Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
James 1:22
2nd Kings - Seeing with Spiritual Eyes
Sunday services on May 29, 2022
Seeing with Spiritual Eyes2nd Kings 6:8-23
Intro: This morning I am preaching a one off to you folks. This message is for thosewho are here to get a blessing from the Lord even though it is memorial day weekend. Iwant to talk briefly about seeing things the way that God sees them.I am haunted (in a good way) by verses such as this.For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declaresthe Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higherthan your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.Isaiah 55:8-9
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height ofhis stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: manlooks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”1st Samuel 16:7Seeing with spiritual eyes, seeing things how God sees them is so important and if weare going to be effective as a christian, and if you are going to be effective as a followerof Christ, than it should be our deepest desire to see things how God sees them. Thismorning let us allow God to speak to us, this morning let us allow the Lord to touch ourlives and see things like he sees them.Please stand for the reading of God’s word.16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those whoare with them.” 17a Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyesthat he may see.”2nd Kings 8:16-17aCIT: God uses Elisha in miraculous ways despite being a prophet to a rebellious people. Goddemonstrates his protection to his people even when they cannot see it.CIS: That ROLC would see situations and circumstances with spiritual eyes instead of how thingsappear.SO: To stoke and encourage the faith of the saints at ROLC, and to remind us all to see in the spirit.MO: Devotional
1. History with God, but not relationship8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel withhis servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the manof God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place,for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the placeabout which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he savedhimself there more than once or twice. 11 And the mind of the king of Syria wasgreatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said tothem, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of hisservants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tellsthe king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Goand see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, heis in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and theycame by night and surrounded the city.Exp: In Order to understand this story you must have a least a rudimentaryunderstanding of the political situation. Israel and Judah had at this time broken up.They were having what amounted to a small scale civil war, and there were twocapitols. Samaria of Israel, and Jerusalem of Judah. This is the time shortly after Elijahdealing with his ward Elisha.There seems to be a minor revival of the people of God, but make no mistake, Samariaand the king of Israel are at odd with God. This is a nation that Acknowledges God,and says “In God we trust” but also bows to idols and is openly mocking God anddefying his commands. (Sound familiar)At that time their neighbors to the north in particular one called Syria had establisheddominance in the area and was attempting to pacify Israel and make them a vesselstate. This was a 9th century shakedown, it was either submit to Syria or be destroyed,and small kingdoms like Israel and even Judah were easy pickings. The Syrians werepart of a greater coalition of states known as the Neo-Assyrian Empire. They were oneof the worlds first superpowers and the would constantly conflict with their archenemies the Egyptians.Look on a map.Israel and Judah were smack dab in the middle between Syria and the Neo Assyrianempire, and Egypt down south. At this time since Judah and Israel were having a civilwar, Judah was allied with Syria and Israel was allied with Egypt.Elisha was right in the middle of both countries and was trying to lead people to God.
Ill: Notice here that the king of Israel when he was in trouble. Consulted the man ofGod, he sought advice from God when he needed it. This is incompatible with hisoverall behavior, the King of Israel did not obey God’s laws or follow his words. Thiswas a hypocritical move. This was lip service.App: There are a lot of parallels here with our own country. It is easy for us to turn toGod when we are in crisis. It is so easy for us to plead with God when we are facing apandemic or an emergency crisis. It is in the times of ease when a nation that only payslip service to God then desires his blessings when they spit in his face?Notice that even in their rebellion God still took care of Israel. He still protected themeven though they didn’t deserve it. How many of you know that God still takes care ofyou and his mercy is still good even when we don’t deserve it?There are prophets! There are people who are calling Israel to repentance, neverthelessthey stopped their own ears and wouldn’t listen.T/S: The enemy knew enough to know the God was with Elisha and the raid leaderspecifically went after him2. More for us than for our enemies15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out,behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servantsaid, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, forthose who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elishaprayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lordopened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was fullof horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians camedown against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this peoplewith blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayerof Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city.Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them toSamaria.Exp: Elisha is in the city of Dothan and his servant wakes up and sees an entire force ofenemy chariots and horses surrounding the city.Understand what the people of that time would do to those that resisted them. Theycould sack the city, they could kill, rape, and loot the entire town. They had come totake Elisha, but likely enough if the town didn’t surrender him it was gonna burn.Can you blame the servant here!?
Ill: There are Christians who act just like this servant. They forget the God they serveand get to a point where all they can see is the movements of the enemy. They cursethe darkness and forget that they live in the light. It is so easy to fall into this trap, welive in a dark world and if we are constantly focused on how dark things are; and arenot listening to God we will not see his ultimate victory. (A word on the fallacy oftheological dualism)App: Elisha acts decisively, its almost as if Elisha doesn’t have a concern in the world.Elisha prays! (Thoughts and prayers) Elisha cries out to the God of heaven to open theeyes of this man to see spiritual reality.Give me eyes to see!Give me eyes to that are truly open!There was fire on Elisha! There was a mountain of chariots and the entire host ofheaven was gathered at Dothan and was in command of the situation. This is a spiritualreality that we cannot see. God is in command, God watches over.There is power in prayer, there is power in anointing. God help us see! Help us see thespiritual realities that we miss.T/S: God answers prayer. (Explain)3. His ways are better than our ways20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of thesemen, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, andbehold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel sawthem, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike themdown?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike downthose whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Setbread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, hesent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not comeagain on raids into the land of Israel.Exp: Elisha literally leads them to the king of Israel. This sort of blindness had to beextremely comical. I am totally thinking like Jedi mind trick where they can see wherethey are walking but are completely in a daze. They arrive at the capital of IsraelSamaria, and the king walks out and had to be like “What!” This one man this prophethad single handedly delivered an entire force of Syrians to his hands.
The king wanted to kill them, but was smart enough to take Elisha’s advice. Don’t do it.Feed them and let them go! His act of mercy stopped the raids.Ill: God’s ways are so much better than ours. Trying to do things my way or a way thatseems appealing many times doesn’t work. I see with my eyes, but God sees thingsdifferently.Have you ever tried to do things your way with God before? It doesn’t work out verywell.App: This short story in the Old Testament highlights some wonderful spiritualprinciples that I want to recap.1. A nation in rebellion can still call out to the Lord, and God still hears.2. God still providentially answers the prayer of the unrighteous.3. There are spiritual forces at work all around us.4. God’s ways are vastly superior to our ways.
Intro: This morning I am preaching a one off to you folks. This message is for thosewho are here to get a blessing from the Lord even though it is memorial day weekend. Iwant to talk briefly about seeing things the way that God sees them.I am haunted (in a good way) by verses such as this.For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declaresthe Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higherthan your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.Isaiah 55:8-9
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height ofhis stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: manlooks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”1st Samuel 16:7Seeing with spiritual eyes, seeing things how God sees them is so important and if weare going to be effective as a christian, and if you are going to be effective as a followerof Christ, than it should be our deepest desire to see things how God sees them. Thismorning let us allow God to speak to us, this morning let us allow the Lord to touch ourlives and see things like he sees them.Please stand for the reading of God’s word.16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those whoare with them.” 17a Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyesthat he may see.”2nd Kings 8:16-17aCIT: God uses Elisha in miraculous ways despite being a prophet to a rebellious people. Goddemonstrates his protection to his people even when they cannot see it.CIS: That ROLC would see situations and circumstances with spiritual eyes instead of how thingsappear.SO: To stoke and encourage the faith of the saints at ROLC, and to remind us all to see in the spirit.MO: Devotional
1. History with God, but not relationship8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel withhis servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the manof God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place,for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the placeabout which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he savedhimself there more than once or twice. 11 And the mind of the king of Syria wasgreatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said tothem, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of hisservants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tellsthe king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Goand see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, heis in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and theycame by night and surrounded the city.Exp: In Order to understand this story you must have a least a rudimentaryunderstanding of the political situation. Israel and Judah had at this time broken up.They were having what amounted to a small scale civil war, and there were twocapitols. Samaria of Israel, and Jerusalem of Judah. This is the time shortly after Elijahdealing with his ward Elisha.There seems to be a minor revival of the people of God, but make no mistake, Samariaand the king of Israel are at odd with God. This is a nation that Acknowledges God,and says “In God we trust” but also bows to idols and is openly mocking God anddefying his commands. (Sound familiar)At that time their neighbors to the north in particular one called Syria had establisheddominance in the area and was attempting to pacify Israel and make them a vesselstate. This was a 9th century shakedown, it was either submit to Syria or be destroyed,and small kingdoms like Israel and even Judah were easy pickings. The Syrians werepart of a greater coalition of states known as the Neo-Assyrian Empire. They were oneof the worlds first superpowers and the would constantly conflict with their archenemies the Egyptians.Look on a map.Israel and Judah were smack dab in the middle between Syria and the Neo Assyrianempire, and Egypt down south. At this time since Judah and Israel were having a civilwar, Judah was allied with Syria and Israel was allied with Egypt.Elisha was right in the middle of both countries and was trying to lead people to God.
Ill: Notice here that the king of Israel when he was in trouble. Consulted the man ofGod, he sought advice from God when he needed it. This is incompatible with hisoverall behavior, the King of Israel did not obey God’s laws or follow his words. Thiswas a hypocritical move. This was lip service.App: There are a lot of parallels here with our own country. It is easy for us to turn toGod when we are in crisis. It is so easy for us to plead with God when we are facing apandemic or an emergency crisis. It is in the times of ease when a nation that only payslip service to God then desires his blessings when they spit in his face?Notice that even in their rebellion God still took care of Israel. He still protected themeven though they didn’t deserve it. How many of you know that God still takes care ofyou and his mercy is still good even when we don’t deserve it?There are prophets! There are people who are calling Israel to repentance, neverthelessthey stopped their own ears and wouldn’t listen.T/S: The enemy knew enough to know the God was with Elisha and the raid leaderspecifically went after him2. More for us than for our enemies15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out,behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servantsaid, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, forthose who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elishaprayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lordopened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was fullof horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians camedown against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this peoplewith blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayerof Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city.Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them toSamaria.Exp: Elisha is in the city of Dothan and his servant wakes up and sees an entire force ofenemy chariots and horses surrounding the city.Understand what the people of that time would do to those that resisted them. Theycould sack the city, they could kill, rape, and loot the entire town. They had come totake Elisha, but likely enough if the town didn’t surrender him it was gonna burn.Can you blame the servant here!?
Ill: There are Christians who act just like this servant. They forget the God they serveand get to a point where all they can see is the movements of the enemy. They cursethe darkness and forget that they live in the light. It is so easy to fall into this trap, welive in a dark world and if we are constantly focused on how dark things are; and arenot listening to God we will not see his ultimate victory. (A word on the fallacy oftheological dualism)App: Elisha acts decisively, its almost as if Elisha doesn’t have a concern in the world.Elisha prays! (Thoughts and prayers) Elisha cries out to the God of heaven to open theeyes of this man to see spiritual reality.Give me eyes to see!Give me eyes to that are truly open!There was fire on Elisha! There was a mountain of chariots and the entire host ofheaven was gathered at Dothan and was in command of the situation. This is a spiritualreality that we cannot see. God is in command, God watches over.There is power in prayer, there is power in anointing. God help us see! Help us see thespiritual realities that we miss.T/S: God answers prayer. (Explain)3. His ways are better than our ways20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of thesemen, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, andbehold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel sawthem, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike themdown?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike downthose whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Setbread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, hesent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not comeagain on raids into the land of Israel.Exp: Elisha literally leads them to the king of Israel. This sort of blindness had to beextremely comical. I am totally thinking like Jedi mind trick where they can see wherethey are walking but are completely in a daze. They arrive at the capital of IsraelSamaria, and the king walks out and had to be like “What!” This one man this prophethad single handedly delivered an entire force of Syrians to his hands.
The king wanted to kill them, but was smart enough to take Elisha’s advice. Don’t do it.Feed them and let them go! His act of mercy stopped the raids.Ill: God’s ways are so much better than ours. Trying to do things my way or a way thatseems appealing many times doesn’t work. I see with my eyes, but God sees thingsdifferently.Have you ever tried to do things your way with God before? It doesn’t work out verywell.App: This short story in the Old Testament highlights some wonderful spiritualprinciples that I want to recap.1. A nation in rebellion can still call out to the Lord, and God still hears.2. God still providentially answers the prayer of the unrighteous.3. There are spiritual forces at work all around us.4. God’s ways are vastly superior to our ways.
