The Truth will Set You Free! John 8:31-59

What is Truth?

John 18:38 - Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Each one of us depends on truth and though many view it as relative; there can be no absolutes, no answers, and no trust without it.

Many times we try to define truth as an inanimate fact, one that is, well it’s true.  But what really is truth?  Maybe we need to instead of looking at truth as fact, look at truth as a person.  

John 14:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  Jesus Christ is the embodiment of truth and in him we will be made free!

Points to Gather:

• There were Jews that believed on Jesus
• Believing on Jesus is different than being a disciple of Jesus
• Matthew 7:21-23 King James Version (KJV)
• 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
• 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
• 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
• James 2:19 King James Version (KJV)
• 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
• There are followers that just follow the crowds, or they might follow the guy with the most charisma.
• A follower might follow action, but they will never be a part of the real experience unless they take initiative to get involved.
• Continuing in Jesus’ Word defines His disciple
• What does it mean to “Continue” in Jesus’ Word?
• Is a surface reader “continuing” Jesus’ Word?
• What about one who studies Jesus’ Word with a preconceived notion about the meaning?
• What about one who will not apply The Word to his personal life?
• One who continues in the word will be one who is a disciple of it, and even though the word doesn’t explicitly cover an issue of life, they will be one who takes principle and applies the principles of the word to every area of his/her life.

• What is a disciple?
• A disciple is more than just a student
• A disciple adheres to the teachings of another making them his rule for life including conduct
• A disciple’s life is completely committed to the teachings of his master/teacher
• John 6:66
• A disciple will live sacrificially, submitting his will to that of his master/teacher
• Galatians 2:20
• Psalm 1:1-6 King James Version (KJV)
• 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
• 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
• 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
• 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
• 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
• 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Bondage is always predicated on lies.

Satan is the father of lies.

Satan is the master of enslavement.

How does knowing truth make you free?

• Truth is a Redeemer!  
• How many times (don’t answer) have we lied, shaded the truth, or been hypocrites to protect our “honor” and when we came out with the truth; we felt relief?
• Truth always produces openness!
• Since Jesus is the Truth and our Redeemer, knowing Him will redeem our lives from bondage and destruction.
• Is this just a matter of being like, Oh yeah, I know that guy;  or does knowing mean something deeper?
• Many times the Bible uses the word knowing to describe something much more than an acquaintance of someone or something.  The word “know” is used at times to describe an intimate relationship between husband and wife.
• The word “know” is also used to describe and intimate or personal attachment to ideas, things and people.  
• Matthew 12:33 King James Version (KJV)
• 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
• The whole purpose of Jesus coming to earth was for the sake of relationship, and why wouldn’t that include a restoration of an intimate relationship with an Almighty God or the Word of Life?

Somehow the Jewish leader’s picked up on this idea that Jesus was trying to indicate they were in bondage and He was indeed.  They felt if they would claim their birthright by Abraham, that would substantiate their next claim that they were never in bondage to any man.  

Let’s look at the facts though and see how far their physical bondage went.

• Throughout history the Jewish people would follow God and then fall away and some of the people they were in physical to were: The Egyptians (at the time of Moses), The Philistines (as early as the Judges), The Assyrians (at the time of Daniel), The Persians (at the time of Esther), The Greeks (at the time of the Maccabean Revolt), and the Romans (at that current time).  So this statement that they were never in bondage to any man was Lies, Lies, Lies;

Their bondage was at this time was not just a physical bondage, but they were also under a spiritual bondage.  The had organized a religion that was based on what God showed them, and had turned it into a mechanical machine with no life.

Their perception of themselves was that they would never admit they were in bondage and therefore could never be made free.

Jesus saw right through the bunny trail they tried to send Him on, and brought them right back to the point.  The main bondage that Jesus is interested in freeing you from is the spiritual bondage that we all find ourselves in at one point or another.

Jesus went right from hearing their excuse about being Abraham’s children to giving a valuable lesson on sin.  The Covenant that God has with Abraham and his children was given with many promises.  There was a physical heritage there was a part of that covenant and a spiritual heritage.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees assumed that the two heritages were mutually one and inherited by them just because they were children of Abraham.  The Bible is clear that they are indeed a different  heritage with the spiritual heritage being given to those of faith.

God is not interested in a mechanical religion that merely obeys His word by the letter; rather, He wants an obedient heart that willingly has submitted to His word.

Jesus brings them back to the statement that Abraham is their father and tries to help them understand that they are involved in sins at which Abraham would have been appalled.  Jesus very clearly indicated to them that their deeds, their works were not a part of the Abrahamic Covenant.

The Jewish Leaders had murder on their heart and would do what was right in their own eyes fulfilling within themselves the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Though they sacrificed many things “for the sake of God”, they in effect had made their god themselves and did what they did to be seen of men.  

Jesus pointed this out indicating to them that what they were doing was a product of allowing the devil to be their illegitimate father.

The Pharisees began to catch on to where Jesus was headed and they began to accuse Him of being a product of an illegitimate union.  Then to try to justify their statement they tried to claim God as their Father.  The irony of this situation is astounding.  

If Jesus would have said that God was His Father, to them that would have been blasphemy, but now here they are making that claim, when in fact even their lives don’t match up with that claim.

The truth is, that Jesus came from God and now has gone to God.  As Jesus pointed out to them, if they are claiming to be children of God, then they would strive to do the will of their Father, but the reality is that they were indeed doing the will of their father and he is the devil.

Jesus initiated a challenge to them.  It was as though He was saying; look, what I am saying and what you are saying are two different things, but you have yet to find me in sin.  He then points out to them that if they really are of God, then they would hear God’s Words.  Their actions speak for themselves.

That made their blood begin to rise and they accused Him of being a half-breed Samaritan as well as having a devil.

As Jesus spoke with them He tried to help them to see who He was, but they had Him in a box thinking that the Messiah would do things that Jesus was not doing.  Their assumptions of who Jesus was supposed to be was not based on the prophetic word, but on a constructed thought process based on their worldview.

Jesus made the statement “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death”.  This angered them some more and they began to compare Jesus against Abraham and the prophets.  Jesus wanting to bring them to Himself said to them; in my own words, if I would say that I don’t know the Father, I would be just like you and be a liar.

The statement that Jesus made that before Abraham was “I Am”, was understood by all of them there.  Jesus was making a claim to deity.  God was known by their ancestors as the I AM, and so they understood Jesus’ claim.  The Jewish leaders then took stones to throw at Jesus.  This indicates that murder was indeed in their hearts, and that Jesus wasn’t just saying things off the cuff.

What does it mean that Jesus is the I AM?

Jesus is the fulfillment of everything, every promise, and that everything points to Him.

Walking in Truth

2 John; 3 John

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 4

These epistles have been written decades after Paul and Peter have met with their death, which leaves John as the sole surviving Original Apostle. John continues to promote the Way of Christ which is Truth even though he is aged.

Key Themes: Love and Truth

Deuteronomy 32:4 ~God is a God of Truth
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psalm 25:10
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

John 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

For the Sake of Truth

Genuine love cannot be held or expressed unless we live and walk in truth. Truth is the basis for God-like love.

Truth is always an absolute and if we do not subscribe to the absolutes of God’s Word, we leave ourselves open to sin and the end will always be death.

James 1:15 “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

“The elect Lady and her children” has been interpreted several different ways. Some people have said the elect lady was John’s wife, others have said that she was a reference to a church; regardless of who she was, the doctrine that John teaches from this Epistle is Truth that is inspired by God for our edification.

Believers love another “in the Truth” which means without dissimulation.

Romans 12:9-10 9 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

What about a social love?

John 4:24 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The only way we can truly love “in truth” is for us to walk in truth and our love will be in truth as well. John 4:24 says we are to worship God in spirit and in truth. Truth comes from God, Love comes from God and they both come together as we become more like God. Loving each other in truth is more than a social love, or showing kindness toward each other. It involves showing love and respect for each other because we are living and walking in truth. This means that we will sacrifice for the good of each other and encourage each other to do what is right.

Truth and Love repeatedly occur in these two epistles. They also appear in 1 John and the Gospel of John.

Agape` Love (God’s Love) is a self-sacrificing love that is devoted to God and to each other.

Genuine Love for God results in a natural obedience to His commands or Laws. God’s Love is so much about loving others and as we yield ourselves to Him, His Love flows through us more naturally than before.

1 John 2:5
“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

Today, what deceivers are declaring that Jesus did not come as the scripture says?

People are being deceived through the doctrines of:
Atheism
Agnosticism
Evolutionism
Jehovah’s Witness
Mormons
Islam
Some factions of “Christianity” who deny the power 2 Timothy 3:5 5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away”.
Those who profess Christianity but refuse to live in accordance with God’s revealed laws.

How should we relate to family, friends, acquaintances who teach and live false doctrines concerning marriage, war, abortion, and so on?

We always need to be respectful of them, but we should also seek to be redemptive in our dealings with them. We may need to limit our interactions with them for the sake of our own family. To wish them God’s Blessing or to say God go with you further substantiates them in their position.

With this I would also say, Do we recognize the danger of false doctrines when it hits close home or does it because it is our physical family or those we have known for years make it less of a false doctrine? God forbid that we should become numb to the deceptions that Satan brings into our midst. Numbness is a precursor to actually falling for the deception.

Should we hear a known false teacher?
What if he or she has some good thoughts?

Are you validating them and exposing others to their doctrines?

A False teacher will always look at truth through their worldview and will also speak it as such. So truth will be tainted with either a false undertone or a false overtone.

Gaius was a faithful brother in the church who had prospered spiritually. He walked in truth, and was known for his hospitality to others.

Romans 12:13 “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”

Titus 1:8 “But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;”

Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

1 Peter 4:9-11 “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Who was Diotrephes?
Diotrephes was a man mentioned in the Third Epistle of John (verses 9–11). His name means "nourished by Jupiter". "Diotrephes is not a particularly common name."
In addition to being ambitious, proud, disrespectful of apostolic authority, rebellious, and inhospitable, the author of the letter says that Diotrephes tried to hinder those desiring to show hospitality to the brothers and to expel these from the congregation. Not even the location of Diotrephes' church can be determined from the letter.

Taken from the life of Diotrephes, He actually sought for the highest place and put down the apostles in order raise his standing in the church. 3 John says he spoke malicious words concerning them. When a person was hospitable to one of the true prophets he would excommunicate them.

What are ways that we seek for preeminence?
While there is nothing wrong with sharing your opinion, to have to share your two cents worth in every situation, or to speak for the sake of being heard, or to have the last word speak to me of control.
In a church setting, when we speak, we need to be in tune with God so that when we speak it is God speaking through us and not our own thoughts that get brought to the fore-front.

****
2 John
1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.
12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

****

3 John
1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

*****

Determining a false Prophet by the Didache
A document established by the Early Church preceding AD 150

11:5 But he must not remain more than one day, or two, if there's a need. If he stays three days, he is a false prophet.
11:6 And when the apostle goes away, let him take nothing but bread to last him until his next night of lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet.
11:7 In addition, if any prophet speaks in the Spirit, you shall not try or judge him; for every sin will be forgiven, but this sin cannot be forgiven.
11:8 But not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet; only he is a prophet who has the ways of the Lord about him. By their ways will the false prophet and the prophet be known.
11:9 Any prophet who orders a meal in the Spirit does not eat it; if he does, he is indeed a false prophet.
11:10 And any prophet who teaches the truth, but does not do what he teaches, is a false prophet.
11:11 When a prophet, proved true, works for the mystery of the church in the world but does not teach others to do what he himself does, he will not be judged among you, for his judgment is already before God. The ancient prophets acted in this way, also.
11:12 But whoever says in the Spirit, "Give me money,"or something else like this, you must not listen to him. But if he tells you to give for the sake of others who are in need, let no one judge him.

‪#‎2John‬ ‪#‎3John‬ ‪#‎Love‬ ‪#‎Truth‬ ‪#‎LoveandTruth‬

Fellowship, Its Source, Its Conditions, and How it Plays Out

Conditions of Fellowship
1 John 1, 2

The Fellowship of Christ

The Source of Fellowship

Genesis 1:1, 2, 26
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth

Taking a look at Genesis 1:1, 2, 26 we are actually transporting ourselves back into a time when there was nothing, nothing but God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Without going into a huge discussion as to whether there was just one God or three gods, we will just say at this moment that God existed in three Persons. The existence of God by His own nature was Unity, Communion, and Fellowship even before the world itself had been created.

Reading through Genesis 1, John 1, and Revelation 1 while comparing it to our study today and its text of 1 John 1 and then for good measure we through in verses like John 1:12, John 3:16 and John 10:9-10 we begin to recognize that life, all life has existed eternally with God, and that our believing in God the Son (Jesus Christ) will give us power to become a son of God.

Our text for this study refers to the Word of Life that was seen with the author’s eyes, and was touched by his hands. This shows that this is no ordinary word, book, etc…. The Word of Life as described here in 1 John 1:1 and in John 1:1 indicates something far more intriguing than some inanimate word. What we see is a Person (yes, even part of the Godhead) that is known and understood as the Word. It is when He speaks that things happen and specifically in regards to the study today, when He speaks life into the heart and soul of all who have believed on his name, life will begin to bloom for an eternity.

As a son or daughter of God we now have access to an eternal life which can be experienced here in this life or in the future.

Eternal life is not necessarily a physically eternal life, but is spiritual. The course of all mankind shall indeed come upon us and our bodies shall lie beneath the ground until that great day when our Savior shall return in His Glory and our bodies though they be decayed shall be lifted to meet our spirits in the air!

John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 10:9-10
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The Webster definition of fellowship is as follows:
1
: companionship, company
2
a : community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience
b : the state of being a fellow or associate
3
: a company of equals or friends : association
4
: the quality or state of being comradely
5
obsolete : membership, partnership
6
a : the position of a fellow (as of a university)
b : the stipend of a fellow
c : a foundation for the providing of such a stipend

Biblical Fellowship is defined by a deep relationship with one another, not just based on standards accepted by society such as block parties, college frats, or even mere communication. Biblical Fellowship is a communication of your soul and spirit with another person on a deep spiritual level.

When we say that we have Fellowship with God are we just sitting down with him over a cup of morning joe with His word and reading a bit and then going away and saying, “wow, that was great”? Now don’t get me wrong, having a cup of coffee on hand while reading the Bible is not necessarily wrong, but it seems to be somewhat impersonal, especially when trying to hear what Almighty God has to say to us today.

A lot of our communication with each other is merely surface. If we even talk with each other face to face anymore, we may ask each other how we are doing, or what’s going on in your life, but to have a spiritual communion is almost unheard of in today’s churches. I believe that this is a result of our relationship with God being surface as well, we go through the motions of what seems to be expected, but our heart’s need is not really met. We just pass it off as, well sure I had my devotion today. “WHAT IS DEVOTION ANYWAY?”

The Conditions of Fellowship

Many people would get all excited about this and start spitting out Bible verses like Matthew 7:1. While it is true, we are not to be judges 1 Timothy 5:20 offers a narrative that indicates that sin must be dealt with. I have heard all kinds of justifications for sin including, “their spiritual indicator levels are not as tuned as yours”. That may be my brothers and sisters, but then what about discipleship? Do we have a plan in place for discipleship training? Are we striving to bring our brothers and sisters that are weaker in faith to a place where God’s name can be glorified through their life of holiness?

When these verses in 1 John talk about abiding in Christ, it means we are tapped into his power and authority and will walk as Jesus walked, Holy and Blameless before the Father.

So who has the greater sin? The brother who can’t get victory over his sin, or the church who refuses to acknowledge that discipleship is instituted by God for the furtherance of His Great Name?

1 John 2:4
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Walking in Fellowship

Here are some pointers that show whether you “know” God.
John 13:35
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 John 2:3-12
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

There is a number of things these verses point out that are indicators of where we are in relation to our Fellowship with God or whether we really know Him.

They are as follows:

• If we have love one for another
• If we keep his commandments
• He/she will walk as Jesus walked
• He/she will have compassion on his brother/sister
• He/she will abide in the light - will not live in darkness

What does it mean to hate your brother? Does it mean for you to narrow your eyes at him every time he walks by and wish he we in another church or maybe even dead? Does hating your brother mean that you have despised him?

How is the word abideth used in 1 John 2:6?
The word abideth has the meaning of dwelling, sojourning, to stay continually, a permanent place of abode including in Christ.
We may claim to be abiding in Christ, but by analysis are we? Is abiding in Christ something that happens automatically by saying a little prayer? Are we abiding in Christ when we have obvious split focus?

1 John 2:6
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

True Christian Fellowship will never be reached unless we are abiding in Christ and He is our only focus!

‪#‎fellowship‬ ‪#‎abidinginchrist‬ ‪#‎devotion‬ ‪#‎discipleship‬ ‪#‎communion‬‪#‎comradeship‬

Elisha and The Shunammite Woman - 2 Kings 4

Our study today is summed up by giving personal examples of how if you want God to intervene in your life then you must ask! God knows your need you say, well so He does; but the Word of God in various places that we must ask before we receive good at the hand of God! There are some standard blessings that apply in most scenarios like life, and health and so on. This life is about trust and honor and we do live in a cursed world so circumstances arise giving birth to sorrow, and pain, maybe even hopelessness; but we must ask, and if God blesses us by turning our affliction away then we are blessed, if God blesses us by making us stronger of faith by taking us on a real journey of mountains and valleys then we are blessed. We could be blessed by God giving us wisdom where we lacked it.

Numbers 27:21 (Ask Counsel)
2 Chronicles 20:4-30 (Ask help from God) 2 Chronicles 20:4,17
Zechariah 10:1 (Ask for rain, even when there has been a season of dryness - Spiritual and physical)
Matthew 7:7-12 Luke 11:11-13 (Ask, Seek, Knock - Good gifts)
James 1:5 (Ask Wisdom)

The woman in our study today had no ulterior motives when offering Elisha the extra room she and her husband had made for him. She apparently had been moved by God to prepare first a meal for him and then a room for him to spend the night. When Elisha offered to speak well of her to the higher authorities, she indicated she was content to live among her people.

The village of Shunem was located on a piece of land that had been designated for the Tribe of Issachar. Joshua 19:17-23 It was located about three miles from Jezreel which was known as the city of the kings. It was here that the saga of Naboth’s Vineyard played out resulting in his death.

This woman for whom we have no name recorded, was barren and could have no children. Elisha, as a thank you had his servant keep his eyes on some way he could help her to thank her for her kindness. Through this a special son/child was born as a miracle for her husband was old. God honored Elisha's request to give her a son.

The Shunammite woman's son, who was promised by Elisha as a spokesman/prophet for God did on a hot morning while he was helping his father with the harvest. He had complained of a severe headache and his father had sent him home to be cared for there. He died about noon and his mother took his body up to Elisha's room and laid it on Elisha's bed. She then went to get Elisha.

There was no panic, no deep distress after the death of her child. She didn’t even tell her husband that their child was dead. He had known the son wasn’t feeling well, and had taken him home to be taken care of there.

She told her husband that she was going to the prophet and “it would be well”. She had faith that God’s servant would be able to raise her son. She uttered no angry words to the prophet of God, she didn’t say “What kind of God would do that”.

The Shunammite woman sought, and knocked physically when she went after the prophet. There are three steps to asking: just plain asking “May I have this situation reversed”, Seeking is a more intense type of asking and then there is beating on the gates of Heaven (metaphorically of course they are not shut by day nor by night).

The words she used, “It is well” is the same word used for peace and safety. The Strong’s Concordance says, “safe - for example, well, happy, friendly, also as an abstract meaning it means welfare, such as health prosperity and peace, to do or ask a favor.

The definition of Shalom is quite varied and to determine what exactly she meant could be difficult, but there are several things we can take away from this: First of all, there was peace, not panic; Secondly, she was seeking for someone’s welfare Thirdly, She was asking a favour of both her husband and Elisha.

There are a couple of questions that arise from this account. What was Elisha doing at Mt. Carmel? How great was the distance between Shunem and Mt. Carmel?

Mt. Carmel had been the site of a great spiritual victory for Elijah and there had been built a school for the prophets instructing them in the ways of God. Elisha was an itinerant prophet who made his way round to the various schools that had been set up for the prophets. The distance between Shunem and Mt. Carmel is roughly 30 Miles. That would equate to about a 9 Hour Trek on foot.

She was considered a “great woman” socially. Her standing in the community was that of respect, and wealth. People would have looked up to her, and even though she could have sent her servant to get Elisha she went humbly to plead at his feet. She actually pressed the servant she was traveling with to travel fast and not to worry about whether she can keep up. She said, “I will tell you when to slow down”.

Elisha seeing her approach him and kneeling at his feet clutching his ankles as a means of displaying the desperation she was in.

Though she wasn't panicked she wanted God to come through for her. Elisha recognized the agony in her spirit and though God hadn't revealed to him ahead of time about the family, he was ready to help.

God could have revealed this to him, but for some reason this time He didn't. We don't know the why behind God choosing to not reveal this especially when God usually did reveal things ahead of time to alert him as to what issues he was going to be facing.

What can we learn from it though? Sometimes things happen to us that make us wonder how that will work out for our good. In this case she lost her only son/child. Consider with me what would have been the end result if she had not appealed with God to intervene. She was probably praying before that her son would be healed, but now that he was dead, she was not going to give up. Sometimes our situations seem to be hopeless, but if we give up we will not see the work of God!

Matthew 7:7,8

When you have placed your life, all of your life under God’s control; whether it is the emotional part of your life, the Spiritual part of your life or the physical part of your life, then you will understand that God as your Sovereign King will work things out in your story. Romans 8:28

I do not want to leave a false impression that everything will always work out the way we want them to, but it will ultimately be up to God then to bless us in the way He sees fit. A lost job, A death in the family, A broken down vehicle, etc…, is not a blessing; but God’s blessing can come out of it whether it is for the purification of the saint, or some other blessing. Sometimes we become so materialistic that we believe that God is not blessing us unless it is a material blessing!

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The Prophet and The Widow

Rehoboam (Solomon’s Son) and Jeroboam (one of the Head Craftsmen), faced off about the high taxes that the Israelites had to pay the to the Order of the Kingdom of Israel. This resulted in a disintegration of the kingdom of Israel, and 10 of the Tribes or family groups went with Jeroboam to form a splinter, a big splinter of the kingdom.

As we saw before Jeroboam was concerned more about his power than his people and set up idol worship as a means of controlling whether they should see what true worship is like in Jerusalem. After The Northern Kingdom went with Jeroboam, they had a series of bad kings with one rising up and taking the previous one down, or by inheritance.

Today, we go into the study of the kingship of Ahab and the Prophet of God during his reign, pulling out some key elements to display God’s Message.

1 Kings 17:1-12

Prior to 1 Kings 17 we know nothing about Elijah. Many people have speculated as to who he was and have come up with theories which cannot be proved or could be disputed. Some people believe that he was either God pre-incarnate or an angel in human form, but James 5:17 lays to rest either of those theories. Elijah is an example of faithfulness during a time of nationwide rejection of the truth.

We open up this study with a man appearing on the scene that we have no previous knowledge of, save that he was a Tishbite.

Now the name Tishbite, when broken down means sojourner, but could also refer to a location. Josephus refers to Elijah as being from Teshbon (a Country or Province in Gilead). The name Elijah means Jehovah is God and as the story ensues, Elijah’s life remains fairly close to the meaning of his name.

Ahab, was the son of a wicked king, who had done evil as had Jeroboam. The account we have before us says that Ahab was more evil than all who were before him. Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, who was a king of Sidon, and together they built an altar to Baal the Zidonian god, and Asherah the Zidonian goddess. Ethbaal was a priest-king of Baal, and his daughter Jezebel had picked up that spiritual power and transferred it into the worship in Israel. The name Jezebel itself means “where is the “Prince”? This is believed to be a direct reference to Baal who was a god of the underworld and their search for Spring and New Life! They believed that when Baal showed his face the crops and life itself flourished.

There is a few key points in verse 1 that we must not miss.

Elijah was addressing Ahab, that wicked king whose wife was a priestess of Baal, a god whose appearance was believed by them to bring New Life.

Elijah though facing a king who could have had his head, spoke the Word of The Lord.

Elijah stood before God, whose Message he brought to Ahab and Jezebel.

This drought that Elijah prophesied to the Israelites about had a previously issued warning in Deuteronomy 11:16,17 that when their hearts became deceived and they worshipped other gods, the wrath of God would fall on them and the heavens would issue no rain.

After meeting king Ahab in Samaria and giving him the warning about there being a drought, Elijah, under the command and provision of the Lord was told to escape Eastward and hide by the brook Cherith. Now Cherith was on the East side of the Jordan River, whereas Samaria was on the western side. God was preparing Elijah for a profound and miraculous ministry that required his complete trust in Jehovah. As Elijah lived by the brook, every morning and evening, ravens brought him bread and meat for his sustenance. “With God all things are possible.”

So where did these ravens get these tidbits of food the for the prophet to eat? I sincerely doubt these were leftover crumbs that some caravan discarded. Why do I feel this was not an option? Food was scarce, so if you had it; you didn’t waste it.

I figure that this was probably bread and meat from heaven that was specifically sent for the nourishment of God’s Prophet.

Now when there is a drought in a place, eventually the rivers and the creeks dry up and the avenue that God had provided for Elijah had left as the last drop of rain water evaporated into the air.

Elijah’s time of preparation was over and God wanted him to move onto the next phase of his ministry. Elijah was sent to Zarephath, a city in Sidon near the place where Jezebel, that wicked queen hailed from. This was a Gentile city, that was in the heart of idol worship, yet here is where the call of God sent Elijah.

We don’t know for sure if she was a believer before Elijah met up with her or even if she had ever heard of the True God, but it would seem likely that she had heard about God from someone. When Solomon built God’s Temple in Jerusalem, and through the wisdom that God had given him, one would sure think that news like that along with the glory of the kingdom of Israel would have made it that far North (about 100 Miles or so). We do know that news had reached into the Land of Sheba, either known as Ethiopia or South Africa.

There was a widow in the city of Zarephath that God had prepared for this occasion and Elijah was sent to her, not so much for his benefit, but for hers. This widow, a citizen of that Gentile city was preparing to make her last meal and then she and her son would starve.

God’s people were forsaking him, yet among the Gentiles, there was a heart that was ripe for the Gospel Message, So God was moving in her heart and Elijah’s heart as they both were prepared for the meeting that was God ordained.

How far widespread was this drought? The rejection that Israel chose to send God’s way created a traumatic situation, not only for them but the neighboring countries around them. We notice that as far away as Sidon, their food supply was running out. The widow in our lesson shows us just how desperate things were for them as well as the Israelites.

Over and over again, God has displayed His mercy to a person who has humbled themselves before Him, no matter what background they come from. It had seemed clear, that the Israelites were God’s Chosen people, but once again, the popular belief was pushed aside so yet another soul could enter into God’s Kingdom. This was made available through the rejection of God’s Chosen People refusing to acknowledge Him as their Lord.

This widow’s obedience is amazing! She had no reason to trust Elijah and his God, but then what did she have to lose. Her whole life had been predicated on the lie that her god and goddess would bring the fruit from the ground, but when the time had come for a harvest these last 3 years; but alas, there was none.

As Elijah instructed her to bring him a cake first, she makes an interesting statement. She said, “As the Lord thy God Liveth”. First off, She is recognizing, There is a Living God. Secondly, she is recognizing Elijah as his Prophet. Thirdly, that she doesn’t know Him.

Elijah’s prophecy about her barrel of meal and cruse of oil came true and she began to warm up to the prophet and his God, the Living God who could create meal and oil from nothing. No matter how she scraped her barrel and cruse out, there was always some there the next time she needed it.

God’s provision for her, had brought her to the place of believing in Him.

The next step in this plan that God had for her and Elijah was one that had never been done before. Though it hadn’t been done before, Abraham had believed that God could do it for his son Isaac after he had sacrificed him. Hebrews 11:17-19

This widow, having lost her husband beforehand, now had he only child, a son, become sick and die. She immediately assumed that the grace of God was no longer on her head due to the entrenched ideologies that were ingrained into her belief system.

God understands the fears and confusions of our hearts. This woman was grief-stricken, and out of her grief, she spoke hastily. We, to speak hastily to the Lord at times when we don’t understand what is going on in our lives. We say things like “Why me Lord?”

We so easily forget the blessings of the Lord as soon as hardship comes. The Children of Israel forget the blessings of the Lord whether things were going good or badly for them. God is a Patient God and He was displaying His longsuffering nature to her so that she would understand more in depth who He is.

We may criticize this lady for accusing Elijah of bringing her son’s death upon her, but she was outside God’s chosen people. True she was serving the Lord now, and serving His Prophet, but how could she know that at some point her sins wouldn’t come back to haunt her? This was a legitimate fear for her. As a Gentile, she did not have the same rights before God as a born Jew would have, and any proselytized Gentile would have felt that. Today, through Jesus, all Gentiles have an open relationship with God, even to a greater degree than what the Old Testament Jews would have been able to have.

Sometimes when we experience traumatic incidents, we immediately assume that God has left us because of our unrighteousness. While that may be the case on occasion, God may actually be closer than we think. In the story we have before us, God had prepared this situation, not that He wanted her to experience her son dying, but that He wanted her to experience her son becoming alive again!

The purpose of this was to prove that He alone is God and that He creates Life!

The widow’s last testimony we read of is “I know that thou art a man of God, and the Word of the Lord in your mouth is truth”. She no longer is calling God Elijah’s God, but the grammatical sense is denoting ownership of God. In other words, she now was a personal believer in God.

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