Monday, May 13, 2013

IDENTIFY

Suggested Reading: 2 Kings 4-5

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Seen in this photo is the Jordan River as it enters the northern part of the Sea of Galilee. In our reading, General Naaman, a leper from Syria, dipped his body seven times in the Jordan and was completely healed. This part of the Jordan Valley is a tangle of dense thorn bushes and tropical vegetation. In the Hebrew Bible it is called the "jungle of the Jordan" (Jeremiah 12:5; 49:19).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 2 Kings 4:34

And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.

Elisha identifies totally with this child. There had been an intervention of God in the child’s birth, and now in his return to life. God, in Jesus, has been involved with all of us, right from the beginning. We died spiritually. Christ on the cross identified with us in our separation from life. He breathed into us the breath of life (John 20:19-22). This may have been a prophetic act by Jesus, predicting the time seven weeks later when the breath of God, as a rushing mighty wind, would fill the Upper Room (Acts 2:1-4). The sign of life for the child was to sneeze seven times and open his eyes. The sign of life at Pentecost, which continued throughout the history book of the early Church, was speaking in tongues, and life surged back into those who believed and received.
In today’s reading, the miracle of the oil teaches us that God provides according to our capacity to receive. The miracle of the flour in the pot and the supernatural provision of bread illustrate the power of Jesus, the Bread (flour) of Life, who removes the poison of sin which brings death. The cleansing of Naaman from leprosy is a powerful story of God’s grace when this proud Syrian General humbled himself. The greed of Gehazi, who became a leper, is a strong lesson for us all.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will learn from my daily readings. The child in today’s reading opened his eyes as another sign of life. Please open the eyes of my understanding so that I may see with insight all that You would reveal to me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve seen too many miracles in my life to be an unbeliever. I’m believing God for a miracle now with my diagnosis of leukemia. I keep thinking back to a time when I was Pastor of Bethel Church in Hamilton, Ontario. One of our men was diagnosed with leukemia. I called him forward one Sunday morning. We gathered around him, identified with him by laying our hands on him, as the Scriptures tell us to do, and prayed. One week later he returned with a new diagnosis…no more leukemia! I don’t understand how that happened. Some would say that he had been misdiagnosed in the first place. That’s possible. But I do know that God can and does do the humanly impossible.

In the Fall of 1955, Doctors Gamble and Flak of Peterborough, Ontario told the President and Dean of the Bible College where I was in residence that they did not expect me to survive. The students identified with me in fasting and prayer. In my perception it seemed that the school officials were swimming into my dorm room. My fever was 105 degrees. They identified with me in the laying on of hands. I felt immediately like I was under a cooling shower. The fever departed and I got up and dressed, got into my 1947 Plymouth car, drove to the hospital, and asked Emergency to call the doctor. I experienced a miracle! God had one or two things for me to do down here on earth. He may have something for me to do here yet. The Apostle Paul longed to depart, but he said he was needed down here (Philippians 1:21-26). I pray every morning for healing…and thank you to all who pray for me.

Yours for God’s miracles,

David

 

39 thoughts on “Monday, May 13, 2013

  1. I’m in agreement that God yet has a miracle for you David, I’m praying to that end. God bless you.

    I understand that Elisha’s name in Hebrew means “my God is salvation”. Elisha walked intimately with his God as evidenced through his actions and in his close relationship with God. Jesus, the most complete revelation of God, was not in any way in a competition with Elisha, but was the provider of the miracles of Elisha through His oneness with God. Elisha knew that his God was salvation, this was good news; yet we today know more fully the God who brought us salvation through the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Elisha was a Godly man, yet he himself wasn’t divine and never claimed to be. Jesus was God, a revelation of God, Immanuel “God with us”. Jesus came to save anyone who would listen in their heart to the wonderful pronouncement that whosoever believed upon Him would receive eternal life! The good news is that many have heard the gospel and have been saved, but there are still many that haven’t. I pray that in a variety of ways through our lives, that we might be that vessel that Christ uses to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost and weary world.

    • Dear Pastor David,

      I didn’t know that you have leukemia until today’s readings. I will start praying for you. I too had cancer, but of a rare form called neuroendocrine and I was told I had stage 4. But God had been so close to me during this cancer battle that it was a spiritual revival for me. I felt His utmost presence especially when I was in the lowest pit. I can testify that He is truly living and He cares deeply for you. He will stretch out your eagle wings and let you soar right through this storm as He will provide the updraft through Holy Spirit to support you underneath. We are truly blessed by being His children and I am more blessed through His voices that taught me as I read your daily post.
      May God send His angels to strengthen you and protect you!!
      Blessings in Him,
      Janet

  2. Lord, God, our Heavenly Father; Jesus Christ, our Saviour and King; and to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit–we pray with thanksgiving for the gift of David Mainse, and the ultimate blessing he is. We sing praise and hallelujah, Lord, for being led by David through the Holy Bible, that we may come to know, understand, be guided, and strengthened by the faithfulness of Your Holy Word, Lord. We give thanks for all the hope and faith David’s prayers have restored in leading the world to follow You, Lord. We humbly bring our prayer before you, for the complete healing, cleansing, restoration of health and strength to David’s body, we bow down, together, before you, Lord. Bless David Mainse, Lord, with your almighty and powerful touch, that he be completely covered and healed, by the precious blood of Your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ! We give you all the thanks, honour, praise and glory, Lord! For your Word says, ask anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. In Jesus Holy name, we ask and pray. Amen, amen, and amen!

  3. In agreement with our family of bloggers, I add my prayers for David. Thank you Lord too for this daily study.

  4. Amen and Amen!!! Thank you Beverlee Kay for leading us in believing
    prayer for our dear David M. healing, complete restoration
    to perfect health. Our Jehovah Rapha is Almighty, there is nothing
    too hard for Him…the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the
    righteous run to it and are safe!
    Thank you David for your words of wisdom today…we will continue
    to lift you, your dear wife and family and the ministry of Crossroads
    up to the Throne of God’s marvelous Grace, wisdom and power that
    His will may be accomplished in every detail. We praise His name
    together and give our Lord thanks even now for what He will do.
    Amen!!!
    John 10:10. May each of us enjoy abundant living today…???
    Faith

  5. Amen! David, I pray for total and complete healing for you every day in my morning devotional. Praise God! Hallelujah!

  6. Good morning from Medicine Hat Alberta! Continuing to pray for your healing, David, and for the Grace of God to be abundant towards you and your family and the ministry of Crossroads that you hold so dear. Blessings and love to you all!

  7. Hi David, Yes, we are all praying for your complete healing. l was listening to pastor David Jeremiah who also had cancer and finally came through healed. He said: A man of God is immortal until his work on earth is done, also l heard another pastor who had all but given up on being healed say that someone restored his hope when someone worse off then he said in response to the question, how are you coping? He replied , It isn’t over until it is over! These words got him going again! He was told he had 2 – 5 years, and this interview was more than l 1 years later.! You are amazing to all of us and we are believing together for your miracle..We Love and Care about you so much!

  8. Amen, Beverlee and all fellow bloggers for prayers of healing for David. I thank God for your faith to be healed.

  9. Dear David, You have been such a blessing for us thru the years.. I join with others in praying for your complete recovery. Colleen

  10. Dear Pastor David, I am uplifted every day as you expound the Word to us and share your personal life with us. With your explanations, the pictures by Reynold and fellow blog buddies, the scriptures come alive.

    Sometimes I feel I am right there!!! I wept this morning as the woman’s son was restored to her, just as our son was restored to us last year after a suicide attempt…..such BLESSING from THE MOST HIGH GOD.

    The Lord is not finished with you yet David and I join my fellow blog buddies in constant prayer for your healing. Blessings to you, Norma-Jean and the Crossroads community.

  11. Good morning David: I too know that God is the healer and He can do anything.
    As I read all these blogs God was showing me how greatly you are being used even in your weak state. You are to me an example of great courage, of obedience to what the Lord has called you to do. and also of dedication to our Lord.
    Rest in Him, take time for yourself and may the peace of God be with you.
    I have had a difficult winter and you have been am inspiration to me to carry on and do what God has called me to do. Sometimes it is not easy.
    God bless you and your family.

  12. I want to add my prayers to our Lord Jesus for you David may God give you a
    healing from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet ,be healed in
    Jesus name. thank you for your hard work doing this blog. Thank you to all you
    bloggers…R..

  13. I pray for your complete healing David and my Dad, Dennis for complete healing with his heart valves and a full recovery.
    All the Glory is Gods’. We praise His name.
    Amen
    🙂

  14. David Mainse…you are an amazing man of God. It is wonderful how God has used you and continues to use you to minister to so many people. May Gods healing power flow in you and through you. Blessings Blessings Blessings to you and your entire family!!!!

  15. I also continue to uphold you in prayer David M. Our Lord created you in the hidden places, He saw you the very second you were born. Every day of your life is recorded in His book, and the number of them. He watches over you continually, and knows everything you experience, including this challenge with leukemia. He knows the end from the beginning. His hand of blessing is upon you. Nothing is impossible for Him, including a complete healing. Keep the faith David, and we will keep praying for you. Rest secure in His arms every day. You are precious to Him. May each new morning bring you renewed strength, hope, and encouragement.

  16. David thank for your commitment to sharing God’s Word. I thought of a saying which I heard and thought of you” my life is a pen in the hand of God and it is He who writes my story.” God bless!!!!!

  17. Dear David and precious fellow bloggers
    I am as well in agreement for the complete healing of David M . who is such an inspiration for all of us . Thank you David for your hard work and your commitment to the daily blog and to carry on with the Gods work which you are called to do so.
    I pray for your complete healing and restoration.
    In Jesus name Amen .

  18. Dear David, You have been such a blessing for us thru the years.. I join with others in praying fervently for your complete recovery from the top of your head to the ends of your toes!!

    We need you here with us as long as possible!! Amen!! Amen!! & Amen!!

    Nancy

  19. Praying for your healing also! God Bless You and your Family and Thank you for the work of this blog! It is a wonderful outreach!

  20. Dear David,
    You are and continue to be an admirable man of God. My husband and I are in complete agreement for your healing. It is God ‘s will that you be healed, we stand upon His word for you.

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