Horses and Chariots of Fire

                                                        2 Kings 6:15-23

 

September 4, 2021

 

 

Horses and Chariots of Fire

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”  He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.   And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.

As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So, the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.   As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?”   He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”   So, he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

 

As the great Paul Harvey would often say, now the rest of the story.  The king of the Syrians sent an army to capture one man, yet did he not understand that if the man of God could know what he said in his bed-chamber, would he not be prepared for the army he was sending?  

 

How often do you think our leaders look to a man of God or think about asking God if they should get into a conflict with another nation?  I need not go any further with that, but what about you, what about me, how often do we enquire of the Lord before entering into a business deal, buying stuff, or seeking His will in the ministry He has for you and me?

 

Elisha's servant saw an army surrounding the city, and fear enter his heart for he knew they were in big trouble.  But  God had other plans and when Elisha ask the Lord to open his eyes, He saw God’s army.  And when Elisha ask the Lord to blind the army of Syria God honor the request, have no doubt all that was happing was God's doing, Elisha was God’s man doing God’s will, and he leads them to the entered city of Samaria, and God opens their eyes, and now it was not the servant of Elisha that fear for its life but the army of Syria.

 

That day the Syrian army believe they would take a city and capture Elisha; we do not know the plans their king had for him but it was not good.  The Syrians when from the high to the low on emotions, for they knew it was not a normal man they were messing with, but God’s man.  They believe that Elisha had led them into a slaughter, but he took them to a feast.

 

We know they return to Syria and never mess with Israel again in the life of Elisha.  A word to men in the Church who believe they can tell a man God has placed over them what he should and should not preach, you are messing with the wrong man, If he is an employee, then he is not God’s man, but if God has called him to be your pastor, he not anyone employee.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Horses and Chariots of Fire

  

2 Kings 6: 8-14

 

September 3, 2021

 

 

Horses and Chariots of Fire

Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.”   But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.”   And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus, he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?”   And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”   And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”   So, he sent their horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

 

When in Israel our guide Leor, who was a believer in Jesus told us a story of the six-day war and how a group of Jewish men, five in number had grown up in Syria and were agents of Mossad and were in Syria army as part and were officials who had work to get in command and knew all about that Syria was planning an attack on Israel.  The information was of great value to Israel and all of these Syrian Jews got caught and killed.

 

But they were in Syria, had grown up in Syria and no one knew they were Jews, the king of Syria back in the time of Elijah had a much different problem, and he now believes it was also someone of his servant leaking information to the king of Israel.  Now wrong he was, it was a man of God, to whom God had given the power to listen to what he was saying in Syria.  I’m not sure how his servant knew about such a thing, but God must have told him to set up the Syrian army to be captured by Elisha.

 

I’m not sure about you but I have made plans on doing this or that only to find it was not what God desired or that my plans were not going to work.  He had a plan on seizing Elisha, “But God”.  Do you understand if it were not for the “But God” your life would be in a total mess.  I know it is going to come as a shock to many, but there is no such thing as luck.  What we who call ourselves followers of Christ or even the masses that say they are Christian, use a word that cannot be true, for if it were so then pray to the god of Luck, and not the God of blessings.  

Tomorrow is the rest of the story.

 

 

From the Back Porch

Bob Rice

The Axe Head Recovered

  

2 Kings 6: 1-7

 

September 2, 2021

 

 

The Axe Head Recovered

“Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us.   Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.”   Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”   So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.   But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.”   Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float.   And he said, “Take it up.” So, he reached out his hand and took it.”

 

When this account was read to me as a child, I was not equipped to grasp the fullness of an axe head floating in a river.  My parents had told me that the Bible was true, and it had no errors, my pastor and Sunday School teacher also told me so, it was a truth, for these people did not lie.

 

You may or may not have gone to church as a young person, and you understood that an axe head is made out of steel, and in the form of an axe head will not float in water, it will only rust, and lay on the bottom.  That's true, but so is what my parents taught me many years ago, how can that be, if both are true?  

 

First, with God who created all that is, or will ever be, that is such a small thing, but God knew it would be a big thing for all who have studied the weight of an axe head, to fall a tree was about 4 lbs.  I googled and asked can an iron axe head float in water; this was one of the replies.  “An axe head could weigh as much as 15 to 20 pounds, and for an iron, object that heavy to float in water is a miracle!”

 

 Before going any further, maybe it is helpful to understand it was one of the sons of the prophets who lost the axe head, why did he look to Elisha and not do as Elisha always did and as Jesus always did?  What did they do, they looked to the Father, and they did ministry in His authority?

 

Could this be the problem with the Church today?  We are quick to look to a pastor or teacher, but when our axe head is under the water, and that is a metaphor for your life, why not do as Jesus did and ask the Father to make it float.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

He got caught in his lie

                                                                    2 Kings 5: 25-27

 

September 1, 2021

 

 

 “He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.”   But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants, and female servants?   Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So, he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.”

 

 As a very young boy my dad gave me some great advice, Bobby, do not lie, in that a person who lies has to remember all the lies he told, and son you are not that smart.  I am sure Gehazi was not given such advice and to believe he could lie to Elisha who God gave the power of seeing what others did not see, was very foolish.

 

Greed has caused many to cause harm to themselves, and to the ones, they love or care about.  But in the case of Gehazi, it brought a curse of God and he got more from Naaman than silver and garments, he and his descendants got Naaman leprosy forever.

 

As a follower of Christ, we have a promise and a promise Keeper who has told us to ask for our wants and needs.  Now that does not mean God will not give us our wants, it does mean we are to look to Him for all things.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Gehazi's Greed and Punishment

 

August 31, 2021

 

2 Kings 5:15-19 – 19b-24

 

 

Gehazi's Greed and Punishment

“Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so, accept now a present from your servant.”   But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.   Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.  In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”   He said to him, “Go in peace.”

 

Naaman came to the place of true repentance, and confession of his faith in the only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaack, and Jacob.  He knew that it would not be where the people of Syria or the king, whom he served would put their faith, so he asks for forgiveness when he had to enter the house of Rimmon with the king.  Elisha, word to him was “Go in peace.”

 

“But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”   So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”   And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’”   And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.   And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.” 

 

Have not all of us had a little of Gehazi in us at one time are another, we may not have gone after our Naaman but have we not all thought someone let them off too easy?  And was it our business to try to make right the wrong we thought the other person allowed?  Maybe and I am not sure but in that Gehazi lied both to Naaman and Elisha, about the gift could it made been in his heart to keep all for, old number one?  It seems clear that he had no intention of sharing with anyone.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

            `

Naaman wise servant

 

 

2 Kings 5:8-14

 

August 30, 2021

 

 

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”  So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.   And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”   But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.   Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So, he turned and went away in a rage.   But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?”   So, he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

 

The rest of the story is being repeated and it is all about expectation, and pride, and in that comes entitlement.  Naaman the great warrior and leader of men had expectations of how the prophet of God would heal him.  It was a real downer for his pride that Elisha did not come to the door and pay honor to him, and only sent a messenger to tell him to go to the Jordan river and wash seven times, and he would be clean from leprosy.  But ‘Scripture tells us Naaman left in a rage, for not only were his expectations not met, but his pride was also hurt, not what he expected.

 

If that was the end of the story, what a sad end it would be, and yet for many it is so, they have totally turned from God's grace, and will not agree with the Father that Jesus has paid in full the full price of their sins.  That the Father took His full wrath out on His only Son for your sins, and it is by grace and agreement of that truth, one confesses and looks to Jesus as not only Savior but Lord.  With Naaman we have a happy ending on his account, for one of his servants told him it was a good word the prophet said, “Wash and be clean”.  So he died to his pride and expectation and did as Elisha had instructed and his flesh became as of a little child, and he was clean.

 

That is what Jesus did for me 52 years ago at the age of 27 in a hotel room after reading in a hotel Bible in Roman 19:9-10 the path to grace and forgiveness and Jesus came to live in my life.  That night I overcame my flesh desire to do it my way and was in full agreement that I need the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, and I was in full agreement with the Father that I was unclean and a sinner that brought not one thing to the table but came with empty hands and that night I became as Naaman in that I was clean, not on the flesh but in my heart.  And I do believe it is important to say God sends his servant Bob Keese to guide me to the truth, I need a Redeemer.  Let me be your servant, first leave all that you are depending on for life now and also life eternal, and read the gospel of John to be introduced to Jesus as Creator, and Redeemer, and then for more help go to Romans 10:9-10 and pray to God with a heart set on your faith and His grace.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Naaman ask the wrong person

August 29, 2021

 

2 Kings 5:1-7

 

Naaman Healed of Leprosy 

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.   Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife.  She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”   So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.”   And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.   And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”   And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

 

It is not an easy thing to be asked to do the impossible, and the King of Israel was on the spot when he said only God has the power to make a life or cure an incurable health issue.  He lacks so many jumps to the conclusion that the king of Syria is looking for a fight.  Now, maybe he should have given a few more details on whom he wanted Naaman to see, and maybe even a little about the girl from Israel, but he was not about to say we took this little girl from your country in one of our raids.  Is it not a good reminder to each of us that all the Kind had to say, we heard about a prophet of God who lives in Samaria, that can cure my man Naaman?  

 

The bad news and we all have had someone ask us to do something, not to cure a sickness like leprosy, but we all have jumped to a conclusion without having all the information or facts.  I know I have and always wonder what if, yes what if, I had asked more questions, are asked for more clarity on the request.  Often in my life it is with a very important person, who I love but has in the past though, I understood the request, and that never turns out well.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Elisha Purifies the Deadly Stew

2 Kings 4:38-44

 

August 28, 2021

 And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”   One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were.   And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.   He said, “Then bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Pour some out for the men, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.”   But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So, he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’”   So, he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

 

Be careful what you put into the pot of your life, the man saw something and put it into the pot, it looks good, but the source of it was very harmful.  I was taught a lesson with an illustration when I was just beginning my new life in Christ.  A missionary name Pastor Joe took me out of the bright light into a very dim-lit room full of people eating, but as I enter that room, I did not see anyone, just the man a few feet in front of us, leading us to a table.  But after a while, it became clear the room was full of people eating.  

 

Pastor Joe ask me young man did you see these people when you enter the room, and I say no I could not see anything.  And then he said how sin is the longer you stay in the darkness the more you accept and allow it into your life.

 

Could that be what has happened to the United States, the Church, and the moral fiber of our nation?  We put a lot of bad evil things in the pot, the pot is our life and the only one that can fix our problem is Jesus.

 

As with the bread that Elisha told the servant to feed a hundred men, it was only twenty loaves.  But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So, he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’”   So, he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

The lesson is the servant was looking at what he saw, and Elisha knew that any amount when God tells us to do so will have more than enough.  Have you examined what you are putting into the pot, if not maybe you are part of the problem?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman

 2 Kings 4:8-17

 August 26, 202

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman

One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food.  So, whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.   And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way.   Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”

One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there.   And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him.   And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.”   And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” ¹⁵ He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. ¹⁶ And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” ¹⁷ But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.

 

Hope beyond hope, a private dream, a desire so big you cannot allow it to be voiced by your mouth; if you have been there you understand where the Shunammite woman is with her emotions.  Without having a son, the husband has no heir, and the wife has no one to look to in her old age, but it was great than that, even with her wealth, she was looked down on as one who God had not allowed having a son.  She carried a stigma of humiliation in the community, but more so in her heart and mind.  When Elisha told her she was going to have a son, you recall her husband was past the age of baby-making, and for some time she had to die to this hope.  She was sure that Elisha was a holy man, but she could not allow her heart to believe that God would do such a thing for her after all these years.

 

If you have been there, or maybe that is where you find yourself at this moment, my prayer is you will find peace in God's promises to you, and never doubt that you are the object of God’s love, and if your faith is small, ask the Father to increase your faith so that you can put your hope and dream on Jesus and seek His will for your life.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Elisha and the Widow's Oil

  2 Kings 4:1-7

August 25, 2021

 

Elisha and the Widow's Oil

Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”  And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”   Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.   Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.”   So, she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured, they brought the vessels to her.   When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing.   She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

 

We have been witnesses of the like of faith in God, and we have seen much-misplaced faith by many in the Church in the things of the world.  It reminded me of my past whereas a believer, but not yet a follower of Christ, I often had misplaced faith.  It is not a new thing for as the Jewish people came out of Egypt, they looked not to God but to Moses and Arron.  And you recall Moses going up on the Mountain and God giving him the Ten Commandments and the people not knowing where he had gone talked Arron into making a calf out of gold for them to worship.  Arron at this time feared men more than he fears God.  It brings no pleasure for me to say, many men who have the role of the pastor are like Arron at this time of his life. That is the bad news but my hope and prayer are that you will do as I did this morning, dwell on Moses’s request.  “Now, therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”  Exodus 33:13

 

When you have a real need who do you look to, I have asked myself who is my refuge, who is my source, to whom will I look too?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

 

The sea of blood

                                                                       2 Kings 3:21-27

 

August 24, 2021

 

 

When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to put on armor, from the youngest to the oldest, were called out and were drawn up at the border.   And when they rose early in the morning and the sun shone on the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.   And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together and struck one another down. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!”   But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and struck the Moabites, till they fled before them. And they went forward, striking the Moabites as they went.   And they overthrew the cities, and on every good piece of land, every man threw a stone until it was covered. They stopped every spring of water and felled all the good trees, till only its stones were left in Kir-hareseth, and the slingers surrounded and attacked it.  When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him 700 swordsmen to break through, opposite the king of Edom, but they could not.   Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel. And they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.

 

Often, men tend to take credit for God’s accomplishments I do not find that to be true in this case.  One would hope that these three Kings would have given all the glory to the mightiest of all Warriors, the Lord God.  We know that the Moabites put their trust in what they thought they were seeing, only to be defeated in battle.

 

The kings listen to the man of God and follow his counsel, to the letter with one exception they left the one key city and the king of Moab alive after the king of Moab offered his son as a burnt offering.  Now as I often shared with you God’s ways are different than ours, and I do not understand what was taking place at this time.  I also looked at those who write commentaries, and, in my opinion, they also are guessing.  I will not try to write about things I have no understanding of.

 

From the Back porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

It ia very Dark-

                                                               Psalm 119:169-176

 

November 8, 2022

 

Taw

Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word!  Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.  My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.  My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.   Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.  I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.  Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant for I do not forget your commandments.

 

It is very dark this morning, I’m up before 5 a.m. and yet it does not come close to the darkness in my nation.  Scripture tells us in the last days; But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

 

The people of our nations have moved far from God's precepts and commands.  Many are blind to the truth and are looking to the government to take care of them.  When a nation moves from God, where is its Plum Line?  It comes down to one thing as a follower of Jesus Christ, where is your plum line, are you crying out to the Lord, as the Psalmist has done in his prayer?

 

Having spent many days and hours in Psalm 119, the Psalmist's hope was not in self, nor in leaders, but in God's Word, in His promises, teaching, and precepts.  When I began I said it is very dark this morning, but I’m not living in darkness, no I enter into the Light, and the darkness has not overcome it.  

 

The Church must return to the Light, Jesus tells us He is the Light of the World and men love the darkness in their deeds or evil. If you are putting your hope in anything but Jesus, you are very foolish.  If you believe a political party is an answer you are very foolish if you are in a Church that has a form of godliness but denies its power,  leave and run to Jesus. Leave the darkness, and enter into the light, obey and honor Him, and seek His face.  James 5:8, "You must be patient keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord's coming is near."

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Elisha reply to the King of Israel

 2 Kings 3:13-20

 

August 23, 2021

 

 

 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”   And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.   But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him.   And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’   For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’   This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand, and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.”   The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.

 

What thought came into your mind as you read about these three Kings and Elisha's reply to them?  What if you found yourself in a mess and when to your pastor for counsel and his reply was to go to those you have been putting your trust in, yourself, wealth and etc?  Because one of the two people that came with you was a person he regarded, you heard him say: “As the Lord of hosts lives before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for one of the men with you, I would neither look at you nor see you.”  Would you leave full of anger, for you are a person of standing with many in the community looking to you for employment?  That is not what the king of Israel did, for he understood that the Lord whom he had rejected was the source of his problem, and he was standing before one of God’s men.  So he did what Elisha told him and brought in a musician, I find it of interest, not one of the kings question this request, but did as told.  

 

Now please forgive me but this thought came into my mind what if your pastor is more like the prophets of the Israel king and not a man of God, you’re going to be defeated, with no water, no hope because you did not seek the face of God.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Moab Rebels Against Israel

  

2 Kings 3:1-12

 

August 20, 2021

 

 

Moab Rebels Against Israel

In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twelve years.   He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.   Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.

Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he had to deliver to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.   But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.   So, King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.   And he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”   Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them.  Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”   And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the kings of Israel's servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”   And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

 

It took these three leaders going into battle against Moab, to understand they were in a mess and needed God's council.  The leaders of the free world have not yet come to that understanding, we must ask on their behalf for God to forgive them and not allow what evil men have planned.  

 

This morning I listened to a man who masquerades as a medical doctor named Dr. Vladimir Zelenko – a board-certified New York physician, and from what I understand is very famous, and has been the doctor that has been called to treat world leaders during the China virus, our leaders prefer to refer to it as Covid 19, and to use the experimental vaccine.  I listened to him this morning as he testified before the state of Israel court, telling the court that this is a battle between trusting in God only or trusting in men who believe they are gods.  I think the good doctor is God’s spokesman to a world that needs to return to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The doctor made clear to the court that fear, not faith, has driven men, both Jews and Christians to trust in science and not the Creator, and we have been set up for years to do so.

 

Dr. Vladimir Zelenko said people are saying he is an alarmist or conspiracist.  His reply was that they could have said the same about Noah until it began to rain.  Folks we are feeling the drops, it is time to repent and seek the face of the only God who can give life and loves you.  

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

   

 2 Kings 1:15-24

 

August 19, 2021

 

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.   And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.”   But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him.   And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

Now the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.”   He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So, they brought it to him.   Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.”   So, the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.

He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”   And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.   From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

 

Elisha has now crossed back over the Jordan, Elijah is with the Lord, and Elisha has been granted a double portion of the spirit of Elijah.  And it is recorded that fifty of the sons of the prophet come to him and want to look for Elijah.  Elisha says no do not go, but they keep asking and so he allows them to go.  After searching for three days they return and guess what they have not found Elijah, for they were looking in the wrong place.

 

Could that be the problem many of us who claim to be Christians, we are looking for Jesus in the wrong place?  He has told you where he can be found it is not in doing good deeds, and yes, He is all about doing good deeds.  It is not in being religious, for those are the ones that wanted him dead.  It’s not attending church are giving to support your church, and yes Jesus has commanded us as His followers to do so.

 

No, it is about a dead, His death, and His victory over death, and about you dying to all that you treasure in this world, agreeing with Jesus that He alone is holy, and confessing your sins.  I did that now some 52 years ago in a hotel room in Victoria, Texas, after reading this in Romans 10:9-10.  I acted on those verses that night and told the Lord I had not one thing He needed but He was everything I need, and He came to live in me and I in Him.  What does Romans 10:9-10, say; “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.”  I looked in the right place!

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Elijah Taken to Heaven

 2 Kings 1:12b-14

 

August 18, 2021

 

 

Elijah Taken to Heaven

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.  And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.   Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Jesus once said of a Centurion; “I have not seen such faith in all of Israel” Now being a Roman solider over many men gave this man great power, yet he was wiser than most who attend a church, for the Centurion knew he was in the presence of real authority.

 

As we look at these two men, Elijah, and Elisha, one can be sure you are seeing two men who fear God and it was God who called them and gave them amazing faith.  Now often God requires His prophets to go places and do things they were not to say the least excited about, lack walking around naked for three years as the Lord required of Isaiah, or going to a wicked city like Nineveh and preaching that unless they repent God was going destroy them, as was Jonah.   It is clear that Jonah needed a little encouragement but so do you and I often.

 

I would not be truthful if I did not tell you I’m a little envious of these men like Elijah and Elisha, faith, and I do have a fear of the Lord.  As I ponder on that it became clear, God has given me the Scriptures in their entirety and those men did not have that.  The Holy Spirit enwalls me and I am enveloped in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, yes give all that the prophet talked about as God gave them insights, yet they walked in obedience.  Not seeking their will, but the will of the Father.  

 

I have been given so much, and I still am a mess, is it only me that wrestles with this thing God calls flesh?  No, one who wrote much of the New Testament, shares this with us in Romans 7:15-20, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.   Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.   So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.   For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.   Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”

 

And God has made clear that we are called and equip to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice