Principles to Remember in the Warfare of Life

2 Kings 6:8–23 (NLT)

8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”

9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”

10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.

11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”

12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”

13 “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.”

14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.

16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

18 As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.

19 Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria.

20 As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”

22 “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.”

23 So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.

INTRODUCTION:

I- GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE ENEMY IS PLANNING AND WHAT TO DO IN RESPONSE. (2 Kings 6:8-12)

2 Kings 6:8–12 (NLT)

8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”

9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”

10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.

11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”

12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”

A- The enemy is constantly scheming to bring about our demise. (2 Kings 6:8)

2 Kings 6:8 (NLT)

8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”

1- For Israel, the physical enemy was Aram.

a- The King of Aram made his schemes and strategized on ways to defeat Israel.

b- This strategizing took place in an on-going way.

2- Sometimes it seams that the tails we face come in clusters.

3- The reality in both situations is that there is an enemy that is outside the physical realm who seeks to defeat us.

(1 Peter 5:8)

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Satan tried repeatedly to defeat the Lord. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Matthew 4:1–11 (NLT)

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple,

6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

B- There is not a plan the enemy makes that the Lord does not know. (2 Kings 6:9)

2 Kings 6:9 (NLT)

9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”

1- Every time the King of Aram planned an attack on Israel, God knew all of the details.

a- Each time, God proved his sovereignty to both Israel and Aram.

(1) Remember, Aram was an idol-worshipping country.

Worshipped the idol Rimmon (2 Kings 5:18) - the deity of wind, rain, and storms whose temple was at Damascus.

2 Kings 5:18 (NLT)

18 However, may the Lord pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the Lord pardon me when I bow, too.”

God proved to the King of Aram and his generals that the Lord was more powerful than their god Rimmon.

(2) Israel had strayed and were not true to God, but were still His people.

Through Elisha and other prophets, God continually tried to draw His people back to himself.

King Joram was son of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.

He was an idol worshipper (2 Kings 3:1-3)

2 Kings 3:1–3 (NLT)

1 Ahab’s son Joram began to rule over Israel in the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twelve years.

2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up.

3 Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had committed and led the people of Israel to commit.

God proved to King Joram and the leaders of Israel that He (Jehovah) is God.

2- There is not any plan of the enemy (Satan) or his minions (human or spirits) that takes God by surprise!

a- God knows the secret thoughts of all people.

Jesus knew what people were thinking. (Luke 5:22)

Luke 5:22 (NLT)

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?

When Peter was placed in jail by Herod, God knew his intentions of killing Peter. (Acts 12:4)

Acts 12:4 (NLT)

4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.

C- There must be a proper response to the guidance of God. (2 Kings 6:10-12)

2 Kings 6:10–12 (NLT)

10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.

11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”

12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”

1- King Joram responded properly to the warnings sent by God through Elisha.

2- The King of Aram could not understand how King Joram could thwart his schemes over and again.

3- When God gives us directions, the proper response is obedience.

(1 John 2:5)

1 John 2:5 (NLT)

5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

II- TRUST IN GOD WHEN THE SITUATION APPEARS IMPOSSIBLE. (2 Kings 6:13-23)

2 Kings 6:13–23 (NLT)

13 “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.”

14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.

16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

18 As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.

19 Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria.

20 As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”

22 “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.”

23 So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.

A- Trust God and keep doing what God has already revealed for you to do. (2 Kings 6:13)

2 Kings 6:13 (NLT)

13 “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.”

1- In spite-of the conflict and all that was taking place, Elisha continued to trust God and continue doing what God had called him to do.

a- He did not try to run and hide.

b- He did not draw back from carrying out what God had called him to do.

2- You and I must learn to trust God in the midst of the conflict.

a- We need not run and hide.

b- We must not draw back from the pathway of obedience.

Because of the power and faithfulness of our God.

(1 John 4:4)

1 John 4:4 (NLT)

4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

B- Refuse to allow the voices of fear to incite fear in you. (2 Kings 6:14-15)

2 Kings 6:14–15 (NLT)

14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.

1- Elisha’s servant reacted in fear when he saw all of Aram’s forces surrounding the city of Dothan.

2- Elisha was not taken in by those around him who were reacting in fear.

3- You and I must resist the tendency to be drawn into reacting in fear because of the people around us who react in fear to the circumstances in the world.

a- People will go to pieces, make up conspiracy theories, and react under the control of the flesh in the face of danger.

b- People will try to get you and I to give into fear instead of trusting God.

c- Note the Lord’s directions:

(Isaiah 8:11-14)

Isaiah 8:11–14 (NLT)

11 The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said,

12 “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.

13 Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.

14 He will keep you safe. But to Israel and Judah he will be a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

C- Remember that there is more support physical eyes can see. (2 Kings 6:16-17)

2 Kings 6:16–17 (NLT)

16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

1- Elisha knew that all of Aram’s forces could not match the armies of God that were at his disposal!

2- Elisha asked the Lord to open the eyes of his servant and enable him to see God’s armies that were protecting them.

3- You and I need to realize that we have the support of God’s spiritual armies and the awesome power of the true and living God!

(Hebrews 1:14)

Hebrews 1:14 (NLT)

14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

(2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)

2 Thessalonians 1:7–8 (NLT)

7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,

8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.

D- Rely on God to win the battle in creative ways. (2 Kings 6:18-23)

2 Kings 6:18–23 (NLT)

18 As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.

19 Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria.

20 As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”

22 “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.”

23 So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.

1- God sometimes uses unusual ways to defeat the enemy.

a- God used temporary blindness and disorientation to defeat the forces of Aram.

God often uses strange generals to deliver victory in our personal battles.

He used blindness to help Israel and Aram see God’s glory and power.

He used death to demonstrate God’s resurrection power in the life of Lazarus. (John 11:1-44)

(John 11:40-44)

John 11:40–44 (NLT)

40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”

41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.

42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”

43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

b- God has higher goals that we do not understand.

(Isaiah 55:9)

Isaiah 55:9 (NLT)

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

CONCLUSION:

I- GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE ENEMY IS PLANNING AND WHAT TO DO IN RESPONSE.

II- TRUST IN GOD WHEN THE SITUATION APPEARS IMPOSSIBLE.