Fear Not, 37

~ The Israelites Were Given God’s Peace a Tenth Time ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).

“Fear not,” or its equivalent, is recorded many times in Scripture—ALN will post one “fear not” each week during this calendar year.

This Week’s Verse  ~  “But do not fear, O My servant Jacob, and do not be dismayed, O Israel!  For behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity; Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease; no one shall make him afraid” (Jeremiah 46:27).

The Foundation Of Peace  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1).

The Solution If You Lack Peace  ~  “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165).  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You” (Isaiah 26:3).  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Summary  ~  “No Christ = No Peace” versus “Know Christ = Know Peace”

~ 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/ .