King James Bible Study: Following Christ
For: Sunday May 01, 2011
Chapters: II Kings 1-3
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Details of Today's Reading: Elijah’s message to king Ahaziah, the death of Ahaziah, the translation of Elijah, Elish'a desire to follow Elijah, Elish'a wish for a double portion of God's Spirit, the theological students and their unbelief, Elisha’s miracle, Moab rebels against Israel, three kings join forces to defeat Moab, the kings dig ditches, and Moab is defeated.

Those of you who read the devotions on a regular basis please bare with me as I am trying out a new layout for the devotions, thanks for your patience and faithfulness. God bless you. P.S. I apologize for the delay in receiving the message, I had no internet connection for a couple of days.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:59-62.

These men believed in Jesus Christ, but they were making excuses about when to follow Him, the sad thing is that these men never got to heaven because they could not stop looking back. In other words, they were not willing to give up what they had in the world to follow Christ. The decision to follow Christ is one that will bring so many blessings, as long as one is willing to allow Christ to lead them, but we must make the choice for ourselves, no one can force us nor convince us to follow Christ, but ourselves.

The Book of II Kings is the twelfth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-five chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to the Israelites. The time line for these events took place approximately from 896 BC to 588 BC. The purpose of the book was to record how God dealt with the Israelites before the coming of Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that the Kingdoms of this world are only temporal, they rise and fall and are all under God's control. “But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” - II Kings 17:39.

After the death of Ahab his son Ahaziah was now king, Ahaziah fell and was seriously ill, frantically searching for answers Ahaziah looked to the false god he only knew for answers. God sent Elijah to answer those questions.

“And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.” - II Kings 1:15,16.

By the time Ahaziah did realize that there is only One God it was too late, he died that day never personally knowing the Almighty God was. Many people are going to be in for a shock when they realize God is no where to be found because they never took the time to personally get to know His Son.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.


There is a question that all will hear at one point in their lives, “If you died today are you 100% sure that you will be in heaven?” Not everyone knows that answer to that question. While we can not know the hour in which God decides to separate a soul from it's flesh we can know that our soul will be in heaven. Amazingly we learn of Elijah, who God had let know that it was time for him to come home, he would soon be caught up in a whirlwind and taken to heaven. Upon learning this he went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his last exhortations and blessing. While passing through Elisha follows him.

“And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal...And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on...And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 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.” - II Kings 2:1,6,9,10.

Three times Elijah told Elisha to stay where he was, but Elisha refused, saying “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” Finally, Elijah asked what he could do for Elisha before God took him to heaven. Elisha saw the amazing blessings that God brought upon Elijah as he served Him, he not only wanted what Elijah had, he wanted a double portion of it. Jesus tells all who believe in Him that they will not only do the work He did, but even more.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:12-14.

Elisha did receive a double portion of the spirit that Elijah had, but just as fast as he received it God put him to the test. God wants to make sure we follow through with our commitment to serve Him, so, He will put us through several tests to remind us of that commitment. Elisha was put to the test when three kings approached him.

“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. And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.” - II Kings 3:12-14.

Elisha was not very keen on these kings coming to him, the only reason he even listened to them was because of Jehoshaphat, who was the only godly king among them. It is good being with those who have God's favor, and the love of his people. Wicked men often fare the better, for the friendship and society of good men. God only allows the wicked to prosper through the godly in an attempt to see the wicked turn from his wicked ways.

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” - James 5:19,20.

Jesus came to earth in the flesh to become the sacrifice that would save all mankind, but He will not save anyone who does not want to be saved. The key to being saved is not in the works we do, it's in believing and accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. He and He alone is the only way to God and heaven. So, when asked, “Are you 100% sure that you will be in heaven? You can honestly say, I am going to heaven because I asked Jesus Christ to save me. Praise God!

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the ascension of Elijah, Jesus ascended just as Elijah did and just as He went to heaven He will return in the same manner. “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” - Acts. 1:11.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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