Elisha - Hero of Faith - Determination and Commitment

Elisha/Elijah Quiz

·        Q1: Were Elijah and Elisha prophets, priests or kings?

·        Q2: Who ministered first – Elisha or Elijah?

·        Q3: In the O.T, are there more chapters devoted to Elijah or Elisha?

·        Q4: Did they serve in the northern kingdom of Israel or Judah in the south?

·        Q5: Which of these two did the most miracles?

·        Q6: Does Elisha mean ‘God is salvation’ or ‘Yahweh is God’?

·        Q7: Which of the two men is mentioned in the New Testament?

Elisha Facts 

·        Elisha was a prophet of the Northern Kingdom of Israel who was active during the reign of Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash (Joash).

·        Elisha was the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah;

·        For sixty years (892–832 BC) held the office of "prophet in Israel" (2 Kings 5:8).

Elisha’s Call to Ministry 

·        1 Kings 19:16-19

·        Elisha accepted this call about four years before the death of Israel's King Ahab.

·        In what way(s), do we today fail to ‘burn the plows’ when making a commitment to the Lord? 

·        What ‘plows’ remain to ‘burn’ in your life?

Elijah ‘Leaves the Scene’ 

·        2 Kings 2:1-15

·        Elisha’s Determination

·        The Mantle

·        Elisha Relents

Significant Miracles 

·        When a group of ‘children’ from Bethel taunted the prophet for his baldness, Elisha cursed them in the name of God and two female bears came out of the forest and mauled 42 of them (2 Kings 2:23–25).

·        What?  Huh?

·        How does this make sense?

·        “Young lads” The KJV has “little children” which really misses the meaning here. These were not children, but young men. The word “lads” is the Hebrew “naar” and was used of servants, of soldiers and of Isaac when he was 28 years old.

More Significant Miracles 

·        Naaman the Syrian  (2 Kings 5:1–19).

·        Jesus referred to this event when he said, "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet: and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian" (Luke 4:27).

·        Punishment of Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20–27)

Many More Miracles 

·        Multiplied a little oil enabling a woman to pay her indebtedness and provide for her family needs (2 Kings 4:1–7).

·        Rewarded the Shunamite woman for her hospitality by obtaining for her from Jehovah, at first the birth of a son, and subsequently the resurrection of her child (2 Kings 4:8–37).

·        Changed into wholesome food the pottage made from poisonous gourds (2 Kings 4:38–41).

And Many More Miracles 

·        Repeatedly saves King Jehoram of Israel from the ambushes (2 Kings 6:8–23, 2 Kings 6:25–32),

·        Bewildered with a strange blindness the soldiers of the Syrian king (2 Kings 6:13–23),

·        Made iron float to relieve from embarrassment a son of a prophet (2 Kings 6:1–7),

·        Predicted the sudden flight of the enemy and the consequent cessation of the famine (2 Kings 7:1–20),

·        Unmasked the treachery of Hazael (2 Kings8:7–15),

·        Healed the spring of water by casting salt into it (2 Kings 2:21).

·        Asks for a fall of rain when the army of Jehoram was faint from thirst (2 Kings 3:9–20).

·        Multiplying the twenty loaves of new barley into a sufficient supply for a hundred men (2 Kings 4:42–44).

·        Recovers an axe lost in the waters of the Jordan (2 Kings 6:1–7).

·        He administered the miracle at Dothan, half-way on the road between Samaria and Jezreel, and at the siege of Samaria by the king of Syria, Elisha prophesied about the terrible sufferings of the people of Samaria and their eventual relief (2 Kings 6:24–7:2).

Critical Figure in Israel’s Political & Spiritual Life 

·        Elisha then journeyed to Damascus and prophesied that Hazael would be king over Syria (2 Kings 8:7–15)

·        Thereafter he directs one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel, instead of Ahab. Mindful of the order given to Elijah (1 Kings 19:16).

·        Elisha delegated a son of one of the prophets to quietly anoint Jehu King of Israel, and to commission him to cut off the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:1–10).

·        The death of Joram, pierced by an arrow from Jehu's bow, the ignominious end of Jezabel, the slaughter of Ahab's seventy sons, proved how faithfully executed was the Divine command (2 Kings9:11–10:30).

·        After predicting to Joash his victory over the Syrians at Aphek, as well as three other subsequent victories, ever bold before kings, ever kindly towards the lowly, "Elisha died, and they buried him" (2 Kings 13:14–20).

Elisha Rests 

·        While Elisha lies on his death-bed in his own house (2 Kings 13:14–19). Joash, the grandson of Jehu, comes to mourn over his approaching departure, and utters the same words as those of Elisha when Elijah was taken away, indicating his value to him: "My father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.“

·        The very touch of his corpse served to resuscitate a dead man.  After his death, a dead body was laid in Elisha's grave. No sooner does it touch Elisha's bones than the man "revived, and stood up on his feet" (2 Kings 13:20–21).

The Elisha Commitment

"As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." (2 Kings 2:6)

Giving credit where credit is due:

· www.Bible.org (word study)

· www.JesusPlusNothing.com (quiz and other commentary)

· www.Wikipedia.org (facts and references)

· www.BibleGateway.com (references)

From Sarai to Sarah: A Woman's Journey To Faith

Proverbs 13:12

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Sarah is a hero for the rest of us

Her life is a great reminder that God does not require that you be perfect, nor does He promise that your life will be.

Hope Begins

Her faith journey begins as God sends a message of destiny to her husband, Abram. (Genesis
12:1-9)

65 years old when she set out from Harran.

Sarai: Apparently, quite beautiful.  (Genesis 12:10-20)

Hope Delayed

A decade had passed by (age 75)

For Abram a promise of a blessing to all nations; for Sarai a baby to hold.

Blaming God: And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” (Genesis 15:3)

Discussion Group: Have you ever caught yourself beginning to blame God for a particular situation? If so, why?

Hope Despairs

Desperation (Genesis 16:1-2)

Her concern is not with the fulfillment of God's plan, but with her own longing for motherhood.

What did she expect would happen? (Genesis 16:3-6)

Application: Taking matters into our own hands often leads to making matters worse.

Hope Reiterated

At age 90, no birth by Sarai has occurred. (Genesis 17:1)

Name changed to Sarah (Princess) (Genesis 17:15-16)

Discussion Group: What do you think the significance was of God changing Sarai's name to Sarah?

Hope’s bad day

Genesis 18:9-15

Not her best day.

Hope Birthed

Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7)

The first miracle is the conception of Isaac; the second miracle is Sarah’s ability to deliver Isaac. (Hebrews 11:11-12)

Hope Rests

Genesis 23:1-2

Discussion Group

Were you surprised by Sarah's imperfections?

Why do you think God never glosses over people's missteps in the Bible?

Sarah’s Legacy

Sarah's faith won her the honor of being the only woman among the top 5 examples God gave to exemplify true faith in Hebrews 11. (Hebrews 11:11-12)

“And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to
hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you]." (1 Peter 3:6 AMP).

When you are able to confront your fears and say “I won’t give in to you - I choose to believe my Lord," you have inherited Sarah's legacy of faith.

Rhetorical Question

What spiritual legacy would you like to leave for future generations?

The Crucified Lamb

Title: The Crucified Lamb
John 19:16b-42

The Cross: Its Words

• “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34
• “Today you will be with me in paradise” Luke 23:43
• “Dear woman, here is your son” John 19:25-27 (Contrast Luke 14:26)
• “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34 (Compare Psalm 22)

I think of this statement of Jesus on the cross as recollecting the psalm.  When you look at the entire psalm you find that the situation isn't as bleak as the start of the passage seems to indicate.

We use a similar poetic device today when we quote the first lines of songs.  For instance, are you familiar with what these songs are and what they mean (even vaguely)?

• “What can wash away my sin?” ….
• “You ain’t nothin’ but a hound-dog…”
• “Oh, say can you see?”

This thought doesn't diminsh the idea that Jesus bore our sins and therefore was seperated from God.  This is clear from reading 1 Peter 2:24 among other passages.

• “I am thirsty” John 19:28 (Reveals Jesus' humanity yet again)
• “It is finished” John 19:30
• “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” Luke 23:46

What statement means the most to you and why?

The Cross: Its Witnesses

• Simon of Cyrene (sort of a witness) Matt 27:32; Mark 15:21,32; Luke 23:26
• The Thieves (one forgiven, one condemned) Matt 27:44; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32-33, 40-43; John 19:18
• Passers-by (mocking) Matt 27:39-40; Mark 15:29-30;
• The Rulers (mocking) Matt 27:41-42; Mark 15:31-32; Luke 23:35
• Mary, Mary’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas & Mary Magdelene & The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved Mark 15:40-41,47; John 19:25-27

Notice the prominence of women at the cross.  Notice also the loyalty of John.  Where were the rest of the Apostles and disciples?

• The Soldiers (so close to the cross, but missing it entirely) Mark 15:21-24; John 19:16b,23-24

Related Prophecies:

• Psalm 22:18
• Exodus 12:46; Num. 9:12; Psalm 34:20
• Zech. 12:10

• The Centurion (believed because of the cross alone – no other teaching necessary) Matt 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47
• Joseph & Nicodemus (risked everything in loving Jesus, royal treatment) Matt 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:38-40

Turned out these two loved Jesus more than religion at great risk to their personal position, power and influence.  They didn’t let religion come between them and the Savior.

Which of these witnesses are you most like and why?

The Authenticated Messiah

Title: The Authenticated Messiah, John 5:25-47

Authentication - What is it?

According to Dictionary.com:
au⋅then⋅ti⋅cate 

verb (used with object), -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing.
1. to establish as genuine.
2. to establish the authorship or origin of conclusively or unquestionably, chiefly by the techniques of scholarship: to authenticate a painting.
3. to make authoritative or valid.

Authorization, What is it?

According to Dictionary.com:

au⋅thor⋅ize  

verb (used with object), -ized, -iz⋅ing.
1. to give authority or official power to; empower: to authorize an employee to sign purchase orders.
2. to give authority for; formally sanction (an act or proceeding): Congress authorized the new tax on tobacco.
3. to establish by authority or usage: an arrangement long authorized by etiquette books.
4. to afford a ground for; warrant; justify.

Evidence (from Wikipedia):

The law of evidence:

1. governs the use of testimony (e.g., oral or written statements, such as an affidavit)
2. exhibits (e.g., physical objects)
3. other documentary material which is admissible (i.e., allowed to be considered by the trier of fact, such as jury)

in a judicial or administrative proceeding (e.g., a court of law).

A Question of Authority

John 5:27
John 2:12-18 – By what authority do you clear the temple?

The Big Question – Is Jesus the Christ?

John 7:25-43
John 8:25-28
John 8:53-59
John 9:22-33

Testimony & Evidence

John 5:31 – Testimony From Himself

• John 3:10-19 – Referring to himself in the 3rd person
• John 5:16-18 – Called himself the Son of God and made himself equal with God
• John 8:13-18, 9:35-37

John 5:32-33 – Testimony of Another, John

• John 1:6-8, 15, 19-27, 29-34

John 5:36 – Evidence of His work

• Miracles he performed
• Prophecy fulfilled about events in his life (birth, travels, etc.)

John 5:37 – Testimony of God

• Luke 3:21-22, John 8:18

John 5:39 – Testimony of the Scriptures

• Old Testament, too many references to list!

Testimony & Evidence

Here's a summary of the testimony and evidence concerning Jesus that we find from this lession: Himself, John, His Work, God, Scriptures

If all this testimony and evidence disappeared, we’d still have the most compelling evidence, testimony, authorization and authentication…

The Empty Tomb

John 20:13-18, 27-31

The empty tomb provides us:

• Physical evidence
• Testimony of the grave
• Authorization – Resurrection Power - who on the earth could deny him any right or privilege.  He needs no other authorization to prove he is worthy of our trust, praise, worship and adoration.
• Authentication – He is who He said He is – The Christ, The Son of God, The Messiah Authenticate

(This lesson presented for the Woodinville Church of Christ for 2/14/2010.)