Faith in What We Do Not See

2 Kings 6:9–17 NKJV

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.” 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. 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.

We just like the servant tend to trust what we can see versus what we can not see. We need to trust what we can not see more that what we can see.

Matthew 11:6 NKJV

6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Jesus does not want anyone to sin or fall away from the faith because of Him. How could that ever happen? Doubt,fear,uncertainty, and trusting more in what you see that what you do not see.

The preceding verses show John being arrested and now doubt has set in. Is Jesus worth what he is going through? He has doubts. We all have doubts. But how could John doubt?

John 1:29 NKJV

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

He saw the dove and heard the Voice from Heaven:

Matthew 3:17 NKJV

17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Wow!! What an experience. How could John ever doubt? This was not the only occurence.

John 1:35–36 NKJV

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

How could John ever doubt? He broadcasted to anyone who would listen at least twice. How could we ever doubt? Think about all the wonderful things we have experienced? We can have an awesome time in His presence and then we get a phone call and all the power and grace we just experienced seems to go out the window. Has it left? No, our focus has left.

John had to decide if Jesus was worth the sacrifice. John was in prison But this prison was more torturous to John than maybe someone else. John had lived in the desert. He had always been in the outdoors. Now he was living below ground, shackled, and probably could not see the sun. He sent His disciples to find out if Jesus is worth it.

Jesus could of been stern and harsh with John after everything he had seen and been a part of, but no, He was kind and gentle.

Matthew 11:4–5 NKJV

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

We need to be reminded of power of the gospel in those times of fear and doubt. The servant of Elisha had fear and doubt just like John and just like we do when he saw the huge Syrian army. But these are the times when we need to have more faith in what we can not see than what we can see.

There are many things we can not see, but we still have faith in them.

Oxygen - we believe we will continue to breath something we can not see to continue living another moment

Electricity - we believe if we plug a lamp in, a substance we can not see will make this light bulb give illumination

Gravity

Trust

Love

Hunger

Microwaves

Heat

Cold

Fear

There are many other things we do not see but have faith they exist. How could we be so absurd to believe in things we can not see? We have seen the unseen manifested in the seen by the results. How come we are not as absolute in believing the unseen of God? We have experienced grace though we can not see it.

Situations may seem dire, reports heart breaking, finances questionable, and family in a an uproar. What do we do then? How do we have faith in what we cannot see?

We take a page out of the Great Book.

2 Kings 6:15 NKJV

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?”

Dear God, the reports are heart breaking, my finances are questionable at best. and my family is in an uproar; what do I do?

2 Kings 6:16 NKJV

16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Jesus Christ, the son of the Living God, the lover of your soul, the one who every knee will bow, tells us this morning, Do not be afraid.

2 Kings 6:17 NKJV

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.

The question becomes is Jesus worth it to you? Is there any sacrifice not worth making for Him? He does not want any of us to give up because of our lack of faith.

"Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies)"

You hear me when I call You are my morning song Though darkness fills the night It cannot hide the light

Whom shall I fear

You crush the enemy Underneath my feet You are my sword and shield Though troubles linger still

Whom shall I fear

My strength is in Your name For You alone can save You will deliver me Yours is the victory Whom shall I fear

And nothing formed against me shall stand You hold the whole world in Your hands I'm holding on to Your promises

You are faithful

And nothing formed against me shall stand You hold the whole world in Your hands I'm holding on to Your promises

I know who goes before me I know who stands behind

The one who reigns forever He is a friend of mine The God of angel armies Is always by my side

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/christomlin/whomshallifeargodofangelarmies.html

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Acts 16:31 NKJV

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.