Tuesday, June 30, 2026

PROMISE KEPT

 


2 Sam 7:21 – Lessons From 2 Samuel – Jan 6, 2008

 

Intro:  I stand amazed; here we are, the first Sunday of 2008.  As per our schedule we are back to our Walk Thru the Bible.  Today we will look at the lessons of 2 Samuel, which follows the Reign of King David.  As we learn from our outline.  This book covers a period of 40 years.  This book was written from the perspective of two men, Nathan and Gad.  Nathan and Gad were prophets of God. 

 

For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

 

1.  We learn that when God says something it will come to pass.  God honours and back

      His word.  The background of this verse is after David was established as the King of

      Israel.  He wanted to build the temple of God.  He asked Nathan the prophet his

      Opinion and at first Nathan was for the plan but then God spoke to Nathan and he

      Told David that because he was a man of war, the task of building the temple would

      become the responsibility of his son.

2.  I love David’s reaction, instead of fuming and fussing.  He accepted God’s will and

     Did everything in his power to prepare the work.  He would spent the next 30 years

     Gathering materials, resources and plans for a project his son had the responsibility

     For.  David was a man of legacy in that regards. 

3.  Now back to the background.  David after hearing God’s answer to his request, prayed

     A prayer of obedience, praise and thanksgiving.   David says in this prayer, “Lord you

     Have stated your word, your will and it is great thing and you have made it known to

     me.”

4.  David wanted to know God’s word and will concerning something in his life.  He

     Consulted and followed the means of knowing God’s will for that day which was to

     Talk to a prophet of God.  Today we have the Word of God.  When the word of God

     Had been given and the will of God was known.  David acknowledged that this was a

     Great thing to have been revealed and he was thankful for God’s answer even though

      It wasn’t what he wanted to hear.  Obedience, trust & having the right reaction to

     The will  of  God is the secret of promotion, reward, contentment and joy in the life

     Of the believer. As Lyle Carbert, said, “Attitude is everything in the things of God. 

     David had learnt to trust God.  Do we?  We may not see the whole picture but do we

     Trust? 

5.  2 Samuel teaches us as well that no matter who you are, you have to trust in God and

     You will reap what you sow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now let us briefly look at four other lessons we can learn from this book.

 

1.  No matter how many foes, you have, you can be victorious when you put your trust

     In God.  David fought Abner and Israel, the Philistines 6 times, the Jebusites of

    Jerusalem, Moabites, Zobah, Arameans or the Syrians, Edomites, Ammonites,

    Amalekites, men of Maacah and the city of Tob,  He fought civil wars with Absalom

    And Sheba.  Many times Israel was out numbered and out gunned but each time God

    Gave them the victory and he will do the same for us.  The Bible states, “With God for

    Us, who can be against Us.”  David lived this. 

2.  David knew sorrow and grief, yet he trusted God.  Over time he came to understand

     What God’s true love was all about.  David in his life saw many things.  He was

     Pursued by Saul for 10 years and his best friend Jonathon killed,  David had a baby

     Child die, one son murdered by another, a daughter violated, a son try to take his

     Throne, and A father in law betray him,  David’s life was one of personal defeats and

     Victories.  Yet through all of that you see he trusted in God and His love.  David

     Wrote over 100 of the Psalms and this theme recurs over and over in his Psalms. 

3.  God’s grace and mercy are extended even in times of wrath.  The most prominent

     Example of this is David’s adultery with Bathsheba.  He was responsible for adultery,

     Deceit and murder.  Yet God did not destroy David or Bathsheba.  Their child died. 

    This is an unfortunate consequence and reality that you reap what you sow.  Paul

     Reminds us this in Gal 6:8.  The mercy and grace of God after David repented brought

     Forth from his union with  Bathsheba, Solomon, the builder of the temple, the wisest,

     Richest and greatest King in Israel’s history.  We see that everyday in our lives if we

     Look for it.  This theme recurs over and over in the New Testament.   It is the most

     Powerful truth revealed in the Book of Revelation. 

4.  The last lesson is both true and applicable to everyday life.  Rule your house well or it

     Will rule you.  David’s weakness was when he became aware of family troubles he

     Did not intervene or took the wrong actions.  David because of his sin caused

     Violence to come to his house.  His love for Absalom blinded him to his sons obvious

     Character flaws.  His greatest mistake was to marry so many women.  David learn

     The hard way that more is not necessarily better.  This mistake led to rape, murder,

     And family civil war.  Today we see this truth being constantly expressed.  Pamela

     Anderson, Canada’s version of Marilyn Monroe has never been married more than

     2 years.  Her last attempt lasted two months. 

 

a.  Solomon saw this flaw in his dad, when he quoted in Pr 22:6, “Train a child in the way

     He should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  “He also stated in Pr

    18:24, If you spare the rod, you will spoil the child and this shows you hate your child.

     Unfortunately Solomon did not take his own advice.

b.  The way to assure a Godly child is as follows.

 

1.  To pray for them everyday.

2.   Be consistent in your lifestyle.

3.   Give them the word.

4.   Pray for and with them everyday. 

5.  Take them to the house of God. 

6.  Be consistent and loving in your discipline and correction. 

7.  Never spank out of frustration or anger. 

8.  Never call your children names or demean them. 

9.  After a child has been punish show love and never bring up past offences. 

10.Understand, the raising of children is making sure the spiritual, physical,

     Emotional, intellectual needs are met.

  

     Time this morning does not allow me to do an extensive teaching on this but, my Prayer is that these suggestions will help.  As we close this morning the David I have presented was a normal human being with strengths and weakness.  A man who is like all of us. Capable of great victories and defeats.  A man who made mistakes and learned from them.  A man after God’s heart. 

QUOTES FOR JUNE 30, 2026





 

PROMISES KEPT

 


Sunday – Jan 20th – 2008 – I will Keep my promise! – 1 King 8:22-24

 

Intro:  Today we are once again following our series of Walking through the Bible.  Today we will be studying the Book of 1 Kings.  From your outline we learn that the writer of this book focused on the concept of the covenant relationship with God.  Loyalty and obedience to this covenant meant life, blessing and success.  Disobedience or disloyalty meant ruin, curses, disaster and destruction.  1 Kings covers a period of 110 years from David to Jehoshaphat

 

There are four lessons we can learn from this book and they are as follows.

 

1.  Keep your covenants or promises to the Lord and be obedient to His will    Andrew

     Murray wrote about this during the 19th century about being in the school of

     Obedience.  1 Kings is full of examples of those who were obedient to the covenant. 

     Elijah the prophet who by keeping God’s covenant, stopped the rain for 3 years,

    Called down fire from heaven, out ran a chariot, heard God in a still small

    voice and was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. 

 

a.  Our scripture this morning is Solomon’s opening statement and prayer at the

     Dedication of the temple.  This prayer was just after the glory of the Lord had

     Appeared and Solomon had blessed the people.  With his hands raised towards

     heaven.  Solomon makes two statements.  God keeps his covenant of love with

     Individual’s that continue wholeheartedly in His way.  God will keep up his end of

     The bargain if we keep up ours. 

 

1.  Moses taught the people of Israel that obedience to God was a wholehearted

     Requirement in Deut 2:16

2.  God stated to Joshua that it would be the price of success in Josh 1:8

3.  Samuel made it clear to Saul that obedience was better than sacrifice in 1 Sam 15:22

4.  Jesus stated in Matt 7:21, that obedience secures entrance into God’s kingdom.

5.  Peter and the other apostles stated to the San Hedrin counsel that they must obey God

     Rather than man in Act 5:29.  To the early disciples obedience was the imperative of

     Life.

 

b.  The second statement, You have kept your promise to my Father David, with your

     Mouth and hand it has been fulfilled.  Isaiah reminded Israel that the Lord’s hand

     Was not so short, He could not save or His ear to deaf that He could not hear.  Is 59:1

     God will do and fulfill what He says He will do.  As we learned in 2 Samuel, David

     Was he couldn’t build the temple but Solomon did.  Solomon in this case was God’s

     Hand to fulfill a promise.  Jesus was that instrument when it came to our salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  The second lesson we learn from 1 Kings is that making friends with the world will

     Only lead to sin and destruction.   This was shown in the life of Solomon when he     

     Loved his foreign wives in Chapter 11.  His heir was a son of an Ammonite who a

     Generation before were shown enemies of Israel.  Solomon’s choices affected this son

     Who foolishly rejected wise counsel for foolish which led to a divided kingdom 

 

a.  Jeroboam who became King of the Northern tribes, immediately continue with

     This pattern of foolishness by setting two golden calves in Dan and Bethel which is

     Ephraim. 

b. Ahab was another example when he married and adopted the religion of Jezebel.  He

    Became known as the most evil king in Israel.  This friendship in Ahab’s case led to

    A violent and tragic death.  Unfortunately the church is riddled with story after story of

    People who thought they could get close to the world and not be trapped by it.  James

    reminds us in James 1:27, that pure religion is taking care of the widow and orphans

    And keeping oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

3.  Our third lesson is God can raise you up or pull you down.  Learn to lean on Him so

     You can continue to be a blessing.  This statement was never truer than in the lives of

     Jeroboam and Ahab who because of their actions led to their family destruction. 

     Jeroboam’s family was destroyed by Zimri and Ahab’s family was killed by Jehu.

 

a.  Jehoshaphat was an example of a king that leaned on the Lord and went from a vassal

     Or servant king to Ahab to the most powerful king in the region and Judah being

     Restored. 

b. Our decision this morning and every day should be, “Lord, I want to lean on you,

     Because I know you will make me a blessing.”  Like the old hymn says. 

 

4.  Our last lesson is powerful, “As the temple was dedicated, you as the temple of the

     Lord must continue to be dedicated to the service of the Lord.”

 

a.  In our passage today, Solomon prayed that be temple would always be a blessing

     And a reference point to the people of their continued separation to God as His chosen

     People.

b.  Paul reminds us in 1 Cor 6:19-20, that we are temples of the Holy Spirit.  We have

     Been bought with a price and we are glorify God with our bodies.  Paul then states in

    Rom 12:1-2, that this is done by presenting our bodies to the Lord as living sacrifices

    Holy and dedicated to Him which is our reasonable service or spiritual worship.  He

    Then tells not to conform to the world but be transformed by the renewing of our

    Minds.  This is done by reading the bible, praying, and attending church.  This allows

    Us to know God’s good and acceptable will. 

c.  Dan Betzer said, “that we might be the only bible people read.”  What are they reading

     in your life?

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

1.  Today we have learned that we are to keep our covenant with God and be obedient to

     Him.

2.  Friendship with the world leads to sin and destruction.

3.  God can raise you up and pull you down.  Try to live your life with the thought of

      Always being a blessing.

4.  You are a temple of God so live everyday dedicated to his service. 

 

 

 

 

 

LESSONS FROM JOHN

 

1 John 5:18-19 – The Lessons of John -  July 6, 2008

 

Intro:  We are almost near the end of this book.  Today we are looking at verses 18-19 and will learn five lessons this morning.  John as we know was called the apostle of love.  He had the clearest vision of all the original apostles of the divinity, humanity and deity of Jesus Christ.  John had the clearest vision of the work of the Holy Spirit. 

 

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one does not touch him.

 

1.  There are three things we learn from this verse.  First, anyone born of God does not

     Not continue in sin.  A true believer does not knowingly sin.  They don’t make sin a

     Habit.  David wrote in Ps 66:18, that if we regard or cherish sin or iniquity the Lord

     Will not hear us. 

 

a.  John is revealing here that this is spiritual knowledge.  When one is regenerated, born

    Again.  He is trying to stay connected with God.  His relationship with God is so

    Important that he does not want to do anything that will hinder or harm this

    relationship.  Cherishing sin, habitually or knowingly sinning hinders, harms and can

    Even destroy our relationship with God.

b.  Christian conduct is a direct result of Christian character.  Action follows priorities,

      Plans and purposes.  You are what you think, say and do.  John says, those who are

      Born of God knowingly do not cherish, regard or habitually sin.  John understands

      that people sin from time to time but he here is talking about actually loving sin. 

      There are a lot of people in the world that love sin.  But the believer should not be one

      Of them.

 

2.  The one who is born of God is keep safe.  The phrase has a two fold meaning.  First,

      It talks about the divine protection of God.  God does promise to be with His people.

      Matt 28:20, tells us this.  Ps 91, reminds us of angelic protection.  There are many

      Examples of this in scripture.  Daniel in the lion’s den, the three Hebrew boys,

      Peter in prison to name a few.  We have the shield of faith found in Eph 6.  All this

      To assure of God’s continuous protection.

 

a.. The second aspect is choosing  not put ourselves in a place where we walk out

     From under God’s protection. We will knowingly like Joseph flee temptation and sin. 

     This protects us.  When you know something is bad or dangerous you need not go

     There. 

b.  This helps keep us.  God promises to protect us but let us not put him to a foolish test.

      Satan tried this with Jesus in the temptation in the wilderness.  We

      Have our responsibility, some think that they can live as close to the world as possible

      And not be affected, you will and this will hinder your effectiveness.  Live as far as

      You can from the world and its standards.  Live as close to God as you can and God

     Will be able to keep you better.

 

 

3.  John then tells his readers and audience that the evil one cannot touch the child of

     God.  When John wrote this book it was just after him being boiled in oil and being

     Extensively persecuted.  John knew personally this truth.  No matter what the evil one

     Tried John saw first hand God’s power and satan’s ineffectiveness.  I wish this was

     The testimony of more of us.  Remember 1 John 4:4, James 4:7, 1 John 3:8.  John had

     A clear understanding of how satan is defeated.  He has no power or ability over the

     Child of God.  We are not subject to his world, power, devices or authority.  We are

     Under God’s power, authority and will. 

 

a.  I believe it is time we starting living this way.  Satan is defeated.    

b.  Watchman Nee said, “As believers we are seated in heavenly places.  Satan has to

      Come up to us not we having to go down to him.”  John when he wrote this book was

      Writing to believers who had forgotten their first love.  John wanted them to come

      Back and return to that place of victory.  This is a message to the church in Hay River

      And Canada.

 

We know that we are children of God, and the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

 

4.  John reaffirms and reminds his audience that they know they are the children of

     God.  He wants them as they finish the letter to know they are children, joint heirs of

     A great inheritance in God.  Spiritual knowledge is a powerful tool.  You know that

     You have been bought with a price and you are to glorify God with your body and 

     Life.  1 Cor 6:19-20

 

a. You know your sins are forgiven, You have eternal and abundant life.  You have

     Access to the throne of God in prayer.  (Heb 4:15)  You have dreams and a destiny.

b.  Your know you are protected.   In Christ we will reach self actualization and become

     Well adjusted.  You know that your physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual

      Needs will be met by a personal God.

 

1  You know God will meet your physical needs.  (Matt 6:33)

2.  God has met your needs today and He will meet them tomorrow.  Matt 6:34,

    Phil 4:6, 19.

3.  God will meet our need for security and love.  Rom 8:35, 39 & 5:8

4.  God has and will meet our need for significance.  Phil 1:21, Eph 2:10, Ps 103:4

 

c.  John wants his audience and the readers to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they

     Are children of God.  Being a child of God has privileges, rights, authority, power and

     Victory all in Christ. 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  John understood the world he live in.  He states that the whole world is under the

     Control of the evil one John understood, the lust of the flesh, (pleasure), lust of the

     Eyes, (materialism), the pride of life, (man’s arrogance, self fulfillment.)  were

     Under the control of the evil one. 

 

a.  This world system, religions and philosophies are all under the control of the evil one.

      John knew that satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world.  Paul called satan the

      God of this world.  He rules this world and the people who and not Christians are

      Under his control.  John is simple, direct and black and white on this matter.  The

      Early church did not allow grey areas to appear.  You were saved or not.  You were

      God’s or not.  They made no allowance for status, position, upbringing, genealogy,

      Or sexual orientation.  You were a child of God or not.

b.  The church today has muddy the waters, we have made allowances for things and this

      Has made us ineffective. 

c.  The early church leaders fought long and hard to keep the world, satan and the flesh

     From coming in and diluting the church. 

d.  Remember satan is a fallen angel, his principle sin was pride.  He wanted to become

     God.  He was cast out of heaven, became totally corrupt, is the father of all lies an

     Accuser who robs, kills and destroys.  Pretty clear.  The world is under his control.

e.  But we are not.  We are children of God.  Like the writer of Hebrews 11 states.  We

     Are pilgrims passing through.  The world is not worthy of us.  We are in this world

     But not of it.  That is our message today as we get ready for communion.  Remember

     This.    

 

 

 

 

Sunday, June 28, 2026

NEHEMIAH

 


June 22, 2008 – Nehemiah 9:17 – The Lesson of Nehemiah.

 

Intro:  What a privilege it is again to share the Word of God with you today.  This morning we are looking at 7 lessons or truths found in the Book of Nehemiah.  I love this book.  It is a lesson in prayer, sacrifice and tenacity.  It is an overcomer’s book.  It tells of a man that gave up wealth, position, power and comfort to follow the will of God.  Nehemiah is a book that shows how through prayer and wise actions we can overcome any opposition or attack.  Nehemiah is a foundation book.  One friend of mine when he was starting a new pastorate spent several months in this book helping that church rediscover its purpose and direction.  I will never do this book justice this morning but we will look briefly at the lessons we can learn from it.

 

1.  Even in the face of arrogance, stubbornness, rebellion, disobedience and forgetfulness

     On the part of His people.  God is still forgiving, gracious, compassionate, slow to

     Anger, abounding in love and refuses to abandon His people.  I love this about God.

     No matter how far I may stray or others.  God still possesses these qualities and

     View of us.  These qualities are who He is.  Church write these down.  The writer of

     This book wanted his audience to know.  This is who God is.  This is His nature and

     Essence.  The wrath and judgment of God are but for a moment but His forgiveness

     Lasts for such a long time.  The apostle Paul was a great example of this.

 

2.  The second lesson we learn is that we need prayer and firmness in the work of the

     Lord.  In the work of the Lord it is not how you start that matters but how you finish.

     It is not just how you arrive that is important but how you leave.  Nehemiah started off

     In prayer.  He heard about the walls of Jerusalem and for five months he prayed and it

     Was only because the King noticed his disposition that his request to go back to

     Jerusalem was even approached.  Even before he asked the King his request.  He took

     A moment to pray.  Strong works for God on built on the foundation of prayer.

 

a.  Nehemiah also learned that he had to firm, focused and forthright to overcome all

    obstacles.  He refused to let the trivial or even urgent, to keep him from what he knew

     God wanted him to do.  A good lesson for us.  For many of us, it is the urgent, the

     Unimportant or crisis that seems to drive our time and energy.  It takes real wisdom,

     Discipline and knowledge to know the different.  We can see that Nehemiah had this

     Figured out.

b.  Nehemiah also knew that when you decide to take a stand or fight a battle.  You have

     to be willing to stay in there until the battle was won.   A good lesson for parents,

     employers, authority figures and leaders.  Leaders lead, not get led.  If you do not as a

     believer exercise the authority God has given you, in your family, work or

     community others will intimidate you and hinder your effectiveness. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Thirdly, we need a fresh touch from the Lord from time to time.  That is so true.  I

      Even pray now, Lord gives us here a fresh touch of your spirit.  Man has some basic

      Needs.  There is our physical, those elements that are needed to maintain physical

      life.  Security, will my needs be met tomorrow?  Love, will I be loved by God or

      others?  Purpose, will I value myself and will others value me?  Lastly, am I full

      creative and expressing myself.  These basic needs drive us so much we can get

      weary tired and dry.  That is when we need to reach out to God and say.  Lord I need

      that fresh touch.  Lord touch me now.  Close you eyes for a moment and reach up to

      heaven and just receive his touch that is coming right now.   

      Nehemiah knew this and he encouraged it.  After years of

      moral decline, Nehemiah and  Ezra brought reform.  That is why we have special

      Meetings and times with the Lord.  That is what Northern Harvest is for.

 

4.   Fourthly when people come into the family of God, they must be shown how to

      Worship and encouraged to be dedicated to the Lord.   When I came to the Lord.  I

      Didn’t know how to act, talk, or think.  I am so glad there wee people who took

      Time to do that.  We must help those new here to become part of us by becoming

      Their friends and family.  It takes work which witness, opportunity, knowledge and

      Risk.  I also encourage new people here to make yourself available for this kind of

      Help and support. 

 

5.  We must never be afraid to confess our sins.  Nehemiah had Ezra read the law so the

     People would know who set them free.  He an the nation then confessed their sins and

     Sought the Lord forgiveness.  Nehemiah remember 2 Chron 7:14, a formula for

     Individual and personal revival.  John encourages us 1 John 1:9 to confess our sins.

     Our opening scripture told us about God’s nature.  So never be afraid to confess your

     Sins, faults and failures to God.  He is willing to forgive.  That is what I love about

     Redemption.  A brand new start and beginning every time.  We can stop the madness

     And start again.  This is my sanity foundation.

 

6.  When faced with stiff opposition, it is good to have a wise defence.  Sanballat and   

     Tobiah and the people of the land.  Made threats, deception, accusation and other

     Tricks to try and make Nehemiah stumble, fall or get off track.  Nehemiah saw

     Through them and had a wise defence.  For example the work was done in shifts.

     The workers also wore weapons of defence.  Watchmen and soldiers were on guard.

     Every attempt failed because Nehemiah prayed, heard from God and implemented

     His plan.  I believe when Jesus faced all the questions he did, knew how to answer

     Because He heard from God before in His prayer time.  We can too.  That is why I

     Try to do when face with difficult choices, decisions and situations.  Also I believe

     That if we take a moment and pray before we open our mouth it would save us from    

     A lot of trouble.  Nehemiah faced every problem and was an example for all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.  This last point is get to the essence of God’s will.  Nehemiah had a food position in

     Life,   He was the cupbearer of the King of Persia but he went to Jerusalem to follow

     God’s will for his life,  We must be willing to forsake all so that the work of God can

     Be completed in our lives.  I believe there is a perfect and permissive will of God for

     Each of us.  The permissive is where we decide what we are going to do for God with

     Our lives.  We will be blessed but this directed by comfort, safety, prosperity, family

     Friends etc.  The perfect will is willing to go, say, do and be what God wants you to

     Be.  It is where you say, anytime, anywhere, anything, God I will do.  Whatever,

     Wherever and however.  My answer in advance is Yes.  Jesus did and won salvation.

     Paul did and the gentile world was won.  Ken Gaetz did and this church, the hospital

     Next door is a testimony to his willingness to come.  The thousands coming daily to

     The Lord is a testimony to the millions who say God I want your will to be done in my

     Life.  This is what this book is all about.  prayer, sacrifice and tenacity. 

    

 

 

QUOTES FOR JUNE 29, 2026





 

ON THE WINNING SIDE

 


2 Kings 6:16 – On the Winning Side

 

Intro:  It is again a privilege to share the word of God with you.  Today we will be looking at the book of 2 Kings...  Our lessons today are from the life of Elisha, the double portion prophet and 2 Kings

 

Don’t be afraid, the prophet answered, “Those that are with us are more than those who are with them.

 

Background

 

-  Every plan of the Arameans against Israel had failed.  They found out Elisha told the

    King of Israel what was spoken even in the king of Syria bedroom.

-  Sent troops to capture Elisha when found out he was Dothan.  Surrounded the city.

-  Servant of Elisha saw the troops and horses and panicked. 

-  Elisha made this statement and then prayed the servant’s eyes would be opened.  He

   Saw the hills around filled with horses and chariots of fire. 

 

1.  With the Lord on our side we will always win the war.  I John 4:4, James 4:7,

     Is 41:10

2.  We have divine protection in all aspects of life.  Ps 34:7, tells the angels of the Lord

     Camp around those that fear Him and He delivers them all.  Ps 91:4 tells us the Lord

     Is our refuge, shield and ramparts.  Zech 2:5 says He is a wall of fire around us.

     Jesus stated in Luke 21:8 that not even a hair on our heads will perish.

3.  The Lord has already provided the victory.  1 John 3:8.  Daniel found that in the

     Lion’s den, the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace and Elisha found it here.

4.  This battle is fought through Spiritual means.  2 Cor 10:4.  It fought is with prayer,

     Word of God, binding and loosing, putting on the whole armour of God.  Staying

     Connected with God, being obedient, faithful and purity.

5.  Examples from this book are how the famine was lifted off of Samaria because Lord

     Causes the Syrians hear the sound of a great army.  An angel of the Lord killed

     185,000 Assyrian soldiers. 

6.  As they came Elisha struck them with blindness, led them to Samaria, open their eyes

     And when the King of Samaria wanted to kill them, Elisha instructed them to be fed

     And then returned to Syria.  Results attacks on Israel stopped for a while.

 

The book of 2 Kings as we learn this morning covers a time of Ahaziah to Zedekiah.  It talks about the two nations of Israel and Judah.  The four others lessons I want to leave with you are simple.

 

In times of great apostasy, God always raises up His spokesman.  There was Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Amos.  God today is speaking.  He is using, David Wilkerson, John Hagee, John Bevere, and Tommy Tenney to name a few.  What is He saying?   Return to the Lord, seek His face, don’t squander this day of grace, His time is very close, keep your oil lamps full, pray fervently and without ceasing, be diligent in all things and keep your eyes on Him.   

There was the witness of the prophets but the Kings and the people chose to ignore them and so they reaped the results of their apostasy. 

 

Pray for our nation that we do not forget about God and end up like Israel and Judah.

2 Chron 7:14 is the key.  Prov 14:34, tells us it is righteousness that exalts a nation.  When God had given them sufficient time to repent, He poured out His judgment.  This book teaches us to be people of spiritual discernment.  Any nation that forgets God will be put down unless it turns back to Him.

 

Rulers often decide the spiritual condition of a nation or show the spiritual condition of a nation.  Canada has had very few good spiritual leaders.  Mackenzie King was a spiritualist, Pearson, abolished prayer and the bible from schools, Trudeau allowed, abortion, Chretien allowed homosexual marriages and some forms of euthanasia. This reflects the moral decay of our nation.  Our current Prime Minister claims to be a Christian and his support for Israel has proven that.  That is why we must pray for Him.

I pray for God’s grace, that we don’t get another leader like we deserve.  Israel and Judah

Are our examples.  The Northern Kingdom never had a godly king... Judah fared better but ultimately they were destroyed because the kings and people forgot about God.

 

Making alliances with the world will only lead to destruction.  Make an alliance with God and live in peace through His Son Jesus Christ.  We learn through the examples Jehoahaz against Neco or Zedekiah against the Babylonians.  We learn from Elisha and Hezekiah how an alliance with God will keep you from destruction.  You want to live in peace, get along with everyone all the time and die in victory.  Serve Jesus Christ.  He will give you peace that passes all understanding.  He will help you to walk in love, acceptance and constant forgiveness.  Lastly you know where you are going.  Who is your victory?