Day 177 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 26 June 2023 reflections
Day 177, 26 June 2023
1) 1 Kings 17 , 18 , 19
1 Kings 17
Elijah's Prediction of Drought
1 (2Ki 3:14; Jas 5:17) Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of the inhabitants
of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand,
there will not be dew or rain these years except by my word."
2 The word of the Lord came to him, saying,
3 "Go from here and turn eastward and hide by the Kerith brook, which is east
of the Jordan.
4 (1Ki 17:9) You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens
to feed you there."
5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went
and lived by the Kerith brook, which is east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread
and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
The Widow of Zarephath
7 After some time, the brook dried up
because there had been no rain in the land.
1 Kings 17
Elijah
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto
Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not
be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook
Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded
the ravens to feed thee there.
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went
and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning,
and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up,
because there had been no rain in the land.
8 The word of the Lord came to him, saying,
9 (Ob 1:20; Lk 4:26) "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon,
and live there. I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."
10 (Ge 24:17; Jn 4:7) So he got up and went to Zarephath,
and when he came to the gate of the city, a widow was there gathering sticks.
He called to her and said, "Please get a small cup of water for me to drink."
11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said,
"Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."
12 (1Ki 17:1; Ge 21:16) She said, "As the Lord your God lives,
I do not have bread, but only a handful of meal in a barrel
and a little oil in a jar. I am gathering two sticks, that I can go in
and make it for me and my son, so we may eat it and die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make
a little cake for me first, and bring it to me, and afterward,
make some for your son and you,
14 for thus says the Lord God of Israel: The barrel of meal will not run out,
nor will the jar of oil empty, until the day that the Lord
sends rain upon the earth."
15 She went and did what Elijah told her to do, and she, he,
and her household ate many days.
16 The barrel of meal did not run out, nor did the jar of oil empty,
according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke by Elijah.
17 Later on, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became
terribly sick, so much so that he had no breath left in him.
18 (2Ki 3:13; Lk 4:34) She said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you,
O you man of God? Have you come to remind me of my sin and to kill my son?"
19 And he said to her, "Give me your son," and he took him out of her arms
and carried him up to a loft where he slept and laid him on his own bed.
20 He cried to the Lord and said, "O Lord, my God, have You brought tragedy
upon the widow with whom I live by killing her son?"
21 (Ac 20:10) And he stretched himself upon the child three times
and cried to the Lord and said, "O Lord, my God, I pray that You
let this child's soul come into him again."
22 The Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came
into him again, and he was revived.
23 Elijah took the child and brought him down out of the chamber
into the house and returned him to his mother,
and Elijah said, "See, your son lives!"
24 (Jn 3:2; 16:30) The woman said to Elijah, "Now, because of this,
I know that you are a man of God, and that the word
of the Lord in your mouth is truth!"
At Zarephath
8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there:
behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the
city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to
her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may
drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me,
I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful
of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering
two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat
it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make
me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee
and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste,
neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain
upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he,
and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail,
according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman,
the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that
there was no breath left in him.
18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God?
art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom,
and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought
evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto
the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come
into him again.
22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah;
and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the
house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See,
thy son liveth.
24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of
God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
1 Kings 18
Elijah Confronts Ahab
1 (Lk 4:25; Jas 5:17; 1Ki 17:1) After many days, in the third year,
the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, "Go and present yourself to Ahab,
and I will send rain upon the earth."
2 Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. And there was a great famine in Samaria.
3 (Ne 7:2; 1Ki 16:9) Ahab called Obadiah, who was the governor of his house.
(Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.
4 (1Ki 18:13; Mt 10:40-42) When Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord,
Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them in groups of fifty in a cave
and fed them with bread and water.)
5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go into the land, to all the springs of water
and to all the brooks. Perhaps we will find grass to save the horses
and mules, so that we do not lose all the beasts."
6 So they divided the land between them to search throughout it.
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 (2Ki 1:6-8) As Obadiah was going along, he met Elijah, and he recognized him
and fell on his face and said, "Is that you, my lord Elijah?"
8 And he answered him, "I am. Go, tell your lord, 'Elijah is here.' "
9 He said, "What evil have I done that you would hand your servant
into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?
10 (1Ki 17:1) As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom
where my lord has not looked for you, and when they said, 'He is not here,'
he made the kingdom and nation swear that they could not find you,
11 and now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Elijah is here!" '
12 (2Ki 2:16; Ac 8:39) As soon as I am gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord
will carry you to a place I do not know, and so when I come and tell Ahab
and he cannot find you, he will execute me. But I, your servant, have feared
the Lord since my youth.
13 (1Ki 18:4) Were you not told what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets
of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets in groups
of fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Elijah is here," '
and he will execute me."
15 (1Ki 17:1; 18:10) Elijah said, "As the Lord of Hosts lives, before
whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today."
Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 (Jos 7:25; 1Ki 21:20) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him,
"Are you he that troubles Israel?"
18 (2Ch 15:2; 1Ki 9:9) And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you
and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments
of the Lord and you have followed the Baals.
19 (Jos 19:26; 1Ki 16:33) Now send word out and gather for me all Israel
on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal
and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table."
20 So Ahab called out all the children of Israel a
nd gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
21 (Jos 24:15; 2Ki 17:41) Elijah came to all the people and said,
"How long will you stay between two opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him."
And the people did not say a word.
22 (1Ki 19:10; 19:14) Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone remain
a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets number 450 men.
23 Therefore, let them give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull
for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on some wood, but do not
light a fire under it, and I will prepare the other bull, lay it on some wood,
and not light a fire underneath it.
24 (1Ki 18:38; 1Ch 21:26) And you call on the name of your gods,
and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God that answers by fire,
let Him be God." And all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves
and prepare it first, for there are many of you, and call on
the name of your god, but do not light a fire underneath."
26 (Jer 10:5; 1Co 8:4) They took the bull which was given to them,
and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon,
saying, "O Baal, hear us." But there was no voice, and no one answered.
And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27 By noon, Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry out loud, for he is a god.
Either he is talking or is gone away or is on a journey,
or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened."
28 (Lev 19:28; Dt 14:1) They cried out loud and cut themselves with knives
and spears according to their custom until the blood gushed out on them.
29 (Ex 29:41; 1Ki 18:26) And as midday passed, they prophesied
until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice.
But there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
30 (1Ki 19:10; 19:14) Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me."
And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord
that was broken down.
31 (Ge 32:28; 35:10) Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number
of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came saying,
"Israel shall be your name,"
32 (Col 3:17) and he built an altar in the name of the Lord with stones,
and he made a trench around the altar, so deep that it could contain two seahs
[Likely about 24 pounds, or 11 kilograms.] of seed.
33 (Ge 22:9; Lev 1:6-8) He arranged the wood and cut the bull in pieces
and laid him on the wood and said, "Fill four barrels with water,
and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood."
34 He said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time.
And he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it the third time.
35 The water ran all around the altar and also filled the trench with water.
36 (Ex 3:6; 1Ki 8:43) At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,
Elijah the prophet came near and said, "The Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac,
and of Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel
and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word.
37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, so that this people may know that
You are the Lord God and that You have turned their hearts back again."
38 (Lev 9:24; Jdg 6:21) Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt
sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water
that was in the trench.
39 (1Ki 18:24; 18:21) When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces
and said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!"
40 (Dt 13:5; 18:20) Elijah said to them, "Arrest the prophets of Baal,
and do not let one of them escape." And they arrested them,
and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon brook and executed them there.
End of the Drought
41 Elijah said to Ahab, "Get up, eat and drink, for there is a sound
of a heavy rainfall."
42 So Ahab got up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel,
and he threw himself down on the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 And he said to his servant, "Go up now, and look toward the sea."
And he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing."
And he said, "Go again," seven times.
44 (Lk 12:54) On the seventh time, he said, "A small cloud as small
as a man's hand is rising out of the sea."
And he said, "Go up and say to Ahab, 'Mount your chariot and get down,
so that the rain does not stop you.' "
45 In the meantime, the sky turned black with clouds and wind,
and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.
46 (2Ki 3:15; 4:29) The hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up
his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
1 Kings 18
In Samaria
1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to
Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will
send rain upon the earth.
2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine
in Samaria.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house.(Now Obadiah
feared the LORD greatly:
4 for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah
took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with
bread and water.)
5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water,
and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses
and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it:
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him,
and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant
into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
10 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord
hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an
oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the
Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come
and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me:
but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets
of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty
in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here:
and he shall slay me.
15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand,
I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art
thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's
house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast
followed Baalim.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel,
and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty,
and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
Mount Carmel
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets
together unto mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between
two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet
of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock
for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire
under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no
fire under:
24 and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of
the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all
the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for
yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of
your gods, but put no fire under.
26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it,
and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal,
hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon
the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud:
for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in
a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives
and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the
time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice,
nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people
came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was
broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of
the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall
be thy name:
32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made
a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him
on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the
burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time.
And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also
with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,
that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac,
and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel,
and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD
God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice,
and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was
in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said,
The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them
escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon,
and slew them there.
41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a
sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top
of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face
between his knees,
43 and said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up,
and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there
ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up,
say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop
thee not.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with
clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode,
and went to Jezreel.
46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins,
and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
1 Kings 19
Elijah Flees From Jezebel
1 (1Ki 18:40) And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done
and how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
2 (Ru 1:17; 1Ki 20:10) Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying,
"So let the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life
as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
3 (Ge 21:31) When he saw that she was serious, he arose and ran for his life
to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 (Nu 11:15; Jnh 4:8) But he went a day's journey into the wilderness
and came and sat down under a juniper tree and asked that he might die,
saying, "It is enough! Now, O Lord, take my life,
for I am not better than my fathers."
5 As he lay and slept under the juniper tree, an angel touched him
and said to him, "Arise and eat."
6 (Mt 4:11) He looked, and there was a cake baked on coals and a jar of water
at his head. And he ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said,
"Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you."
8 (Ex 34:28; 3:1; 24:18) He arose and ate and drank and went in the strength
of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Elijah Hears the Lord
9 (Ex 33:21-22; 1Ki 19:13) He came to a cave and camped there,
and the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him,
"Why are you here, Elijah?"
10 (1Ki 18:4; 18:22; Nu 25:13) And he said, "I have been very zealous
for the Lord, Lord of Hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken
Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets
with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek to take my life."
11 (Ex 24:12; Eze 1:4) He said, "Go and stand on the mountain
before the Lord."
And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind split
the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake came,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 (Job 4:16; Zec 4:6) And after the earthquake, a fire came, but the Lord
was not in the fire, and after the fire, a still, small voice.
13 (1Ki 19:9) When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak
and went out and stood in the entrance to the cave.
And a voice came to him and said, "Why are you here, Elijah?"
14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, Lord of Hosts,
because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down
Your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I alone am left,
and they seek to take my life."
15 (2Ki 8:7-15) The Lord said to him, "Go, return on the road through
the Wilderness of Damascus, and when you arrive, anoint Hazael
to be king over Aram.
16 (1Ki 19:19-21; 2Ki 2:9) And you shall anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi,
to be king over Israel, and you shall anoint Elisha, the son of Shaphat
of Abel Meholah, to be prophet in your place.
17 (2Ki 8:12; 13:3) He who escapes the sword of Hazael will be killed
by Jehu, and he who escapes the sword of Jehu will be killed by Elisha.
18 (Hos 13:2) Still, I have preserved seven thousand men in Israel for Myself,
all of whose knees have not bowed to Baal
and whose mouths have not kissed him."
The Call of Elisha
19 (2Ki 2:8; 1Sa 28:14) So he departed from there and found Elisha
the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen
before him and he with the twelfth, and Elijah passed by him
and threw his cloak on him.
20 (Mt 8:21-22; Lk 9:61-62) He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said,
"Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you."
And he said to him, "Go back, for what have I done to you?"
21 (2Sa 24:22) So he returned from following him and took a yoke of oxen
and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes from the oxen
and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he got up and went after Elijah
and ministered to him.
1 Kings 19
On Mount Horeb
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had
slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me,
and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow
about this time.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to
Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat
down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die;
and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better
than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel
touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals,
and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink,
and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him,
and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that
meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word
of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the
children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent
the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but
the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;
but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his
mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold,
there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because
the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness
of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel:
and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be
prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael
shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha
slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have
not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
The Call of Elisha
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth:
and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me,
I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.
And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them,
and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto
the people, and they did eat.
Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
2) Our Daily Bread for 26 June 2023 Easy Money
2 Kings 5:20-27 , Matthew 6:21
Gehazi's Greed
20 (Ex 20:7; 2Ki 4:12) Then Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God said,
"My master has spared Naaman the Aramean by not taking from his hands
what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him
and take something from him."
21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. Then Naaman saw him running after him,
jumped down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is everything all right?"
22 (2Ki 5:5) And he said, "Everything is all right. My master has sent me
and says, 'Even now two servants from Ephraim, from the sons of the prophets,
have come to me. Give them a talent
[About 75 pounds, or 34 kilograms.] of silver and two changes of clothes.' "
23 Naaman said, "Please, take two talents." He urged him and tied up
two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes
and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them before Gehazi.
24 (Jos 7:1; 7:11-12) When he came to Ophel, he took them from their hand
and put them away in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they departed.
25 (2Ki 5:22) Then he entered and stood before his master. And Elisha said
to him, "Where have you come from, Gehazi?"
And he said, "Your servant went here and there."
26 (2Ki 5:16) He said to him, "Did my heart not go with you when the man
turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to take money,
and to take garments, olives and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male
and female servants?
27 (Ex 4:6; Nu 12:10) The leprosy of Naaman will cling to you
and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence, leprous
like snow.
[20] But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my
master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that
which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take
somewhat of him.
[21] So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after
him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
[22] And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even
now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the
prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of
garments.
[23] And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and
bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and
laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
[24] And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and
bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
[25] But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him,
Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
[26] And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man
turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money,
and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and
oxen,
and menservants, and maidservants?
[27] The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy
seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
21 (Lk 12:34) for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
In the late 1700s, a young man discovered a mysterious depression on Nova
Scotia's Oak Island. Guessing that pirates-perhaps even Captain Kidd himself-
had buried treasure there, he and a couple of companions started digging. They
never found any treasure, but the rumour took on a life of its own. Over the
centuries, others continued digging at the site-expending a great amount of
time and expense. The hole is now more than one hundred feet (thirty meters)
deep.
Such obsessions betray the emptiness in the human heart. A story in the Bible
shows how one man's behaviour revealed just such a void in his heart. Gehazi
had long been a reliable servant of the great prophet Elisha. But when Elisha
declined the lavish gifts of a military commander whom God had healed of
leprosy, Gehazi concocted a story to get some of the loot (2 Kings 5:22). When
Gehazi returned home, he lied to the prophet (v. 25). But Elisha knew. He
asked him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot
to meet you?" (v. 26). In the end, Gehazi got what he wanted, but lost what
was important (v. 27).
Jesus taught us not to pursue this world’s treasures and to instead "store
up . . . treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20).
Beware of any shortcuts to your heart's desires. Following Jesus is the way
to fill the emptiness with something real.
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
What do you long for the most?
What pursuits and obsessions have left you feeling empty?
Dear God, I give my desires over to You.
Please help me crave the treasures that You value.
For further study, read Compassion: When Jesus Asks for More than We Have.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 2 The Wardrobe of Joy Isaiah 61:10
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me
with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself
with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
On her wedding day, the bride dresses carefully for the ceremony
that is about to take place. Never before has she spent so much
time in preparation for one relatively brief event. When she
looks in the mirror and rejoices in her happiness, she responds not
out of vanity, but for sheer joy as she anticipates the coming ceremony.
God wants his people, lie that bride to be joyful, to rejoice in the Lord,
the Bridegroom. And he gives, through his grace,
the garments of joy to his beloved ones.
He clothes us, Isaiah says, with salvation, and covers us with
the robe of righteousness. The wardrobe that God provides is not merely
a utility garment, a coverall that hides our sin from his eyes.
It is his own righteousness in Christ, given to us as a free gift, so that
we might be united with him. And God himself, Isaiah says,
is filled with joy, adorning himself like a bridegroom.
When we truly see God's immeasurable gift in accepting us as him own,
we also will "greatly rejoice" in the Lord. He, the eternal god,
Creator of the universe, desires to be united with us, as a husband
desires his wife! God does not simply accept us grudgingly,
reminding us of our unworthiness to be with him. Rather, he celebrates
with unrestrained joy his oneness in Spirit with those he calls his own.
And we, having been fully forgiven
and set free from sin, can rejoice unashamedly as well.
Application
a) Have I ever felt ashamed to draw close to God? Why?
b) What does this verse tell me about God's attitude towards me?
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 7 - Upheld by His Hand
Is 41:10
10 (Jos 1:9; Isa 41:13-14) Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you,
yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Beth had the same recurring nightmare: she was running along a cliff,
then she slipped, and fell headlong, into a bottomless ravine.
Falling, without control,without end, falling, falling, falling...
Beth's dream may be one many of us identify with. The sense
of losing control can be nightmarish, and we may fear falling
without end, without remedy. Financial failure may be the chasm
that we face, or professional disgrace. Personal relationships
may go out of control, and we look into a never-ending
ravine of pain and misunderstanding
But God says, "Don't be afraid; I am holding you up."
Like the father who helps his child learn to swim,
God holds us above the water. We may not feel his hands;
indeed, we may suspect that he lets us go just so we can
do it on our own. But he promises that he doesn't let go.
"I am with you." he declares. "I give you strength
and hold you up."
God's promise never to let go takes on new meaning
in a world where relationships are temporary and life is
uncertain. We do not need to fear, for he is with us.
We can relax and stop striving, for he is our God.
His strength becomes ours; amid all our sin and rebellion,
he undergirds us with his righteousness. We cannot fall,
for he holds us firm.
Application
a) Under what circumstances have I felt myself "falling"?
b) How does God's promise in Is 41:10 help me to have faith
in the midst of my fears?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Hebr 11:6
6 (1Ch 28:9; Jer 29:13-14) And without faith it is impossible to please God,
for he who comes to God must believe that He exists
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Burdened by Doubt
Matt 7:7-11
Ask, Seek, Knock
Lk 11:9-13
7(Mt 21:22; Mk 11:24) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
9 "What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread,
will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake?
11 (Ge 6:5; 8:21) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give
good things to those who ask Him!
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you:
8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread,
will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things
to them that ask him?
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Quebec
Quick facts on Muslims in Quebec
Quebec 2015 population 8214 000
est Muslim Population 418946
CNMM Networks: Montreal
There is a growing Muslim population in Quebec City and a smattering
of Muslims scattered around the rest of the province, yet the vast majority
of Muslims live in the greater Montreal area. n fact, 23% of Canada's Muslim
population live in Quebec. Why is that? It is largely because Francophone
African Muslims are attracted to La Belle Provence.
And here's an interesting, perhaps even shocking fact: There are more
Muslims in Montreal than there are evangelical Christians.
This is one demographic factor creates a challenging environment for churches
and believers here: The size of the available 'workforce' is small
by comparison to begin with. Believers are already is a host culture that
is often either indifferent to religion or resistant to it. And now
this 'new' religious community of Muslims - many of whom do not visibly
or socially conform to Quebec society - are a growing population. It might br
easy for Christians to feel overwhelm by this cultural double-whammy,
yet God has always worked miracles through the small, the few.
Agree in prayer for :
- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 26 of the Month
a) Pray that Christians in the marketplace will demonstrate exemplary
work ethics and shine as witnesses of Christ (Matt 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
)
b) Pray for the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut
I) Pray for the leaders of Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut,
that God's Spirit would influence then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority;
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to know when you are on the Lord's side,
he is your victory and protection in Battle.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, I give my desires over to You.
Please help me crave the treasures that You value."
Pray to the Lord and pray to draw close to Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek him diligently.
Pray to the Lord and pray with determination.
Agree in prayer for Quebec:
- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray that Christians in the marketplace will demonstrate exemplary
work ethics and shine as witnesses of Christ
Pray that Christian Leaders in Cuba will be allowed to travel outside
the country to receive ministry resources.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1) 1 Kings 17 , 18 , 19
1 Kings 17
Elijah's Prediction of Drought
1 (2Ki 3:14; Jas 5:17) Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of the inhabitants
of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand,
there will not be dew or rain these years except by my word."
2 The word of the Lord came to him, saying,
3 "Go from here and turn eastward and hide by the Kerith brook, which is east
of the Jordan.
4 (1Ki 17:9) You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens
to feed you there."
5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went
and lived by the Kerith brook, which is east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread
and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
The Widow of Zarephath
7 After some time, the brook dried up
because there had been no rain in the land.
1 Kings 17
Elijah
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto
Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not
be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook
Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded
the ravens to feed thee there.
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went
and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning,
and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up,
because there had been no rain in the land.
8 The word of the Lord came to him, saying,
9 (Ob 1:20; Lk 4:26) "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon,
and live there. I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."
10 (Ge 24:17; Jn 4:7) So he got up and went to Zarephath,
and when he came to the gate of the city, a widow was there gathering sticks.
He called to her and said, "Please get a small cup of water for me to drink."
11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said,
"Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."
12 (1Ki 17:1; Ge 21:16) She said, "As the Lord your God lives,
I do not have bread, but only a handful of meal in a barrel
and a little oil in a jar. I am gathering two sticks, that I can go in
and make it for me and my son, so we may eat it and die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make
a little cake for me first, and bring it to me, and afterward,
make some for your son and you,
14 for thus says the Lord God of Israel: The barrel of meal will not run out,
nor will the jar of oil empty, until the day that the Lord
sends rain upon the earth."
15 She went and did what Elijah told her to do, and she, he,
and her household ate many days.
16 The barrel of meal did not run out, nor did the jar of oil empty,
according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke by Elijah.
17 Later on, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became
terribly sick, so much so that he had no breath left in him.
18 (2Ki 3:13; Lk 4:34) She said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you,
O you man of God? Have you come to remind me of my sin and to kill my son?"
19 And he said to her, "Give me your son," and he took him out of her arms
and carried him up to a loft where he slept and laid him on his own bed.
20 He cried to the Lord and said, "O Lord, my God, have You brought tragedy
upon the widow with whom I live by killing her son?"
21 (Ac 20:10) And he stretched himself upon the child three times
and cried to the Lord and said, "O Lord, my God, I pray that You
let this child's soul come into him again."
22 The Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came
into him again, and he was revived.
23 Elijah took the child and brought him down out of the chamber
into the house and returned him to his mother,
and Elijah said, "See, your son lives!"
24 (Jn 3:2; 16:30) The woman said to Elijah, "Now, because of this,
I know that you are a man of God, and that the word
of the Lord in your mouth is truth!"
At Zarephath
8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there:
behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the
city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to
her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may
drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me,
I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful
of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering
two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat
it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make
me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee
and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste,
neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain
upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he,
and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail,
according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman,
the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that
there was no breath left in him.
18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God?
art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom,
and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought
evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto
the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come
into him again.
22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah;
and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the
house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See,
thy son liveth.
24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of
God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
1 Kings 18
Elijah Confronts Ahab
1 (Lk 4:25; Jas 5:17; 1Ki 17:1) After many days, in the third year,
the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, "Go and present yourself to Ahab,
and I will send rain upon the earth."
2 Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. And there was a great famine in Samaria.
3 (Ne 7:2; 1Ki 16:9) Ahab called Obadiah, who was the governor of his house.
(Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.
4 (1Ki 18:13; Mt 10:40-42) When Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord,
Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them in groups of fifty in a cave
and fed them with bread and water.)
5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go into the land, to all the springs of water
and to all the brooks. Perhaps we will find grass to save the horses
and mules, so that we do not lose all the beasts."
6 So they divided the land between them to search throughout it.
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 (2Ki 1:6-8) As Obadiah was going along, he met Elijah, and he recognized him
and fell on his face and said, "Is that you, my lord Elijah?"
8 And he answered him, "I am. Go, tell your lord, 'Elijah is here.' "
9 He said, "What evil have I done that you would hand your servant
into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?
10 (1Ki 17:1) As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom
where my lord has not looked for you, and when they said, 'He is not here,'
he made the kingdom and nation swear that they could not find you,
11 and now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Elijah is here!" '
12 (2Ki 2:16; Ac 8:39) As soon as I am gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord
will carry you to a place I do not know, and so when I come and tell Ahab
and he cannot find you, he will execute me. But I, your servant, have feared
the Lord since my youth.
13 (1Ki 18:4) Were you not told what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets
of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets in groups
of fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Elijah is here," '
and he will execute me."
15 (1Ki 17:1; 18:10) Elijah said, "As the Lord of Hosts lives, before
whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today."
Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 (Jos 7:25; 1Ki 21:20) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him,
"Are you he that troubles Israel?"
18 (2Ch 15:2; 1Ki 9:9) And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you
and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments
of the Lord and you have followed the Baals.
19 (Jos 19:26; 1Ki 16:33) Now send word out and gather for me all Israel
on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal
and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table."
20 So Ahab called out all the children of Israel a
nd gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
21 (Jos 24:15; 2Ki 17:41) Elijah came to all the people and said,
"How long will you stay between two opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him."
And the people did not say a word.
22 (1Ki 19:10; 19:14) Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone remain
a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets number 450 men.
23 Therefore, let them give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull
for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on some wood, but do not
light a fire under it, and I will prepare the other bull, lay it on some wood,
and not light a fire underneath it.
24 (1Ki 18:38; 1Ch 21:26) And you call on the name of your gods,
and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God that answers by fire,
let Him be God." And all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves
and prepare it first, for there are many of you, and call on
the name of your god, but do not light a fire underneath."
26 (Jer 10:5; 1Co 8:4) They took the bull which was given to them,
and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon,
saying, "O Baal, hear us." But there was no voice, and no one answered.
And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27 By noon, Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry out loud, for he is a god.
Either he is talking or is gone away or is on a journey,
or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened."
28 (Lev 19:28; Dt 14:1) They cried out loud and cut themselves with knives
and spears according to their custom until the blood gushed out on them.
29 (Ex 29:41; 1Ki 18:26) And as midday passed, they prophesied
until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice.
But there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
30 (1Ki 19:10; 19:14) Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me."
And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord
that was broken down.
31 (Ge 32:28; 35:10) Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number
of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came saying,
"Israel shall be your name,"
32 (Col 3:17) and he built an altar in the name of the Lord with stones,
and he made a trench around the altar, so deep that it could contain two seahs
[Likely about 24 pounds, or 11 kilograms.] of seed.
33 (Ge 22:9; Lev 1:6-8) He arranged the wood and cut the bull in pieces
and laid him on the wood and said, "Fill four barrels with water,
and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood."
34 He said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time.
And he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it the third time.
35 The water ran all around the altar and also filled the trench with water.
36 (Ex 3:6; 1Ki 8:43) At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,
Elijah the prophet came near and said, "The Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac,
and of Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel
and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word.
37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, so that this people may know that
You are the Lord God and that You have turned their hearts back again."
38 (Lev 9:24; Jdg 6:21) Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt
sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water
that was in the trench.
39 (1Ki 18:24; 18:21) When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces
and said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!"
40 (Dt 13:5; 18:20) Elijah said to them, "Arrest the prophets of Baal,
and do not let one of them escape." And they arrested them,
and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon brook and executed them there.
End of the Drought
41 Elijah said to Ahab, "Get up, eat and drink, for there is a sound
of a heavy rainfall."
42 So Ahab got up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel,
and he threw himself down on the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 And he said to his servant, "Go up now, and look toward the sea."
And he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing."
And he said, "Go again," seven times.
44 (Lk 12:54) On the seventh time, he said, "A small cloud as small
as a man's hand is rising out of the sea."
And he said, "Go up and say to Ahab, 'Mount your chariot and get down,
so that the rain does not stop you.' "
45 In the meantime, the sky turned black with clouds and wind,
and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.
46 (2Ki 3:15; 4:29) The hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up
his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
1 Kings 18
In Samaria
1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to
Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will
send rain upon the earth.
2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine
in Samaria.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house.(Now Obadiah
feared the LORD greatly:
4 for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah
took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with
bread and water.)
5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water,
and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses
and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it:
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him,
and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant
into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
10 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord
hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an
oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the
Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come
and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me:
but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets
of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty
in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here:
and he shall slay me.
15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand,
I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art
thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's
house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast
followed Baalim.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel,
and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty,
and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
Mount Carmel
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets
together unto mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between
two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet
of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock
for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire
under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no
fire under:
24 and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of
the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all
the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for
yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of
your gods, but put no fire under.
26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it,
and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal,
hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon
the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud:
for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in
a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives
and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the
time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice,
nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people
came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was
broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of
the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall
be thy name:
32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made
a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him
on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the
burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time.
And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also
with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,
that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac,
and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel,
and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD
God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice,
and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was
in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said,
The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them
escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon,
and slew them there.
41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a
sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top
of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face
between his knees,
43 and said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up,
and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there
ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up,
say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop
thee not.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with
clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode,
and went to Jezreel.
46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins,
and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
1 Kings 19
Elijah Flees From Jezebel
1 (1Ki 18:40) And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done
and how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
2 (Ru 1:17; 1Ki 20:10) Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying,
"So let the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life
as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
3 (Ge 21:31) When he saw that she was serious, he arose and ran for his life
to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 (Nu 11:15; Jnh 4:8) But he went a day's journey into the wilderness
and came and sat down under a juniper tree and asked that he might die,
saying, "It is enough! Now, O Lord, take my life,
for I am not better than my fathers."
5 As he lay and slept under the juniper tree, an angel touched him
and said to him, "Arise and eat."
6 (Mt 4:11) He looked, and there was a cake baked on coals and a jar of water
at his head. And he ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said,
"Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you."
8 (Ex 34:28; 3:1; 24:18) He arose and ate and drank and went in the strength
of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Elijah Hears the Lord
9 (Ex 33:21-22; 1Ki 19:13) He came to a cave and camped there,
and the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him,
"Why are you here, Elijah?"
10 (1Ki 18:4; 18:22; Nu 25:13) And he said, "I have been very zealous
for the Lord, Lord of Hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken
Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets
with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek to take my life."
11 (Ex 24:12; Eze 1:4) He said, "Go and stand on the mountain
before the Lord."
And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind split
the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake came,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 (Job 4:16; Zec 4:6) And after the earthquake, a fire came, but the Lord
was not in the fire, and after the fire, a still, small voice.
13 (1Ki 19:9) When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak
and went out and stood in the entrance to the cave.
And a voice came to him and said, "Why are you here, Elijah?"
14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, Lord of Hosts,
because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down
Your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I alone am left,
and they seek to take my life."
15 (2Ki 8:7-15) The Lord said to him, "Go, return on the road through
the Wilderness of Damascus, and when you arrive, anoint Hazael
to be king over Aram.
16 (1Ki 19:19-21; 2Ki 2:9) And you shall anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi,
to be king over Israel, and you shall anoint Elisha, the son of Shaphat
of Abel Meholah, to be prophet in your place.
17 (2Ki 8:12; 13:3) He who escapes the sword of Hazael will be killed
by Jehu, and he who escapes the sword of Jehu will be killed by Elisha.
18 (Hos 13:2) Still, I have preserved seven thousand men in Israel for Myself,
all of whose knees have not bowed to Baal
and whose mouths have not kissed him."
The Call of Elisha
19 (2Ki 2:8; 1Sa 28:14) So he departed from there and found Elisha
the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen
before him and he with the twelfth, and Elijah passed by him
and threw his cloak on him.
20 (Mt 8:21-22; Lk 9:61-62) He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said,
"Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you."
And he said to him, "Go back, for what have I done to you?"
21 (2Sa 24:22) So he returned from following him and took a yoke of oxen
and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes from the oxen
and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he got up and went after Elijah
and ministered to him.
1 Kings 19
On Mount Horeb
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had
slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me,
and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow
about this time.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to
Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat
down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die;
and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better
than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel
touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals,
and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink,
and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him,
and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that
meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word
of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the
children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent
the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but
the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;
but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his
mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold,
there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because
the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness
of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel:
and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be
prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael
shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha
slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have
not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
The Call of Elisha
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth:
and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me,
I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.
And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them,
and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto
the people, and they did eat.
Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
2) Our Daily Bread for 26 June 2023
2 Kings 5:20-27 , Matthew 6:21
Gehazi's Greed
20 (Ex 20:7; 2Ki 4:12) Then Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God said,
"My master has spared Naaman the Aramean by not taking from his hands
what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him
and take something from him."
21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. Then Naaman saw him running after him,
jumped down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is everything all right?"
22 (2Ki 5:5) And he said, "Everything is all right. My master has sent me
and says, 'Even now two servants from Ephraim, from the sons of the prophets,
have come to me. Give them a talent
[About 75 pounds, or 34 kilograms.] of silver and two changes of clothes.' "
23 Naaman said, "Please, take two talents." He urged him and tied up
two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes
and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them before Gehazi.
24 (Jos 7:1; 7:11-12) When he came to Ophel, he took them from their hand
and put them away in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they departed.
25 (2Ki 5:22) Then he entered and stood before his master. And Elisha said
to him, "Where have you come from, Gehazi?"
And he said, "Your servant went here and there."
26 (2Ki 5:16) He said to him, "Did my heart not go with you when the man
turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to take money,
and to take garments, olives and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male
and female servants?
27 (Ex 4:6; Nu 12:10) The leprosy of Naaman will cling to you
and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence, leprous
like snow.
[20] But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my
master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that
which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take
somewhat of him.
[21] So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after
him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
[22] And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even
now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the
prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of
garments.
[23] And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and
bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and
laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
[24] And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and
bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
[25] But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him,
Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
[26] And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man
turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money,
and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and
oxen,
and menservants, and maidservants?
[27] The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy
seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
21 (Lk 12:34) for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
In the late 1700s, a young man discovered a mysterious depression on Nova
Scotia's Oak Island. Guessing that pirates-perhaps even Captain Kidd himself-
had buried treasure there, he and a couple of companions started digging. They
never found any treasure, but the rumour took on a life of its own. Over the
centuries, others continued digging at the site-expending a great amount of
time and expense. The hole is now more than one hundred feet (thirty meters)
deep.
Such obsessions betray the emptiness in the human heart. A story in the Bible
shows how one man's behaviour revealed just such a void in his heart. Gehazi
had long been a reliable servant of the great prophet Elisha. But when Elisha
declined the lavish gifts of a military commander whom God had healed of
leprosy, Gehazi concocted a story to get some of the loot (2 Kings 5:22). When
Gehazi returned home, he lied to the prophet (v. 25). But Elisha knew. He
asked him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot
to meet you?" (v. 26). In the end, Gehazi got what he wanted, but lost what
was important (v. 27).
Jesus taught us not to pursue this world’s treasures and to instead "store
up . . . treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20).
Beware of any shortcuts to your heart's desires. Following Jesus is the way
to fill the emptiness with something real.
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
What do you long for the most?
What pursuits and obsessions have left you feeling empty?
Dear God, I give my desires over to You.
Please help me crave the treasures that You value.
For further study, read Compassion: When Jesus Asks for More than We Have.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 2 The Wardrobe of Joy Isaiah 61:10
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me
with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself
with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
On her wedding day, the bride dresses carefully for the ceremony
that is about to take place. Never before has she spent so much
time in preparation for one relatively brief event. When she
looks in the mirror and rejoices in her happiness, she responds not
out of vanity, but for sheer joy as she anticipates the coming ceremony.
God wants his people, lie that bride to be joyful, to rejoice in the Lord,
the Bridegroom. And he gives, through his grace,
the garments of joy to his beloved ones.
He clothes us, Isaiah says, with salvation, and covers us with
the robe of righteousness. The wardrobe that God provides is not merely
a utility garment, a coverall that hides our sin from his eyes.
It is his own righteousness in Christ, given to us as a free gift, so that
we might be united with him. And God himself, Isaiah says,
is filled with joy, adorning himself like a bridegroom.
When we truly see God's immeasurable gift in accepting us as him own,
we also will "greatly rejoice" in the Lord. He, the eternal god,
Creator of the universe, desires to be united with us, as a husband
desires his wife! God does not simply accept us grudgingly,
reminding us of our unworthiness to be with him. Rather, he celebrates
with unrestrained joy his oneness in Spirit with those he calls his own.
And we, having been fully forgiven
and set free from sin, can rejoice unashamedly as well.
Application
a) Have I ever felt ashamed to draw close to God? Why?
b) What does this verse tell me about God's attitude towards me?
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 8 Guided by Grace Day 7 - Upheld by His Hand
Is 41:10
10 (Jos 1:9; Isa 41:13-14) Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you,
yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Beth had the same recurring nightmare: she was running along a cliff,
then she slipped, and fell headlong, into a bottomless ravine.
Falling, without control,without end, falling, falling, falling...
Beth's dream may be one many of us identify with. The sense
of losing control can be nightmarish, and we may fear falling
without end, without remedy. Financial failure may be the chasm
that we face, or professional disgrace. Personal relationships
may go out of control, and we look into a never-ending
ravine of pain and misunderstanding
But God says, "Don't be afraid; I am holding you up."
Like the father who helps his child learn to swim,
God holds us above the water. We may not feel his hands;
indeed, we may suspect that he lets us go just so we can
do it on our own. But he promises that he doesn't let go.
"I am with you." he declares. "I give you strength
and hold you up."
God's promise never to let go takes on new meaning
in a world where relationships are temporary and life is
uncertain. We do not need to fear, for he is with us.
We can relax and stop striving, for he is our God.
His strength becomes ours; amid all our sin and rebellion,
he undergirds us with his righteousness. We cannot fall,
for he holds us firm.
Application
a) Under what circumstances have I felt myself "falling"?
b) How does God's promise in Is 41:10 help me to have faith
in the midst of my fears?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Hebr 11:6
6 (1Ch 28:9; Jer 29:13-14) And without faith it is impossible to please God,
for he who comes to God must believe that He exists
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Burdened by Doubt
Matt 7:7-11
Ask, Seek, Knock
Lk 11:9-13
7(Mt 21:22; Mk 11:24) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
9 "What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread,
will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake?
11 (Ge 6:5; 8:21) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give
good things to those who ask Him!
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you:
8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread,
will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things
to them that ask him?
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Quebec
Quick facts on Muslims in Quebec
Quebec 2015 population 8214 000
est Muslim Population 418946
CNMM Networks: Montreal
There is a growing Muslim population in Quebec City and a smattering
of Muslims scattered around the rest of the province, yet the vast majority
of Muslims live in the greater Montreal area. n fact, 23% of Canada's Muslim
population live in Quebec. Why is that? It is largely because Francophone
African Muslims are attracted to La Belle Provence.
And here's an interesting, perhaps even shocking fact: There are more
Muslims in Montreal than there are evangelical Christians.
This is one demographic factor creates a challenging environment for churches
and believers here: The size of the available 'workforce' is small
by comparison to begin with. Believers are already is a host culture that
is often either indifferent to religion or resistant to it. And now
this 'new' religious community of Muslims - many of whom do not visibly
or socially conform to Quebec society - are a growing population. It might br
easy for Christians to feel overwhelm by this cultural double-whammy,
yet God has always worked miracles through the small, the few.
Agree in prayer for :
- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 26 of the Month
a) Pray that Christians in the marketplace will demonstrate exemplary
work ethics and shine as witnesses of Christ (Matt 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
)
b) Pray for the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut
I) Pray for the leaders of Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut,
that God's Spirit would influence then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority;
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to know when you are on the Lord's side,
he is your victory and protection in Battle.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, I give my desires over to You.
Please help me crave the treasures that You value."
Pray to the Lord and pray to draw close to Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek him diligently.
Pray to the Lord and pray with determination.
Agree in prayer for Quebec:
- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray that Christians in the marketplace will demonstrate exemplary
work ethics and shine as witnesses of Christ
Pray that Christian Leaders in Cuba will be allowed to travel outside
the country to receive ministry resources.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.