Am I God?

Posted on 2014/07/11 by Shawn Thomas

In II Kings 5 the king of Aram, having heard of the prophet Elisha, sent his leprous general Naaman to the king of Israel so that he might be cured of his leprosy. We find the king’s response in verse 7: “Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?” Despite his other failings, at least the king demonstrated an important attitude here:

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“Love Your Enemies” Lived Out

Posted on 2014/07/10 by Shawn Thomas

II Kings 5 tells the remarkable story of how Naaman the leper was healed. But we should make sure that we do not overlook a remarkable thing in verses 2-3, which says that there was “a little girl” who had been “taken captive” on the Arameans’ raid in Israel. What a horrifying thing! Can you imagine the fear and horror she had experienced? Now she was made a servant to Naaman’s wife. Many would have been consumed by bitterness and fear. But her response is striking:

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A Hard Pill To Swallow

Posted on 2014/07/09 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 13:4 David wrote: “And my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.” One of the most difficult aspects of enduring hardship is that it gives one’s enemies an opportunity to think “they were right” and that they have triumphed.

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Sovereignty & Responsibility

Posted on 2014/07/08 by Shawn Thomas

II Kings 5 tells the remarkable story of Naaman and Elisha — but the introduction is insightful as well. Verse 1, speaking of Naaman says that he was “highly respected, because by him, YHWH had given victory to Aram.” Here is another scriptural example of the sovereignty of God, and yet also the instrumentality and responsibility of men:

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What Do You Have?

Posted on 2014/07/07 by Shawn Thomas

In II Kings 4:2, the prophet Elisha asked a widow an important question: “What do you have in the house?” His question may hold the key to God’s solution for the situations some of us face today as well:

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Music and the Spirit

Posted on 2014/07/03 by Shawn Thomas

We find an obscure but telling episode in II Kings 3, where Elisha is going to prophesy to the kings. In verse 15 he says: “‘But now bring me a minstrel.’ And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of YHWH came upon him.” This is a very revealing verse regarding the way that God’s Spirit uses music.

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Evidence of Discipleship

Posted on 2014/07/02 by Shawn Thomas

In II Kings 3:14 the prophet Elisha addressed the king of Israel, and he began his sentence with the phrase: “As YHWH of hosts lives, before whom I stand …”. This expression is significant for a couple of reasons, one of which challenges us regarding discipleship:

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Menial Training For Ministry

Posted on 2014/07/01 by Shawn Thomas

In II Kings 3:11, when Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of Yahweh, someone responded: “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” This is a revealing statement, with some telling implications for those who would go into ministry:

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A Word About Worship Songs

Posted on 2014/06/30 by Shawn Thomas

Colossians 3:16 opens by commanding: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you …” — and then instructs us that one way that is to happen is through our music and worship: “… with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
This verse teaches us some important things about our worship songs:

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God’s Perfect Word

Posted on 2014/06/27 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 12 contrasts the flattering words (:2-3) and boastful word-faith (:4) of men with the perfect words of God. Verse 6 says “The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.”
Here we find a 3-fold emphasis on the purity of God’s word:

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