Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

Studying the history of the Old Testament’s men and women of faith provides knowledge of God’s character and strengthens our faith. Our biblical history serves as absolute proof that God has always been in control of heaven and earth. The Scriptures provide reinforcement of His love, which allows us to remain steadfast in the struggle of adversity with intentional patience and courage. Believing that God will never fail demonstrates the faith and trust required to have a victorious outcome!

Elisha, the Man of God

“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.’ 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.'” (2 Kings 6:8-9)

The Officer Who Believed

“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?’ ‘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!'” (2 Kings 6:11-12).

The King versus God

Full of pride and animosity against the Nation of Israel, the Aramean king was determined to war against God’s chosen people.

“‘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.’ So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.” (2 Kings 6:13-14).

Faith Over Fear

“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.” (2 Kings 6:15).

Elisha’s response: “‘Don’t be afraid!’ Elisha told him. ‘For there are more on our side than on theirs!’ 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.” (2 Kings 6:16-17).

Is it possible for us to have a strong faith? Does God still perform miracles? Although we read the miracles in the Old Testament, parting of the Red Sea, the floating axhead, and the city of Jericho’s walls falling down, it appears that the God of the past is not the God of the present.

God Clarifies His Character

“God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19). There are no variables or failures with God, who is always consistent. The “I AM” is Omniscient and will always be Omnipotent from the beginning to the end.

Do you believe? For the faithful men and women of God, having spiritual discernment is only a prayer away. “And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

Obedience to God is the Prerequisite

“For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Psalm 84:11). We are required to believe, obey, serve, and seek God through prayer, diligently study the Scriptures, and patiently wait on the Lord. The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual discernment of open eyes. Gain strength by talking faith, singing faith, and praying in faith. Yes, we are capable of being today’s Elisha if we only believe. We will not be defeated!

Prayer: God, we are ready for change. We ask for forgiveness of our sins. Anoint us with the Holy Spirit and open our eyes to have spiritual discernment. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“The body is the only medium through which the mind and the soul are developed for the upbuilding of character.” EGW

“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:14). The prophet Samuel is speaking to King Saul who was stubborn and disobedient regarding the end of his rule over Israel. And the “man after His own heart” refers to David.

“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.” (1 Samuel 16:13 NIV). Scholars estimate that David was 15 years of age when he was anointed. Yet, he did not become king until 15 years later. During that time, David lived as a fugitive and a warrior because Saul sought to take his life due to a jealous spirit. Even so, God was preparing young David for the tribulations he would face as ruler over Israel.

The Surrender of the Mind and Soul to Evil

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? (2 Samuel 11:2-3)

As the story progresses, David willingly gives in to his raging desires and abuses his power as king. We can only imagine how Bathsheba feels, fearful and violated. In biblical times, refusing the king’s desires meant death for the person refusing to obey. Consequence: “And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, ‘I am with child.'” (2 Samuel 11:5).

Still, the story becomes more diabolical. “In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.'” (2 Samuel 11:14-15). When we give in to evil, there is no endpoint. King David used Uriah to deliver his letter of death to Joab.

Confrontation, Confession, and Consequences

In 2 Samuel 12, God sent the prophet Nathan to tell the King through a parable that God was aware of his sins and the punishment. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'” (2 Samuel 12:11-12).

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die. (2 Samuel 12:13-14)

Seeing Sin Through Spiritual Eyes

One of the most deplorable effects of the original sin of Adam and Eve was the loss of humanity’s power of self-control. The greatest enemy is within. We fight against our flesh–our carnal desires daily. It is our nature to rate sin on a scale of least to worst, but God says all sin is the transgression of His law. We may not commit sexual sins or premeditated murder but our unholy desires [habits] and wilful plans are always against God. ” For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight…” (Psalm 51:3-4).

Many believers hold their own concept of what truth is. The most shocking are the believers who study the scriptures and still disobey God. Yes, these individuals knew the truth and were once led by the Holy Spirit but followed their desires and did whatever it took to bring their passions and plans to fruition. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15 ESV).

The pursuit of relationships and marriages, starting a business, purchasing homes, vehicles, investments, etc., without God’s approval and blessing will produce a different outcome than expected. “Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.” (Proverbs 13:15).

Repentance and Divine Intervention

David is forgiven by God’s mercy [yes, this is the Old Testament God]. Read his confession and repentance in Psalm chapter 51. Although the first baby died from the adulterous union of David and Bathsheba, Solomon was born to become the next king over Israel. Yes, out of the chaos, King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived.

Satan’s deception continues as he portrays God as unfair to humanity.
The decision is sure to bring consequences for those who never study the Old Testament, complete with stories of humanity’s disobedience, defeats, and victories from God’s divine intervention. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6). The Old Testament contains the scriptures that Mary taught Jesus, and He studied when on this earth. The history of God’s supernatural power and mercy upon human beings provides knowledge of God’s love and His character.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:17). All Scriptures are from the New King James Version unless indicated.

Prayer: God, we pray for forgiveness of our self-will and disobedience. We ask that you reveal your plans for our lives and anoint us with the Holy Spirit. Give us strength as we prepare for Jesus’ soon coming. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.

Awakening to a new day with routine or unfamiliar responsibilities may fill our minds with anticipation or anxiety. Consider the new outfit you purchased and the style of your hair that brought enjoyment as you groomed yourself around 7 am. By noon, your focus has been redirected, and you may not even remember how you looked hours before. Forward to 5 pm, and you do not care about the hairstyle, nor are you excited about the outfit that made you smile that morning.

With piqued interest, I researched why we are forgetful. The Columbia University Department of Psychiatry tells us, “…findings point to an active mechanism within our brain that helps us clear out unnecessary pieces of information so that we can retain the most relevant for long-term storage.” https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/why-forgetting-good-your-memory

Although this study concluded that our brain is highly complex, retaining the most relevant and automatically and systematically clearing out “unnecessary information,” this does not apply to the spiritual realm.

Elijah, a great prophet, called for a showdown on Mt. Carmel between himself [representing the one and only God] and the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). God showed his Omnipotence by burning up the animal, the altar, and the water in the trench. And God instructed him to kill the 450 pagan priests. King Ahab told his wife, Jezebel, of the death of the priests to which she responded, “Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.'” (1 Kings 19:2).

Elijah’s response to the message, “And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life…(1 Kings 19:3, first part). Wait! How is it possible that the prophet who prayed for no rain [1 Kings 17] and just witnessed the mighty act of God on Mount Carmel instantly reacted with fear as if there was no God?

The Forgetfulness of Humanity

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (James 1:23-24).

God knows that we will forget the most relevant [God and His blessings] and remember the unnecessary information when faced with hardships and sorrows. Our emotions take over, and we slip into spiritual disorientation. Fear, anxiety, worry, and discouragement consume us, making us quickly forget the power of the God in whom we serve.

Even so, our merciful Heavenly Father is aware of our cognitive limitations. Throughout the Bible, God tells us to “Remember.”

1. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8)
2. I will [solemnly] remember the deeds of the LORD; Yes, I will [wholeheartedly] remember Your wonders of old. (Psalm 77:11, Amplified Bible)
3. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. (Isaiah 46:9 NIV).

We are the 21st Century Elijahs. What can we do to prevent the darkness of fear and the storm clouds of dread that overwhelm us when faced with adversity?

1. We praise God morning, noon, and night:Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits… (Psalm 103:1-2).
2. We express our gratitude to God by naming our blessings everyday:In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
3. Daily we pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit:But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26).

Making God the most relevant in our lives requires concerted effort. Serving God always necessitates consistent action, or lest we forget Him who created the heavens and the earth, gives us our daily breath of life, and blesses us by consistently opening the windows of heaven.

Prayer: God, we thank you and praise your Holy name for the love and provisions you sustain us with. We ask forgiveness for not making you relevant. We confess that we have not put you first and foremost in our lives. Jesus, we need your strength to continue our journey through life. Thank you, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.

What is your true perception of God?

The discipline received as a child can significantly impact how we view God. Subjected to isolation by being told to “go to your room” for time-out away from others or a parent’s visible anger toward the child will instill fear and rejection. Most likely, the child will mature into an adult that views God as a “Punisher” instead of a loving Father.

The unbelievers and believers who love sinful pleasures will also view God as a punisher. They readily attribute death, disease, and destruction as vengeful acts of God. The believer desires God’s blessings and favor but stands on the deceptive [and non-existent] a gray area of a middle ground, which Satan has developed as reality. The unbeliever desires to live as they please but does not want to pay the consequences of serving the evil one.

God gave Jesus, His only Son, to redeem us from the consequences of sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NKJV). What more can we expect? Yet, daily we receive unmerited love, grace, and mercies. “Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:22-23 BSB).

Most are familiar with the Israelites freedom from Egyptian slavery. An 11-day journey became a 40 year wandering without purpose lifestyle. The love of pagan practices, which included sexual immorality prevented all that were 20 and older from entering the “Promised Land.” Nor were Moses, Aaron, or Miriam allowed to enter because of their sins against God. Despite God being the ultimate in love, grace, and mercy, disobedience has consequences.

Let’s look at God’s grace and mercy from a different perspective. Your employer, mortgage holder, or vehicle finance company developed an employer/employee or lender/borrower contractual agreement. How long will you receive their “grace” before you are terminated or your home or car repossessed? Yet, God tolerates our rebellion against His love and law, which are designed to keep us on the path of righteousness.

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13 BSB).

Our true character is the secret desires of our hearts that are naked before God. Our pretense or masquerade is fully exposed to God. Yet, we have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life, so we do not have to experience the final death of destruction. And Jesus is still serving humanity as our Intercessor, receiving our prayers of forgiveness and forgiving us without condemnation.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.… (Hebrews 4:14-15 BSB).

We condemn ourselves by willingly choosing and participating in sin. “As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.…” (John 12:47-48).

The price of sin places us in spiritual bankruptcy. Sin desensitizes, reshaping the mind to its pleasures, resulting in the turning away from God. The outcome is the rejection of God, His law, and the ability to obey. No longer do Bible study and prayer have priority in our lives. Our spiritual strength depletes quickly because we have severed our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Even so, God pursues us. Is it possible that your trial is a nudge from God that He is using to save your soul? Reflection on our lifestyle choices reveals who we are serving. “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15 NKJV). Through the Holy Spirit prompting us to choose a holy life, we repent and serve God with humility and obedience, or condemn ourselves by continuing to sin against God.

Changing our perspective of sin and its deadly consequences allows us to view sin as God sees sin. We are recipients of the free gift of salvation. Neither can we earn blessings. God has promised to provide (Matthew 6), protect (Psalm 91), and give us eternal life (Revelation 21-22) in the New Heaven and New Earth when faithful and obedient. Seeing God as a loving Heavenly Father requires us to possess a heart overflowing with love for Him.

Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness of our sins. We are blinded from our actions, which prevent us from seeing you as a loving Father. We ask for strength to stand strong against the sinful pleasures of this world. Thank you for the gift of Jesus, and your grace and mercies. Hear our prayer, O Lord that we ask in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.