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BACKGROUND
SEA
SEA, THE
RIVER
RIVER
RED SEA
RED SEA, PASSAGE OF
EXODUS
RED SEA
I. The Bitter Lakes region
II. The Gulfs of Suez and Aqabah
JORDAN
I. Archaeological sites
II. Topographical features
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| ELISHA’S MINISTRY AS A PATTERN FOR THE
CHURCH TODAY (1st 6 of 12)
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As mentioned earlier, Elisha’s overall ministry was one of love and grace towards people, the role of the Church today. Looking at some of his recorded activities, we will see the lessons in these events that point the way ahead for us today.
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| 1. JERICHO RESTORED: |
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 The first city captured by the Jews when entering Canaan was Jericho. A curse was placed on it.
Joshua 6:26
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This curse had lasted until Elisha’s time, for although it had been rebuilt, the water was bad and the land infertile. Elisha’s first act was to restore the land.
2 Kings 2:19-22
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New Testament Fulfilment: At the ascension of Jesus, He proclaimed that the gentiles, those of the ‘world’ are now to be brought into the kingdom. Worldwide, ‘lands’ are being spiritually restored.
Acts 1:6-9
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And after this the Jews, who firstly lost their physical inheritance in Canaan and then their spiritual inheritance through rejecting Jesus.
Acts 15:13-16
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Today’s Application: The gentiles (non-Jews) come from all the countries that in the Old Testament made up the non-godly ‘world’. Unlike the very early New Testament Church, today’s church consists almost entirely of gentiles. However, it is clear, even in the New Testament, that at least a proportion of the Jews will come into the church in the final days. The physical restoration of the state of Israel is a picture of what is to follow in the spiritual.
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| 2. WORLDLY REJECTION: |
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 In the days, before ‘PC’ became compulsory, Elisha was laughed at for being bald!
2 Kings 2:23-25
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But judgement will come upon those who mock and reject.
Romans 2:6-11
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Today’s Application: Not everyone will become a Christian! Many of those who don’t will hate those who do! For the way of the world is attractive to many. We are in a battle, having the protection of God in the spiritual. The only way to win a battle is to fight, not retreat! Our weapons though are based on love, not gunpowder!
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| 3. THE WATER AND THE BLOOD: |
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 Moses demonstrated to the Israelites God’s call upon him to gain their release from Egyptian captivity by changing water into blood, taking water from the Nile and pouring it out on the ground as blood. (Exodus 4:8-9) And, much better known, a further demonstration to the Pharaoh, as one of the 10 plagues. (Exodus 7:14-24) Here Elijah told the 3 kings in 2 Kings (couldn’t resist the poor pun!) to.......
2 Kings 3:13-23
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New Testament Fulfilment: Jesus too, symbolically announced His ministry in a similar way when He turned the water into wine at Cana in Galilee. (John 2:1-11) For the wine, as we found out at the Last Supper, was symbolic of His blood, which we are still to take in remembrance of His blood shed on the ‘awe-full’ cross at Calvary’s hill. (See A Revelation of… The First Miracle of Jesus)
John 2:7-11
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Today’s Application: This miracle of Elisa’s (God’s) is an illustration of our ministry today. Moses, the forerunner of Jesus, through God changed the water into blood. Jesus himself changed the water into wine. In Elisha’s case, he did nothing other than tell the Kings what was going to happen. And the water wasn’t turned into blood, but appeared to do so to the Moabites. Which was as effective as the real thing! And the water sustained the victorious army as well. Today, our ‘miracles’ generally do not appear as spectacular as those of Jesus did. The ‘greater things we do’ though, are greater in number and often in terms of numbers of people reached. The ‘vintage’ wine of Jesus was imbibed by a group of wedding guests, while the ‘illusory’ transformation of water into blood of Elisha defeated one large army and supplied another! Today, it is simply miraculous that an army of humble servants can confront and defeat the might of the world! By God’s power, not our own. The resurgence of the church in Russia after the collapse of communism has been a classic example.
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| 4. THE OIL OF PROVISION: |
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 Elisha provided oil for the widow as financial provision during a time of hardship, after the death of her husband.
2 Kings 4:1-7
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New Testament Fulfilment: Jesus told a parable to illustrate the ‘oil of provision’ today.
Luke 10:30-37
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Today’s Application: The church is to ‘love’ individuals in need by making practical provision for them. So becoming the oil of testimony of the Holy Spirit, to individuals in need.
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| 5. THE SHUNAMMITE’S SON: |
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 A miracle of life, death and restoration.
MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION:
2 Kings 4: 14-17
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New Testament Fulfilment: Found in the person of Jesus.
MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION:
Matthew 1:18
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Today’s Application: The life, death and resurrection of Jesus are to be the cornerstone of our faith. But more than that, they are also our example to follow. We are given ‘life’ through our relationship with Jesus (Mark 10:29-31), we are to ‘die’ to our sins on an ongoing basis (Romans 7:14-20) and put on the ‘resurrection’ of the nature of Christ (Romans 13:14).
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| 6. OVERCOMING THE SPIRIT OF DEATH: |
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 Elisha saved his fellow prophets from death by adding some flour to a poisonous stew.
2 Kings 4:38-41
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New Testament Fulfilment: Jesus saved us from spiritual death on the cross.
Philippians 2:8-12
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Today’s Application: Even though we may die tomorrow, we still have victory over death! For Jesus has overcome death on our behalf, and in doing so, obtained for us the gift of eternal life, which we are now living, in the kingdom. But we still tend to look at the natural rather than the spiritual. However, understanding the spiritual will help us become more committed to the Lord in the natural.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i> |
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 The final 6 applications of the ministry of Elisha as a pattern to the church today. Amazing stuff!
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Wow! Isn't it amazing what we can learn form the past! The distant past! Our God never changes. His types and patterns are as applicable today as the were those thousands of years ago!
We ignore these at our peril.
The Influence of the Mediterranean Sea.
Everything came to Palestine by way of the Great Sea. The Roman rule and the procurator who condemned Jesus to death; as well as the Greek language, and that Greek view of life which not only created the ten cities of Decapolis but deeply influenced the more liberal Jews.
Source: http://www.bible-history.com
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
9. The foolish are satisfied with reading the Word, the wise follow the Word, while the godly are as one with the Word.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
Everything you ever wanted to know about....: http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php
Life's a Laugh: http://www.wwj.org.nz/lifelaugh.php
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