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Times Two pt4—Miracles When You Do Not Know How Or When

[2Ki 3:9-20 NASB95]

One of the most asked questions I get when it comes to answered prayers is, “how is this answer going to come?”

We often do not know the “how” or even the “when”. We do know the “what” and “Who.”

God said He was going to give them water. He did not tell them how or even when.

What does God want from you to experience miracles when you do not know the “how” or the “when”?

Here are seven things God wants you to know to experience miracles when you do not know “how” or “when.”

God wants you to recognize your need for Him.

V.9-10… No water. It seems Jehoram (the evil king of Israel) believed God was against him.

The blessing is in knowing we need Him. [Mat 5:3, 6 NASB95]

Resist thinking you are “ok” without the help of God. [Rev 3:17-18 NASB95]

Miracles happen for those who know they need God. Live in a constant state of needing God.

God wants you to be connected to His Word.

V.11-12 – Jehoshaphat (godly king of Judah) knew they needed a Word from God through a prophet.

Counter-culture point: We need God’s Word preached to us through the 5-fold ministry.

Paul believed we need the Word preached, not just read.

[Rom 1:8, 11, 15 NASB95]

[Rom 10:17 NASB95]

[Eph 4:11-12 NASB95]

To get the Acts blessing, stay with the Acts culture. [Act 2:42, 47 NASB95]

Read the Bible. Stay with a church that has solid teaching of the Word of God.

God wants you to repent.

V. 12-14 – The kings went down to him. Not the normal. Sign of humility. The king of Israel stayed with his belief that God was punishing him.

This is not explicit here, but Elisha calls them to repent (turn to God from sin).

It is explicit here.

John the Baptist. [Mat 3:8 NASB95]

Jesus. [Mat 4:17 NASB95]

Peter. [Act 2:38 NASB95]

Paul. [Act 26:20 NASB95]

Repentance is necessary to experience God’s blessing.

God wants you to stay in an environment of the supernatural.

V. 15 – Elisha created an environment for the Word of God to come.

“When Elisha wanted to become more sensitive to the leading and speaking of the Holy Spirit, he asked for the service of a musician. This demonstrates the great spiritual power in music.” (Guzik)

[Eph 5:19 NASB95]

[Col 3:16 NASB95]

Worship releases the prophetic. [1Ch 25:1-2 NASB95]

“Their ministry in music was not merely the product of good musicianship; it was a gift of the Holy Spirit being exercised through them.” (Guzik)

“…their praise was itself seen as ‘prophecy’ in that it proclaimed God’s word with God’s authority.” (Selman)

Expanded beyond just music. Worship includes preaching, singing, and many other expressions.

Why? Maybe it brings the presence of God and prepares the mind to receive. I do not have to know why I should do it to do it.

Stay in a place of worship. It is more than a song. It can open the door to the supernatural.

God wants you to act like His Word is coming to pass.

V. 16-17 – they had to dig trenches.

“If we expect to obtain the Holy Spirit’s blessing, we must prepare for his reception.” “But the most of people say, ‘Well, you know, of course, if God sends a blessing, we must then enlarge.’ Yes, that is the way of unbelief and the road to the curse. But the way of faith and the road to the blessing is this: God has promised it — we will get ready for it; God is engaged to bless; now let us be prepared to receive the boon. Act not on the mere strength of what you have, but in expectation of that which you have asked.” (Spurgeon)

God wants to live like He will do what He said He will do.

God wants you to have total victory in every area of your life.

V. 18-19 – God did not meet the immediate need. He met the total need.

“God wanted to give them more than immediate provision; He wanted to give them complete victory over their enemies.” (Guzik)

[Deu 28:7 NASB95]

[2Co 2:14 NASB95]

Believe in God turning things around for you.

God wants you to live a sanctified life unto Him.

V. 20 – it was at the morning offering of sacrifice.

[Mat 6:4, 6, 18 NASB95]

Your obedience to give, pray, and fast (among other Christian disciplines) connects you to the reward of the Lord.

God wants us to trust Him to bring the “what” even when we do not know the “how” or the “when.”

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Times Two pt3—Miracles Amidst Insecurities

[2Ki 2:23-25 NASB95]

Too many people allow the enemy to stop them from accomplishing the purpose of God in their lives due to insecurities. Physical. Intellectual. Financial. Or other insecurities.

Elisha had to deal with this early on in his ministry.

How can we see God’s miracles in our lives amidst our own insecurities?

Here are three concepts that are important to see God’s miracles amidst insecurities.

Know that the enemy goes for our insecurities.

V. 23 – Baldness can be a point of insecurity for people. The enemy will go for the “jugular.” He wants to hit you in the place that hurts us the deepest. He wants us to cower. It can be things like here (physical appearance), intellect, finances, family connections, past sins, or any number of areas of insecurity.

To combat that, we need to grow in the fact that God has made us. [Psa 139:13-14 NASB95]

The Apostle Paul provides concepts for dealing with insecurities.

Get your worth and value by the grace of God only. [1Co 15:9-11 NASB95]

Early church fathers give a description of Paul in Greek as a “man of middling size, and his hair was scanty, and his legs were a little crooked, and his knees were far apart; he had large eyes, and his eyebrows met, and his nose was somewhat long.” (https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/bald-blind-and-single)

Scripture gives some confirmation to that fact. [2Co 10:10 NASB95]

Do not allow your insecurities to keep back from what God has called you to do. Allow God to heal them so you can used by God.

God wants us to learn to confront our enemies.

V. 24 – Elisha confronted the lads.

How to confront:

Stand up in boldness. Be healed and confront the issues.

Address this physically and spiritually.

There are times when you deal with the people directly.

Hermeneutics Principles:

Truth in tension: There are times when truth is understanding context. It is not whether you answer but how you answer. There is no guarantee they will listen. [Pro 26:4-5 NASB95]

OT & NT Interpretation – We do not offer bulls and goats because Jesus was the sacrifice. The NT gives progressive revelation over the OT. Jesus would say, “It has been said… but I say to you…” The NT gives progressive revelation for some things.

Descriptive vs. Prescriptive. Judas hung himself after sinning. (Matt. 27:5). Confess sins. (I John 1:8-9)

Prescriptive NT: [Rom 12:14 NASB95]

Descriptive NT:

[1Co 5:5 NASB95]

[1Ti 1:20 NASB95]

Deal with the demon spirits: Demons affect the people who are opposing God’s plan for us.

[Eph 6:12 NASB95]

[Act 16:16-18 NASB95]

Allow God to confront the enemies. [Rom 12:19-21 NASB95]

Trust that God will specifically help you.

V. 24 – Notice the specifics: 2 female bears tore up 42 lads. Given the fact that there are times when the Bible does not provide specifics, the specifics mean something.

[Psa 138:8 NASB95]

[Psa 34:19 NASB95]

God is working all things together for your good. Romans 8:28.

Your miracle may look like God taking care of your opponents.

God does not want you to allow the insecurities that the enemy uses against you to keep you from His purpose in your life as you appropriately confront your enemy and allow God to deliver you.

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Times Two pt2—Miracles for the Dissatisfied

[2Ki 2:19-22 NASB95]

God cares about every aspect of our lives. We accept far below what God has for us.

What are some things we find in this story that will help us experience miracles?

Here are three important principles to miracles as seen in 2 Kings 2:19-22.

You can’t be ok with what is not ok.

V. 19 – they were not ok with things not being ok.

Dissatisfaction is good.

Balance: [Phl 4:12-13 NASB95]

[Mar 11:24 NASB95]

[Pro 16:26 NASB95]

We are to be at peace (not anxious or bitter or resentful) while we press in for what God has for us.

When it comes to getting a miracle, you have to want things to change.

You will do a prophetic act of obedience.

V. 20-21 – salt in the water usually will make water worse and surely not naturally produce lasting change.

New Bible Commentary – merely symbolic (prophetic). It was not the salt but the power of the Lord.

K&D – The use of natural means does not remove the miracle.

The tax was 2 days’ wages. A fish is not enough. [Mat 17:24-27 NASB95]

It was not the salt. It was the act of obedience done in faith.

You will stand on the word of the covenant.

K&D – it was the power of the divine Word that made the water sound.

Eerdmans – the miracle was based upon the divine promise.

Moses – healing water – [Exo 15:23-26 NASB95]

[Heb 8:6 NASB95]

“death or unfruitfulness any longer.'” 22 So the waters have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.”

God is making some lasting miracles in your life.

God will cause a miracle to happen in places where we are not satisfied as we take prophetic steps of obedience based upon God’s promises.

Unsatisfied as we take prophetic steps of obedience based on

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Times Two pt1—How to Increase in the Power of the Holy Spirit

[2Ki 2:1-14 NASB95]

This is very similar to Jesus’ statement about Him leaving and the church receiving the power of the Holy Spirit.

[Jhn 14:12 NASB95]

[Jhn 16:7 NASB95]

How do we increase the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Here are four truths about walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Be fully committed.

V. 2, 4, 6, 12 (called him his father.)

[Luk 9:60-62 NASB95]

Become fully committed to Jesus Christ as Lord of your life.

Be willing to serve.

V. 3, 5

[2Ki 3:11 NASB95]

We serve God by serving in His church for the expansion of the Gospel of Jesus.

Be hungry.

V. 9-10

This gigantic request is made by someone who is hungry.

Randy Clark, “Most of the time, God anoints hungry people.”

[1Co 12:31 NASB95]

[1Co 14:1, 39 NASB95]

Hunger for God and the things of God makes you a candidate for the anointing.

Be active.

V. 13-14

[1Pe 4:10-11 NASB95]

Christianity is not just about you feeling better. It is a mission to help heal the world.

If you have nothing to do with the problems of others, you will have nothing to do the power to bring healing to others.

What are you going to do to help other people?

God wants to release the power of the Holy Spirit to hungry people who are fully committed to and actively serving Him.

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[2Ki 2:1-8 NASB95]

• When you use the purpose of God in your life combined with the power of the Holy Spirit, you will overcome anything.

• What was the mantle?

o “The cloak, that outward sign of the prophet’s office, became the vehicle of the Spirit’s power which works unseen, and with which the prophet was inspired.” K&D OT Commentary

o Two things: 1. His calling (office, purpose); 2. The power of the Holy Spirit on him (the anointing).

• He used the symbol of his calling and the anointing to counter the obstacle.

o He rolled it up tight. (LEH Sept. Lexi. 3rd ed.)

o Stuck the water.

o The water parted. “This was a most astonishing miracle and could be performed only by the almighty power of God.” Adam Clark

How can we overcome obstacles with our mantle?

Here are three ways we can overcome obstacles with our mantle.

I. Stay focused on the purpose and anointing in your life.

a. Elijah carried his mantle. He rolled it up tight.

b. Discover the call of God.

i. Know that you have a calling.

ii. [Rom 12:6-8 NASB95]

iii. [1Co 12:28 NASB95]

c. Daily spend time in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

i. [2Co 1:21-22 NASB95]

ii. [1Jo 2:20, 27 NASB95]

iii. [Psa 23:5 NASB95]

iv. Become a keeper of the anointing: [1Ch 27:28 NASB95]

II. Use the purpose and the anointing in your life.

a. Elijah hit the water (an obstacle) with the mantle. Similar to Moses’ rod and Joshua using the Ark.

b. Walk in the grace and stay in the place of your purpose.

i. [1Pe 4:10-11 NASB95]

ii. It might look like someone else (here, when Elisha does the same thing) or different as in Saul and David (armor).

iii. Walk in what God has for you. Bevere: Accountant John vs Pastor John

c. Release the anointing of God in prayer and other spiritual applications.

i. [Isa 10:27 NASB95].

ii. [Exo 30:25 NASB95]

iii. [Lev 14:14-17 NASB95]

d. Every mantle has the power of God. Gaius was not a preacher; he was a businessman. He used his anointing (business) to fund the kingdom. God blessed him in every way. [3Jo 1:2 NASB95]

III. Expect the obstacles to be removed and you to go forward.

a. Elijah and Elisha walked through the water on dry ground.

b. Resist hopelessness. Your obstacle can not handle the purpose of God and the power of God in your life. God expects you to use your purpose and anointing as long as you have breath in your body.

c. Release your faith in the impossible. As you walk in the purpose of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, nothing will be impossible.

• God wants you to overcome every obstacle with the purpose of God and the anointing of God.

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Days of Elijah pt8—Divinely Delegated Authority

[2Ki 1:1-18 NASB95]

The miraculous is a divine confrontation against the forces of darkness and all that includes.

We are in a war. God has delegated authority to us as believers. (I have preached messages defining this subject.)

Elijah shows us how to use the divine delegated authority to overcome the forces of darkness.

What can we learn about divinely delegated authority from Elijah?

Here are five things we can learn about divinely delegated authority.

Authority confronts the adversary.

V3

[Luk 10:19 NASB95]

Authority is given to confront the adversaries of God’s divine destiny.

Authority operates by total devotion to Jesus.

V3

[Jas 4:7 NASB95]

Your dominion over the devil is in direct proportion to your submission to God.

Authority operates by declaration of the Word of God.

V4

[Eph 6:11-13, 17 NASB95]

The Word of God out of your mouth is the weapon that will defeat the enemy.

Authority comes from knowing your identity in Christ.

V10,12

[Luk 4:3-4, 9-12 NASB95]

Satan’s attack will be against your identity.

Learning who you are in Christ allows you to exercise authority over the adversary.

Authority is released with the right spirit.

V13-15

This man humbly recognized and honored Elijah as a man of God.

[Luk 9:53-56 NASB95]

[Rom 12:14 NASB95]

Know what kind of spirit you are of.

God wants us to confront the darkness with divinely delegated authority that is based on submission to Him as being declared from God’s Word, knowing who we are in Christ, and being of the right spirit.

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