Focus On The Horses And Chariots of Fire
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 no, my lord! What shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, LORD, so that 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.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike this army with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria.
After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?"
"Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory. 2 Kings 6:15-23.
And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, LORD, so that 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.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike this army with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria.
After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?"
"Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory. 2 Kings 6:15-23.
The Spirit realm is rather fascinating. There are times when the LORD opens our eyes or gives us a little impression of things happening in the spirit realm and they can be quite unsettling. The apostle Paul was caught up and transported into the spirit realm and he "heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell." (2 Cor. 12: 4). Until God gives us the privilege of seeing just a glimpse of the extent of His power which is at work on behalf of the Believer, we will walk around cowardly and fearful. That was the case with the servant of Elisha.
He was focused on the physical rather than the spiritual, hence his trepidation at what he saw. But Elisha, on the other hand, knew that the heavenly horses and chariots of fire, far outweighed the pitiful physical chariots and horses of Aram; therefore, he did not have to be afraid. As an added bonus, God answered Elisha's prayer and struck the Arameans with blindness. The experience caused them to stop sending raiding parties against Israel.
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1 becomes so relevant against the backdrop of this story, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know . . . his incomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:18-19)
May we be at total peace as we serve God in Spirit and in truth, knowing that the invisible horses and chariots of fire working on our behalf far outweigh the forces of darkness arrayed against us. The enemy's goal is for us to forget about the forces of God and focus with panic on his physically intimidating activities against us. Don't fall for that. Focus on the heavenly horses and chariots of fire on a daily basis and you will always be at peace and rest.
He was focused on the physical rather than the spiritual, hence his trepidation at what he saw. But Elisha, on the other hand, knew that the heavenly horses and chariots of fire, far outweighed the pitiful physical chariots and horses of Aram; therefore, he did not have to be afraid. As an added bonus, God answered Elisha's prayer and struck the Arameans with blindness. The experience caused them to stop sending raiding parties against Israel.
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1 becomes so relevant against the backdrop of this story, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know . . . his incomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:18-19)
May we be at total peace as we serve God in Spirit and in truth, knowing that the invisible horses and chariots of fire working on our behalf far outweigh the forces of darkness arrayed against us. The enemy's goal is for us to forget about the forces of God and focus with panic on his physically intimidating activities against us. Don't fall for that. Focus on the heavenly horses and chariots of fire on a daily basis and you will always be at peace and rest.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the heavenly horses and chariots of fire at work on my behalf. Please help me to focus on those and not on the intimidation of Satan and his henchmen. Amen.