Sun.’s Devo - God Fulfills His Word

Read: 2 Kings 1:1-2:25; Acts 13:42-14:7; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 17:19-21 Ahab died, and God’s word came true concerning Israel’s downfall. Moab rebelled against Israel and Ahaziah, Ahab’s son fell through the lattice in his bedroom and became ill. He sent messengers to Ekron to ask them to pray to their god Baal-zebub to see if he would recover. They had not made it out of town when Elijah met them. He asked them if Israel had no god that they would have to go to Ekron and ask their god. Then he told them that the Lord said that Ahaziah would die and not recover. *** When Ahaziah’s messengers returned so soon he asked them what happened. They told him and he wanted them to describe the man who told them he would die. When they did, he knew it was Elijah. 
 *** Ahaziah sent an officer with 50 men to go get Elijah and bring him before him. Elijah called down fire and it consumed them. Ahaziah sent another officer with 50 men and the same thing happened. When he sent the third officer with his 50 men, this officer had enough sense to fall down and beg for mercy from Elijah. Then Elijah knew he could go with this man. *** He went to Ahaziah and told him the same thing he had told his messengers. He would die, and he did. Ahaziah had no son, so his brother Jehoram became king. *** It was time for Elijah to be taken from the earth and Elijah and Elisha both knew it. Elijah went first to Bethel, then Jericho then to the Jordan. He struck the Jordan with his cloak and the water parted and he went across. He kept trying to lose Elisha, but Elisha refused to leave him. Finally, Elijah asked him what he wanted. Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit. Elijah told him that if he saw him leave, he would get what he asked. As they were talking, chariots of fire and horses of fire came between them. Elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven and Elisha saw Elijah go up. *** Elisha tore his cloak in half and put on the cloak that Elijah and left and went back to the Jordan. He did exactly what Elijah had done and the water parted and he walked back into Israel. He retraced Elijah’s path going to Jericho, then Bethel. From there he went to Mount Carmel and then to Samaria. All of these places were strategic places where God had done great things for the people of Israel. While Elisha was at Jericho, he healed the waters that were causing miscarriages. At Bethel, he cursed boys who dishonored him and they were killed by bears. *** In Acts, everywhere Paul and Barnabas went the people were hungry and begged to be taught about Jesus. On the next Sabbath, the synagogue was full of people. The Jews who saw the crowds were jealous and began to contradict what Paul was teaching. Paul told them that because they didn’t want the truth, they would take the truth to the Gentiles, just like the prophets foretold. God’s salvation would be given to the world. *** The Gentiles rejoiced when they heard this and many of them were saved. But the Jews got a bunch of elite people of the city on their side and they began to persecute Paul and Barnabas. They drove them out of town, but Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust from their feet and went to Iconium. The disciples were full of joy and the Holy Spirit. *** In Iconium they spoke at the Jewish synagogue and many came to believe, both Jews and Gentiles. They stayed there for an extended amount of time with great freedom to proclaim Christ. Signs and wonders followed their teaching. The city was divided between those who sided with the Jews and those who sided with the apostles. Paul and Barnabas got news that they wanted to stone them so they fled to Lystra and Derby and continued to preach. *** Lord, may we have that much conviction that we would be willing to suffer harm, persecution, loss of reputation and life for the sake of the truth. Thank you that we have the truth within us and no one can take that from us. May we both live and die for you.