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The Second Story and the Third Heaven This week I'd like to visit the architecture of resurrection. Yes, such a thing is possible! Scripture gives us several examples from literal buildings. Last week's newsletter gave a hint with the resurrection patterns in the homes of the women who extended hospitality to Elijah and Elisha. There are even more examples than that. Just to review, the last several newsletters have investigated the Torah's ancient call to hospitality, not just a a nice thing to do, but as a vital preparation to inherit the Kingdom. Our hospitality study trail through the Torah, Prophets, Writings, and New Covenant started with Song of Songs 5:1, a restoration of the Bride and Bridegroom to the Garden of Eden: • "I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam.I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends; drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.” Elijah in 1 Kings 17:9 protected the widow and her son during the famine. Because she used the last of her flour and oil to feed the prophet of YHVH, she never lacked during the tribulation. She also hospitably gave him an upper room in which to dwell during the famine. In return, her son was resurrected from the dead in that upper room. Because she ministered to the man of God during an apocalyptic famine, she received multiplied miracles of nourishment and resurrection. And in Elisha's “double portion” fashion, he performs two resurrections for the hospitality of the upper room. First, the barren Shunnemite woman is rewarded with a son, and then later the son is resurrected from the dead: • "Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food. She said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually. Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.” (2 Ki 4:8-10) The Shunemmite furnished her upper room with the furniture of the Mishkan. She made a little House for the Presence to dwell over the daily activities of her lower rooms. Elisha, a righteous visitor, was the stand-in for the very resurrecting Presence of Adonai. The upper room is the highest room of our home, a set apart place, yet attached to the rest of the home. What we furnish in the upper room blesses the rest of the home...or not. It can be where heaven meets earth...or not. When the Shunnemite woman constructed an upper room, imagine it as a third story built atop their own living quarters in the second story. Not a brand-new building, but one atop the existing one. Although now more symbolic because its examples are drawn from building construction in ancient times, today we still have upper rooms, those spaces we make to host the righteous believers who will accept our invitations. The visitor becomes the presence of Yeshua in our homes, especially during Shabbat. During the Iron Age (1000–586 BCE; the First Temple Period), the "four-room house" dominated Israelite architecture. The four-room house with pillars was widespread already, but it often had more or less than four rooms. The majority of houses only had three rooms, but could also five or more. The house had long rooms and a transverse broad room in the back, which could be partitioned by walls or columns. The ground level housed valuable livestock and had a working area for storage, weaving, food preparation, or other working tasks. The second level had the living quarters. A rooftop had an area for drying certain products, such as flax or fruits, and it was used as sleeping quarters in the intense heat of the summer for the cool breeze.
2 Kings 4:14–20 (ESV) And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her. When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.Exceptional Promises Are The Norm For Kingdom Participants.Belief in God is goodFollowing Jesus is the starting pointThat will take you into a Journey of Kingdom ParticipationWe still live in the worldWe have a new KingWe have a new lawWe have a new way of livingWe have a new familyWe have a new missionWe have a new economyWhile the decision to follow Jesus unlocks salvation but participation in Kingdom, and taking Kingdom ground unlocks a next level experience in all arenas of life.2 Kings 4:8–10 (ESV) One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”Matthew 16:16–19 (ESV) Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”Promises Received Are Promises At Risk.2 Kings 4:20 (ESV) And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.“God… I thought you were giving me this amazing promise and now you are taking it away???” Your promise is always at risk and you must protect it.The Attacks You Will Face:Pushback Of This WorldSin & StupidityAttack By Worldly HatersAttacks On Kingdom PlayersThe Same Kingdom Participation It Took To Receive The Promise Is The Same Kingdom Participation It Will Take To Maintain The PromiseShe could have given up, appreciative for what was done, surrendering the full promise for a full life.She should have become an emotional disaster and added to the problemShe could have called for natural help2 Kings 4:22–25 (ESV) Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite.She could have leaned on her own spiritual strengthInstead she tapped into the flow of what brought the promise in the first place.Hebrews 10:39 (ESV) But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.Philippians 3:16 (ESV) Only let us hold true to what we have attained.Elisha's ability to deliver results required him to be a Kingdom participant
In this beautiful conversation with Matan faculty member Rachel Sharansky Danziger, we discuss Elisha's encounter with two women in the Haftorah taken from II Melachim 4. We discuss the subtle theology laced throughout the two episodes as well as the different ways each woman responds to her distress. Both the impoverished woman and the woman from Shunem have what to teach us about the universal nature of struggle and how we can learn to help ourselves, with and without divine miracles. This week's episode has been sponsored in memory of Rose Lubin who was killed defending Jerusalem two years ago from her family in Israel who miss her very much. This year the Matan Podcast is exploring the weekly Haftorah.
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Amen.Last week, Conner Smith took his son, Charlie, to a new candy store in Riverside, California. They found the store was closed but had been left unlocked. Uptown Candy Shop had only been open for about a week. Since the store is in a shopping mall in the greater LA area, there was a real risk of it being looted.So, Conner and his son stood guard in front of the unlocked door. They found the phone number for the security company at the mall. Then they waited in front of the candy shop until a guard arrived to lock up. The grateful candy shop owner shared the security footage of the dad using this situation as a teaching moment for his young son. The video went viral. The store owner told CBS LA, "We wanted to properly thank them, so we posted it on TikTok to get the word out there. We figured TikTok finds the bad guys really fast, so let's see how long it takes them to find the good guy."The author of the letter to the Hebrews is giving encouragement to Christians who are being persecuted. He lists great heroes of faith. He finds the good guys. He's using this as a teachable moment. "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again" (Hebrews 11:32-34).Gideon defeated the mighty Midianites, even though his army was outnumbered 135,000 to 300. Deborah and Barak defeated the army of Sisera because God sent a flood that wiped out the enemy army. Samson killed 1,000 Philistines using the jawbone of a donkey. Jephthah slaughtered the Ammonite army. David slayed the mighty giant Goliath with a sling and a stone. Samuel was a prophet and a judge. Daniel survived the lions' den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survived the fiery furnace. The widow of Zarephath and the woman of Shunem both received their sons back from the dead.These are known and named good guys and gals. But the author goes on to list unnamed, but still remembered, good guys and gals. "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword – they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated" (Hebrews 11:35-37).The Devil hates these good guys and gals! That's why he sends his bad guys to hunt, hurt, harass, and commit homicide on God's good guys and gals. The ways of the Devil are always violent and destructive. While John the Baptist was in prison, the people were asking Jesus about John. Jesus responded, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). Early Christians suffered violence for being citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Throughout the history of the Christian Church, Christians have been held captive as prisoners, had bounties on their heads, been bludgeoned, beheaded, burned at the stake, fed to the lions, crucified, and any of numerous creatively macabre ways to be killed. In every age, the kingdom of heaven is threatened by the allies of hell. We should expect nothing else.The ways of the Devil remain violent and destructive. The Christian Church, with her proclamation of a crucified Christ, continues to appear weak and wimpy in comparison. We are living in the Church Militant – the Church at war.Christ and his apostles tell us to expect this violence against us. The bad guys will always be coming after Christ's good guys and gals. Jesus promised, "Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will put you to death. You will be hated by all nations because of my name" (Matthew 24:9). St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians to let them know that Timothy was sent to them to prepare them for suffering, "We sent him to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one will be shaken by these trials, for you know well that we are destined for this. In fact, even when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer" (1 Thessalonians 3:2-4). St. Paul told the Philippians that by God's grace they were given both the gift of faith in Christ and also the gift of suffering in Christ's name: "For it has been graciously granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" (Philippians 1:29).This violence against Christians and the Christian Church will continue to come. Satan is described in Scripture as a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. That's an apt description provided by the Holy Spirit's inspiration. Lions will come in force. They may also come one at a time. They feint and fake and then attack from a different direction. Lions will pick off the weak, the young, the elderly. Then they'll come for the strong and healthy.What do you see Satan doing? He's coming after our children through media, music, public schools, inattentive parents, and more. He's coming after our elderly through disinformation and misinformation. His attacks are sometimes sneaky and sometimes bold. He really only has two temptations. They are the same ones he first used as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. He'll ask, "Did God really say?" And, "Does God really love you?" They're simple, strategic, and effective. Once Satan picks off the weak, young, and elderly, he turns his attention to the older, wiser, and stronger.The baptized saints of God are not being sent into a fairy tale world where everything is rainbows and unicorns. The bad guys are always attacking God's good guys and gals. That's the way it's always been. That's the way it will always be. But the violence will not prevail. The Devil and his demonic horde have already gone down in defeat. But like a lion caught in a trap, the roaring lion of the Devil is unwilling to surrender. He continues to thrash, claw, and maul. Satan and his allies will do whatever they can as they "wage war against the saints to overcome them" (Revelation 13:7).In the face of threats of violence, we proclaim the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people (Revelation 14:6). We stand upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. We will not simply endure; we will prevail against the forces of Satan. In the end, the good guys and good gals always win! That's the singular point of the whole book of Revelation.God's baptized saints are equipped as soldiers of the cross. Whether you were in the 1st century hearing the letter to the Hebrews for the first time or you're here in the 21st century hearing this letter to the Hebrews another time, do not fear anything you suffer. You have received and believed Christ's promise that when you are faithful unto death, he will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).Fellow soldiers of the cross, we are in a war! That's what it means to be in the Church Militant. But the way for us to win the war for our children's souls and the hearts of people is by using the same weapons we've always been given – God's Word and Sacraments. These weapons seem like weakness in the face of the enemies' onslaught. Yet the Lord promises, "He is the one who gives strength to the weak, and he increases the strength of those who lack power" (Isaiah 40:29). We join with St. Paul as we rejoice in our weaknesses so that we can rely on the strengths of our Almighty God: "I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me. That is why I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).We listen to God's Word so that we can then share that Word with those who have closed their ears and hearts to the Lord. We are called to share God's truths with those who have been trapped by the Devil's lies. We fight against the bad guys so by God's will and through his Word, the Holy Spirit might win the bad guys over to his side! He can turn the bad guys into the good guys – just like he once did with us! We remember that we have been made heirs of heaven through our Baptism so we can invite those claimed by the Devil to be baptized and dispossessed of the Devil. We rejoice in the forgiveness of our sins so we can encourage others to find acceptance in Christ instead of searching for acceptance in the world. We celebrate our unity when we commune together at the Lord's Table as we invite others to set aside their petty differences about skin color, political party affiliation, or anything else the Devil uses to divide us into little tribes. With these humble means of Word and Sacrament, we are advancing forcefully into the Devil's domain.Take the time right now to bow your head to confess your fear of fighting the Devil and his band of bad guys.Silent confession.Fellow saints, Jesus Christ has paid for your fear. He gives you forgiveness that he boldly won for you on the cross and out of the grave. He calls you to trust his promise that violence will come upon us as his Christian soldiers. His promise doesn't end there. He also promises to rescue you from this current violence, just like he rescued his chosen people out of Egypt. He will deliver you from spiritual oppression and destruction. He will enable the citizens of his kingdom to conquer all things, and – yes – to endure all things for the sake of his name. The ultimate promise is that he will one day transfer your membership from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant in heaven.The Uptown Candy Store invited Conner and his family to their chocolate factory for a tour and sweet treats. Many on social media said the family deserved the Golden Ticket. It's great when the good guys get recognition.The author of Hebrews gives the saints in his list recognition by saying that the world was not worthy of such good guys and gals. "The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:38-40). The world thinks that people who are suffering and sacrificing like this are unworthy of honor. Yet, God thinks the world is not worthy of having these men and women of faith living among them.As you undergo persecution for your faith from the bad guys, take comfort in this great verse. You are judged by God's divine standards, not the world's flawed standards. The world's rejection of you reflects its own fallen nature. It does not reflect your inferiority. The world is not equipped to value saints of profound faith. So, the way it handles you is with mockery and derision. Your worth is not measured by worldly success like power or popularity. Your worth is in the way God's Son came, bled, died, and rose for you. Your worth is in your faithfulness and obedience to God's calling, even in the face of suffering.Why doesn't God prevent all persecution? He is planning something better. Together with us, those persecuted saints will be made perfect in heaven. That's way better than a Golden Ticket! Together, we have been made God's glorious saints. Those who have died already shine in that glory of God. We who remain on the earth struggle. But when you struggle, remember the glory God has in store for you one day!Through God's Word, through the washing waters of Baptism, and through his holy Supper, you are made one of God's saints. You are among the list of unnamed heroes of faith. By God's grace, you are one of the good guys and gals. Amen.Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Amen.View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-good-guys-and-gals/
10/12/25 In this weeks message DT continues to examine the life of Elisha with a practical story of how creating space for God to move is often what opens the most incredible heavenly opportunities...We hope you dig it.
Dante’s neighborhood in Manila was prone to flooding. On rainy days, the little boy reached school by crossing a makeshift wooden bridge put up by a neighbor. “Mr. Tomas helped the community get around,” Dante said. “He’d guide me on the bridge, shielding me from the rain.” Years later, Dante joined a church north of Manila. Leo, his Bible study leader, mentored him. In a conversation about their childhoods, Dante discovered Leo was Mr. Tomas’ son! “There’s no such thing as coincidence,” Dante said. “God used the son of a man who’d blessed me to help me in my faith.” A woman from the town of Shunem also experienced God’s providence. In faith, she’d followed the prophet Elisha’s advice, leaving home to avoid a famine (2 Kings 8:1-2). In doing so, she’d forfeited her claim to her house and land. Now, at the exact moment she was seeking help from the king about this matter, the king just happened to be talking with Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, about her. Years earlier, Gehazi had seen the woman’s dead son raised to life. Now, Gehazi said, "This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life" (v. 5). The king then “assigned an official to her case” (v. 6) and returned her property. We’ll always experience God’s care especially when things may not go as we planned. Our sovereign God will help us.
2 Kings 8 verses 1-6 tells us that the woman from Shunem whose son had been resurrected by Elisha had fallen into hard times during the seven-year famine that occurred. She had to move away from her home and lands. Gehazi, Elisha's former servant, points her out to the king who commands that her lands be restored to her. Verses 7-15 speak of Benhadad's sickness and subsequent murder by his general Hazael. Elijah had earlier told Elisha that he was to anoint Hazael to be king of Syria. Elisha has come to Damascus for that task. He is met by Hazael who has brought with him a gift from Benhadad and an enquiry as to whether the Syrian king would recover his health. Elisha is brought to tears when he met the hard and callous Hazael. Elisha's message that in the natural course of life Benhadad would recover. However, Yahweh has shown Elisha that Hazael will be a ruthless ruler that will commit unspeakable horrors against Israel - the pregnant women in particular. Hazael then returns to his monarch and suffocates him. Verses 16-24 tell of Judah's throne coming to the 32-year-old Jehoram, who proved to be a wicked king. Jehoram is described as being like the evil kings of Israel. One of the greatest influences on this man's life was his marriage to the evil daughter of king Ahab. His was a short reign of 8 years and his actions brought the kingdom of Judah to a low state. It was during his reign that Edom revolted and ceased to be a vassal of Judah. Jehoram is succeeded by his son Ahaziah - Judah's next king. Verses 25-29 speak of Ahaziah's rulership over Judah. The new king was 22 years old and reigned for a single year. This man was Ahab's grandson, and the record gives his relationship to Omri one of the wickedest men to have ever sat on Israel's throne. Verses. 26-27 make it clear how influential were his forbears on his life. Ahaziah joined Joram king of Israel in warring against the Syrians. The chapter finishes with Ahaziah's visit to his relative who was seriously wounded in the battle against the Syrians. Lamentations 4 verses 1-5 tell of the pitiful scenes that were seen in Judah after the wholesale and indiscriminate slaughter brought by the Babylonians. Verses 6-8 contrast these horrors with the former blessed conditions within the nation. Verses 9-10 state that it was the lucky ones who died by the sword and did not have to endure the famine which reduced the pitiful women to cannibalism. Verses 11-19 describe Yahweh's venting of His anger against His rebellious people. The surrounding nations were astounded at the report of the destruction brought to Judah. In verse 20 Jeremiah says that even though he knew that the coming judgments were just, they still terrified him when he saw what happened. The last two verses reveal Edom's elation at Zion's destruction. The lesson for us can be found in Romans 11 verses 22-23 - slowly read aloud and ponder the path we must take if we wish to receive the goodness of the LORD. 2 Corinthians is often called Paul's great letter of comfort. Chapter 1 tells us that one purpose of suffering is to develop in the sufferer a reservoir of compassion and comfort for others. The Apostle described his rock as the One who raised the dead (compare 1 Corinthians 15 verses 32 verses that occasion was likely to have been in the amphitheatre at Ephesus - details as to whether he died and was in fact resurrected at Lystra can only be conjecture - although I personally believe that he died and was raised at that time verses 2 Timothy 3 verses 10-13 being the incident referenced). The coming of Timothy with the news he carried about the response of the believers at Corinth was a tonic that revived his spirit. Chapter 2 provided further advice for what to do next if the wrongdoer was to be fully recovered. The chapter tells us that in Troas he pondered his blessings in our Lord Jesus Christ. His imagery is drawn from the practices which accompanied the Roman Triumphal procession. The language that he uses to his fellow believers is ironic since their lifestyle spoke of living gloriously whereas the Apostles were treated as though they had been the conquered army many of whom were to be offered to the gods of the victors. Nonetheless in verses Paul says that God has strengthened him that the fragrant message of the gospel might replace the pungent odour of death that would otherwise fill the nostrils of the perishing. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/
2 Kings 4 records further miracles in the ongoing ministry of Elisha. The first relates to Elisha's care for a widow woman and her son by the multiplication of the oil into the pots that she had borrowed at the command of the prophet. The oil only ceases once there are no more pots left to fill. This miracle illustrates that God can, and will, use us to our maximum potential as long as we make ourselves available. This miracle is followed by the giving of a son to a rich, but faithful and discerning woman from Shunem. Her son dies and in her distraught state she seeks aid from Yahweh's prophet, who resurrects her son- Elijah's servant Gehazi could not do this. The lesson is that only by the persistent and prayerful patience of His servants will the LORD fulfill His will. The reader should compare this miracle and the occurrences of sevens that are spoken of with the bringing of the rain by Elijah. For both these miracles the main point for us is stated in James 5 verses 13-18. The chapter ends with the miraculous healing of the stew for the sons of the prophets. The prophecy of Jeremiah concludes in chapter 52 with a record of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. It tells of the punishment of the wicked and vacillating king Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah's punishment was precisely as the prophet had predicted. The people of Judah were taken to Babylon, where their exile lasted for 70 years; as yet again prophesied by Jeremiah 25 verses 11-12 and chapter 29 verses10-14. Jehoiachin was released from prison and elevated to the king's table until his death.From 1 Corinthians 12-14 Paul shows that the body of believers in Christ is analogous to the human body. In 1 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul describes how God through His Spirit had distributed gifts and roles within the ecclesia. Just as our bodily members have unique and distinctive functions so too is it within the ecclesia of Christ: compare Romans 12 verses 3-8. It is never a question as to what member is the most important; because the unseen and less showy members are the most vital to the body, ie the heart, the kidneys etc. Just as in Ephesians 4 verses 1-16. Paul demonstrates that, rather than the gift, it is the service - or function which the individual can contribute to the growth of the body into Christ its head. This chapter is an answer to all would be schismatics - the body of true believers in the one body of Christ. The Apostle finishes the chapter by telling his readers that the better way of service lay in three qualities, which were not the spirit gifts, but attributes available to all believers - FAITH, HOPE and LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13 reveals that the infantile aids of the spirit gifts would cease once their objective of establishing a mature community of believers had been completed. This is the basis of his magnificent treatise on love; showing it to be the greatest and only enduring gift. Hope will vanish when it is realised in God's Kingdom. Believing will have been completed in the receiving of immortality. What a wonderful experience awaits us when we will then know God as He now knows us. Only love goes on and never cease. Slowly read the chapter aloud. Ponder, pause and meditate its message for the way believers must live. This chapter in Paul's letter changes the Corinthians narrow self-focus to an elevation of their minds to living the truth as our Lord Jesus Christ our head directed both them and us: Ephesians 4 verses 11-16. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciateion of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/
2 Kings 4 records further miracles in the ongoing ministry of Elisha. The first relates to Elisha's care for a widow woman and her son by the multiplication of the oil into the pots that she had borrowed at the command of the prophet. The oil only ceases once there are no more pots left to fill. This miracle illustrates that God can, and will, use us to our maximum potential as long as we make ourselves available. This miracle is followed by the giving of a son to a rich, but faithful and discerning woman from Shunem. Her son dies and in her distraught state she seeks aid from Yahweh's prophet, who resurrects her son- Elijah's servant Gehazi could not do this. The lesson is that only by the persistent and prayerful patience of His servants will the LORD fulfill His will. The reader should compare this miracle and the occurrences of sevens that are spoken of with the bringing of the rain by Elijah. For both these miracles the main point for us is stated in James 5 verses 13-18. The chapter ends with the miraculous healing of the stew for the sons of the prophets. The prophecy of Jeremiah concludes in chapter 52 with a record of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. It tells of the punishment of the wicked and vacillating king Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah's punishment was precisely as the prophet had predicted. The people of Judah were taken to Babylon, where their exile lasted for 70 years; as yet again prophesied by Jeremiah 25 verses 11-12 and chapter 29 verses10-14. Jehoiachin was released from prison and elevated to the king's table until his death. From 1 Corinthians 12-14 Paul shows that the body of believers in Christ is analogous to the human body. In 1 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul describes how God through His Spirit had distributed gifts and roles within the ecclesia. Just as our bodily members have unique and distinctive functions so too is it within the ecclesia of Christ: compare Romans 12 verses 3-8. It is never a question as to what member is the most important; because the unseen and less showy members are the most vital to the body, ie the heart, the kidneys etc. Just as in Ephesians 4 verses 1-16. Paul demonstrates that, rather than the gift, it is the service - or function which the individual can contribute to the growth of the body into Christ its head. This chapter is an answer to all would be schismatics - the body of true believers in the one body of Christ. The Apostle finishes the chapter by telling his readers that the better way of service lay in three qualities, which were not the spirit gifts, but attributes available to all believers - FAITH, HOPE and LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13 reveals that the infantile aids of the spirit gifts would cease once their objective of establishing a mature community of believers had been completed. This is the basis of his magnificent treatise on love; showing it to be the greatest and only enduring gift. Hope will vanish when it is realised in God's Kingdom. Believing will have been completed in the receiving of immortality. What a wonderful experience awaits us when we will then know God as He now knows us. Only love goes on and never cease. Slowly read the chapter aloud. Ponder, pause and meditate its message for the way believers must live. This chapter in Paul's letter changes the Corinthians narrow self-focus to an elevation of their minds to living the truth as our Lord Jesus Christ our head directed both them and us: Ephesians 4 verses 11-16. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciateion of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/
Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptMy name is Spencer. I'm one of the pastors here. We're continuing to walk through the book of First Samuel. We are now in chapter 28. We'll be there today. So one of the things that my kids are very aware of is that I made a lot of mistakes growing up. And it's not an uncommon thing for them to ask about a specific thing. Hey, did you do this when you were a kid? And I say, I mean, I don't want to lie in that moment. If I can dodge, I'll do that. I'm very good at changing the subject. But they're getting older and they're getting a little bit smarter, and they're like, no, no, no, no, no. Just stay on point. Did you used to do this as a kid? And what I typically say is, like, yes, I did. And they know at this point that I made a lot of mistakes. You know, I tell them, like, I came to Faith later when I was 17. I didn't love Jesus wholeheartedly. I try to explain that. What I want you to understand is that when you choose this, more bad decisions can come out of that. So it becomes kind of a living cautionary tale. But I try to be discreet. I don't try to share all the things, but that's getting difficult because I have family. And I don't know if it's like a rite of passage for grandparents and aunts and uncles just to volunteer information to your children, but that's a thing. Because the other day they asked very commonly about a thing. Did you used to do this? And we had the whole little thing, yes, you know, I did, but da, da, da, da, like I used to. But, you know, this is a cautionary tale. Don't fall in the same mistakes. Because, you know, I was kind of a bad kid that did bad things at times. And they said, oh, yeah, we know that because he used to throw rocks at cars. And I said, what? How do you know that? I used to throw rocks at carts. And someone in the family had just volunteered the fact that when we were little rebellious children out at the roadside in the woods having fun throwing rocks at cars and, you know, just to see if they would look up in the sky and wonder where it came from. And I was like, yeah, that is a thing I used to do. And I had to do the whole thing. But I'm realizing as I get older that this is going to be a thing, that just some aunt or uncle is just going to volunteer some information, and I'm gonna have to really solidify this point that, yes, I did those things. And if you continue to choose sin, if you continue to choose bad things, it just grows, because that's the reality of sin. So my life gets to be a little bit of a cautionary tear and a parable to my kids to teach that principle, because I want them to understand that. I want them to understand that sin grows, that it is serious, that it has consequences. And one of those consequences is that you might continue to pursue it in a direction to where all of a sudden you're doing worse things that can wreck your life. And boy, oh boy, at this point in First Samuel, we see that so clearly in the life of Saul. We have watched him repeatedly make the wrong decision. We've watched him repeatedly live in his own self interest and to choose sin and how that's grown over time. And we kind of are at the place where he hits rock bottom, where the choices he makes in chapter 28 reveal a heart that is headlong after sin. And my hope is that as we walk through this story and see the truth that is bound up in it, it would remind us and be a cautionary tale for us to take sin seriously. So I'm going to pray and then we're going to walk through the story together. Heavenly Father, I pray that you might help us have ears to hear that we would not see this as simply a story that has all types of interesting details and then that's all it is. But we'd see it as your word that is revealing who you are and who you call us to be. May we have ears to hear and may we respond in the way that you would desire in faith and in repentance and in delighting in you above our own flesh and desires. In Jesus name, Amen.All right, so where we pick up in 28. So we left off last week, where David, through I really think fear and not trusting the promises of God that he was going to be the future king, he goes to the land of the Philistines where he finds safety there. And that's where we pick up right where Chet left off last week in verse one.> In those days the Philistines assembled and made war against Israel. And Achish said to David, "Know assuredly that you and your men shall go out with me to battle." And David said to Achish, "Very well; you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well; I will make you my bodyguard for life."And it picks up with some context to set up the story in verse 3.> Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him and buried him at Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.All right, so we get some context here, something that we already saw a few chapters ago in chapter 25. We already know that Samuel is dead. We know his body is buried in rhema. Okay, that's an interesting context. Also, some things we didn't know that at one point, Saul, when he was doing the right thing, he kicks out all the mediums and the necromancers. These are people who were thought to summon dead spirits. So it's like, why are we being told about that? Buckle up. This story is. Is wild.> And the Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.So as the Philistines are gathering, Saul is seeing this, and he's terrified. Long gone are the days where he heard about the Ammonites and them disrespecting the people of God. And the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he rallied the people and they defeated them. He is now a scared king who can only see his enemy and is afraid. This is in verse six. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets, which is a picture of. As kings would sometimes get dreams from the Lord. And he's been rejected as king. So that's not happening. That the priests. We saw this earlier. In 1st Samuel, the high priest had the Urim stone, the Thuman stone. These were stones that were used to help answer, we think, prayers in a yes or no kind of manner. But we saw that he killed most of the priests at Nob. So the priesthood isn't with him anymore. So he doesn't have his kingly office. He doesn't have help. He doesn't have the help of the priests. Also, the prophets are no longer with him. He's the Samuel has in his prophecy shown that he has been rejected. So you get a picture of prophet, priest and king, that all of it has abandoned him in leadership and he is alone.> Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at En-dor."All right, so Saul, scared, frightened, says, I will find someone to help me. I will go to a medium for help. The same mediums that he rightfully kicked out of the promised land, that he rightfully saw to get rid of because he followed the law. Then the book of Deuteronomy, in chapter 18, it says,> "When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a charmer or a consultant of ghosts, or one who inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD."Stop there. He knew the law. That's why he kicked him out in the first place. He knew that all these people with their evil practices did not belong amongst the people of God. And now he has chosen to go and receive help from there. Which brings up a lot of questions. And I just want to pause in the story to deal with some of those questions, because when you read this story, you have questions about, wait a second, do mediums really do that in the Bible? Do they really consult the spirits of the dead? And the follow up question is, does that still happen? Is that a thing that happens today? Now what we're about to read is the only kind of account of seeking a medium, a witch, a sorcerer, anything like that does in these evil practices. The only really detailed account like this that we get in the Bible, and still it doesn't answer all of our questions. But after looking at this and kind of surveying the rest of the scriptures and thinking through this, here are my general thoughts on how to think about this in light of how we think about this today. Mediums, witches, fortune tellers, many of them are indeed con artists. They're fraudsters, they're tricksters, which I don't think takes a lot of explaining for us, because I think that's the default position of the west, is that if you drive through West Columbia, and you see a palm reader, you see tarot cards, or you see someone dealing in fortune telling, you steal that kind of stuff. Our default position mostly is, and that's probably, probably somebody trying to steal your money. It's probably a con artist of some sort. But what I want to push us on here is that in the majority of the world, so the rest of the world, the not Western world, so South America, Africa, Asia, it is accepted that there are people that deal in these evil practices. They consult evil spirits, they consult evil things to gain information. And really, honestly, the majority of history has kind of accepted this as a thing that happens. It really is only until recent history. And I'll be honest, mostly if your background is more of a white Western background, you're more likely to kind of reject this outright and not see that actually this is something that actually truly does happen. And if you can step out of your position and to see how other people in the world view this and how the rest of history thinks through this, I think it expands our scope a little bit. That's what I've been trying to do over the last few years, the last decade of trying to pastor, because I still think that many of them are con artists. I still think that many of them actually do all types of tricks. But as I've tried to think about this more over the last decade of ministry and then even in pastoring and seeing this, that truly there are unseen demonic forces that are at work all the time, and there are people that consult these things, and what comes out of those experiences sometimes is demonic forces that pastoring people and seeing how this shows up in their life, I see it over and over and over again. So, yes, I think some absolutely are con artists. They're playing tricks. But others of them, when they're consulting someone's ancestor, when they're looking for, when someone's wanting to find out something from their grandmother, that what they're actually hearing on the other side of that is not just trickery, that it's actually demonic forces that are actually speaking to and through these people who are engaged in these evil practices. And we don't know all the things. There's a lot of things we don't understand about this, but I think both of those happen quite a bit. And I think that's helpful for us to think through this. And I think I don't know this, but I think that it's quite probably uncommon to have just immediate access to the spirits of those who have died. Now. I think that's important for us as we think about this, what this is. And also I think it's important to ask the question why anyone would engage in these practices in the first place. People engage in these practices because they're trying to understand things and have control over their next steps in their future. An insight that doesn't come from the Lord. I think that's really helpful to understand. I think going back to actually 1st Samuel 15 is incredibly helpful for this. Because in 1st Samuel 15, when the judgment from Samuel is being passed to Saul, he says something that's very helpful and, and how we should think about this. He says,> "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."What I find helpful about that judgment is it gives us a picture that there's some root issues behind all of this, that ultimately seeking mediums and necromancers is a rejection of the Creator for created things. It's a rejecting rejection of the word of the Lord to gain insight from the evil one, to gain insight to control your situation in life. I was reading a pastor in Africa, in Zambia, who regularly has to encounter people, people that are influenced by witchcraft and witch doctors. And one of the things that he was saying is that as they're seeking to really consult these practices because they have real practical things they want taken care of, they want their crops to grow and they want their kids to get better if they are sick, that as they're trying to control their future, what happens is as they go to these evil practices, it makes them slaves to two demonic forces that captivate and control their life. So the irony of going to seek control over your life by going to these practices, you invite forces in that actually begin to control you. And I thought that was a helpful insight into this to understand why people would do this and the danger that is bound up in doing this. I've seen this. I've sat with someone who engaged in occult practices in the past, and there were demonic forces in. In their life in the present, years later. And I know that our Western minds don't like to wrap our minds. That's hard for us to see. But it is a true spiritual reality now. It's a lot of context to how to think about this, to set up what we're about to. I think we should think about that as you see things from witchcraft to mediums, Ouija boards, Tarot cards, palm readings, even zodiac, horoscopes, and astrology, all of that is in an unseen spiritual realm. But if you are choosing to find insight to control your future by those practices, you are rejecting the Lord and his word and his counsel, and you are inviting evil into your life in a way that is extremely dangerous. Now, all that's helpful, and then we get this, what we're about to read, which is an incredibly unique experience all in itself. And trying to understand it is difficult, but I think we have some insight in how to understand this situation and also how this works broadly.So now we're going back in the story.> So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you." And the woman said to him, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?" And Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing." Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." And the king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." And he said, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up; he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why then have you disturbed me, to bring me up?" And Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines make war against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you to tell me what I shall do." And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me. And the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath on Amalek. Therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. Moreover the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."Then Saul fell full length on the earth and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly terrified and said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed you; I have put my life in my hand and have listened to what you told me. Now therefore hear the voice of your servant; let me set a morsel of bread before you, and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way." But he refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants and the woman urged him, and he listened to their voice. So the woman took a calf that was fat and killed it at once, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it. And she brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.All right, so he goes to seek help from this woman. And you should feel really the sad nature of this, that he's taking off his kingly garments, he's disguising himself so he cannot be seen. It's pathetic. This once powerful king is having to do this to get help. It's a sad picture. So he disguises himself in the night, and he goes to her, and he said, divine for me, a spirit by me. Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you. The woman said to him, surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death? So he asks this, and she says, says, you realize the irony here is she can't see that it's Saul, but she clearly knows he's an Israelite. You realize that Saul kicked out all of the mediums. The necromancers, like you understand that you're putting me at risk here. She's nervous. And then Saul responds in verse 10. But Saul swore to her by the Lord, as the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you from. For this thing which y'. All that is wildly insane and wicked. Because what he just did was that he invoked the holy name of God to offer protection to a woman who is engaging in evil and demonic practices. That is gross blasphemy. And you're supposed to feel that as he invokes the holy name of God to protect this woman so that she will do this evil thing for him.Then the woman said, whom shall I bring up for you? He said, bring up Samuel for me. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, why have you Deceived me. You are Saul. All right. It's impossible to know for sure what's logistically happening, but I think we can tell a few things. First, this woman did not expect to see Samuel. She is surprised. And when she sees that it's Samuel, she makes the connection that he saw. And she is scared. So she's shocked. And I would argue, I think the reason she's probably shocked that she actually saw and. And a spirit from someone who is dead is because this doesn't happen for her very often. So I think this woman probably is more on the con artist side of this. This is not a thing that normally happens. And if she is consulting evil spirits of some type, it doesn't look like this. So she's caught off guard by this, and she is scared. And once she connects all of this and she says, you are Saul, it says the king said to her, do not be afraid. What do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I see a God coming up out of the earth. Which, again, it's just. This is just shows how all the fools that are involved in here, Saul, a fool engaging this evil. She clearly does not understand how this works. She clearly cannot grasp what's happening. The best thing that she can do, best way she can describe this is it's like a God that's coming up out of the earth. 14 he said to her, what is the appearance? And she said, an old man is coming up and he is wrapped in a robe. And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and he paid homage.So he sees that it's Samuel. And there's this question of that people have when they engage with this. It's like, how does this actually happen? How does an evil person like this, how is she able to bring up the actual spirit of Samuel? Samuel's body's buried in rhema, but somehow she's able to actually bring the spirit of Samuel up. How does this. Why is this even happening? Why does God allow this evil woman to engage in this evil practice to bring about the prophet Samuel? And I think the answer to that question, even I would probably argue that's not the normative thing that happens with the spirits of those who are dead. I think that why God in his sovereignty, allows this to happen in is exactly what we're about to read next. It has to do with what Samuel's going to say to Saul. So God allows it for the purposes of what's about to happen.Then Samuel said to Saul, why Have you disturbed me by bringing me up? And Saul answered, I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do. Which just shows the utter foolishness of where Saul is at this point in his life, that he thought that going to get a medium to engage in this evil and wicked and abominable practice to bring Samuel back for him, to help him. He's just. He's a fool. And something I've said multiple times in this series. Saul just. It's clear he doesn't know God. He just doesn't know God. If he thinks that this was going to work out well for him, he doesn't know the Lord. And then verse 16, Samuel said, why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me. For the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor and David, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek. Therefore the Lord has done this thing to you, done this thing to you. This day, moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines. So Samuel is brought up for this right here. I already told you, as I declared years ago, the judgment upon you, that the kingdom that you've been grasping onto for so long is not yours. It is being given away. And very soon tomorrow you and your sons in the battlefield will die, and you'll join me in death, and Israel will lose. That is why God and his sovereignty allows Samuel will be brought to declare that message. You are going to die tomorrow. Saul responds.> Then Saul fell full length on the earth and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.Then the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, behold, your servant has obeyed you I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way. And she's like, come on, eat, get out. At this point she's just like, get out of my home. Because she's taken her life in her hands and she wants him gone. And this medium is trying to get him up off the ground. He refused and said, I will not eat. But his servants together with the woman urged him and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. And the woman had a fattened calf in the house and she quickly killed it. She took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it. And she put it before Saul and his servants. And they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. And this is one of the final pictures we get of Saul. And it's sad. It's just sad. And when you think about this in light of his life, it's just like, how did he get here? How has he been so reduced to this sad scene, to having to trust in demonic forces and being told he's going to die? And when you take a step back from the story and you understand the life of Saul, it becomes very clear. He made one sinful decision after the next. He made one self interested decision after the next. And when you see that decision after decision after decision of how this played out, you understand that sin just grew in his life. You go back to 1 Samuel 13, you see that he makes the unlawful sacrifice that he was not supposed to. He disobeys the Lord. You see in 1st Samuel 14 he acts like a fool and he makes a rash vow. You see in 1st Samuel 15 that he refuses to obey the voice of the Lord and to slaughtering the king of the Amalekites. He refuses to do it. You see in 1st Samuel 18 that he tries to murder David. You see in 1st Samuel 19 he tries to murder him again. You see in 1 Samuel 22 he murders the majority of the priests at Nob and their wives and their children. And then from 23 onward, you see this endless pursuit to try to take the life of David, try to murder David and his men. And then he gets spared by David. And there's like a moment where he's sorry over his sin, but he's not truly repentant. And he continues in this. He continues to make sinful choices over and over and over again until his heart is so hardened he cannot see the utter wickedness of deciding that it was a good thing to go and seek the help of a medium. And that right there should serve as a cautionary tale for us. That we should understand the nature and the seriousness of sin and how it grows with every deliberate decision to pursue it. We should heed the wisdom of James chapter one that says,> "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death."That we should see the reality of when temptation comes and how that grows into this desire of sin and how we pursue it, and how when the sin comes, continues to grow in our life, develops, it seeks to destroy us and bring death to us. We should understand the seriousness of sin and how every decision can grow into further pursuing sin. Because here's what happens, y', all, is that sometimes we get so caught off guard by how someone could make such a sinful, foolish choice. People will say, I can't believe that he cheated on her. I can't believe that he would wreck his family and decide to do this. As if it's some surprise when in reality this is what sin does. That he was a man that from early on his teenage years was addicted to pornography and grew this unhealthy, sinful appetite that continued to grow over time. And then maybe he had some freedom when he got married for a moment, but he keeps running back to pornography, keeps running back to these sinful desires. And then in a season where his marriage isn't doing all that well, he gets the positive attention of a co worker. And it inflames that desire in him even further, which develops into lustful thoughts throughout the day, which develops into long lunches with her, which develops into hotel rooms. And it's not a surprise when you understand the nature of sin and how it grows. People will be shocked and ask, I can't believe those friends had this massive falling out. What happened? They were such good friends, like for so long now they seem so cold and distant towards one another. But it's the long road that gets you there of one thing after the next, that it starts with a comment, this person hurts their friend. And then instead of their friend doing the right God honoring thing to go to their friend, and after examining their own heart of why it hurt them to go and say, hey, you've actually hurt me, this was A hurtful thing to say. They just keep it to themselves, and they get angry, and then weeks later, they return fire. Typically, how it goes is, you know, you've been angry for weeks, and all of a sudden something that's completely unrelated just bubbles out in a way that just hurt. Where did that come from? And then no resolution happens there. No reconciliation happens there. Now there's relational weirdness that is set up in the friendship. And now they're both growing resentful, and they're unwilling to repent along the way until finally their eyes see towards each other. They're cold, they're distant, they're calloused. And it's like it was one bad decision after the next. People will be surprised when someone steals from their company. I can't believe that he robbed his company. He's going to prison. Like, what was he thinking? And again, you have to follow the progression here. These things happen over time with decision after decision that years ago that he was a person that started to finally make money. Instead of submitting his finances to the Lord and growing in generosity, he said, I want to spend on myself. And he's continued to fill his life with riches and all types of pleasures. And then as he began to fill his life with things and upholding things over the Creator, he started to grow some debt in his life. And then all of a sudden, there was an easy way to maneuver a little bit of money in a way that no one would ever see. And then he continues this and continues to buy more things and continues to set his heart on material things. And more debt is growing, and more debt is growing. And then all of a sudden, he's in a lot of debt and has some big decisions to make, and there's a big move that he shouldn't have made. And all of a sudden he makes it, and now he's facing prison time. Do you see how this works? Sinful choices that we make over and over and over again. I'll give you one more. People will ask, I can't believe that church split in two. I can't believe that this group all of a sudden just fell apart. What happened there? And y', all, it just. It's. It is a slow fade into this type of disunity. It usually starts with someone who just goes to someone else in their group or goes to someone else in their church and says, I need to vent. I need to. This is the way. This is the holy way to do it. I need the process. Just need to process with you. And then loose Lips rolls out into some gossip, and all of a sudden there's gossip in the air and distrust is in the air. And then eventually slander comes out. And then someone comes back and says, hey, I heard that you said this about me. What's going on with that? And then sides are taken. No one does what they're supposed to do in repenting of their sin and seeking reconciliation God commands us to do. Sides are taken, hearts grow hard and they part their separate ways. This happens over and over and over again. And that's what happened with Saul. He continued to make sinful choices, cementing the position of his heart. And some of you right now have what you might consider to be baby small sins in your life. Maybe some of us have these respectable sins in our lives that we don't think are a big deal. Maybe there's some hidden sin in our lives. And what we do is we justify ourselves, our actions, our thoughts. Thoughts. Are we minimized and say, that's not that big of a deal. Are we covered up with a veneer of righteousness that says, yeah, I know I got this going on. I haven't really confessed it to anyone, but I'm still doing these things. And then that grows, and then it grows and it influences the next decision and the next decision and the next decision, and then it destroys us. We should heed Hebrews chapter three in a way that should sober our souls to reality.> "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'Today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."And the warning there is, be careful in choosing sin, lest you actually, in your pursuit of sin, finally realize that your heart wasn't rooted in belief in the first place, receive the warning of the seriousness of sin, and hope that you have people in your life that will point you. That will point out the choices that you are making, that will ask the tough questions, that will notice the patterns in your life that reveal something beneath the surface that when you dip out for two or three months and you make lots of excuses about not being around, that someone will come into your life, the word of God will come into your life and will reveal what's happening before you, harden your heart in a direction that you do not come back from. We should receive the warning here that we're only a few steps away from wrecking our lives.Now, here's the good news while Saul chooses evil and he meets this very sad end. We have the opportunity to choose Christ. We have the opportunity to delight in him, to run to him. We have the opportunity to actually turn from path of destruction towards Christ. We have the opportunity to end humility, humble ourselves before the Lord, and pray for a softened heart. We have the opportunity to have groups of Christians in our community group that we have people in our lives that at a moment's notice will give us the ear that we need to listen to begin to walk in the light. We have the opportunity and some of you have the opportunity 4 be very first time to actually choose Christ over the desires of our own flesh and following the ways of the world, influenced by the enemy himself, we have Christ and that's his desire for us. I so appreciate 2 Corinthians 5:15 that says,> "and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."that he died for us, that we on the path towards sin and hell might actually see that we had a Savior who bled and died for our sinful choices, for our bad trajectory, so that we might actually live not to ourselves, but but in submission to Him. And that is my hope as we leave this story today. Do not let the sins in your life grow and expand in a way that would suffocate your soul. Do not live for yourself like Saul did live for Christ, who for our sake died and was raised to free us from choosing evil. Pray for us. Heavenly Father, I pray that you would sober us to the reality of sin in our lives and you would awaken us to the joy that is found and understanding that while we sinned against you, you bled and died for our trespasses that we might trust in you of our own selves. Lord, we cannot do that without your work in our hearts. Lord, may you work in our souls in a way to awaken us to the reality of sin and the reality of your redemptive work on the cross in an empty tomb in Jesus name. Amen.We're going to prepare to take the Lord's Supper here in a moment. I want to read from Luke chapter 22.> And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."That as Christians we get to come to the table remembering that yes, we make sinful choices and yes, we pursue sin, and yes, we have hidden sin in our life that we need to actually respond by walking in the light. We have all those things. But the offer of Christ is you don't come in your perfection, you don't come in your righteousness, you don't come in your good works. You come needy, humbly rejoicing that his blood was poured out, that his body was broken. And we remember the good news of the gospel that is for, for us, the sinners. So as you consider your sin, consider your Savior. When you are ready, come joyfully to the table. Some of you, you have not actually fully trusted in the work of Christ. Some of you, if you're honest with yourself that your whole life has been won towards only pursuing sin. And where there's been bits of religiousness, where there's been bits of church attendance, where there's been bits of just doing some good things, those are a cover for a life that is fully captured by sin. And my hope right now is that God would soften your heart and open your eyes to the reality that that only leads to death. But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus dies for sinners and that you would not come to the table. Do not come to the table right now. Come to Christ in faith, trusting in his work. And my hope is you wouldn't leave here today without talking to someone, talking to a pastor, talking to anyone, and asking them what does it look like to actually follow Jesus. And then we can talk about what it means to come to the table. But Christians, when you're ready to come to the table, there's gluten free in that back corner and upstairs.
(This podcast was previously recorded and published on May 10, 2020) Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney ... When God works in our lives, miracles often happen before our eyes. We can actually see the working of God as the way before us is prepared. And God even plants HIS own desires into our hearts so we go in HIS way while thinking it is really "our desire." On this podcast are two examples of this. **** God says: I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: Isaiah 45:2 *** When God speaks to us today, HE usually speaks through HIS Spirit by bringing to our minds a thought or idea which leads us in what we should do this at this point in time. John 14:26 Jesus says: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 16:13 Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come. *** Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and HE shall give thee the desires of thine heart. God is fully able to put HIS OWN DESIRE into our heart so we have a "desire" to go in the way HE is leading us. Two examples happening simultaneously: In 2018: Pam Padgett, who lives in Colorado (USA), had a desire to remodel her house, changing a downstairs "study" into a bedroom and adding a shower to her downstairs' 1/2 bath. She prayerfully pursued doing this and finished the project by February 2019. Around this same time in 2018, I began to realize I could not continue living alone at my house in Texas as I had been doing for the past 18 years. I could still drive my car and get my food but "somehow" I just knew this wasn't going to continue. (John 16:13 Jesus says: when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth ... and He will shew you things to come.) Then on December 6, 2018, I fell at my house in Texas. I broke hip and left wrist. After surgery, I spent 2 1/2 months in rehabilitation hospitals in Texas. I knew I would not be able to live alone as I had been doing in past years. God worked it out for me to move directly from the hospital in Texas to Pam Padgett's home in Colorado where a bedroom and bath downstairs had been prepared "for me". (God went before me and fixed everything for me ... making the unworkable parts of Pam's house to be workable for me just before I needed them!) The room at Pam's house was just exactly according to the desire that had been put into my heart earlier in 2018. And it all reminded me of the following scripture. II Kings 4 (Concerning the prophet, Elisha) 8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. 11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. (In 2020, I started my second year at Pam's house. Pam is a godly woman, calling on God and following the plans given her by God by HIS Spirit.) At the time of this recording in 2020, I'm 82 years old. For more than 40 years, I have tried to follow God and I really had not considered what would happen to me when I was old. It is obvious to me that God made a provision for me far above that which I could have planned for myself. Just follow after those scriptures God gives you and HE will get you to the place you need to be! All we need to do is follow after verses of scripture given by the Holy Spirit. These scriptures are like stepping stones leading us through the land.
(This podcast was previously recorded and published on May 2, 2020) Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney ... Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and HE shall give thee the desires of thine heart. This means: When we belong to God, HE will put HIS desires into our hearts. We will find we want to do something and we pray about it and we have no idea that God has planted HIS own desire for us into our heart! (Delight in "the Lord", in "The Word" given us by God by HIS Spirit.) Example in this Podcast. == Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 Kings 4:8-10 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
It was a very unique arrangement and Elisha handled it in a unique manner.
Saul and the Medium of Endor 28In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army. 2David said to Achish, Very well, you shall know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life. 3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7Then Saul said to his servants, Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a medium at En-dor. 8So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you. 9The woman said to him, Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death? 10But Saul swore to her by the Lord, As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing. 11Then the woman said, Whom shall I bring up for you? He said, Bring up Samuel for me. 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, Why have you deceived me? You are Saul. 13The king said to her, Do not be afraid. What do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth. 14He said to her, What is his appearance? And she said, An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe. And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. 15Then Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? Saul answered, I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do. 16And Samuel said, Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?17The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lordhas done this thing to you this day.19Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines. 20Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.21And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way. 23He refused and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
In this Bible Story, we witness the everyday miracles of Elisha. He tended to the flock of God with care and love, and Elisha's reputation as a loving and gentle prophet gives the common people of Israel hope. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 4:1-4, 4:38-44, & 6:1-7. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 KIngs 6:6 from the King James Version.Episode 131: One day as Elisha was in the town of Shunem, he was taken in by a wealthy woman and her family. He felt at home there and every time he would visit Shunem, he would stop by her house. This happened so often that she and her husband built a room for him on the roof. Elisha asked what he could do to repay the woman for her kindness, but she needed nothing. Instead, noticing she had no children, he prophesied that she would have a son. Soon after the promised child arrived, he died, however, this was not the end of his story and her mother would soon find her joy restored by God's power.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Message by Josh Mutter – June 22, 2025 SAUL AND THE MEDIUM AT ENDOR 1 Samuel 28:3-25 (NIV) Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered… Read more...
The author of Kings records several chapters of Elisha's ministry and miracles throughout the land of Israel, all pointing forward to the ministry and miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. In caring for a widow of one of the sons of the prophets, Elisha keeps the LORD's instructions. He tells her to gather only empty jars so that the LORD can pour out His abundant goodness in overflowing oil. As Elisha travels the land of Israel, he often goes through the town of Shunem, where a wealthy woman provides hospitality to Elisha as a messenger of God. He shows her kindness by praying to the LORD, who gives this previously barren woman the gift of a son. Rev. Jeremy Swem, pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 4:1-17. To learn more about Our Savior Lutheran Church and School, visit oursavior-gr.org. "A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ.
SHOW NOTES In Podcast Episode 325, “Now, How Many Steps Ahead Is God?” Kim discusses the perfect timing the Lord orchestrated for the woman of Shunem regarding her request to reclaim her land. May this story encourage you to trust the Lord is seeing your situation and is working all things together in His time and in His way. Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Kings 8:1-6 with verse 5 as the focal verse: 5 And Gehazi was telling the king about the time Elisha had brought a boy back to life. At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land. “Look, my lord the king!” Gehazi exclaimed. “Here is the woman now, and this is her son—the very one Elisha brought back to life!” WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE: What is one of your testimonials regarding a time the Lord was working on your behalf but you were unaware? Additional Resources and Scriptures: Elisha and the Shunemite Woman EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com TWITTER - https://twitter.com/EOinLovingJesus INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group: Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus. This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus. In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives. If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week. Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!” If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com. National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 https://988lifeline.org/ Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004. Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay. The HIDDEN Episodes: If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/
Today, we're going to study a beautiful story turned tragic, then made miraculous. God has specifically asked me to share this story with you, his girls today. We will look at this story in 3 separate parts. First, the beautiful part. 2 Kings 4: 8-17 One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. (Remember […]
Pastor Rick DeMichele
Preached at Indian Gap Baptist Church-- Indian Gap, Texas www.indiangapbaptist.com Pastor Keegan Hall
SHOW NOTES: In Podcast Episode 315, “Lessons from the Lady from Shunem,” Kim discusses the story of the prophet Elisha and his interactions with the Shunemite woman. Listen as Kim shares the story and some of the insights we can learn from the lady from Shunem that can inspire us even today. Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Kings 4:8-37 with 30 as the focal verse: 30 But the boy's mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won't go home unless you go with me.” So Elisha returned with her. WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE: With what request do you need to have the persistence of the lady of Shunem? Additional Resources and Scriptures: EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com TWITTER - https://twitter.com/EOinLovingJesus INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group: Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus. This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus. In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives. If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week. Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!” If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com. National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 https://988lifeline.org/ Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004. Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay. The HIDDEN Episodes: If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/
The Lord gave me a prophetic word - Measure for Measure plus Some - this shall be His word that can be applied to EVERY area naturally and spiritually! God then takes us to His word to speak about the Shunnamite woman and how she built a chamber for Elisha - 2 Kings 4:8-11 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. Fasting, Prayer Seeking, Soaking - These are all CHAMBERS and God is causing you to rest in them! - Measure for Measure PLUS Some. Please do not miss this prophetic teaching and take the time to enter into the CHAMBER designed just for you!
Audio, eng_t_norav_2025-02-08_lesson_zohar-la-am-beshalach-veyaavor-elisha-el-shonem_n1_p3. Lesson_part :: Daily_lesson 1 :: Lessons_series. Zohar for All
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Zohar for All. BeShalach. And Elisha Passed Over to Shunem
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Zohar for All. BeShalach. And Elisha Passed Over to Shunem
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2 Kings 4: 8-37, Romans 5: 3-5, & Romans 15:13 In today’s episode, we continue our journey through the incredible story of the prophet Elisha. We visit a town called Shunem, where Elisha meets a kind and wealthy woman. Despite not knowing her name, the Bible highlights her as the Shunammite woman, and her story teaches us about being hopeful even when it can feel scary, kindness, and God’s power to make the impossible possible. Join us as we discover how this generous woman showed hospitality to Elisha and how God blessed her in a miraculous way! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To enjoy the library of bonus content (coloring pages, sheets, memory verse, etc) for the episodes go here and click bonus content. By enjoying them, you allow us to keep the episodes free for families all over the world to access and enjoy. From our family to yours, THANK YOU! To connect with us, go here. For our free Read-A-Loud pdf book go here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
église AB Lausanne ; KJV 2 Kings (4 Kings) 4 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. ...
Grateful for the Gravy. Today, Pastor Michael is returning to the Old Testament, in 2 Kings, about a lesson in the ministry of Elisha, the prophet. One day, he's going through Shunem, and a couple invited him to dinner. After one of many visits, the wife asked her husband to build a room for Elisha when he came through. Gahezi traveled with Elisa through Shunem, so Gahezi retrieved the woman from the house, and they asked her, “What can we do to repay you for your generosity?” The woman wanted nothing, but Gahezi reminded Elisha that she had no children. So, Elisha prophesied to her that she would bear a son, and she did! That son was in the fields with his father and collapsed, dying. So the woman went to Elisha and told him the story, so Elisha went back to their house and found the child dead. Elisha went to the child and prayed to God over the boy, and the boy came to life! Later, the Lord told Elisha that a famine would come, so Elisha told the woman of this and that she needed to leave the country. She left the country and lived with the Philistines for seven years. Finally, it was time to come back. But while they were gone, strangers had moved into their house and taken over. She took her cause up with the king, and Gehazi was visiting with the king when she was there! And Gehazi talked about numerous miracles, concerning Elisha's ministry. The woman relayed that the stories Gehazi told were true and that she and her son were the recipients of some of the miracles. The king was impressed enough to restore her home and lands. Had she not experienced the tragedy years before, she would not have experienced the triumph later! (CSB Bible Notes) The next episode introduced a flashback seven years earlier when Elisha advised the Shunammite woman to sojourn outside Israel during a famine (8:1–2). Because she now has to reclaim her land from the king, one wonders if the king somehow appropriated the land in her absence (8:3). There is a miracle of timing: at the very moment, the king is asking Gehazi about Elisha's mighty deeds, the woman shows up with her son! Today's verses can be found in 2 Kings 4: 8-37 and 2 Kings 8: 1-6. Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Are you in a mess? Maybe it is time to reach out for help. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. At the beginning of Chapter 28, we got a snapshot of what was going on with Achish (the Philistine King) and David, who were planning to go to war with Israel. But for much of the rest of the chapter, we are going to jump to King Saul, and we are going to see a spiritual downward spiral that is demonic. This has been the trajectory of his life and legacy, so let's see what happens first in verses 3-5: Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. — 1 Samuel 28:3-5 The Weight of Opposition Saul realizes that powerful and longstanding opposition is coming after him—the Philistines and David. David had been merciful many times, but Achish would not be. Considering both were acting in tandem, it was emotionally overwhelming for Saul. In addition, the Judge and Prophet who once provided Saul direction in these moments, Samuel, is gone, and he had ordered the slaughter of all the other priests. Therefore, Saul is about to be attacked, emotionally distraught, and lacking a voice of wisdom, and now he is looking for something, anything, to grab hold of in the mess he has made. If you have been in this situation, you know nothing is more lonely. Like Saul, we all face challenges that seem insurmountable, whether they're personal struggles, leadership crises, or spiritual battles. The Missing Components But those of you who have been reading Saul's story with me know that Saul made this mess. His spiritual rejection, disobedience, resistance, and denial of community support led him to this outcome. My advice is not to do what Saul did. Instead, GRAB onto these principles and avoid the mess altogether: Guidance: Keep your connection with God strong. Repent: Acknowledge and correct your mistakes. Adhere: Follow God's guidance faithfully. Brotherhood: Foster a supportive faith community. Time To Grab Hold? Maybe today, as you hear this, you feel overwhelmed by life's challenges. You've been trying to face the battles of life alone, and it's left you anxious, uncertain, and maybe even hopeless. Or perhaps you've drifted from God as Saul did, and you sense it's time to return to Him. Jesus came to meet you in the middle of your mess. He offers guidance when you are lost, grace when you've failed, and peace when you're afraid. If you've never given your life to Him, today is the day to grab hold of His truth and surrender to His leadership. Or, if you've been distant, this is your moment to return to the One who never left you. Here's How: Confess your mess, stop trying to be your own king and lord, and surrender to following the Only King and Lord, Jesus, from this day forward. If you're ready to make that decision—whether for the first time or to come back to Him—let me know by writing “Jesus Is My Lord” in the comments below. I want to celebrate and pray for you as you take this life-changing step. When you reach out for the Lord, He grabs hold of you—and He never lets go. Don't wait; reach out to him today. #ReachOutForHelp, #TrustInGod, #FaithOverFear Ask This: What challenges in your life feel overwhelming, and how can you invite God into those moments for guidance and peace? Have you been trying to face life's battles alone, and what step can you take today to reconnect with God? Do This: Grab a hold of Jesus. Pray This: Lord, I confess the mess I've made trying to do life on my own. Help me surrender to Your guidance and trust in Your unfailing love. Amen. Play This: Never Let Go.
Friday Bible Study (10/18/24) // 2 Kings 4: 8-17 // Visit our website: https://mbchicago.org Follow us to remain connected: Facebook: / mbc.chicago Instagram: / mbc.chicago TikTok: / mbc.chicago Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others To support this ministry, you can donate via: Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Website: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch PayPal: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but... #2kings | #BibleStudy | #DanielBatarseh | #mbchicago | #mbcchicago | #Bible | #livechurch | #churchlive | #chicagochurch | #chicagochurches | #versebyverse | #church | #chicago | #sermon | #bibleexplained | #bibleproject | #bibleverse 2 Kings 4: 8-17 (ESV) Elisha and the Shunammite Woman 8 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” 11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?'” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” 17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.
In this episode of Arise + Abide, Sally and Curtis explore 2 Kings 8:1-6, which revisits the story of the Shunammite woman, her son, and Gehazi, Elisha's servant. After the famine prophesied by Elisha ends, the woman returns to reclaim her land and is met with divine timing as she encounters the king. Together, Sally and Curtis discuss themes of obedience, the power of testimony, and God's perfect timing. The conversation highlights how God's care and provision go beyond expectations and the importance of trusting His guidance even when faced with challenges. Join them for an insightful discussion on how God's promises and faithfulness manifest in unexpected ways, even through unlikely characters.
1 Samuel 28:1-25 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the ar- my.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” 3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” 8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. 15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul an- swered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. There- fore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” 20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally dive into the compelling narrative found in 2 Kings 4:8-37. This passage tells the story of a wealthy woman from Shunem who generously provides for the prophet Elisha by building him a room in her home. In response to her kindness, Elisha promises her a son, a prophecy that comes true. However, tragedy strikes when the child dies suddenly. The woman's faith and determination lead her to seek Elisha's help, resulting in a miraculous resurrection. Join Curtis and Sally as they explore themes of generosity, faith, and God's provision. They discuss how the Shunammite woman's actions reflect a deep trust in God and how Elisha's miracles echo those of his predecessor, Elijah. This episode highlights the importance of seeking God in both times of plenty and times of desperate need, reinforcing the message that God is the ultimate source of provision and hope. Tune in for an insightful discussion on how this story from 2 Kings can inspire and strengthen faith in the miraculous power and faithfulness of God.
In this Bible Story, we witness the everyday miracles of Elisha. He tended to the flock of God with care and love, and Elisha's reputation as a loving and gentle prophet gives the common people of Israel hope. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 4:1-4, 4:38-44, & 6:1-7. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 KIngs 6:6 from the King James Version.Episode 131: One day as Elisha was in the town of Shunem, he was taken in by a wealthy woman and her family. He felt at home there and every time he would visit Shunem, he would stop by her house. This happened so often that she and her husband built a room for him on the roof. Elisha asked what he could do to repay the woman for her kindness, but she needed nothing. Instead, noticing she had no children, he prophesied that she would have a son. Soon after the promised child arrived, he died, however, this was not the end of his story and her mother would soon find her joy restored by God's power.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Old fashioned hospitality seems to be disappearing from most societies quite rapidly, would you agree? While many homes used to have a ‘guest room’ which was actually a bedroom for guests other than their immediate family, that is now rare. And when is the last time guests sat around your table for a meal and an evening of simply enjoying the fellowship of friends old and new? Join me again today, back in Israel in about 840bc, with Elisha the prophet who is experiencing amazing hospitality from an unnamed couple in the little town of Shunem. (Click here to see full text, images and links) Today’s Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-37. Choose below to read or listen.Pastor Doug Anderson “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)Have a comment or question about today's chapter? I'm ready to hear from you, contact me here. Interested in helping "Walking with Jesus" financially? Click here
Lesson 6 – 2nd Kings 4 and 5 2 ND KINGS Week 6, Chapters 4 and 5 We stopped our last lesson in the middle of 2 nd Kings Chapter 4, with the story of the wealthy woman of Shunem having rushed to Mt. Carmel to urge Elisha to come back with her to try […] The post Lesson 6 – 2nd Kings 4 and 5 appeared first on Torah Class.
In this Bible Story, we witness the everyday miracles of Elisha. He tended to the flock of God with care and love, and Elisha's reputation as a loving and gentle prophet gives the common people of Israel hope. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 4:1-4, 4:38-44, & 6:1-7. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 KIngs 6:6 from the King James Version.Episode 131: One day as Elisha was in the town of Shunem, he was taken in by a wealthy woman and her family. He felt at home there and every time he would visit Shunem, he would stop by her house. This happened so often that she and her husband built a room for him on the roof. Elisha asked what he could do to repay the woman for her kindness, but she needed nothing. Instead, noticing she had no children, he prophesied that she would have a son. Soon after the promised child arrived, he died, however, this was not the end of his story and her mother would soon find her joy restored by God's power.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this Bible Story, the favor of the Lord is upon David in everything he does. Every battle David led ended in victory, which made Saul jealous. David develops a deep bond with Jonathan, and marries Saul's daughter. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 18. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 18:28 from the King James Version.Episode 86: David's victory over Goliath brought him into the house of Saul, and Saul began sending him out as a man of war. While in the house Jonathan, Saul's son, and David grew to be closer than brothers. Whenever David would return from battle, crowds would shout his name and the women would sing of what he had done. This made Saul jealous. And in his jealousy, Saul began plotting ways to kill his faithful servant.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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