Elisha - a life with meaning.

Come to the Saviour, make no delay; Here in His Word He has shown us the way; Here in our midst He’s standing today, Tenderly saying, “Come!” “Suffer the children!” oh, hear His voice! Let ev’ry heart leap forth and rejoice; And let us freely make Him our choice; Do not delay, but come. Think once again, He’s with us today; Heed now His blest command, and obey; Hear now His accents tenderly say, “Will you, My children, come?” Joyful, joyful will the meeting be, When from sin our hearts are pure and free; And we shall gather, Saviour, with Thee, In our eternal home.

The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

The sound is poor on this talk, so sorry. Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King? Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring? Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe? Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go? By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Saviour, we are Thine! Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm, Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm; But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died: He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side. By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Saviour, we are Thine! Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem, But with Thine own life blood, for Thy diadem; With Thy blessing filling all who come to Thee, Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free. By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Saviour, we are Thine! Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, But the King’s own army none can overthrow; ’Round His standard ranging, victory is secure, For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure. Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Saviour, we are Thine! Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land, Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band, In the service royal, let us not grow cold; Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold. Master, Thou wilt keep us, by Thy grace divine, Always on the Lord’s side—Saviour, always Thine!

Paul’s takes his leave from the Elders at Ephesus: And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. Acts 20.v 17-38

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

In tenderness He sought me, Weary and sick with sin, And on His shoulders brought me Back to His fold again. While angels in His presence sang Until the courts of heaven rang. So while the hours are passing, All now is perfect rest; I’m waiting for the morning, The brightest and the best, When He will call us to His side, To be with Him, His spotless bride. O the love that sought me! O the blood that bought me! O the grace that brought me to the fold, Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold!

Until the trump of God be heard, Until the ancient graves be stirred, Then with a great commanding Word, The Lord shall come! O blessed hope with this elate, Let not our hearts be desolate, But strong in faith and patience wait, Until He come!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2.Corinthians 5:17

Take heed to yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God. Deut 4.23. A good Bible study is to read all the "Take Heeds" of Scripture!

1 Samuel 16:7.  But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

This is a very sad episode in the life of the Nation of Israel. The rejection of God by His beloved Chosen People. We may learn many lessons from this simple talk.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51.17.

Have you any room for Jesus, He who bore your load of sin? As He knocks and asks admission, Sinners, will you let Him in? Room for pleasure, room for business, But for Christ the Crucified, Not a place that He can enter, In the heart for which He died? Have you any room for Jesus, As in grace He calls again? O today is time accepted, Tomorrow you may call in vain. Room and time now give to Jesus, Soon will pass God’s day of grace; Soon thy heart left cold and silent, And thy Saviour’s pleading cease. Room for Jesus, King of Glory! Hasten now His Word obey; Swing the heart’s door widely open, Bid Him enter while you may.

Knowing this, that the trying of you faith worth patience. James 1.4

We have decided to add unto the life of Elisha, a mini series on the life of that great prophet Samuel. When the Prophet Jeremiah was pleading and praying for his people who had strayed away from the Lord, God spoke to him in relation to pleading and prayers prayers. God had said "Pray not for this people, for their good." Jeremiah 14.11. In his love for his beloved people Jeremiah continued to pray on their behalf, then God spoke to him again and gave a remarkable command. Even "though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be moved toward this people" Jer. 15.1. God spoke so highly about these two great warriors who had laboured for Him. Jeremiah must have been astounded. One must wonder about our own testimony in the world and how God will judge us. It is also interesting that when our Lord was transfigured before the three Apostles and Moses and Elijah appeared, they talked with the Lord Jesus "and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem" (Luke 9. 30.) what an amazing conversation and meeting to which these three apostles were privy! The first talk is "Corrupt Priests". Can we see a parallel to some churches around today?

Speak unto them, Thus saith the Lord God......whether they will hear or whether they will forbear. Ezekiel 3.11. I have made thy face strong against their faces............Ezekiel 3. 8/9.

The arrow of the Lord's deliverance. The Chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!

The Lord Hath Called for a Famine so put on the whole armour of God.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1.3/4.

If the watchman see the sword and and blow not the trumpet....and the sword come and any is taken away in his iniquity........his blood will I require at the watchman's hand!

Watch your eyes Watch your eyes What they see! There's a Father up above, Looking down in tender love, Watch your eyes What they see!

Cleanse me from my sin Lord, Put Thy power within, Lord, Take me as I am, And make me all Thine own, Keep me day by day, Lord, Underneath Thy sway, Lord, Make my heart Thy palace, And Thy royal Throne!

God says: Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2v30. Make sure we never treat God’s Word lightly.