In the early chapters of the book of Daniel we read of four young men Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah who served and followed the Living God in the midst of a society that was living with little if any regard to the revealed will of the Creator. This was a society that although religious and spiritual according to their own understanding, cared little for the things that would please the God of Israel.

The people of God had been taken captive and forced to settle in the land of Babylon under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. In order to survive they needed to live and work amongst the peoples of the land. The Lord through the prophet Jeremiah had instructed them to settle and “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:1-7. This settling and positive contribution to the states welfare did not include a total change of heart and Spiritual direction which would take the people away from God. They could cooperate only to the extent that they would not relinquish the position of Yahweh as “Lord” of their lives.

In chapter 3 of the book of Daniel we read that the King ordered the people to worship an image erected in the plain of Dura. Despite such a large number of Jewish captives being resident in the land we only read of three men who would not bend the knee to the image. These men would opt to suffer rather than join the majority in the easy route of appeasing the people of the land.

This situation though many thousands of years ago is very similar to the present state of affairs in this nation. If today you choose to suffer you might find some who will suffer alongside you, but very often the suffering is alone. The suffering we face is not always as a result of taking a stand for our Lord, sometimes our suffering is forced on us without room for choice, sometimes our choice may seem small but in the grand scheme of things the decision is great.

The married woman who awakes everyday to a miserable and uncaring husband is presented with the option to simply leave and divorce her partner. Many friends and work colleges will tell her this is the best option rather than suffering such a depressing marriage. The values of society tell her “move on” the media’s soaps present the option as the norm. Even in the wider church the option to divorce a partner for a more Spiritual individual has often become acceptable practice, something we have gotten use too!

The three men made a choice to please Yahweh rather than themselves or the society in which they lived. This led to a punishment that was to be so severe, suffering so intense that would ultimately result in the loss of life itself. The King had warned that those who refused to worship the image would be thrown into a furnace and burnt alive. On this occasion the King was so angry that he ordered the furnace to be heated 7 times more than normal. The heat was so intense that the soldiers who forced the three men into the furnace died due to the excessive heat, the flames killing them.

Here in the flames of the furnace in the place of suffering the three men walked about unharmed. To the amazement of the King a fourth walked among them “like a son of the gods”. Our Lord walked with his servants in the midst of the furnace. In the midst of the place of suffering our Lord was present and the three walked in the flames unharmed.

It is a wonderful and exciting truth that the Lord accompanies his people in the place of trial and suffering but when the three looked out of the flames towards the entrance they would have seen an amazing sight “someone drawing near to the furnace”.

Someone was amazed at the sight and at the revelation of one like a son of the gods” and decided to draw near to the furnace of suffering. “Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace” The King moved close to the entrance – wait only moments before the intense heat had killed his best men – and yet now we find him drawing near the furnace.

The revelation of “God” in the midst of his suffering people caused Nebuchadnezzar to exercise a measure of faith. Faith to draw near to the furnace and call out the servants of the Lord. “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

It may be the case that you are in a place of great suffering, the Lord is with you. Look out of the flames and take note of those who are looking in. When you begin to walk in the flames with Jesus at your side there will be those who draw near to the furnace. Your suffering will bring revelation, be prepared to respond when they call out too you form the doorway of your furnace.

We very often focus on ourselves in the furnace, forgetting our Masters presence and failing to see those who are looking into our furnace What was the result of this event? God had set up a nation “Israel” in the Promised Land to reveal himself to the surrounding nations. This was a failure, not God’s failure but his people’s failure. This great Jewish society failed miserably and ended up “like all the nations around about” in fact even worse. Yet from the place of captivity in an unsympathetic society three men who embraced suffering brought about amazing change and influence on a nation and it’s King. So much so that we may expect to see the King of Babylon in the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is not our wealth and success that will influence our society, it is our walk in the furnace with our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ that will bring about revelation to our rebellious society. Remember that outside of the furnace of suffering there are those who look for revelation and salvation. Its maybe only through the flames of your furnace that they will see our Lord and Deliverer – Jesus Christ.

TO KNOW HOW AND WHAT TO PRAY

TO PRAY ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD

We Must Start as a People SEEKING Christ

When we grow up into Christ we find our prayers are IN CHRIST

We pray “IN THE NAME OF JESUS” – according to His Will and Character. According to the KNOWLEDGE of HIM.

Ephesians 1:13-23 (New King James Version)

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

“In Christ” so many passages throughout the New Testament make reference to our status, position or condition as being “In Christ”. It is essential that we recognise that outside of Christ we are nothing and that only in him do we attain to the fullness of salvation and eternal life with all its heavenly blessings.

It is in Him the we trust not in any other and this was as a result of hearing the word of truth, which is the gospel of our salvation.

And in Him in whom we believe we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

Sealed in the Greek conveys three idea’s “ownership, security, destination”

The Holy Spirit of Promise is the “Promised Holy Spirit”

14 who^[a] is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  

The promised Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until we the purchased possession of God are redeemed on the great and glorious “Day of the Lord”.

This great activity of God will be to the praise of His Glory a praise that like our inheritance is eternal.

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

Paul states two key elements of the salvation experience which combined prove the position of the saints at Ephesus as “In Christ”. These two elements combined demonstrate the genuine nature of the saved saint. That they:

• Have faith in the Lord Jesus
• Love all the saints.

We cannot have one without the other, both are combined in the life of the saint, were one or both are absent then salvation will also be absent. 1 John 2:9-11

16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Paul prayers for the saints without ceasing, with regularity and continued rememberence. Here we have confirmation  of what we have expected of the Apostle, a reliance on prayer and a love for the saints that directs his prayer life to the express benefit.

If we love the saints then shall we not find ourselves continually in prayer for their blessing!

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

Paul prays that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the “Father of Glory”

Will give the saints the “spirit of wisdom” and “revelation” which is to be found “in the knowledge of Him

That they would have a spirit of wisdom to apply the revelation of the knowledge of Him that is given by the Holy Spirit.

We must have been given a spirit of wisdom to be able to understand and apply the revelation which is also given by the Holy Spirit.

This revelation is of the knowledge of Him.

When we first attained our salvation we received a revelation of the knowledge of Christ as

• Lord – that He is the Master of us all, that He is to be followed in total committed allegiance as our God.
• Saviour – that He is our redeemer, our sacrificial substitute and the one who give life to us who were dead.

With this knowledge and with faith in these truths “in Christ” applied we are saved.

In 1 Corinthians Paul says

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

 1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.^[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

Many have used this to restrict their preaching to the simple message of the Cross but Paul explains that they were babes and could accept nothing more:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

 1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly.

The Ephesians are different and ready for the wisdom and revelation of God, the deeper knowledge of CHRIST.

Ephesians 4:11-13 

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Colossians 3:10-12 

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

2 Peter 1:3-5 

3 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, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Pressing On In the Knowledge of Christ

18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

This knowledge of Him results in our perception of truth being enlightened, so that we are able to

KNOW:

• What is the hope of His calling
• What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints
• What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. 

1. 1.      What is the hope of His calling:

It is “In Christ” that we experience and understand the “hope” of His calling. All that experience is IN Him and therefore His calling becomes ours IN CHRIST

1. 2.      What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints:

It is “In Christ” that we experience and understand the “inheritance in the saints” that is His inheritance that becomes ours also. We are His inheritance, we are His for all eternity. The riches of this glorious inheritance are realised in the saints, that we His body are united with Him and partakers of this glorious inheritance, eternal life in union with Christ.

1. 3.      What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. According to the working of His mighty power

We are to know and experience the greatness of His power, it is we who believe who have the marvellous joy of understanding and experiencing this power

And we are to know this in accordance with its WORKING – so we have an active experience of this in our daily lives and grow in faith IN HIM. 

We can learn of Him and Know Him as:

Teacher : John 6:44,

Helper (in temptation) : 1 Cor 10:13

Deliverer : Rom 11:26

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

This same mighty power was demonstrated in Christ – “He worked” being an active and applied power to raise Him from the dead and then seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places

This mighty power raised Christ from the dead.

Christ was seated “seated being an expression for accomplishment of His work in redemption “Its is Finished” completed!

That we as Christ’s body are also partakers of the inheritance and seated at the right hand of the Father In the heavenly places and that every resource or need is available IN CHRIST. 

21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Our Head “Christ” has placed us with Him above all things and therefore we pray from a position of heavenly authority “but only IN HIM”

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

We the church, the body of true believers are the body of Christ in the world, we are the working and connecting life of Christ to our communities, We are the body of ministry to each other in love, we are the body of Christ to the peoples of the nations who are lost without salvation.

Conclusion

We like Jehoshaphat need to be seekers after God, we need to seek after the knowledge of Him that we might pray with wisdom, understanding and revelation, in order that our prayers that we utter are “In Christ” according to His will. For if we are like Him we will pray like Him and hence pray His will on earth and in the heavenlies.

Thoughts / Inspiration / Revelation

We have looked at the Prayer of Jehoshaphat and seen that some good principles are those of preparation for prayer, praying according to God’s will.

We have in this text a clear indication of God’s will for his people as expressed in this mighty prayer of Paul.

It says that Paul prays continually giving thanks and asking for specific things for the Ephesians.

This is not something that they once had and lost or forgotten, It is clearly a higher thing than the pure beginning of understanding of the saved ones.

Paul mentions in his letter to the Corinthians that he preaches Christ crucified and nothing else. Some have taken justification from this statement to just preach the Cross of Christ and nothing else. But clearly Paul preaches this for the Corinthians because in his own words they are still only fit for milk.

There is far greater for us as believers we are to move on in our understanding and knowledge of Christ.

This is in fact a sanctification process and it is obtained by faith in Him by an ever-increasing faith through revelation and the knowledge of Christ.

He prays for three things

•  may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him
• the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
• what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 

We have seen in the prayer of Jehoshaphat our need to prepare and know the will of God in order to pray effectively.

Here we have a clear and certain objective in prayer.

We can here tonight begin to pray for each other, for ourselves, for the rest of the body

Is it God’s will – with certainty yes – it is obvious

So let us prepare ourselves to pray that we may be willing recipitants of this great blessing and that those we pray for may also partake of such great blessing.

Joh 1:14  And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.

Joh 1:15  John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I spoke: He who comes after me has been before me, for He was preceding me.

Joh 1:16  And out of His fullness we all have received, and grace for grace.

Joh 1:17  For the Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Most of us have will understand the term grace to speak of “unmerited or undeserved favour”

We understand that our salvation is a act of grace on God’s part as we have nothing within ourselves and nothing that we have done or can do that would put us in a position of deserving salvation…..in fact scripture tells us that we only deserve punishment.

This understanding of Grace is true and accurate but does not actually convey the full blessing of grace and we miss out on the true glory and power of God’s grace when we stop at just this definition.

In John 1:14-17 we learn some facts about grace.

• We understand that Jesus Christ was FULL of Grace & Truth
• We understand that Grace & Truth have a connection or a relationship
• We understand that out of this FULLNESS of Grace & Truth we also receive Grace
• We understand that the receiving of Grace & Truth is unique to us under the New Covenant and they come to us through Jesus Christ.

Therefore we are to be FULL of Grace

This is not limited to forgiveness, for we are to be FULL of Grace & Truth.

Does the term “Grace & Truth” provide us with any further understanding of this Grace.

(Zechariah 12:10 MKJV)  And I will pour on the house of David, and on the people of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of prayers. And they shall look on Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be bitter over Him, as the bitterness over the first-born.

(Hebrews 10:29 MKJV)  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

(John 14:17 MKJV)  the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and shall be in you.

(John 15:26 MKJV)  And when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me.

(John 16:13 MKJV)  However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come.

(1 John 4:6 MKJV)  We are of God. He who knows God hears us. The one who is not of God does not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

We can see therefore that Truth & Grace are united in their common link with the Spirit of God. When we receive the Spirit we receive the Spirit of GRACE & TRUTH.

And we are commanded to be FILLED

Eph 5:18  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit

The scripture tells us that the law came through Moses but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ.

Yet we know that grace was available to the OT saints.

(Genesis 6:8 MKJV)  But Noah found grace in the eyes of Jehovah.

(Exodus 33:12 MKJV)  And Moses said to Jehovah, Behold, You say to me, Bring up this people. And You have not told me whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.

(Ezra 9:8 MKJV)  And now for a little time grace has been shown from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant to escape and to give us a nail in His holy place, so that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little life in our bondage.

Yet this grace was limited in its working amongst the people for is was a grace of unmerited favour but grace would abound much more in times to come and scripture promised a coming grace that would overshadow that grace of the OT.

(Zechariah 12:10 MKJV)  And I will pour on the house of David, and on the people of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of prayers. And they shall look on Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be bitter over Him, as the bitterness over the first-born.

This has reference to the outpouring of the Spirit and finds fulfilment in the promised New Covenant blessing.

Joel 2:28  And it shall be afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions.

Joel 2:29  And also I will pour out My Spirit on the slaves and on the slave women in those days.

Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah,

Jer 31:32  not according to the covenant that I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which covenant of Mine they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Jehovah;

Jer 31:33  but this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, says Jehovah, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Jer 31:34  And they shall no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says Jehovah. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.

It was this great and wonderful New Covenant of Grace & Truth that was pour out and is still being poured out today in the heart and mind of every new soul that enters into covenant with our great and glorious Father.

Under the Old Covenant we were given the Law through Moses and this was so that sin might abound and grace “externally” abounded even more. God’s grace was seen in the forgiveness of David and many other OT men and women, on a national level it was displayed in the gracious longsuffering of God towards Israel

Rom 5:20  But the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,

Rom 5:21  so that as sin has reigned to death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul makes it very clear that were “sin reigns in the soul” it will lead to death.

We understand that in the life of the unbeliever “sin reigns” and eventually unto death.

But now under this New Covenant we not only receive the external manifestation of Grace in declaring us undeservedly righteous before God as David experienced and declared,

Rom 4:6  Even as David also says of the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness without works,

Rom 4:7  saying, “Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

Rom 4:8  blessed is the man to whom the Lord will in no way impute sin.”

But now by the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Grace & Truth reigns in us. This grace is in us and reigns unto righteousness.

Now we can see the futility of the teaching that being under Grace means that we are without law and can act with lawlessness and remain saved.

By the very implication of Grace reigning we will find ourselves living in truth because Grace reigns in our hearts.

We are UNDER grace – to be under means to be ruled – we are ruled by Grace – the Spirit of Grace & Truth reign and therefore we keep the law.

We stand in much better promises that those of the OT for then grace was an external experience but now Grace is a living, functioning dynamic part of our lives.

In Romans 6 Paul addresses the matter of those who misunderstand and limit the work of Grace so that a form of lawlessness is endorsed.

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?

Rom 6:2  Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Rom 6:3  Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

Rom 6:4  Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rom 6:5  For if we have been joined together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection;

Rom 6:6  knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.

Rom 6:7  For he who died has been justified from sin.

Rom 6:8  But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Rom 6:9  knowing that when Christ was raised from the dead, He dies no more; death no longer has dominion over Him.

Rom 6:10  For in that He died, He died to sin once; but in that He lives, He lives to God.

Rom 6:11  Likewise count yourselves also to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 6:12  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Rom 6:13  Do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield yourselves to God, as one alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law, but under grace.

Rom 6:15  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under grace? Let it not be!

Rom 6:16  Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.

Rom 6:17  But thanks be to our God that you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

Rom 6:18  Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.

Rom 6:19  I speak in the manner of men because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you have yielded your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to lawless act unto lawless act, even so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness.

Rom 6:20  For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.

Rom 6:21  What fruit did you have then in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

Rom 6:22  But now, being made free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul makes it clear that we being under Grace and ruled by Grace and therefore should be obedient to righteousness.

 Anyone who claims that they are under Grace and therefore can continue to live a life of sin by this very confession prove that they are NOT under Grace.

The rulership of Grace is the submission of the believer to the work of the Spirit, it is living by the Spirit.

We understand that the Spirit teaches us – He, the Spirit of Truth will teach us all things.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.

The Spirit of Grace teaches us to live a holy life

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

Tit 2:12  teaching us that having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live discreetly, righteously and godly, in this present world

We are taught by this indwelling grace to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts so that we can live holy lives.

But Grace does more than just teach us.

It enable and empowers us to live this life and do the works of God. Paul understood this so well.

Eph 3:7  Of this gospel I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of His power.

Eph 3:8  This grace is given to me (who am less than the least of all saints) to preach the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations,

1Co 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles and am not sufficient to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1Co 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was toward me has not been without fruit, but I labored more abundantly than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

In this text we see that Paul considers himself to have worked harder than “all of them” but not of himself but by the “Grace” of God within him.

We will consider the connections between the Gifts of the Spirit and Grace

We do not need to equate Grace as being the same as the Spirit, but that grace is a outworking of the Spirit.

Mat 1:22-25  Now all this happened to fulfill what was declared by the Lord through the prophet when he said, “See, a virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.” When Joseph got up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary as his wife. He did not have marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son; and he named him Jesus.

Read Matthew Chapter 2

 Setting the Scene

The Nation of Israel now under the rule of client Kings of Rome and having spent 400 years without the Holy Spirit “who had withdrawn from the Nation” lived in a time of heightened expectancy. This expectancy not only resided amongst the Jews of Israel but also amongst the Jews of the Dispora “the dispersed Jews who had settled around the known world.

Daniel 9:24-27  -    70 x 7 “seventy weeks of Years” gave an indication of the time of the Messiah to Israel

What was this expectancy ? That soon the Messiah would appear, Israel’s long awaited King.

Even amongst the gentiles this event was known and so we find a time unlike any other when finally Israel would receive its long awaited deliverer

Suetonius and Tacitus, two Roman historians, mention this. Their words are very remarkable: -

Percrebuerat Oriente toto, vetus et constans opinio, esse in fatis, ut eo tempore Judaea profecti rerum potirentur. Id de imperatare Romano, quantum eventu postea predictum patuit, Judaei ad se trahentes, rebellarunt.

Sueton. Vesp.

“An ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the east, that the fates had decreed some to proceed from Judea, who should attain universal empire. This persuasion, which the event proved to respect the Roman emperor, the Jews applied to themselves, and therefore rebelled.”

The words of Tacitus are nearly similar: -

Pluribus persuasio inerat, antiquis sacerdotum literis contineri, eo ipso tempore fore, ut valesceret Oriens, profectique Judaea rerum potirentur. Quae ambages Vespasianum ac Titum praedixerant.

“Many were persuaded, that it was contained in the ancient books of their priests, that at that very time the east should prevail: and that some should proceed from Judea and possess the dominion. It was Vespasian and Titus that these ambiguous prophecies predicted.”

Histor. v.

That a star appeared is significant and demonstrates God’s way of working within our cultural setting for the star was considered by the gentiles to be an omen or indication of the death of birth of a great person. Even amongst gentile prophets we find this expressed and find it recorded in our sacred scriptures.   See Ballams prophecy in Numbers 24:17

Num 24:14-19  And now, behold, I go to my people. Come! I will make known to you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days. And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said; he has said, he who heard the words of God and knew the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down but having his eyes open; I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not near. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall strike the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult. And Edom shall be a possession. Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies. And Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come He who shall have dominion and shall destroy him who remains of the city.

Matthew 2:3-5  Herod hears of this new King and is troubled and all those with him in Jerusalem

Herod had a terrible reputation and even secular history attests to the fact that he would kill anyone who even so much as appeared to be a threat to his throne. The people of Jerusalem that had found positions of authority including the priesthood would have done so mainly by corruption (Ciaphas the high priest would have purchased his position each year) and so this came as a time of great concern. The ordinary people although looking for the hope of Messiah knew full well the potential of Herod to put down any threat to his throne.

Gen 49:10  The scepter shall not leave Judah; he’ll keep a firm grip on the command staff Until the ultimate ruler comes and the nations obey him.

As we discussed in our introduction to Matthew we can expect him to constantly refer to OT prophecy for his purpose is to win the Jews for Christ and the OT is the ultimate authority for the Jews and during the time of silence of the Holy Spirit in the Prophets they regarded the Scriptures as the means of hearing the voice of God.

Herod asks the Priests and scribes to confirm from their writings the prophetic passages relating to Messiah. Yet in secret he sends the wise men to gather information. He is clearly aware that he must rid himself of this so called leader without causing the people to rise up.

Micah 5:2

Poy mahee no      ποιμανει     —-  Greek “to tend as a shepherd”

Mic 5:2  But you, Beit-Lechem Efratah, being small among the clans of Yehudah, out of you one will come forth to me that is to be ruler in Yisra’el; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.

Mic 5:3  Therefore he will abandon them until the time that she who is in labor gives birth. Then the rest of his brothers will return to the children of Yisra’el.

Mic 5:4  He shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God: and they will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth.

These wise men of finding Jesus present him with gifts befitting a great ruler – some identify the gifts with Gold for his Kingship, Frankincense for his Divinity and Mryh for his suffering.

We may possibly assume that they visited Jesus at the age of about 5-6 weeks allowing time for his family to present him at the temple Luke 2:22-39 (this must have occurred first as they flee to Egypt) Mary was unclean for 40 days after the birth and also needed to present an offering for her purification.

Isaiah 40:10-11”

Joseph again is spoken to in a dream and ordered to flee to Egypt, which was about 60 miles south of Bethlehem and had a thriving Jewish community 

An Apocryphal work exists called “The Gospel of the Infancy” which seeks to give an account of the life of the family in Egypt but it is full of superstition and a work of fantasy.

Its is possible that Herod died just a year after the birth of Jesus and history attests that his death was of a horrible nature.

At his death our Lord is called out of Egypt once again at the command of an Angel and as Matthew takes pain to point out is in fulfillment of prophecy Hosea 11:1

Herod in an attempt to destroy this new King orders the massacre of children in the town of Bethlehem and the surrounding regions. This was not unlike Herod

Macrobins, a Heathen author, though the story is mixed and confounded with other things; who reports (p), that

“when Augustus heard, that among the children under two years of age, whom Herod king of the Jews ordered to be slain in Syria, that his son was also killed, said, it was better to be Herod’s hog than his son.” Saturn. lib. ii. c. 4. The point of this saying consists in this, that Herod, professing Judaism, his religion forbade his killing swine, or having any thing to do with their flesh; therefore his hog would have been safe, where his son lost his life.

Here again Matthew introduces to his Hebrew audience a further link to their authorative OT writings by applying Jeremiah 31:15 to this event as fulfillment of the prophetic.

Herod now dead leaves his rule to three sons, and the kingdom was at his death divided between them. To Archelaus was given Judea, Idumea, and Samaria; to Philip, Batanea and Trachonitis; to Antipas, Galilee and Perea.

Once again Joseph is spoken to in a dream and instructed to leave Egypt and return to Israel

Archeleus had a fearsome reputation like his father and had ordered the slaughter of 3000 worshippers in Jerusalem so Joseph was mindful to avoid his rule and this was confirmed in a dream. Joseph takes his family to Galilee, which came under the governorship of Herod Antipas who was mild in comparison. We see this in his treatment of John the Baptist.

And they came to live in Nazareth and once again Matthew affirms that this is to fulfill the prophets

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene — better, perhaps, “Nazarene.” The best explanation of the origin of this name appears to be that which traces it to the word netzer in Isaiah 11:1 – the small twig, sprout, or sucker, which the prophet there says, “shall come forth from the stem (or rather, ‘stump’) of Jesse, the branch which should fructify from his roots.” The little town of Nazareth, mentioned neither in the Old Testament nor in Josephus, was probably so called from its insignificance: a weak twig in contrast to a stately tree; and a special contempt seemed to rest upon it – “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46) – over and above the general contempt in which all Galilee was held, from the number of Gentiles that settled in the upper territories of it, and, in the estimation of the Jews, debased it. Thus, in the providential arrangement by which our Lord was brought up at the insignificant and opprobrious town called Nazareth, there was involved, first, a local humiliation; next, an allusion to Isaiah’s prediction of His lowly, twig-like upspringing from the branchless, dried-up stump of Jesse; and yet further, a standing memorial of that humiliation which “the prophets,” in a number of the most striking predictions, had attached to the Messiah.

Background to the Gospel

•The Author
•The Audience
•The Purpose
•Date of Composition
•The Cultural Setting

Matthew the author

•Matthew also called Levi
•Jewish Tax Collector in Capernaum
•Understood Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew
•Used Shorthand (invented in 63BC)
•Good knowledge of Hebrew Scriptures & access to Hebrew scrolls

In 63 BC Marcus Tullius, a friend of Cicero had invented a system of shorthand which was widely taught in the schools of the empire and was used to take down the speeches in the Roman senate.

The Audience & Purpose

Matthew wrote for the Jews
“To fully win the Jews for Christ”
His Gospel is Hebraistic making numerous references to the Old Testament and constantly referring to OT Scriptures to prove the Jesus is the Davidic Messiah

Date of Composition

Linguistic evidence points to a date of 44AD
Suggested date of 63AD – Irenaus Wrote
“Matthew issued a written gospel among the Hebrews in their own language while Paul and Peter were preaching in Rome”

Cultural Setting

•Palestine of the 1st Century ruled by Rome
•Christianity considered a sect of Judaism
•Majority of early converts Jewish

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, son of David, son of Abraham

•This genealogy begins with Abraham unlike Luke’s which begins with Adam
•Three generations of 14
•Hebrew DVD (David) 4+6+4 = 14
•The origin of Israel, The Rise & Fall of Israel, The eclipse of Israel.

The genealogy may seem boring to us but this was of great importance to the Jewish reader who had been raised with a deep reverence for genealogical records as these would establish the validity of the priesthood, the descent of Israel’s kings and finally would establish the right to Messiahship.
The beginning of this list is understood to be a supernatural event with “Abraham becoming the father of Isaac” a supernatural birth…..the end of this list is supernatural “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ”
It should be noted that the line of the Messiah does not follow the natural or expected route and every Jew would have to admit that “Judah” assumed the line of blessing rather than the firstborn “Reuben”.
Not only does this genealogy reveal that God doesn’t restrict himself to human tradition or standards but that he acts with sovereignty to establish his purposes.

God makes His own path

•Isaac – Supernatural child of promise
•Perez – Child of Judah’s sin
•Boaz – the son of Gentile Prostitute Rahab
•Solomon – Chosen out of David’s sons
•Jehoiachin – the Jewish dilemma

Isaac – not the firstborn
Judah & Tamar — tell the story
Rahab – Jericho
In this section three gentile women are included Tamar, Rahab & Ruth.
Jehoiachin – the Jewish dilemma – see OT Jer 22.30 no one of this line shall sit on the throne of David.

Joseph & Mary Betrothed

•Betrothal – Legal Binding Agreement
•Matthew 19:7 “Certificate of Divorce”
•Matthew 19:7 “Hardness of Heart”

Betrothal should not be confused with our engagement, this was a legal and binding covenant and unfaithfulness during this period was punishable by death
We see this elsewhere in the bible and this practice of a binding agreement prior to consummation explains difficult passages elsewhere.
The Jews said to Jesus “Moses said we could divorce if their was something we didn’t like” Jesus said it was not always this way and that this was given due to the hardness of heart.
We must realise that this allowance made by Moses was for the period of betrothal only as after consummation divorce was not an option. Deuteronomy 24:1

Joseph’s Dream

Joseph encouraged and instructed in a dream.
•God’s angel speaks clearly with no need for interpretation.
•Dream reveals the work of God in the introduction of Messiah.

“Joseph Son of David”

Joseph is spoken to by an angel in his dream, clearly he is instructed to take Mary as his wife and to understand that this child is “God among Us” the deliverer promised to Israel ….. See Abraham
Joseph Son of David – the angel affirms the legal title and lineage of Joseph and his right to confer on this son of Mary the legal right to David’s throne.
Joseph is introduced to the new concept of Virgin Birth and now see’s the answer to the long held Jewish dilemma
Joseph is shown that this child would be the deliverer of Israel, one who would take away the sins of his people.

The Culmination of God’s Special Revelation

•General Revelation
•Providential Revelation
•Special Revelation
•“The Virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Immanu El”
(The name means “God is with us)

The peoples of the nations had received from the very beginning a general revelation of God
They had also received and experienced a providential revelation of God
But these although sufficient to demonstrate the existence of God and His active concern for His creation it did not reveal the way of salvation
This special revelation began in the revealing of God’s acts in history, recorded in Holy Scripture so that His plan could be found and understood.
Jesus is the culmination of this special revelation both in scripture and by His appearance to men on earth “God among Us”

Awakening to obedience

The Example of Joseph
•He did not demand his rights
•He was compassionate
•He thought
•He listened
•He obeyed
•He had reverence

He obeyed despite the fact that by taking Mary as his wife he would be giving an indication of possible premarital sex and therefore damaging his reputation amongst his fellow Jews. “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife”

Promises fulfilled

•Messiah by legal descent
•Messiah by God’s order not man’s
•Messiah by miraculous promise & birth
•Messiah according to God’s chosen time
•An appointed birth, life & death

God knew where Abel was and knew the circumstances of his death but mercifully gives Cain opportunity to confess and repent of his actions. How often we are told of the merciful God of the New Testament and the God of wrath in the Old. But here we have a merciful act of God, giving the first murderer opportunity to repent.

He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Here is the response of the wicked, “I do not know” – Liar, “Am I my brother’s Keeper?” the answer is “Yes” we are responsible for the welfare of our brothers. Cain’s reply betrays a desperate resort to falsehood, a total estrangement of feeling, a quenching of brotherly love, a predominance of that selfishness which freezes affection and kindles hatred. This is the way of Cain.

Those who follow the “Way of Cain” will lie and negate their responsibility to love others. Their refusal to love results in “murder” for where there is no love there is only “hate” – The Apostle John makes this very clear.

1 John 1-5
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

The primary purpose of the letter of John is to combat certain errors that were creeping into the church and although not stated clearly it seems probable that he was dealing with the Gnostic heresy that was having such an impact on the church as a whole. The error of Gnosticism had some variation in belief but essentially it challenged the humanity of Jesus and elevated knowledge as being the route of salvation. The essential element of any and all heresy is a promotion or elevation of “self” – The Gnostic heresy has its roots in the “way of Cain”
Cain’s way is one of religious variance and self works.
Today the same “way” is prevalent in the world, especially in the religious world. Ultimately the test of this “way” is manifest by the way we live with our brothers and sisters!
Jesus said they would know we are his disciples by our love for each other – rather than the doctrinal standard we uphold. You cannot have love for one another without the right doctrinal beliefs but we can have the right doctrinal beliefs and not have love.

1 John 1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

The eternal life is Jesus – we so often reduce this reality of eternal life to simply life eternal, but the eternal life we have declared to us is “Jesus Christ”. The words – seen, looked upon, handled speak of conflict with the Gnostic heresy, becuase they indicate a physical saviour rather than just a spiritual entity devoid of any humanity.

3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

The purpose of the declaration is that we may have fellowship with the apostles our brothers and in this family or body we have fellowship with the Father and the Son.

The fellowship of the saints in intricately linked to fellowship with God – the two are inseparable.

It is only in union with our brothers and sisters in Christ that we find true joy!

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The message given by Jesus is that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all”. Darkness referring to sin and corruption. We cannot claim to have fellowship with Him and be walking in darkness. We cannot have fellowship with the family of God and be walking in darkness. One is not exclusive of the other, they are inclusive. Therefore if we walk in the light and in fellowship with Him we have fellowship with one another. The work of the blood is conditioned on fellowship.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

The Gnostic heresy made claims that once a person had been enlightened and a receiver of the “Gnosis” or knowledge / knowing, then sin became an act of the material realm and not of the spiritual. Therefore one can sin in the flesh or material substance but in the Spiritual they could claim to have no sin. This doctrine involved “self deception” and by its very nature would lead to disunity amongst the body.

1 John 2
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

John is very careful “he is very aware that his proceeding comments in 1 John 8-10 can also be taken to support the view that we are to accept sin as a daily event in our lives and that rather than battle against sin we simple continue in sin with our hope founded on the grace and mercy of God.

The word rendered “propitiation” (ἱλασμός hilasmos) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, except in 1Jo_4:10 of this Epistle, its essential meaning is of “atonement”.

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

This is the opposite of Cain’s way, this is Christ’s way. We know we are in the way of Christ “if we keep his commandments” and “we keep His word”. Those who claim knowledge of Him and yet fail to keep His commandments are living a lie.

We are given clear “markers” for the testing of our faith.

John proceeds to explain the commandment that we must keep. It is no new commandment but from the beginning, from the time of Cain and before.

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

A contradiction seems apparent but we must understand from the words of Jesus this so called new commandment that is in fact the commandment from the beginning. The difference is that Jesus has brought this command to great light and depth of understanding by demonstrating to us the true extent of the love of our brother…….read the account of the crucifixion.

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Our relationship to our brother indicates the place of our walk – if we hate we are in darkness and have no fellowship with God or our brothers. If we love in this “new” dimension of sacrificial love that Jesus has demonstrated and commanded, we walk in the light.

Joh 13:34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love toward one another.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Our love of the world will by its very nature usurp any love that we can have for our brothers and sisters. The love of the world and its system as detailed above means the ultimate destruction of others, for this is its ultimate end. The world system and its promotion of self enlightenment, self realisation, self advancement and self self self stands in opposition to the Gospel and the commandments of our Master. The world has differing meanings, the material world and the world of people is loved by God but its system stands opposed to Him

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

The being “one of us” speaks of union in fellowship, being one of us results in a continuing with the family or body.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 John 3
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God![h] Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

John reiterates this once again that we are to practice righteousness and love one another. It is opposed too the “way of Cain” who did not practice righteousness or love his brother.

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

If we do not love our brothers we abide in death and we have no spiritual life, in fact if we do not love we are not born again. Whoever hates – in the active continued form is a murderer and once again does not have eternal life abiding in them (Jesus)

16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

How are we to love and by what standard. We know what love we are to exercise. He laid down His life and therefore we should do the same for the brothers.

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

This is the command of God “believe on Jesus Christ and love one another” and this is to be done in deed and in truth and not simply in word or in tongue

It is only by this “way” that we can claim the promise that we receive what we ask from Him

24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

1 John 4
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Let us and we must – being born of the One who loved would cause us to live in love. By imitation we ought to love one another as He loved us.

12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

It is love that manifests God to us through one another. How many times do we have to hear this. Our calling is to love one another in sacrificial servant-hood. How many of us are in church because of what church has to offer us.

If we come together for our own benefit and edification we have missed the whole of God’s truth in John’s letter to us.

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

This love must be perfected “among us”

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

So plain so clear and so often repeated!

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

John tells his readers that “whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God”. This statement cannot be taken in isolation, it is a statement of fact, but is not isolated from the context of John’s other statements of evidence which are love, the witness of the Spirit, obedience to the commandments.

Therefore we understand that these other evidences are indicators of the genuine nature of a person’s belief that Jesus is the Christ.

A person can believe that the speed limit is 30mph and is in force for the good of the community but still not obey its limits.

The belief that is evidence of sonship, is the belief that lives its life as a son, in love, obedience, and with the fullness of the Spirit.

John tells us that “everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him”.
This tells us that those who love God will love those whom God has given life too. Our love for God will give us a love for those that are His.

This is true of relationships in the natural realm. If I love my brother I will have an interest and love for those that are his. My love for him will cause me to have great concern for those who he loves for I know that their welfare has an impact on my brother. In the same manner we who love God will have a great love and concern for the welfare of those whom God has given life. This is a further reason for our love for the brethren.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

Many people say that they love the brethren but this can only be confirmed by reference to the other tests that John mentions. In order for us to love the brethren with must also keep His commandments, which is an evidence that we love God. It is impossible for us to love the brethren but not obey the commands of our Master.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

John gives a clear explanation of the love of God. When a person loves God they keep His commandments. If you love God you would rather suffer personal loss than upset or embitter the one you love. The keeping of these commandments is a love of God and a love for the brethren because these commandments are instituted by God to command our relationship with each other.

We do not find it a burden to please the one we love, we will obey out of our love for God and this is not burdensome. Have you ever loved another human being, your love for them makes things done for them and in regard to them easy and enjoyable because of the love you have for them.

We obey out of love, fear is the beginning of wisdom but love is the maturity of obedience.

Let me ask you the question – “would you serve God if there was no Hell?”

Are you a serving God to avoid Hell – if you answer yes you must move on to a service of Love rather than a service of fear.

Because “He that fears is not yet perfect in love 1 John 4:18”

“The hard sayings of Jesus” what are they?

The reality is that to say the commands of Jesus are “Hard” is a contradiction of the claims of Jesus who states that His burden is light and in this letter that His commands are not burdensome. If we love we will obey with enthusiasm

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Overcoming the world is repeated three times in this passage. Anything born of God is superior to the world and has victory. The only way to maintain victory against the desires and lusts of the world is to “Love” this is the genuine faith demonstrated by those who love God and the believers in the body of Christ.

If you really believe that Jesus is the Son of God you will without hesitation “Love God and those whom he has begotten”.

6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

Textual difference “Erasmus left out these words” he only introduced them later after a manuscript was produced in “Greek” but his footnote doubted the originality of the text. This would be a great proof text of the Trinity if unquestioned by the evidence of the manuscripts.

Was John alluding to the piercing of the side of Jesus – very important as he bears record to this.

John 15 in the upper room verses 26-27 – “comforter He shall bear witness of me”

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

Do we receive the witness of men, we have a tendency to have regard to the witness of men in our everyday lives, we so often believe this testimony whilst being cautious of some ie the media, newspapers etc but in general terms we have confidence and trust in the witness of men. It is clear that we “receive the witness of men” but scripture tells us that the witness of God is greater.

10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The witness of the Spirit is present in those that believe in the Son of God and they become a living witness to the world of the life of God. Those that do not believe God do not believe His testimony that is given about His son Jesus Christ. The testimony is that God has given us eternal life and this life, which is eternal, is in His Son.

This statement is very important – we only have eternal life “In the Son”

12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

The result of this is clear – only those who abide in Christ have eternal life!

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Here John begins the conclusion of his letter “these things I have written” – they are written not to the unbeliever but to the believer and that the purpose for the writing of these things was so that we would know that we have eternal life and that in knowing we would believe in the name of the Son of God

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

All that we have come to understand about our position in Christ, our Love for Him and other fellow Christian’s leads us to the “confidence that we have IN HIM” – that is we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. We must be IN HIM, abiding in the love of God. In this state of abiding our petitions that are according to His will are heard and if heard, our petitions “of love” will be answered by Him.

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

These verses are much disputed with several if not numerous views on the meaning of the text. We must remember that the text in italics does not appear in the original manuscripts and has been added in order to give a clearer understanding of the text in accordance with the “interpreters understanding of the text”. John says that if we see our brother sinning a sin not to death, he will ask and God will give life to those who commit sin not death. This can be understood as those who do not continue sinning until their death, these may be given life but those who continue to sin until their death even prayer will be ineffective.

18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

The first of three “we know” statements of certainty, these are those things, which we know, not simply by academic knowledge but by experience and the teaching of the Apostle. John has already dealt with the issue in prior chapters. We understand that those who are born of God no longer live life in a continued state of sin. The one who is born of God now has a bias towards holiness rather than rebellion. The one who is born of God keeps himself in this state, the responsibility for choosing the life of holiness remains with the believer and in this state of abiding in Christ the wicked one does not “cling” to him. We know that the wicked one does and can have an influence on the believer by permitted attacks, but in this state of union with Christ the wicked one is unable to “cling” or maintain a hold and influence on the believer.

19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

We know that “we are of God” – the letter of the Apostle has affirmed this and confirmed our place in Him. In the prior verse it is affirmed that the wicked one does not cling to us and therefore has no sway over us. This being so we cannot be of the world because the world lies under the influence or sway of satan. Too be of the world is to be under the sway of the wicked one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Again “we know” is repeated. Jesus has come to us in a real and living way by His Spirit. This gives us understanding enabling us to “know Him” and to “know that we are in Him. This understanding and positioning of each believer is the eternal life in the true God.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Knowing all these things and being in such a state of eternal life through the continued abiding in Christ it still remains for John to warn his readers to avoid idols. We abide in Jesus and in no other.
Anything that becomes an idol for us will draw us away from our Master until we find ourselves no longer abiding and no longer in life.

1. If you’ve got the internet at home and you use a “Router” to provide wireless access around the home you can take advantage of an “Internet Radio” that links to your wireless system. Place the radio anywhere around the home and you can listen to hundreds of Christian radio stations. We have placed ours in the kitchen and very often play UCB Bible which is a 24 hour broadcast of the audio bible. Simply great if you’ve got unsaved family who spend time in the kitchen ironing or making a cuppa!

2. The “Internet Radio” also has the function to play your MP3 media that stored on your PC, so if like me you’ve got a large selection of teaching on your hard drive you can listen to it while you cook, wash or other household activity.

3. The next time you buy a mobile phone you might want to consider the operating system of the phone. I always stick with “Windows Mobile” as this lets me download and install “e-sword” a free bible study software for your PC and mobile. Considering this software is free its functionality and usability is fantastic.

4. If your car’s got a stereo that allows you to play MP3′s you can download teaching from www.thenarrowpath.com and burn onto disc for hours of bible study in the car. My job requires at least 3-4 hours of car travel each week and on these trips I take the chance to listen to some great teaching from this site.

5. E-Pen, have you heard of this little gadet? – The epen allows you to write up to 50 sides of A4 on normal paper and the device will record each page and when attached to a computer will allow the accompanying software to convert your writing to “MS Word”. How cool is that! Taking notes for the next bible study can take place anywhere and then later brought back to the PC.

6. The E Reader is a great gadget that allows you to carry thousands of books with you on a simple electronic tablet. There are many on the market and all have their pro’s and con’s. I’ve purchased a SONY as it allows me to download free PDF books and then transfer them to my reader for hours of free and legal reading.

Wednesday 23rd September – call in after 7pm and we’ll start at about 7.45
“The Life & Death of a Hippie Preacher”

Imagine if John the Baptist came of age during the 1960s counter culture, the charisma of Jim Morrison flowing from the mantle of an Old Testament prophet. Meet Lonnie Frisbee, a seeker turned Jesus freak evangelist who compelled thousands towards a profession of Christian faith. It was during a trip into a canyon that Frisbee claimed that God gave him a vision of his future as an influential evangelist to the hippie generation.

Four years later the vision would be fulfilled as pictures of Lonnie baptizing teenage converts were splashed across the pages of Time and Life magazines forever celebrating him as an icon of the Jesus movement.

Despite the stories of spiritual prowess that surround his life, his enduring struggles overwhelmed him. And even though he was the charismatic sparkplug igniting the rise of two worldwide denominations (Calvary Chapel & Vineyard), his name has all but been removed from their histories. Frisbee: The Life and Death of a Hippie Preacher is the powerful story revealing the risk-taking nature of God, aligning himself with the most unlikely of characters as if to send out the message (yet again) that everyone is invited to participate.

This film / Documentary is a real challenge. Lonnie fell into sexual sin a number of times and as a result his name is all but removed from the histories of two of the biggest denominations. Why would God use a man like this? these are questions that we might ask but never really be able to fully answer. Here’s an opportunity to challenge our understanding of the working of God.

www.lonniefrisbee.com

Wednesday 7th October – call in after 7pm and we’ll start at about 7.45
“Faith Like Potatoes”

Based on the autobiography Faith Like Potatoes, this inspiring film tells the story of Angus Buchan, a South African farmer who suffers a series of seemingly insurmountable losses, but through an unlikely friendship with his Zulu farmhand and God making Himself known through miraculous events, discovers the key to healing and learning to accept others lies in his unwavering belief in Jesus Christ. “The Seed for a great miracle lies not in difficulty, but impossibility.” – Angus Buchan

www.faithlikepotatoes.com

Wednesday 21st October – call in after 7pm and we’ll start at about 7.45
“The Law Of Love”

An incredible story of how one woman brought healing and hope to drug addicts and the most desperate. Twenty-two-year old Jackie Pullinger graduated as an oboe student at the Royal College of Music in England and then boarded a slow boat to China, praying for guidance about where to get off. She ended up in Honk Kong. The Law of love is a documentary about Jackie’s work that started in the drug-driven vice and violence of the old Walled City in Honk Kong. She started a youth club for heroin addicts, gained the respect of the notorious Triad leaders who controlled the Walled City and instiuted the St. Stephen’s Society for curing drug addicts. Jackie’s courage and strength shine through in this candid documentary that shows humanity at the edge of existence and how tenderness and love, accompanied by the Gospel of Christ, can transform lives. Previously broadcast on British TV.

Wednesday 4th November 2009 – call in after 7pm and we’ll start at about 7.45
“The Keith Green Story”

On July 28, 1982, there was a small plane crash and Keith went home to be with Jesus. The crash also took the life of his three-year-old son Josiah, and his two year old daughter, Bethany. Melody was home with their one year old, Rebekah, and was also six weeks pregnant with their fourth child, Rachel. Keith was only 28 years old.

Although Keith is now with Jesus, his life and ministry is still making a huge impact around the world. His songs and passionate delivery are still changing lives. His writings are translated into many languages. Keith once said, “When I die I just want to be remembered as a Christian.” It’s safe to say he reached his goal, and perhaps, a bit more.

Keith Green was simply a man of conviction. When his convictions led him to an eternally worthy object in the person of Jesus he sold all that he had—ambitions, possessions, and dreams—to possess His love. In so doing he became a man of devotion. He also became a man remembered, and still missed, by millions around the world.

www.lastdaysministries.org/

We’ve got more movies to follow and all being a great excuse to “gather” in Love – greveson@blueyonder.co.uk

Introduction

Tonight we are going to look at an event that occurred in the Book of 2 Kings during the ministry and Elisha the prophet.
Tonight I want us to look at four lives in particular
The life of Elisha
The life of a woman from shunem
The life of a man and husband of the woman from Shunem
These are the lives that I want us to look at from an account in 2 Kings
Yes I did say FOUR lives and only three are from scripture.
The other life is OURSELVES.
Tonight we need to be prepared and willing to be searched by the Spirit of God. We need Him to reveal to us “are inward self” the real “me” not my mask.
Psalm 139:23 (New King James Version)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;

As we hear the Word we must look upon our subjects and ask ourselves
“Is this me” “Do I share some characteristics, Good or Bad” “Can I learn from the lives of these three individuals” “Can I make changes or find encouragement for my life”
Tonight I want us to bear in mind that in our story two of our subjects experience change whilst one does not.

In 1987 whilst searching the New Testament I came to a living faith in Jesus Christ and my life changed – that change has been continual. I have learnt that just when I think I’ve got it all together and understand the grace and mercies of God I am so often astounded, confounded and grounded by the reality of my weakness and his ever great mercy.

Let each one of us be open to the reality of present and future change – a change wrought powerfully by the Almighty One.

Historical Setting

Our story is taken from 2 Kings 4:8-37
· It takes place during the ministry of Elisha (60 years between 892-832 BC) who held the of position “Prophet in Israel”
· Elisha’s ministry started his prophetic ministry during the reign of Johoram and Jehoshaphat in Judah
· During the period of the Assyrian threat under Shalmanasar III

8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.

Elisha the great Prophet who had received a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah passes through Shunem on his way to either Carmel or one of the school’s of prophets situated in the region.
Shunem was not far from Mount Carmel which Elisha visited and lay on its way to Samaria, Bethel and Jericho, places he often visited the schools of the prophets being there.
This women of Shunem is mentioned in the MIDRASH – (Midrash is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exergesis of the biblical text and can refer to Midrashic teachings and commentary on the Jewish Bible). This women is said to have been the sister of Abishag, the Shunammite and mother of Iddo the prophet mentioned in 2 Chronicles 9:29 and 13:22

She is also mentioned in the Jewish Targum – (Targum is an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible written during the Babylonian Captivity from Second Temple Period through into the middles ages. In the Targum she is referred to as “a women of great credit and reputation on all accounts.”

In the Chaldee she is a woman fearing sin and in the Arabic a woman eminent for piety before God
It is probable that this woman was a God fearing women of high regard amongst those of her community, probably very religious and acknowledging the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Elisha would have been well known amongst the people for he was the leader of the Prophets of God and this God fearing women would have surely known of him.
Maybe to her Elisha was like one of today’s great religious leaders “Billy Graham” etc etc
She often persuaded Elisha to stop at her home to eat bread and he would agree to her hospitality. Prehaps like many in Israel “She believed that she would earn merit before God” for this act of hospitality.

The Doctrine of Merits – This was a prevalent doctrine that existed in Judaism and that still exists today. In fact this doctrine underpins most religions and is “religion itself” the belief that by are deeds we can earn credit before God and that merit could be transferred from others ie Abraham. It was this doctrine that had to be powerfully rebutted by Paul in his letter to the Romans. It is this belief that our good works, good connections, and possibly our heritage can weigh the scales down for merit rather than demerit.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Our like her secretly expecting merit and demerit.
The very fact that we expect “demerit” indicates a religious tendency towards our relationship with God

9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.

The woman identifies Elisha as a Holy Man to her husband. She prepares the ground for her next request, she was a women of influence and clearly of a woman of great influence on her husband. She is preparing to ask her husband to allow an extension to be built on their home.
Her request is granted and a room is provided and equipped with all Elisha’s needs. The women has secured a accommodation for Elisha and secured her ongoing connections to the Prophet of Israel.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

We like her can seek to accommodate ministries, people, leaders.
Our so called spiritual life can be concentrated on a accumalation of ministry titles, connections to Christian leaders.
We need to secure ourselves only to “Christ”

11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’”
She answered, “I dwell among my own people.”

Elisha has considerable influence in the Northern Kingdom having direct access to Kings and the Commander of Israel’s army. He asks the women if he can do anything for her and makes suggestions of representations to possibly assure justice or further land. She responds that she has no need and is content with her position being secure amongst her own people.
Could she have not asked for the Spiritual and improved her present religious state.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

contentment, failure to seek the Lord or recognise our Spiritual state.

14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.

The woman stands in the doorway and maintains her distance. Her communication had been through Gahazi until this time. She remains reverent and perhaps remembers the miracles and deeds of Elisha. He was a Prophet to be feared and not treated irrevelantly as the young men found out in 2 Kings 2:23.
16 Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”

Although a God Fearing woman, her level of faith, if any, and confidence in God is now revealed as lacking. Despite knowing the miracle of Isaac’s birth by barren Sarah and Abraham being like her husband “old in years” she refuses to believe for her greatest need “a son and heir”

But more than this she reveals an even greater need of FAITH in God himself the faith that answers :
Luke Chapter 1:38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Here is the crucial test. Despite her knowledge of God she displays no faith in God.
Our we like this women. Knowing so much of the Lord, having read the scriptures and yet having never found faith.
It is very similar to our knowledge of the Queen and yet complete lack of relationship – despite!

17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
18 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers.

The boy was probably about 6 or 7 years of age but the scriptures are unclear. This was probably during the time of the May / June Harvests and at a time when the temperature would have been about 70 C or more.

19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

It is possible that the boy was suffering with severe sunstroke but the scriptures gives no other information. The father wrapped up in his work and seemingly unconcerned about the boy tells his servant to take the boy to his mother. He remains at work “reaping”

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Our we like the husband, surrounded by God and His works and yet oblivious to the reality of His prescence. We may be compliant and agreeable to the faith. But we have no real faith in God! Our faith is in our own strength. We keep on reaping
We work each day missing the work of the Almighty and failing to hear the call He makes upon our lives.

20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

This is the woman’s place of meeting with the God of Israel, our God.
Like the events recorded in this woman’s life there will moments, times and seasons when the Lord will meet with us so that he can reveal himself in order that we might meet Him and find faith in Him rather than just an acknowledgement of his existence and a dead religious experience.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Brothers and Sisters will you take up the moment of suffering in order to embrace the revelation of God. Will you sit faithfully with you problem on your knees.
Will watch all that you placed your earthly hope in die before your very eyes
And yet find the place of meeting with the Almighty, Illustrious, Glorious ………………..

It is not always in times of trouble but it is often in these times that find ourselves prepared to listen and it is at this time that the women finds herself ready, willing and desperate to hear.
Will we need a moment of great distress to cause us to listen and hear!!
We see this women of little or any faith suddenly becoming a giant of faith.

Why !!! because during that morning of grief and concern for her dying son she did what any mother would have done with no other resources upon which to call.
She prayed and sought the God of Israel, Our God the God of Elisha.
Will we like her turn to the Almighty God!!
How do we know she did this?

Was she distraught and weeping, speaking negative words, running about in distress with no apparent answer to this great problem, this awesome loss?
Let us look at her actions.

21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out.

The journey was about 16 miles from Shunem to Mount Carmel – the practice of buriel in the land of Israel is not of great difference than today. The climate being hot (70C) would not enable the body to be stored for long periods as decomposition would set in resulting in a bad smell and far worse…………the body was generally buried within 24 hours

Although her son is dead she takes his body to a place where he will not be found (prior to this time she had not entered the room of Elisha perhaps no one did) in order that no member of her household would proceed to bury the boy whilst she is away. It is possible that her husband and servant would have demanded the burial of the boy. Is her action in accordance with her faith in the word of God spoken to her in prayer?

22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.”

Here again a clear plan of action is demonstrated and once again her husband is oblivious to the Spiritual event that is underway. It appears that he is passed by failing to see the revelation unfolding.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Husband – do you want to be passed by….. do you want to miss the revelation of the Almighty.

23 So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.”
And she said, “It is well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.”

The husband is locked into a religious outlook – why would you go to meet the brethren except on a Sunday!!!!
In contrast the word of faith of the women is proclaimed for the first time “It is well”
This word of faith and her precise and clear plan of actions reveal that she acts in FAITH and in accordance with clear instructions.

· She lays her son on the Prophets bed
· She shuts the door
· She calls her husband
· She asks for transport
· She asks for her servant to accompany her
· She tells her husband that she will travel to the Prophet

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Have you heard the Lord with regard to some matter that you have set before Him. Has He spoken. Will you declare as the women “It Is Well”
How beautiful are the words of Faith from those who find salvation and the lordship of the Almighty.
IT IS WELL

Our we like her able to say “It Is Well”
In the day of suffering, persecution, failure, joy, success – in all things are we able to say “It is Well”

The Song “It is well with my soul” – Horatio G Spafford, 1873
1.When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

2.Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)

This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

25 And so she departed, and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman! 26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’”

And she answered, “It is well.”

The Shunammite is met by Gahazi and once again asked for a reason for her approach, her response allows no stopping as her aim is to reach Elisha for he also will learn and see change today!!!
According to her faith the women declares “It is well” – she has travelled 16 miles and doesn’t know what is taking place at home – perhaps many questions flooded her head “have they found the boy”

27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
28 So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”

Look now at the women’s boldness, once she would not enter the room of Elisha but now she takes hold of his feet as a bold yet reverent form of restraint.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Will we like her take hold of the Master for life and salvation, will we hold onto him for life!
Will we have a faith that allows us to approach Him –

Hebrews 10:19
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.”

This woman has challenged Elisha as God instructed……..Elisha unprepared “because of the hidden nature of the problem” acts without the word of God and send Gahazi on ahead.
It is possible that Elisha desired to remain ritually clean as touching a dead body would cause defilement under Mosaic law NUMBERS 19:11
Elisha wanted to remain detached from the problem and therefore set his servant with his staff.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Spiritual Man or Women of God – have you like Elisha been blessed with great ministry, perhaps power and gifting in the Spirit.
Yet have you sought to remain “detached” from needs “even within your own flock” in order to retain a position or place of status.
It is time to consider the way of the Servant. It might be an occasion to get your hands dirty and touch the unclean thing.
But the woman of faith, having heard the Lord, Believed and obeyed His Word refuses to accept Elisha’s way and demands that he come.

30 And the mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.

Elisha despite his greatness, like the woman of Shunem, needs to seek the Lord for instruction.
Elisha confronted with this sight “shuts the door on the outside world and PRAYS”

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Spiritual Man or Women of God – have you pressed on with “this is how its always been done”
“this is how the Lord has worked before”
It is time for you to seek the Lord and ask for revelation, and obey!
It time for you to change!

34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.

God’s way is different from the way of Elisha and involves close physical contact with the then dead body.
Elisha had to be prepared to become ritually unclean by becoming closely connected to and involved with others in order to see life restored. Not morally unclean!

35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

Having been instructed by the Lord we see persistence, resistance and a defeat of death. Likewise when the Lord has clearly revealed His will and instructed us we can persist until the blessing is achieved.

36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

SUMMARY:

We have seen three characters in this story – two – the Shunammite and Elisha experienced revelation and changed.

The other – the husband – was passed by, he missed the time of God’s visitation.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

You who are Spiritual – do you need to change and connect with the those who are struggling in the body.

Maybe you find yourself identified with the Husband you need to grasp hold of the Lord

You know if this is for Salvation

If you find yourself identified with the Shunammite, you might be religious and yet missing out on a relationship by faith you need to hear the call of the Lord

You need to respond Gospel! The Good News

Finally we see that this woman of great faith eventually outlived her Husband and had a son on whom to depend. Her faith saw her through difficult times, times that caused her great loss.

2 Kings 8:1-6
1 Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years.
3 It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land. 4 Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.” 5 Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him.
So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.”

LOOK AT OURSELVES

Have you like this woman – come to faith and lost much of the blessing – Its now time to reappear before the King and request a restoration of that which was lost.