Sunday, May 14, 2023

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CHARIOTS OF FIRE

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6-7

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

 

Herod’s Gate (named after Herod the Great), also known as Gate of the Flowers, is a gate in the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. It adjoins the Muslim Quarter and is a short distance east of the Damascus Gate. The city gate that is mentioned in 2 Kings 7:1 may have looked like this.

 

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

 

Key Verse: 2 Kings 6:17

And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then 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.

As our key verse illustrates, occasionally God allows a brief glimpse of the eternal realities that we cannot see with normal sight. But let us be extremely careful and remember that the devil is an angel and 1/3 of the angels of Heaven were consigned to this Earth with Satan. We can be confident of God’s angelic protection. His angels are a majority of at least 2 to 1, and God could’ve created more; whereas the devil is the destroyer, not the creator. Here is a New Testament reading on angels (Hebrews 1:1-14). There is a religious cult at our doors from time to time that teaches that Jesus is an angel. Not so! He is God! (Hebrews 1:8). The prince of darkness, who masquerades as an angel of light, will do all he can to diminish Jesus.
The King of Israel and his court represent human authority. Elisha and the elders represent spiritual authority, which grows directly in proportion to the fervency of the prayers and faith of spiritual leaders. This daily Bible reading discipline will grow our prayer life and our faith. A worthy and effective goal is to spend an equal time in prayer as we spend reading God’s Word. That way, our hearts will be as full of God as our heads.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, as Your disciples asked You, “Teach us to pray!” Even so, I ask You this blessing, not just what to say when I pray, Lord, but to actually do it with fervency. I believe You now for Your Spirit to come upon me, giving me a spirit of intercession. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As I read today’s Scriptures, I thought how that during the years 1938 to 1945, when my Dad was separated from us by WW2, my mother carried the family devotions responsiibility. Thank you, Norma Hazel Pritchard Mainse, for being a great MOTHER!!! (see photo below).

The well-known London, England, pastor, Charles Spurgeon, preached on “Man’s Extremity, God’s Opportunity.” I think of his message as I meditate on the circumstances of Israel in today’s reading. If you can find the time, click here to read Spurgeon’s sermon (PDF file).

Here’s a little insight about the four lepers mentioned in 2 Kings 7:3. There is a tradition, not in the Bible, that these were the former servants of Elisha, Gehazi and his three sons. Review from yesterday 2 Kings 5:27.

Yours for fervently inviting God’s intervention in our lives and circumstances,

David

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day month!

My mother, Norma Hazel Pritchard Mainse

11 thoughts on “Sunday, May 14, 2023”

  2. Thanks William, for the link (which I’ll check out later today), and for your Mother’s Day blessing. Please continue to pray for Alberta and also for the desperate people wanting to get across into the U.S.A. Blessings all.

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  6. Happy Mother’s Day to all Mothers!
    I pray that you all will be celebrated well, today! God bless you all!
    💐🌸💐

    Reply ↓

  7. Amen to the prayers and blessings for all Mothers. A day to remember these special people whether they are still here on earth with us or gone on ahead .
    Praying also for Alberta and those at the US border. Bless those trying to cross into that country. May they come for in for blessings and salvation and not to do harm to the citizens.
    Peace for all

    Reply ↓

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