons. One man will plow the field and another will sow the grain and another reap the harvest. David has struggled with a desire to build The Lord a house but God had other plans. Although the temple was going to happen, it had to wait until the right person was on the th...

God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding as vast as the sand of the seashore. Solomon's wisdom wisdom was greater than all the wisdom of all the people of the East,greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone - wiser than Eathan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Dardas, sons of Mahol. His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations. Solomon composed 3,000 proverbs, and his songs numbered 1,005. He described trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. People came from everywhere, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, to listen to Solomon's wisdom. 1 Kings 4:29-34 God's wisdom is great! He know all there is the know about all the galaxies out there that we don't know exist. When I look at the small intricacies of small bugs and delicate flowers I am amazed at the mind that created them. When I hear about scientists close...

The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon The Lord appeared toSolomon in a dream at night. God said, "ask. What. Should I give you?" And Solomon replied, " you've shown great and faithful love to you servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on the throne, as it is today. Lord my god, You have now made Your servant king in my father David's place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience I leadership. Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, a people too numerous to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" Now it pleased The Lord that Solomon  had requested this. 1 Kings 3:4-...

As the time approached for David to die, he instructed his son Solomon, "as for me, I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong and be courageous like a man, and keep your obligation to The Lord your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn, so that The Lord will carry out His promise that He made to me: 'if your sons are careful to walk faithfully before Me with their whole mind and heart, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' 1 Kings 2:1-4 We all desire that our children will walk in the ways of The Lord and raise their children to walk in the ways of The Lord. However, what we know to be the ways of The Lord, they do not automatically recognise as they mature and become their own person.  When they become their own person their walk with The Lord is between them and Him. He sees where He would ...

 And tell Archippus, "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in The Lord, so that you can accomplish it". Colossians 4:17 Archippus was a son of Philemon. What was he being called back from? His father was a wealthy business man. Did Archipus become embroiled in business or was he inclined to waste time. We do not know but this verse serves to remind us that each of us has a ministry that we need to focus on. Young people today tent to want to travel before settling down into further study or a career. Being a young person or an old person is no excuse for 'time out' from ministry, unless it is a rest we need due to illness or exhaustion. Ministry can be accomplished no matter what the occupation. Above all we are ambassadors for Christ. No matter where we are, we are ambassadors. We can retain a Christ focus in all our life, in good times and bad times, in sickness and in health ( sounds like a marriage covenant doesn't it?) We can become unduly preoccup...

Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful servant, and fellow slave in The Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and so that he may encourage your hearts. He is with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one with you. They will tell you about everything here. Colossians 4:7-9 Isn't it good that there are faithful servants of the gospel, still? How they refresh our souls! Today found me in church twice as I was serving on team and also bringing a report about reconciliation in DivorceCare, two so far. I had the opportunity to pray for two people and minister to another, what a blessing. This afternoon found me praying for one of these for a breakthrough. How I enjoy sharing in what the Holy Spirit is doing, He is an awesome partner! Being at church I heard two good messages from Romans 5. Hope does not disappoint. Being in church made me grateful for those who come early to practice...

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak. Act wisely towards outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person. Colossians 4:2-6 The opening verse is a command: 'devote yourself to prayer'. What does that look like? Living a monastic life? No! As we devote ourselves to something we make it a practice, a habit, doing it regularly. If we go to pray first, when trouble comes, then complaining has no time. Prayer strengthens us! It gives a heavenly focus, a Godly mindset as we lay all before the throne of God. If we need direction, go to prayer. If we need provision, go to prayer. If we are in conflict, go to prayer. If we want to celebrate, go to prayer in thanks...

Wives be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in The Lord. Husbands, love your wives and don't be bitter towards them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases The Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so they won't become discouraged. Slaves ( servants) obey your human masters in everything. Don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing The Lord. Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for The Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from The Lord. You serve The Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favouritism. Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven. Colossians 3:18-25 In every instance above: wives; husbands; children; fathers; servants; masters, there is an attitude required. Wives submitting is not a do...

Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of The Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:16,17 As we allow the message about the Messiah to dwell richly among us we grow in grace and truth. As we take in new information about anyone or anything and begin to investigate it, talk about it with others who know then we embrace that person or thing as our own. Fellowship makes a truth most palatable, enjoyable, fun! Sharing things we discover about Christ, how He speaks to us through scripture, songs we discover, all make the experience a deeper more fulfilling, living reality. By doing everything in word or deed, in the name of The Lord, causes us to have an accountability reference point. If I am an ambassador for Australia in a foreign countr...