October 21, 2010

2 Kings 2
“Where is the God of Elijah?” Elijah had performed many miracles. He stopped the rain. He made the widow woman’s flour and oil replenish itself. He called fire down from heaven at the contest with the priests of Baal. He raised the widow’s son from the dead. He started the rain again 3 years later. He prophesied destruction upon Ahab and Jezebel. He knew the unfaithfulness of Ahaziah. He parted the water of the Jordan. In short no less than seven miracles are recorded for him. Elisha desired a double portion of that spirit. Was it the Spirit of God that He desired?
He received the mantle of his master. Now was the time to test whether he had that Spirit or not. He voiced his thought, “Where is the God of Elijah?” Striking the water with the mantle with which Elisha had stricken the water, it parted. The sons of the prophets had all watched the amazing events. Yes, the Spirit of the Lord was now resting upon Elisha.
But what happened to Elijah? Surely they must go look for him. What does that say about what they thought about God? Here these sons of the prophets (prophets in training) believed that God is capricious enough that He would toss away his servant like a used rag doll. What kind of glory is that? But they pressed the issue because they believed it to be true. Elisha was beginning to feel embarrassed by their insistence. Did he not care about his master? Under pressure he sent them. He was beginning to look bad. He knew they would not find him. He knew exactly where Elijah was. He knew the glory of his God.
Sometimes I want to scream, “Where is the God of Elijah? Why aren’t you doing miracles here?” Maybe it is because I am more intent on my own glory rather than His glory. Maybe it is because I am wanting to draw attention to myself rather than to Him. After all, it is he who came in the spirit of Elijah that said, “He must increase, but I must decrease!” Maybe if I completely embraced that attitude, then I would see the miracles of the Living God. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

1 Timothy 1
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." When we look at the glory of our Lord we each would join the apostle Paul in saying that very thing. At our first look at His glory we usually see the brilliance of His holiness. In the light of His holiness our sin becomes apparent. We begin to realize that we are lawless and insubordinate, ungodly and sinners, unholy and profane, murderers and manslayers, fornicators and sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, blasphemers, persecutors and insolent. We see His holy hatred of sin. Some reject that and run from Him, hiding their sin. But those who take a second look see something else. They see mercy and grace flowing from Him and His cross and resurrection that carries away and cleanses the sin, which we would seek to hide. The need to hide dissipates as we gaze upon Him, for we no longer see Him as the angry God. We see Him as the blessed God. He is happy. He is full of joy. Did you catch that? He is full of joy. His joy is because our sin is gone and replaced with the very righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. When you think of God or Jesus, do you think of Him with a smile on His face? If we have received His mercy and grace, we should, because that is exactly what is there. He is after all, the blessed God. He is pleased with Himself and what He is doing in us. It pleases Him to give us abundant grace. The next time some one asks you, "How are you doing?" Why not answer with, "How could I be doing any better than knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is smiling upon me right now?" He is the blessed God. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John