The king of Syria was making war against Israel. The king plotted and said “I will lay in wait here.” The man of God, Elisha, sent word to the king of Israel and told him to take care for the king of Syria was in a certain place, and the king of Israel heeded the words of the prophet. So the king of Syria inquired of his men to know which one spied for Israel. They answered him that none of them did, that Israel had a prophet that reported the king’s secret conversations to the king of Israel. So the king of Syria inquired as to the location of the prophet, and sent an army to get him.
The servant of the prophet saw the army and said to him, “Master what will we do?”
(2 Kings 6:16-23) So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 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. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.
So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!
Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”
But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.
During the Azusa Street Revival, with Pastor William J. Seymour, it was reported that leaders came from churches all over to try to debunk the movement. One reported account stated, “Proud, well-dressed preachers came to ‘investigate’. Soon their high looks were replaced with wonder, then conviction comes, and very often you will find them in a short time wallowing on the dirty floor, asking God to forgive them and make them as little children.”
When the Syrian army came against the prophet of God in Israel, the prophet showed mercy and cared for their needs and sent them back to their king to report the kindness. When religious leaders came against the revival on Azusa Street, God fed them spiritual food and minister to their spiritual needs, and then sent them back to their congregations to report on the movement of God.
On the Day of Pentecost, after the ascension of Jesus the Christ, with sounds of rushing wind and the appearance of tongues of fire the Holy Spirit filled those waiting in the upper room. When the crowds heard the men speaking in different tongues, they were amazed because each one heard in their native tongue. But some mocked them and reported that they were drunk. But through the power of the Holy Spirit Peter stood and delivered a message and thousands were led to repentance.
We can read in Acts how the religious leaders of the day sought to shut down the preaching of the gospel, so they arrested Peter and John. The trial became a pulpit from which the gospel was preached to the High Priest and his family. The priests called Peter and John and commanded them not to preach the name of Jesus. In Acts 4:19-20 it is written – But Peter and John answer to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” The very acts of men intending to shut down the works of God in the earth have often became the greatest tools in spreading the word.
A man named Saul came with intent in his heart to stop the gospel of Jesus Christ and silence the preachers of the word. Men brought accusations against one named Stephen, saying he blasphemes against the law. Stephen used the event to preach the gospel and to teach the name of Jesus to those intent on killing him. The council was angered by his ministry and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. Saul was a witness to the death of Stephen as Stephen looked into the heavens and declared, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”
Because of the persecution of the church, the seed of the gospel was scattered everywhere. The word of God, through the gospel message of Jesus the Christ, became a wildfire spreading around the known world. Jesus met the man named Saul one day on the road to Damascus. The man, Saul, who was a zealot to stop the gospel became, Paul, a zealot to spread the gospel. The Holy Spirit changed a man who mocked the gospel into a man who searched daily for lost souls to reach for the Lord.
Children of God listen to what God is saying this day. The very ones condemning what you are doing – the ones denying God in you – the ones denying the risen Christ in you are going to advertise your calling. The kindness you show to the ones coming to debunk what God is doing in you, will go back to one who sent them and tell of the Lord’s kindness through you. The one who said of you, this is not of God will fall to their knees and ask God to make them like children. The one who tries to stop what God is doing in your life will stoke the fire of the calling of God on you. What they do to stop the gospel will light the revival fires on the hilltops for all to see.
Caleb speaking in Joshua 14:10-12 said, “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”
After being warned not to speak in Jesus name, Peter and john were released. They went to the believers and prayed. (Acts 4:29-30) “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Children of God listen to what God is saying this day. Walk in boldness concerning the promises of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do not allow knowledge to cause you to doubt the promises of God. Caleb had a boldness that caused him to proclaim “I will be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” His boldness was in God, knowing that it would be God with him who would drive them out. And Peter had the boldness to say, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” And still the Church asked for more boldness – confident in the faith that God’s hand is healing and signs and wonder are being done through the name of Jesus.
Peter was imprisoned because he was anointed to preach the freeing power of the cross and the resurrection. Paul was also imprisoned and continued to preach the kingdom with all boldness. You have been called to heal the sick and raise the dead, and sickness and death has manifested around you – do not let that stop you from grabbing the promises of God – believe with boldness and proclaim the sick healed and the dead raised! You have been called to preach eternal life, so do not fear sickness and death – even the grave cannot stop the promise of God!
The Spirit of the word of God is the word God has put in your mouth – the sword is the Spirit of the word – boldly wield the sword knowing that God heals and performs signs and wonders through Christ in you! Do you hear their threats! Give them to God, and speak with all boldness what you have seen and hear. Speak the truth with love and kindness. In Luke 12:49 it is written that Jesus said, “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Stoke the fire of revival.