Knowing the Will of God for Your Life

Our devotional lesson is taken from the book of 2 Kings 6:15-17. There are basic principles of faith that we can apply from this story of Elisha and his servant, which is the focus of this episode.

Gospel in the Air is a podcast ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church. We are located in Maui, Hawaii, USA. Our number is (808) 463-8859. You can also visit our website at www.cornerstonemaui.org or you can send your email to danibanggo@gmail.com.

Transcript

Episode 2.
Topic: The Will of God for You 
Text:  2 Kings 6:15-17

© Danilo M. Banggo

From the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii, I want to greet you a warm aloha! How are you today? It’s another week gone by and here I am again inviting you to join me in this short devotional meditation.  I pray that you may be enlightened with new insights for living as the Holy Spirit reveals His passion for humankind to be saved, that is, that no one should perish but all will come to repentance. 

Our devotional lesson is taken from the book of 2 Kings 6:15-17. I will read to you the following verses: 

 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha (Elay-sha) prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Our devotional mediation is entitled “Knowing the Will of God for your Life.”

The background of our devotion talks about the ensuing battle between Aram (present day, Syria) and the nation of Israel. But despite the enmity between the two warring nations, the prophet Elisha still cured Naaman’s leprosy, an Aramean (Syrian) commander. However, this does not mean that he is siding with them. His loyalty was still with Israel. He knew too well the battle plans of the Arameans against Israel; and thus, he informed the king of Israel about it. Because of this the Aramean king was so enraged against Elisha and ordered his arrest as the most wanted criminal in his kingdom. He sent his finest troops to find him dead or alive. Since the city of Dothan where Elisha was living was very near the border of Aram, they easily penetrated the land and surrounded it with a strong force of army with horses and chariots.  When Elisha’s servant got up early in the morning he was terrified by what he saw. The entire city was under siege with a strong force of Aramean army. He immediately informed Elisha and in fear cried out to him saying, “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” The soldiers were all over the place in full battle gear, routed the entire city and they were about to strike them. 

Can you picture in your mind such a terrified person, running for his life? Is this sound familiar to you? Have you ever been in a situation where you can’t even sleep at night trying to figure out your problem? Has your life been threatened because of a lingering illness or someone whom you love has just passed away? Indeed, no one is exempted from the realities of everyday life accompanied by troubles and pains and fear. Worries of life are just around the corner and we are not immune to its venomous sting because of our fallen nature since the creation of man. This is where Satan comes in because he mastered his art on this subject, to take advantage in our weaknesses. The Bible describes him as a roaring lion that prowls around looking for someone to devour (1 Pet.5: 8).   

But Elisha was not terrified. He was at peace despite the imminent danger. He knows too well that His God is in control of the entire universe. He has nothing to worry about. He was very calm amidst the thundering ruckus of a troubled world.  His faith is beyond measure. He is a man of God. A faithful prophet called by God for a special mission. And what was his response to his shivering servant? “Don’t be afraid those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” In other words, he is echoing God’s assurance to his children who are in the midst of storms of life to “keep still and know that there is God” (Ps.46: 10). Or to paraphrase it, have faith in God and don’t be overcome by fear. Instead of worrying Elisha took time to go to his knees and prayed before the throne of God’s grace and asked not for his needs but instead prayed for the other person, his servant, whose faith in God is under fierce attack. And he prayed a simple prayer for him: “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord granted Elisha’s request and He opened the servant’s eyes, and there he looked around and saw the hills full of heavenly horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

No human mind can comprehend God’s sovereignty. He is omnipotent, all powerful. In fact, the book of Judges Chapter 5 verse 20 confirms this reality that the entire universe will fight with its faithful children against the forces of evil if only they put their trust in the Lord Almighty. Furthermore, Psalm Chapter 20 verse 7 assures our total dependence upon the Lord when we are faced with troubles and fear. It intimates not for us to depend on man or things but on the Almighty God when it says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

There are basic principles of faith that we can apply from this story.

The first principle is that through the lens of faith we can see the invisible.

Often, we are tempted to ask the question “why?” when things seem unfavorable to us despite our greatest effort. And if we are not careful enough, we might as well fall into the same category as that of the servant that has little or no faith at all. But if we rely on God’s promises in His written words, which is the Bible, then in due time He will soon lead us to understand those things that we don’t really understand. When one relies only on his own understanding and knowledge there is no way he can see the things of God. He will end up in the dark, lost and not knowing what to do. But with someone who puts his trust in the Lord - however dark it may seem for him - the Lord will always directs his steps, especially if he commits his plans to Him. Proverbs Chapter 16 verse 3 say, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” In other words, if you put your complete trust in the Lord even though you may not see the way, the Lord will direct every step you take.

 Because of fear man loses his grip of faith and stumble along the way. This is the reason why many of us today cannot yet make a strong commitment to the Lord. We often doubt and fear and ask the question, “What if?” We fear many things. We fear losing a job, we fear responsibility, we fear losing a friend, we fear the possibility of failure, and the lists go on. This is not of faith. Faith sees what others do not see. This is where you are so special and different from the rest of the world. Like Elisha you have an eye of faith. You do not doubt; you are not afraid but have peace and confidence in the name of the Lord. You trust God that He is in control of everything, and you know that He knows best for you. 

This leads us to the second principle which is through the lens of faith nothing can blur your vision from applauding the greatness of God. 

This is a question of “How?” Many have tried God but failed because they did not believe that there’s nothing impossible with Him. They tried to limit and compartmentalized God in a box. As if He is like any ordinary human being who cannot do the impossible. This is not the kind of God we are dealing with. This God we believe in is the God of the impossible! People frown when reason stops, and faith is conceived. They insist that we are now living in an age of enlightenment. They argue that gone are the days when people were still living in superstitions. Gone are the days when people were still living in the dark ages. They argued with much delight that we are now in the age of advanced technology, where knowledge is at its peak making man to be like God. Indeed, this is the way of man who thought he could muster knowledge and claim ownership of the entire universe that alone God is the Creator of all things whom man should instead give due recognition, honor, and praise. Man became selfish, egoistic, and arrogant. He denies God but worships his own inventions and great accomplishments. This is the greatest fallout of humankind. Man became arrogant and he does not need the God of the universe. Man wants to become the master of his own suffering because he thought he has all the answers to his problem. But I want to tell you unless you accept the God of the universe by faith in His son, Jesus Christ, and turn away from your sin and follow Him wholeheartedly then you are doomed for all eternity. 

Perhaps you thought your life can no longer be restored and it is impossible for you to make a change because you have been enslaved by addiction. My friend, I have good news for you! There is nothing hard for the Lord. If you are willing to surrender your life by faith to Jesus Christ by making Him as your Lord and Savior, then there is nothing impossible with God. He can change you and save you if you are willing. I want to share with you the story of a man who reclaimed back his life after many years of struggle from alcohol addiction. In his book, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Paul Lee Tan describes the life of Melvin Trotter.   

Melvin Trotter was once an alcoholic, one who was addicted to alcohol and could not live a single day without a taste of it. His life was once in total disarray and in complete ruin. There was no hope for him. He was the epitome of a dark cloud without any water in it. He was totally broken; a misfit, a liability to society; a public charge. People who see him lying around anywhere in any place due to drunkenness spurn him. Some even curse the day he was born.   When his baby died, he sneaks into that room and removed her little shoes from her feet. He went to a saloon and tried to exchange the little shoes of his poor child for a bottle of alcohol. The saloon keeper gave him what he wanted but begged him to return those tiny shoes to his dead baby! But the story of this ruined man does not end there. Not so many years later, this man who had no chance to redeem his lost life due to alcohol addiction; a man hated by many, spurned by anyone, and whom everyone thought he had no hope but would die miserably is now a changed man. He regained the respect due to him by the people around him. God restored this man to his original position that was lost in the Garden of Eden when man became truncated because of Adam’s sin. Melvin Trotter became a preacher and soon manages the largest rescue mission in the United States in the early 1900’s. [1]  

With God, nothing is impossible! Even the vilest sinner can be changed into God’s image only if one accepts God’s offer of grace through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. Yes, my friend, there is nothing impossible with God! 

 Are you hurting? Are you struggling? You’re even planning probably to say quit and raise the white flag to surrender because you know you are at a losing battle. Are you struggling with financial set back? Are you tired of harboring a life-lingering illness? Have you lost something valuable that you hold dearly and there is no way of recovering it? Have you lost your job due to circumstances beyond your control and bills are piling up? Maybe you have been living comfortably but suddenly due to an unexpected course of events you now find yourself homeless and penniless? These are only a few of the many circumstances of the reality of life. Our life on earth is not a guarantee after all. Consider this my friend, have faith in the Lord Almighty. Put your trust in Him and believe in the impossible. God is in control. Take God as his word. He will show you the way. He will make you understand His will for you in due time. Wait upon the Lord and leave it to Him your burdens by surrendering all your cares upon Him. Nothing is impossible with God. Have faith in Him and He will in due time. Paul in his letter to the Christians in Galatia exhorted them by saying, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Gal. 6:9) 

This leads us to the final and third principle that is, through the lens of faith we can rest on the promises of God that He will. 

At the end of the story, we find that those who hunted Elisha became the hunted. They were all blinded by God and saved the life of Elisha. Indeed, faith is not that God can do the impossible, but that God is willing to do it. In other words, faith in God rely totally that no matter what happens in life God is in control. He is sovereign and He makes everything work out according to his plan (Eph. 1:11). Anything which seems bad or evil in the eyes of man God will always turn it good for His own purpose and desire through you. Remember the life of Joseph who went through all sorts of misfortune in his early life? He was deeply hated by his own brothers who wanted to kill him but changed their minds and sold him to the Midianite merchants who later sold him in Egypt to become a slave but soon find himself in a dungeon for a crime he did not commit. Yet if you continue to read the life of this man whom you thought was a total failure you will be surprised. God willed for Joseph to become the governor in Egypt to use Him as His instrument to save many lives. Instead of getting even with his brothers who caused his miserable life in the past when he had all the power to do it, he chose not to but rather he committed it to the will of God. By faith he told to his fearful brothers: “Don’t be afraid… You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen.50: 20). Yes, faith believes that God will not that God can. It is God’s will for you to have hope and a future (Jer.29: 11). It is God’s will for you to be blessed (Deut.15: 6). It is God’s will for you to have heavenly peace (Ps.85: 8). It is God’s will for you that He will always be faithful to you (Ps.145: 13). It is God’s will for you to have His Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 33). It is God’s will for you to have the crown of life (Js.1: 12). And it is God’s will for you that you will not perish but you will come to repentance and be saved! (2 Pet.3: 9). 

 God is ever true and faithful to his children. He wants your faith established and well settled in His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No one should ever take that from you but to commit that faith to Him alone. Be aware that there are false messiahs today claiming that they are the Christ. The Bible warns you not to believe anyone who says that Christ is already here, or he is there, or out in the desert or in the inner rooms (Mt.24: 23-26). Instead strengthen your grip of faith by relying on His words alone, which is the Bible. You are enjoined to “diligently study the Scriptures because by them your faith in Jesus Christ will be strengthened because they testify about him (Jn.5: 39). You need to stand firm by faith on what the Bible tells you. You cannot go beyond what the word of God says. Hence, your foundation of faith is the Bible alone and not by revelation or by any means. Yes, this is the will of God for you to base your faith in His Word and in no other else. Outside of the Word of God we should not make compromise with our faith. This is God’s will for humankind to know the truth about his redemptive plan of salvation, which is found only in Jesus Christ, His Son. 

I have a question to you my friend, have you known Jesus Christ in your life? If you have known him, have you made a commitment to follow him? If not, then I want to introduce Him to you today. Jesus Christ is God’s Son who came into this world by taking the form of a man and died on the cross to redeem you from your sin (Eph. 2:6-8). But after three days he rose from the grave and returned to his throne in heaven with His Father (Lk. 24:6-7). Someday he will come back again to His church which he redeemed by His precious blood (Eph. 5:26-27). He will come to judge the world, especially for those who did not obey his gospel (2 Thes. 1:8). Now, he is coming soon, and he will not delay it (Heb. 10:37). Will you be ready then to meet him when he comes? The Bible assures and warns humanity about the seriousness of the gospel message. In John 5: 28 and 29 say, “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”

It is God’s will that you will be saved and that’s why He sent Jesus Christ to the cross.  He wants you to believe in His name so that you may have eternal life and that He will raise you up in the last days. Yes, have faith in Jesus Christ because in him is eternal life. Accept Him today into your life to be your Lord and Savior and I tell you heaven is yours. 

It is my prayer that you have been blessed today. Listen to this podcast Gospel in the Air every week to be encouraged in your daily walk with Jesus. Gospel in the Air is a podcast ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church. We are located in Maui, Hawaii, USA. You can also visit our website at www.cornerstonemaui.org. This is your host, Brother Dani Marantan Banggo saying, keep punching the good fight of faith. Mahalo!

[1] Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (Rockville, Maryland: Assurance Publishers, 1979), 122. Quoting “The Little Baby’s Shoes,” Illustration 58.