3 Men, 1of3

~ 3 Men In 3 Different Conditions ~

Your Choice!  ~  The Bible describes three kinds of human beings.  In this and two subsequent posts we will look at the three from different perspectives.   The most important two questions for each individual to answer are:

1. Am I a disciple of Jesus Christ?
2. If so, am I living like it? 

Man In The Flesh  ~  Jesus in His discussion with Nicodemus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water [natural human birth—in flesh] and the Spirit [supernatural spiritual birth—from above], he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.  So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-8).  We were all born humanly in the flesh—human physical bodies. 

Man In Christ  ~  “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:16-19).  Those who have been “born again” are totally new creations in Christ Jesus. 

“Man Of God”  ~  There are many individuals in the Scriptures who are described as being a “man of God.”  Perhaps we read this more often about Elisha than any other person.  One passage stands out to me.  “Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack.  And he said, ‘Give it to the people, that they may eat’” (2 Kings 4:42).  A key thing about any man of God is that he has one purpose—to be a representative, channel, vehicle of God on earth. 

concluding thought  ~  “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works’” (Matthew 16:24-27). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Elisha, 3of3

~ A Man of God: Interactions With Saints ~

The Book of 2 Kings provides three differing views in three successive chapters regarding Elisha—a “man of God”—and his relationships with others. 

In Chapter 4 we see Elisha’s interaction with the Savior.

In Chapter 5 we see Elisha’s interaction with the sinners.

In Chapter 6 we see Elisha’s interaction with the saints.

Elisha Was A “Man of God”  ~  Like Chapters 4 & 5 there are clear statements that Elisha was a “man of God” (2 Kings 6:6, 9, 10, 15).

Elisha’s Interaction With the Sons of the Prophets  ~  “And the sons of the prophets 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.’  Then one said, ‘Please consent to go with your servants.’  And he answered, ‘I will go.’  So he went with them.  And when they came to the 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.’  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” (2 Kings 6:1-7).  In this third successive chapter we see the power of God continuing to be manifested through this “man of God.” 

observations  ~  First, the ax head may be a type (or symbolic) of our testimonies—our cutting edge.  Second, notice that he realized it was lost (6:5).  Third, a key step in recovering is realizing where the sinking occurred and going back to that point for confession and recovery (6:6). 

Finally, recognize that God usually does the unexpected as He rewards the faith of His children.   A couple of examples from just a little earlier in Scripture include God sending ravens to feed the starving prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-7) and the account of the poor widow’s bin of flour and jar of oil holding out (1 Kings 17:8-16).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Elisha, 2of3

~ A Man of God: Interactions With Sinners ~

The Book of 2 Kings provides three differing views in three successive chapters regarding Elisha—a “man of God”—and his relationships with others. 

In Chapter 4 we see Elisha’s interaction with the Savior.

In Chapter 5 we see Elisha’s interaction with the sinners.

In Chapter 6 we see Elisha’s interaction with the saints.

Elisha Was A “Man of God”  ~  Like Chapter 4 there are clear statements that Elisha was a “man of God” (2 Kings 5:8, 14 15, 20).

Elisha Interacts With Naaman  ~  “Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria.  He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.  And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel.  She waited on Naaman’s wife.  Then she said to her mistress, ‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria!  For he would heal him of his leprosy’” (2 Kings 5:1-3).  Leprosy in that day was like a “dead man walking.”  It was symbolic of sin—and there was no cure except directly from God. 

As this historical account of the miracle of healing leprosy continues (5:1-19) we find some very interesting interactions.  First, note the words of witness from the captive young Jewish girl (5:2-3).  Next we find words of cleansing in the letter from the King of Syria to the King of Israel (5:5-6).  Next are words of assurance from Elisha to the King of Israel (5:8).  Then we see more words of assurance to Naaman himself from his servants (5:11-13). 

additional comments  ~  “And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean’” (2 Kings 5:10).  Two quick comments.  First, the Jordan River is a muddy dead river, known as “the river of death,” which ends in the Dead Sea—hardly a place for cleansing from a human perspective.  Second, as is well known, seven in Scripture often represents completeness and perfection. 

applications  ~  First, as we see in verse 11 Naaman was expecting drama, but was given simplicity.  Second, verse 12 confirms what we often have to learn: God’s ways are different than man’s ways!  Third, in contrast to Captain Naaman who was a free man but dead the Israeli captive girl was actually the one who was free!  Fourth, Naaman was able to make a change in thinking based on evidence (verse 15, “now I know”).  Have you, like Naaman, come to know the One and only True God? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .