KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Kings 4:2 KJV” And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.

Miracle, signs and wonder should become the normal experiences of children of God.  The servant of God is an agent of signs and wonders. A working faith in the word of God is the means of working these signs and wonders. Mar 16:17 KJV” And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;”

In the story of our key scripture a widow of a dead prophet called on Elisha and pleaded with him to help her out of debts, her dead husband owned. The creditors were coming for her sons to pay for the debt. Elisha asked, what can I do for you? Then he asked again, what do you have in your house?

Prophet Elisha knew he was an agent of signs and wonders, and that whatever he decided to do could result in a transformation of the woman’s situation. Dear child of God, you are also an agent of sign and wonders. In a time of challenge, do not panic but whatever you decide to do to change the situation, do it in faith. Elisha asked the woman, what do you have at home? She answered, she had only a pot of oil. The man of God instructed her to borrow more containers and then keep pouring the oil into the containers. She sold some to pay her debt. The principle for sign and wonder is believe the word, say what you expect, and then act what you said. Elisha acted in faith, and God honored his faith.

Miracles are always worked out by faith. It is a partnership between God and men with God’s word as the tool. A brother visited a lady who had grown anaemic through some internal condition. She was lying helplessly on a mat He took a cup of water, thanked God and declared this is the blood of Jesus, drink it, your blood condition would cease. It happened just as this brother said. The weak helpless girl instantly became strong and never had that condition relapsing again. Always believe that when you act in faith, God will honor his word.

CONFESSION

I and the children of God are for signs and wonders. I boldly act on the word of God and it results in outstanding miracles.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 8:18 KJV” Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion”.

1 Samuel 10:7 KJV “And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 3:15. “But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.”

God is one, yet He deals with everyone in very special ways. All pastors may not operate in the same manner. In our key scripture Elisha had to call for a minstrel, that is a minister of songs, to sing to cause a flow of the anointing on him. There are other prophets who will not need any minstrel to sing, yet they would prophecy all the same. Please dear servants of God allow the Spirit of God to do with you what he wants to.

The following is how the word of God presents it in 1Corinth 12:4-6.  “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” The above scripture has said it all. It says there are diversities of gifts and the administration of these gifts are not the same. The operation of these gifts are also not the same. These verses speak in reference to gifts yet it applies to all other functions of the Spirit in the lives of the children of God.

Some years ago, I listened to a man of God who used to preach on top of his voice and preached with a lot of screaming. I admired it and wanted to preach like him. The Holy Spirit prompted me and told me to stop that and function in the way He has been leading me. There are some who admire the ministry of prophets although they are teachers of the word. These people force their way to prophecy only to make some very serious errors. History tells us of one great man of God who was a prophet but decided to teach. He ended up teaching heresies, which affected his life ultimately.

PRAYER

Father I pray for all servants and children of God to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Give us an understanding of your unique way of dealing with each of us.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 1:10. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Romans 8:14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

KEY SCRPTURE: 2Kings 2:25″. And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria”

Our key scripture states that Elisha went up to mount Carmel and later returned to Samaria. What did he go up doing on mount Carmel? Elijah his predecessor used to pray much on mount Carmel. I will assume in the light of the fact that he would want to follow the footsteps of Elijah, he also went there to pray. Elisha prior to this moment has not been such a praying man. After the encounter with the anointing, he had to preserve and increase the effect of the anointing in his life. 2Ti 1:6″ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands”. The gift or the anointing is primarily stirred by prayer.

Gifts can become dormant. Some people have been blessed with unique gifts of the Holy Spirit but through carnality, that is following the inclinations of the flesh have allowed the gift of God to go stale. No wonder Apostle Paul admonishes Pastor Timothy to stir up the gift. Besides praying one must do the following to keep the fire burning in him, so the gift of God imparted to him or her can be very effective.

1. Fasting. Fasting is a powerful Christian discipline that allows the Holy Spirit to have his way and work through a man. Pride places a child of God out of the reach of the Holy Spirit. True Fasting humbles the soul (Psalm 35;13)

2. Living in Holiness. God is Holy and will have nothing to do with unholy people. 2nd Timothy 2:21.

3. Obedience to the voice of the spirit

One other step to keep the gift of God functional in you is to put it into practice. Do not become lazy, make use of the gift. If it is prophesying keep prophesying. If it is teaching keep on teaching.  If you are an evangelist go out there find people and preach to them. Keep praying for the sick. Note the more you use your gift the more the gift becomes stronger and stronger. Make use of the anointing to bless lives.In Acts 10:38, the Lord Jesus after his anointing went about doing good. Go about and make use of the gift of God

CONFESSION

I am anointed by the Holy Spirit. The anointing is preserved and made stronger through a consistent prayer life, fasting and putting the gift into operation.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 10:38 KJV How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

2Timothy 1:6 KJV Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

KEY SCRPTURE: 2Kings 2:12. “And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces”.

Fathers are special people in the establishment of their children and their future. The scriptures say children are as arrows in the hands of a mighty man. Psalms 127:4 “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth”. The blessing of a father is his means of shooting you into the future (Gen 49:1-28). It is extremely dangerous for you to rebel against your father and not to receive his blessings. In ministry we have fathers who either led us to Christ or taught us the word of God, to bring you to the level you are as a minister. Honor them as such. When Elijah was leaving Elisha used the right covenant words to merit the anointing he was craving for. He identified Elijah properly as my father my father. Dear minister, no matter the mistake of your father, never ever attack him. David’s long life and success in ministry was due to the fact that he never attacked Saul, despite his mistakes.

Anointings of men of God are not supposed to be carried away into the next world. It must be passed on to the next generation. Elisha was described as a man who poured water on the hands of Elijah, (2 Kings 3:11). Loving service of a man of God is one of the means to receive the anointing on his life. Honoring this servant of God is very important. Please note that Elisha did not fast as Elijah fasted. He has not even been praying like Elijah prayed, yet through submission and honor to this servant of God he partook of his grace. One way to honor the servant of God is to give your substance to him.

Although Elisha inherited the anointing of Elijah, he unfortunately did not get anyone to inherit his anointing or grace. The bones of Elisha were enough to resurrect a dead man because he had no man to inherit it. (2 Kings 13:21). Please be careful about how you speak against a servant of God. There are some people who are specialized in speaking negative about men of God, be careful. In this study I am concerned about those men of God who are related to you. Gehazi mixed the grace of God but rather became a leper. 2Kings 5:27

CONFESSION

Thank God for spiritual fathers. I hold them in high esteem. I honor them through loving service and with my substance. No matter their mistakes I will not dishonor or attack them.

FURTHER STUDIES

Genesis 49:1 & 2 “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father”.

2 Kings 3:11. “But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the kings of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 2:10. “And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so”.

 The anointing is a supernatural power by which the Spirit of God works through His servants to do various works. Elisha did not only ask for the anointing, but to be the one who will succeed him, this he said was a difficult thing. Please note that in 1st Kings 19:16, the Lord asked him to anoint Elisha to take up that office, yet he wanted him to prove he was prepared to take up that role.

Elisha knew the Lord would be taking Elijah to heaven. He decided to pursue him till he caught the anointing. God gives nothing precious on a silver platter. The anointing is so precious that it must be received by people who mean business with God. Elisha left with Elijah from Gilgal for Bethel, and to Jericho and finally to Jordan. Elijah was doing all this to know whether Elisha was really determined to have that anointing. Gilgal means to roll, and Bethel is the house of God. Jericho means the moon, and Jordan means to descend. Figuratively, they rolled from Gilgal, to the house of God in Bethel and then, moved up to the ‘moon’ in Jericho, before descending to Jericho. Anyone who is not determined to go through all these would just give up.

Dear child of God, without the anointing you are an ordinary man. You need to pursue it with every bit of life in you. I read about A. A. Allen who decided to have an encounter with the Holy Spirit. He locked himself in a room to seek the face of the Lord till he had an encounter with Him. He could not do it for a number of times. As he stayed in the room, he would feel hungry and come out and find something to eat. At one time he was so resolute and asked the wife to lock the door, and that he would come out after an encounter. After some days of fasting, he saw a bright light enter the room. This was the Lord who came to him and that was the beginning of a life of amazing miracles.

CONFESSION

THANK you, Lord Jesus, for the grace of walking under the anointing. I pursue the anointing with all my life. The Lord also honors me with the anointing by which I do exploits to His glory

FURTHER STUDIES

Deuteronomy 4:29″- But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”

Luke 9:29” -And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Kings 22:10 KJV “And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them”

King Jehoshaphat, a man who feared God decided to go into a league with king Ahab of Israel who did not give that much honor to God. Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to join him fight the people of Ramoth Gilead. King Ahab had had encounters with God, that should have caused him to humble himself, yet his attitude towards God was the same. God was therefore not with him. It was rather ironical for king Jehoshaphat to be such a close friend to him. When king Ahab did not agree with Prophet Micaiah’s prophecies, he decided to imprison him till he had returned from the battle. This was done right in the presence of king Jehoshaphat. Why should you have a friend whose actions implicate you before God? The input of others in our life can always be necessary for one’s advancement, yet you have to be very circumspect in selecting the kind of friend you keep. A bad associate would make or break you up.

King Jehoshaphat was nearly killed in the war he went with king Ahab, because they took him for king Ahab during the war. What brought his life into such a danger? Because of his association with an ungodly man Ahab. Dear servants of God, who is your friend.? There are certain men of God who have joined certain occultic sects because of the close friends they had.  Some have become womanizers, because they associated with other ministers who had that tendencies. 1Co 15:33 KJV” Be not deceived: good communications corrupt good manners.” Evil relationship would definitely corrupt you.

Some have lost their vision for their lives because of the kind of company they took.

Why do certain servants of God maintain some type of friends although these people have characters or persuasions that would not help them become who they should be? Some keep such friends because of their childhood relationship. Others are also very easy going and relate very cordially with all those who come close to them. Dear child of God, you must choose your friends, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. Note, a bad friend can lead you to hell.

PRAYER

Father, help me by your Spirit to know the truth about all my close associates as well as new ones who may be coming close to me.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 8:14 KJV, “”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Exodus 23:33 KJV” They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: the for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ki 21:7 KJV” And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite”

(Read 1 kings 21)

King Ahab saw a vineyard owned by a man called Naboth.  He asked Naboth to sell his vineyard to him, but Naboth refused. Ahab came home very sad. Jezebel his wife after hearing about her husband’s problem told him she would get Naboth’s vineyard for him. 1Kings 21:7 KJV” And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” Jezebel managed to set Naboth up to be killed by stoning. Jezebel then delivered the vineyard to her husband.

Dear Minister, a wife is a help mate for you, and not to take control or manipulate affairs. There are certain wives who do not have any calling on their lives for ministry work. You must be very careful how you allow your wife to manipulate others in the church.  There are some very helpful wives, yet there are those who are so self-seeking. Some of such women, just want church offerings to come to them. This same Jezebel declared she would cut off Elijah’s head. This woman had the spirit of witchcraft. The spirit of witchcraft imposes one’s will on others.  Women who manipulate men by imposing their will on them normally come under the spirit of witchcraft.

The wrath of God was kindled against Ahab and his family because he allowed his wife to kill Naboth and took Naboth’s vineyard. The Lord sent Elijah to tell Ahab about God’s fury and judgment against Ahab. Why should Ahab insist on taking Naboth’s vineyard, when he refused?  As the king he felt he had the right to get what he wanted in the kingdom. Dear man of God, you do not have the right to possess that which belongs to another by force. Some ministers take the cars of members and would not return it. When these members request for their cars, these ministers get offended. This is not right. Be content with such things as you have and know also that, you do not owe anything of another brother or sister. You are not a boss over them but their servant.

CONFESSION

I am content with such things as I have. I do not crave for anything owed by any other person. My God supplies all my needs.

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 13:5 KJV” Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Proverbs 28:16 KJV” The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.”

KEY SCRIPTURE :1 Kings 19:4 KJV “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers”.

(Read 1 kings 19)

Elijah had been used so mightily by the Lord God to do so much. He could call down fire to consume a number of people. On the flip side Jezebel, the queen announced she was going to take off the head of Elijah, and then the man of God became so terrified. He even asked the Lord to take his life. Couldn’t Elijah had called down fire to consume her?

The above response would have been the choice to act by faith, yet he chose to respond in the flesh. Dear man of God, no matter the great feats you have achieved for God, if you let down your guard, you would be like an ordinary man, but you can operate as a superman, when you maintain your faith in God.

Why did Elijah react the way he did? He did so because, he gave attention to the words of Jezebel. Mark 4:24 KJV “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear… “it is extremely dangerous to give attention to words coming from the enemy. The power of God in any believer is far greater than whatever the devil can put up. No matter how mighty a man may be used of God, he needs to remain prepared for an evil day or an unexpected attack from the enemy. He must keep his faith ready to stop any fiery dart of the wicked. (Eph 6:16). In the heat of his fears, he asked that God take his life (1 kings 19:4). Dear servant of God be very careful about what you say.

 Elijah called for his death and so the Lord led him to instruct certain individuals to do certain tasks ‘after he had left’. I believe the Lord instructed him to do all those things because God was going to answer that request of taking his life. In 2 Kings 2:1, the Lord took him to heaven. The Lord will do what you speak into His ears. Num 14:28 KJV ” Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:” God will always respond to every word spoken from our hearts.   Never call for what you do not expect. Always say what you want. Despite his momentary shortcoming He maintained a right conscience towards the Lord, God was so pleased with him that, He took him to heaven without dying.

 PRAYER

I pray that in the name of Jesus I would always be alert in the Spirit to respond rightly to any attack of the enemy.

FURTHER STUDIES

Ephesians 6:16 KJV Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Acts 24:16 KJV “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

KEY SCRIPTURE :1Kings 18:42 KJV “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,”

After the prophets of Baal had been slaughtered. the rains must be allowed to come. Elijah prayed to stop it and had to pray to let it fall. Our key scripture reveals that king Ahab went to eat but Elijah, went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, when it calls for changing situations by prayer, then it is not time for eating and pleasure, as King Ahab did. It is a time for prayer.

HOW did he pray?

1 He prayed with faith. 1Ki 18:41 KJV “And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain”

.2 He prayed passionately. James 5:17. The scripture said he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and he likewise prayed earnestly again, that it might rain. Prayer is an expression of desire and so the desire must be intense.

3 He prayed expectantly 1Ki 18:43 KJV “And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, there is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. He kept sending his assistant to go and look whether the clouds were gathering

4 . He prayed persistently .. 1 KINGS 18:44a ” And it came to pass at the seventh time…. “His assistant had to go up to the seventh time. Seven in this context means complete. Have the attitude to go on in prayer till the answer is manifested.

The following is how the amplified Bible said it . James 5:16 b

“……….. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” When he prayed this way, heaven responded and the answer was released. You would not be denied as you go through these proven steps in prayer to get answers and difficult situations changing.

 PRAYER

Thank you, heavenly Father, for the privilege of prayer. Thank you, Lord, for your ears that are always ready to hear and answer us. Thank you, Lord, for the power of God released as we pray. Amen.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 7:7 & 8 KJV” Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Exodus 17:11 KJV” And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed”.

KEY SCRIPTURE :1Kings 18:21 KJV” And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word”.

During the reign of king Ahab, Israel went into serious apostasy. Baal worship became the order of the day. Elijah could not take that, He decided to stand for God against the multitudes of Baal prophets. God is not limited to save by many or by few. There is no situation on this earth that can be described as impossible. On this earth all that God needs is a man to believe Him and anything can be possible to him. Elijah had earlier caused the rains to stop falling for a period of three years and six months. (1 kings 17:1) This, the prophets of Baal could do nothing about. This should have thought the whole of Israel a lesson that those prophets were only charlatans or empty talkers

 Ministry is all about standing for the interest of God on the earth. It is trusting God to reveal his glory on the earth. God created all things and put everything in the hands of men (Gen 1:26). When one is given dominion over a thing, the giver of the authority cannot interfere with the thing, unless that individual permits Him. God almighty on this ground, has subjected Himself not to interfere with affairs on this earth until a man take a stand for Him. Things can go so wrong or bad, yet, He cannot come by Himself.

A minister is one who sees to it that, God’s interests are fully established on the earth. One of the means to do this is to believe and act on his word. The next is to obey or do whatever he tells you. The minister must also depart from sin of any kind (Proverbs 28:13). Finally, the minister must announce to men what God wants them to know and do. Any minister who does these four things would have fulfilled his role as God’s servant.

Elijah called for a contest between him and the prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal failed to call down fire from heaven. Elijah set up his altar, put the bullock on it and called down fire from above. God vindicated him and brought down fire from heaven.

CONFESSION

Thank you, dear heavenly father for appointing me as your servant. With faith in you, no situation or enemy is unsurmountable. I am always a victor in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDIES

Joshua 1:9 KJV “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

March 9:23 KJV “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” .