KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Kings 6:31 KJV” Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.”

Please read 2 kings 6:26-33.

The king of Israel encountered a woman who complained about a friend who failed to bring her son for them to kill and eat after she had brought hers. When the king heard this he responded by saying Elisha the prophet must die for this. What wrong has Elisha done to merit such a death? This is purely the spirit of ASSASINATION that seeks the destruction of people of God from completing their God given task. Dear servant of God, there is always a spirit of ASSASINATION that would want to stop you from completing your mission on the earth, and you must be aware to prevent it. Some men of God have unfortunately been terminated before their time.

THIS spirit of ASSASINATION pursued the Lord Jesus right from his birth. It followed him throughout His ministry. Luke 4:29, reads “And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” This was the instant the Lord returned from his forty days fasting and announced his mission in the synagogue for the first time. They had wanted to throw him headlong over the hill, but he miraculously escaped. Apostle Paul went through a lot of life-threatening situations, yet overcame all. Paul prayed and desired to get to the end of his ministry. (Phil 3:12&13) The Lord’s advice for his people is to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as a dove (Matthew 10:16). The serpent has a very high survival instinct.

AS a man of God be very much cautious of the devil’s intention to eliminate you before your time. Some have met their untimely death through careless driving. Some have destroyed their health with overeating. Like Samson some have called for an untimely death and had it. There is a departure time for everyone, yet make sure you fulfill your ministry to the very end. What must you do?

1.Commit your life to pleasing the Lord always

2.Refuse to be carnal (Rom 8:12&13)

3.Let your thoughts and words be in line with God’s word. (1st Peter 3:10)

4.Do not rebel against your fathers in ministry. (Remember Absalom)

5.Be always led by the Holy Spirit.

IF you would live this way you would indeed fulfil your days.

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly father for the Holy Spirit, who leads me in the path of life. I escape all the traps of the enemy, and focus my life on doing that which pleases the Lord. My path shines more and more unto the perfect day.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Peter 3:10 KJV “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:”

Romans 8:13 KJV “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

KEY SCRIPTURE2Ki 6:23 KJV “And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel”.

The king of Syria realized each time he plans to attack the people of Israel, they get to know his plans and prepare for him. He wondered who among them was on the side of the Israelites? (2 kings 6:7-10) In the plan of God Satan should never outwit the people of God. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit the people of God, must consistently know the next action of the enemy and take steps to overcome them. The king of Syria decided to attack the prophet of God and eliminate him. When they came to attack him (Elisha), was not worried or afraid. He said 2Ki 6:16 KJV” And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. “Dear child of God, do not ever be moved by what Satan throws against you. Greater is he who is with you than the devil who has come against you.

The man of God asked God to make the armies of Syria that had come against him to be blind. God smote all these men with blindness. If God could do for Elisha, a man under the old covenant, how much wont He do for us. Church of God arise out of every unbelief and take your proper place, and by faith stop the enemy. Elisha led them to the king of Israel, and caused their sight to return to them. The king asked, should, I smite them. Elisha answered, no. He rather set a table before them and fed these enemies of his. Why is there so much fear and hatred for the enemy? Most Christians don’t know who they are. By grace we are far superior and far above every devil. You cannot overcome the man that you are afraid of.

There are many Christians, who literally hate their enemies(humans) because they are afraid of them. This is a sign of failure and defeat. You can’t overcome the man you fear. We hate the devil and we deal with the devil. We do not hate humans, yet those who become party to demons will go down with them. We must love all humans, knowing our superiority over   the devil. Our wrestle is not against flesh and blood, but against devils and invisible beings. Deal with these beings and the humans who want to be one with the devil will go down with the devil. Free yourself from the fear and hatred of any man. Know the authority you have and exercise it over the devil.

CONFESSION

I have love for all men. I do not hate, nor fear any man. I have authority over the devil and exercise this authority over them.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 John 4:18 KJV “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

1 John 4:20 KJV “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:22. “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”

Miracles, signs and wonders are a powerful means of advertising the gospel. Every minister or child of God must pursue it for a greater impact of God’s work. (Please read 2 kings 6:1-7) In the preceding passage, Prophet Elisha made an axe head to float on the surface of water, after it sank into the river. What makes some men so powerful to work great signs and wonders? Our key scripture gives a clue. It says Jesus was approved of God. Approval always demands meeting certain requirements or standards. The approval of a man results from one’s pursuit of God. Every man that God has used mightily pursued after God with all his heart. Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart”.

What does it entail in pursuing after God? Elisha is a typical example of one who pursued after God with all his heart. When Elijah first met him and cast his mantle on him, he responded by killing his bullocks which he ploughed with and gave it to the people. He then followed Elijah and served him (1 kings 19:19—21). He pursued diligently till Elijah was taken to heaven. He demonstrated his readiness to follow God by always doing what the Spirit required of him. He passed the Naaman test when he refused to take the presents, he brought to him. Following after God means seeking to know Him, his power and to run away from everything God disapproves. It involves developing a personal relationship with God

When one pursues after God in the way described above, he grows in the knowledge of God. His faith in God also grows. It is the growing of one’s faith that brings this approval of the man. The bible calls it being justified. It is only the just who are approved (Rom 5:1) The just live by faith (Rom1:17) Faith in God is the means by which God works miracles through his servants. Heb 11:2 “For by it the elders obtained a good report ‘The path to being approved of God, begins with pursuing after God. The more you honor him by doing the word, God works through you. This grows your faith and will result in God approving you for more signs and wonders.

CONFESSION

 I abide in the Lord and His word abides in me I pursue   after God with all my heart. Through knowledge of God and His word my faith grows exceedingly. God honors my faith by working out signs and wonders through me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Philippians 3:12-14. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also, I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.

Philippians 3:10. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 5:22. “And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

Apostle James said in James 1:14,15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. Gehazi followed his lust and kept going down till he was destroyed with leprosy. We see from his experience that, from one lie he kept lying and acting wrongly. He was firstly overtaken by coveting after all that Naaman brought and went for it. He could have stopped the chain of corruption by rebuking the very first thought of going after what his master had rejected. Every wrong thought comes from a demonic source and must always be rebuked, if you must be safe from destructive results.

After lying to Naaman, just watch what he did, 2 Kings 5:24. “And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go”. Dear minister whenever you fail to address a wrong act you will keep committing more sins. Gehazi left the house, went before Elisha and lied again. He had forgotten that he was standing before a man who had a great ability to discern things beyond the natural realm. Sin always blinds people from a clear conscience

Before such a great man of God he kept lying. Remember that Gehazi was not just an ordinary man, he was under studying Elisha to become a prophet.

All his false steps culminated in a curse from the man of God. The leprosy of Naaman got stuck to him. Can you exchange whatever he got from Naaman with the leprosy of Naaman? Any act of disobedience to the word of God offers you a kind of loss that is far more expensive than whatever you have gained through that wrong act. Romans 8:12. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh”. WE have a better glorious blessing that we must not exchange anything that opposes God’s word with.

PRAYER

Father I thank you for your word that reigns in me. By the truth of your word  I live above every control of the flesh. My mind is not controlled by strange thoughts, but by the word of God.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 8:12 &13. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”.

Ephesians 4:15. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 5:16. – “But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused”.

Money should never be the motivating factor for whatever a minister does for God. The minister of God must know that; God is his or her sufficiency in all that he seeks to achieve. The answer to covetousness is a true knowledge of God. Elisha knew God, and could not be tempted by the gifts of Naaman. Was it wrong for him to have accepted the gifts of Naaman? I don’t believe it was wrong, yet since he rejected it I believe the Spirit of God asked him not to accept it. A decided mind cannot be tempted. His mind was made up to always do what the Spirit of the Lord wanted him to do. Such a man of God is never a slave of money, but rather a master of money. Money will rather rush into the life of such a man, because he has placed God first.

As Elisha was graciously dominating over the temptations of covetousness, His servant by him, was terribly under the bondage of covetousness. When Gehazi saw that Elisha had refused to accept all the amazing gifts of Naaman, he decided to follow him and get it. Gehazi was a slave of covetousness and his actions was just a manifestation of what had bound him. Who is your master, God or money? Matthew 6:24″

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. You are a misery if money is your god.

The bible says those who have been overtaken by the lust for money have pierced themselves with many sorrows (1st Timothy 6:10). Please look into your heart and answer this question, who is really ruling over your life? Most of the scandals going around about men of God proceed from the bondage of covetousness. Ironically there are a number of very affluent men of God who do not have a bit of the bondage of covetousness over their life. The world sees them that way, yet a close association with them reveals either wise. Money is a servant to such men because God is their God, and not money.  The secret to real riches in ministry is a heart totally yielded to God and a pursuit of His ways. (Matthew 6:33) If you are bound by covetousness, then pray and set yourself free.

CONFESSION

Thank you, dear Lord Jesus, for your deliverance from the love of money. My heart pursues after God and His righteous ways and so all good things migrate towards me. I am abundantly blessed.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 6:33″- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.

1Timothy 6:10″. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 4:27 -And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

Many people visit prophets of God and would always expect him or her to tell them a prophecy about themselves. Some actually request from the prophet to prophecy to them. Such things put unnecessary pressure on the man of God. Some of the prophets fall to such temptations and say things presumptuously. There are certain prophets who make statements on national events by going public   and making such pronouncements. All these are said as prophecies coming from the spirit of God. Does the Lord indeed direct his servants to make such statements?

In our key scripture prophet Elisha was put in such a situation, but he was very sincere by acknowledging that God had not revealed anything to him about the Shunamite woman. Elisha could have done like some of these modern-day prophets do. They observe the situation and try to say something to suit what they anticipate to be happening. Deut 18:22 “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him”.  Dear prophet, you cannot know everything. That makes you a man, depending on God.

Why do some prophets fall into this trap? This happens when a prophet loses the understanding that his or her office as a prophet makes him or her a mouthpiece of God. You are not a prophet for yourself. You do not prophecy for your stomach. You do not also keep the truth from those that should hear it, although it may be difficult for them to know it. No matter how bitter the truth may be, you have to say it, if only the Lord has instructed you to tell that person, or group of people. Dear prophet of God, God is sovereign about certain issues and may keep certain things from you. Don’t talk about what God has not spoken to you.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I pray for all prophets of God, that they would be very sensitive to the voice of the Spirit. May they never live for their own interest but live for God’s interest.

FURTHER STUDIES

Deuteronomy 18:20 -22″- But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him”.

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”.