Today's chapel was a musical chapel, which means the worship band leads us in songs for the whole service, they have these worship chapels about once a month or so. Well between songs, the band leader shared a verse that God used to speak directly to my heart. The passage was 2 Kings 6:8-17. It reads:
8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God (Elisha) sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.”10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who 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 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So 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."
I think we all can relate to Elisha's servant's fear. The enemy is harsh and oppressive. He comes at us from all sides and sometimes its hard just to stand. We can feel so alone and stricken with fear when we focus on the great hurdles that lie in front of us.....but Elisha sees something completely different. Instead of seeing how great and horrible his problems are, Elisha sees how mighty his GOD is.
You see, the army of God was there the whole time. God promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He is ALWAYS there. But sometimes we don't remember to look for Him. Elisha prays, "OPEN his eyes that he may SEE!" Call upon the Lord to reveal himself to you. And then God pulls back the curtain, and BOOM. The sky is full of chariots of FIRE. And suddenly the whole perspective changes......
We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.....I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.....If God is for us, who can be against us?!.....over and over, God tells us He is THERE. He is fighting for us. But too often we let out fears overcome us and they reduce us to inaction and stagnancy....and our faith becomes paralyzed by fear. How many opportunities have passed you by just because you were too afraid to act. Too afraid of what other thought, or what others might do. Too afraid of ruining our reputation or losing face.......guys listen to me. I believe God has placed on my heart to remind you guys of this.....Christ did all this and MORE for you! He endured the pain of rejection from his closest friends, He endured the brutal acts of violence for what He believed, He gave more than his reputation: He gave His LIFE for you..........Shouldn't we be willing to do the same for Him?
So I would encourage you today, take that step of faith. If God has put something on your heart, do it. Don't hold back. Live without regrets. Lay it all on the line. Don't let fear take you CAPTIVE anymore. If you start to feel those doubts of fear and the flaming darts of the devil. Pray. Ask God to open your eyes to see the REAL perspective. Ask Him to show you HIS CHARIOTS of FIRE......
We are called to be WORLD-CHANGERS. The salt of the world and the light in the darkness........Lets go light the world on FIRE......
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