King James Bible Study: Following Instructions

King James Bible Study: Following Instructions
For: Monday May 02, 2011
Chapters: II Kings 4-5
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-may-2
Details of Today's Reading: Elisha multiplies the widow's oil, the miracles of the Shunammite woman, her son, food unspoiled, and of feeding the sons of the prophets, Naaman's leprosy, Naaman healed by obeying Elisha’s word, Elisha refuses Naaman's gifts, Gehazi's deceitfulness in obtaining those gifts, and Gehazi is cursed with leprosy.

I apologize for the late posting, still catching up on days with no internet, all will resume to normal this evening. Thank you for your patience, God bless you.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself...And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” - Galatians 5:13,14,24-26.
The word liberty is defined as freedom from restraint, to deliver from confinement. The second a person calls on the Lord Jesus Christ to save them they are set free, no longer bound by Satan nor subject to being confined in hell for eternity. Praise God! However, many use that liberty as a way to continue living a wicked life, in fact, I have heard people say to me, “I can kill a person and still go to heaven.” While it is true that a person who is saved can still go to heaven if they killed someone, God will not allow them to go about the liberty He gave them without some suffering themselves.

When Elisha asked Elisha for a double potion of his spirit before he got caught up in the whirlwind that would take him to heaven perhaps he did not expect all of Israel to know who he was, but Elisha not only received that double portion he became the most sought after man of God in the country. God used Elisha to show all of the world that He is still the Almighty, living God. All over Israel people were seeking Elisha's help.
“Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full...Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” - II Kings 4:1-4,7.
Elisha instructed this woman to go and borrow as many empty pots as she could, then fill the pots with the oil she had. By borrowing the empty pots it allowed her to see the miracle of God multiplying the oil to fill all of the pots and then some, not only paying off the debt without owing anything else, but still have some left over for her family. It is amazing how simple God supplies us with the things we are in need of, all we have to do to receive them is follow His instructions.
“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” - Proverbs 3:3-6.
A little later we learn of a woman who desperately wanted a child, Elisha assured her that she would have a child and the following year and she did. Her joy would soon turn grievous when he suddenly died. Frantic, the woman went to Elisha for help.
“He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.” - II Kings 4:33-35.
Elisha used every natural means in his power to restore the boy's life, while begging God to do His part. Natural means are in our power, but those that are supernatural belong to God. God knows what is best for His children, He sees beyond what we see on the surface, whether He decides it is time to bring one of His children home or keep them on earth a little longer, He knows what is best. As we do our part, and beg God to do His part we are assured the best outcome. However, if all we do is sit there hoping for the best and never make an effort that faith will do is no good at all.
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” - James 2:17-20.
Now, we learn of a man named, Naaman, Naaman was a chief captain in the military, a mighty man of valor, he had one problem, he was leprous. Desperately seeking a cure for his illness he seeks help from Elisha.
“And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean...And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” - II Kings 5:10,13,14.
At first Naaman was reluctant to do what Elisha had instructed him to do, but after some encouragement he followed his instructions and was miraculously healed. Quiet often we do not receive God's blessings because we do not follow His instructions completely, but once we do the blessing pour in.
“Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” - Proverbs 8:32,33.
Now, most people when they have been blessed are so overwhelmed and excited about what God had done for them that they can not stop praising God. Naaman was so happy that he wanted to thank Elisha for his help by giving him and his servants gifts. Elisha refused the gifts, explaining to him that God was the one who healed him so, it would not be right to accept his gifts. However, when his servant Gehazi saw that Elisha refused the gifts he wanted them for himself and went to Naaman after Elisha left.
“So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.” - II Kings 5:21-23.
This greedy servant persuaded himself into believing that God had blessed him with an opportunity to receive the reward. However, Gehazi would learn quickly that taking those gifts would curse him with the same disease that Naaman was cured of. God blesses us through our faithfulness and obedience to Him, those who use Him to satisfy their own fleshly lusts will also be cursed in the same way they deceived others.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” - Galatians 6:7-9.
God will bless us with all we need when we fully trust in Him, serve Him faithfully, and follow His instructions.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Elisha who gave his all to serve God. Jesus, gave His all to become a servant. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” - Philippians 2:8.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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