Sat.’s Devo - Truth Comes with Power

Read: 2 Kings 1:1-2:25; Acts 13:42-14:7; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 17:19-21 God began to judge Ahab’s dynasty. Moab rebelled against Israel and Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of his palace and was seriously injured. He sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub to ask the God of Ekron if he would recover. God did not appreciate that and sent Elijah to intercept them. He sent the messengers back to Ahaziah to ask him if there was no prophet in Israel he could have asked. The Lord said he would die and never leave his bed. *** Ahaziah sent fifty men to arrest Elijah but Elijah called down fire from heaven and it consumed the men. This happened twice. The third group sent was led by a very wise leader. He went up to where Elijah was and fell down begging him to spare his men and come with him. The Lord told Elijah to go and he would be okay. *** Elijah stood before the king and said the same thing he had said the first time, and it happened. Ahaziah died and his son, Joram became the next king. *** It was time for Elijah to leave the earth and Elijah told Elisha to stay in Gilgal because he was going to Bethel. Elisha refused to leave Elijah so he followed him to Bethel, then to Jericho, then to the Jordan. All along the way, prophets told Elisha that this was the day Elijah was leaving. *** When Elijah got to the Jordan, he folded his cloak and struck the water and it divided and they walked on dry land. It was on the other side that Elijah finally caught his transport to leave. All of the places he went on this last day were places angels had shown up on earth. I wonder if he was looking for them to take him to heaven. Just a thought. *** Before he left, Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted and he said he wanted a double share of Elijah’s spirit and to become his successor. Elijah told him that if he saw him leave, he would have them. Elisha did see Elijah leave in a whirlwind and saw the chariots of heaven. 
 *** After Elijah had gone, he took his cloak and folded it and struck the Jordan. It parted and he walked across. The prophets saw this from afar and realized he had the same spirit Elijah had had. They begged him to let them look for Elijah’s body. Elisha finally let them go but after three days they came back empty… just like they found Jesus’ grave after three days. *** The water supply in Jericho was bad so Elisha emptied a bowl of salt into the river and it became pure. It would no longer cause death or infertility. Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and we bring life and prosperity to the earth because of Jesus in us. *** Elisha was mocked by a bunch of young boys and when he cursed them, two bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of them. God was not going to let his word in Elisha be taunted. *** In Acts, when Paul and Barnabas left that Sabbath, the people begged them to come back and teach them next week. The next week, the whole town showed up to hear them. The Jews were jealous of their popularity and argued with everything they said. Paul and Barnabas told them that they had to tell the Jews first, but since they rejected it, they would offer salvation to the Gentiles. They quoted Isaiah 49:6, “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation the farthest corners of the earth.” The elite of the town drove them out of town but the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. They went to Iconium and the same thing happened. A number of Greeks and Jews believed their message, but the Jews in charge rejected their message. They did many miracles and signs and wonder there. The town was divided in their beliefs. They were attacked by a mob and fled to Lycaonia and preached the Good News there. *** Everywhere the Good News went it caused an uproar of opposition. We cannot expect the change we are hoping to come to our nation to happen peacefully. But, we can trust that God has a plan to release his Spirit with miraculous signs and wonders and result in many coming to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. *** Lord, we anticipate with joy what you are doing and going to do in our world. Thank you for the times we are living in. May we be bold and courageous.