Read: 2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:23-19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3
Joash, king of Judah reigned for 40 years but in his 23rd year, Jehoahaz became king of Israel. Jehoahaz only reigned 17 years
Jehoahaz started out as a bad king who worshipped idols so the Lord put them under the rule of the king of Aram who severely oppressed Israel. Jehoahaz cried out to the Lord and he sent them a deliverer and once again Israel could live peacefully in their own homes, but they had lost so many men in the war for their freedom that their army was greatly reduced.
Jehoahaz died and his son, Jehoash became king for 16 years. He fell back into idolatry. One day he went to visit Elisha who was suffering from the illness that finally cost him his life. Elisha told him to get a bow and some arrows and to open the east window and shoot an arrow. It was to signify Israel’s victory over Aram. Then he told him to hit the other arrows on the ground. He was upset that the king only hit the ground three times, so that would be how many times they would succeed in battle against Aram.
After Elisha died, he was buried in a tomb. They threw a dead Israelite in his tomb and the man came back to life as soon as he touched Elisha’s bones. Elisha had asked for a double anointing of Elijah’s. Elijah had raised one man from the dead and Elisha needed one more to double his.
His son, Jeroboam succeed him on the throne.
In Acts, Paul explains something about the baptism in the Holy Spirit that is often misunderstood. When we get saved, we get the baptism of John - baptism unto repentance and our sins are washed away and we are born again into the kingdom of God. When we get baptized in the Holy Spirit we get the baptism of Christ which is by fire of the Holy Spirit. Many times when this happened to them the people spoke in tongues which is just another language and sometimes they prophesied which is just saying the words God is saying. It is a response to a river flowing inside the person. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not being immersed into a river but having the river flow through us.
People stumble over tongues because it can’t be understood in our own understanding but if you can get over that hurdle, it will open you up to believe the supernatural more easily. The whole purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to give the believer more power to be witnesses.
Lord, help us to see that you are a supernatural God and your ways are so much higher than ours.
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