Seeing the Invisible Army
Notes
Transcript
14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.
20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!
21 Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”
22 But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.
Introduction (5 minutes)
Introduction (5 minutes)
Sermon Series: The Weapons of Our Warfare
Have you ever faced a situation that felt completely overwhelming—where you felt surrounded, outnumbered, and unsure of what to do?
This is exactly the kind of moment we find in 2 Kings 6—a moment where fear meets faith, where spiritual blindness meets divine vision, and where human enemies meet God’s grace.
Background:
Background:
Elisha was the successor of Elijah and He was God’s prophet during a spiritually dark time in the northern kingdom of Israel. This man of God Elisha performed more miracles than anyone in the Bible and is second only to the Lord Jesus Himself.
The king of Syria (Aram) is trying to wage war on Israel.
They have been attacking Israel, but NOT by full scale military campaign, nut by raids, ambushes.. (talk) MUCH like what the enemy does, he is already defeated… war is over
- Yet every ambush fails—because God is revealing their plans to Elisha.
Main Idea:
Main Idea:
When we see with spiritual eyes, we find that the enemy is surrounded, not us.
Lessons Today:
Heed God’s Warnings Against Enemy Strikes.
Do not fear - ask God for Spiritual Vision.
Be People of Grace - It is God Who Won it for You!
1. Heed God’s Warnings Against Enemy Strikes. (vv. 8–12)
1. Heed God’s Warnings Against Enemy Strikes. (vv. 8–12)
Key truth: God’s Word always goes before His people.
The king of Syria is frustrated because all his secret ambushes fail.
Why? Because Elisha is receiving divine intelligence.
8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”
10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”
12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
Illustration: Much better than military satellites that see from space, God sees into every boardroom, war room, and heart. Nothing escapes Him.
Application:
God is our protector, He is all-knowing, and He is all-powerful.
God is not surprised by your battles—He goes before you, He is behind you and He surrounds you.
Trust His Word. Elisha didn’t fight with swords but with revelation.
BUT WE HAVE TO HEED HIS WARNINGS FROM HIS WORD!
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
WE SHOULD NOT FEAR THE ENEMY.
Are you listening for God’s voice before reacting to your enemy’s move?
How do we react to the enemy’s threats - with fear and anxiety?
DL Moody Story:
A woman told evangelist D. L. Moody that she had found a wonderful promise that gave her peace when she was troubled, and she quoted
3 Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
Moody said he had a better promise for her, and he quoted:
Isaiah 12:2 (NKJV)
2 Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
We START WITH WHO GOD IS!
2. Do not fear - ask God for Spiritual Vision. (vv. 13–17)
2. Do not fear - ask God for Spiritual Vision. (vv. 13–17)
Key truth: Fear clouds our vision; faith opens our eyes.
13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.”
And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.”
14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
The servant wakes up and sees the Syrian army—panic sets in.
15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
This is the language of defeat before a battle even starts.
But Elisha says in verse 16:
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
An assurance that is similar to the New Testament assurance in 1 John 4:4
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Elisha prays, “O Lord, open his eyes that he may see.”
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
IMAGE OF THE HORSES AND CHARIOTS
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS: First Aspect
For believers - let us pray that we see with spiritual eyes.
Illustration: Ever seen a 3D image come into focus when you put on the right glasses?
Faith is the lens that lets you see God's hand even when your enemies seem to surround you.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Application:
Many people today—inside and outside the church—are overwhelmed by anxiety, fear, and discouragement because they’re walking by sight, not by faith.
The stronghold isn’t the enemy outside—it’s the fear inside.
2 Kings 20:15 - The Battle is not ours, it is the Lord’s.
PRAY TO God to open your eyes. The battle isn’t yours—it’s the Lord’s
3. Be People of Grace - It is God Who Won it for You! (vv. 18–23)
3. Be People of Grace - It is God Who Won it for You! (vv. 18–23)
Key truth: God's power is matched by His mercy.
18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.
20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!
21 Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”
Spiritual Blindness - Second Aspect
The Blindness of those who do not know God.
Elisha prays again—this time, not for opened eyes, but blinded ones.
He leads the Syrian army into Samaria—right into the hands of the king of Israel.
The king asks: “Shall I strike them down?”
But Elisha says:
“Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” (v. 22)
This is a type of God’s New Testament Grace. God is the Same in the Old and the New testaments.
MERCY - IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
GRACE - IS GETTING WHAT WE DO NOT DESERVE
Application:
God not only defeats your enemies—He transforms how you respond to them.
Mercy upon the enemies - people are not really our enemies. They are just lost and trapped by Satan. Just as the Syrian Army was blinded, there are billions of people blinded by Satan.
Mercy is a powerful weapon.
Romans 12:20: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him...”
20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Jesus said in Matthew 5:44:
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Examples: Christ on the cross, Stephen being stoned.
That’s not weakness—that’s kingdom power.
The Grace of God - Israel was ruled by an evil king, King Joram. But His armies still defend Israel, because of the covenant that He made with the patriarchs.
It is because of the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus, that God protects His people.
Result:
“So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.”
Mercy ended the war better than swords could.
This is not saying that the warfare will end, but if we fight with spiritual weapons, the enemy cannot touch us nor hinder the work that God has set for us to do.
Conclusion: (5 minutes)
Conclusion: (5 minutes)
When you feel surrounded, remember this story.
Elisha didn’t panic—he prayed.
He didn’t retaliate—he relied on God.
He didn’t use human weapons—he used spiritual ones.
CALL TO ACTION - Are actually the same lessons today:
Call to Action:
Heed God’s Warnings Against Enemy Strikes.
Do not fear - ask God for Spiritual Vision.
Be People of Grace - It is God Who Won it for You!
What strongholds are you facing today?
What strongholds are you facing today?
Disobedience?
Fear?
Anger?
The lies of the enemy in your mind?
Opposition to the gospel?
Ask God to open your eyes.
Ask God to open your eyes.
You are not alone.
You are not outnumbered.
You are not surrounded. The enemy is.
Final Exhortation:
Final Exhortation:
Let’s stop fighting spiritual battles with fleshly weapons.
Let’s ask God to tear down the mental strongholds and open our eyes to His presence, His power, and His mercy.
Prayer:
Prayer:
“Lord, open our eyes to see the army that surrounds us. Help us fight not with anger or fear, but with faith, prayer, and Your Word. And when victory comes, help us respond with mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
