February 2020 – The Maldonado Family

2Kings 8, Now it happened!

2Ki 8:4-5, Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “TELL ME, PLEASE, ALL THE GREAT THINGS ELISHA HAS DONE.” NOW IT HAPPENED, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, THAT THERE WAS THE WOMAN WHOSE SON HE HAD RESTORED TO LIFE, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, “MY LORD, O KING, THIS IS THE WOMAN, AND THIS IS HER SON WHOM ELISHA RESTORED TO LIFE.”

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD! To many this is just a coincidence, sheer luck; yet truth be told this was GOD-ORDAINED TIMING!

Luk 6:6, NOW IT HAPPENED on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. AND A MAN WAS THERE WHOSE RIGHT HAND WAS WITHERED.

Yet another coincidence? Lucky for this man to be at the synagogue where JESUS was about to teach! GOD-ORDAINED FOR THOSE WHO CAN SEE THE WORK OF GOD!

Isa 46:9-10, Remember the former things of old, FOR I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER; I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME, DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, AND I WILL DO ALL MY PLEASURE,’

THIS IS HOW THE LORD WORKS IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER; A BUNCH OF GOD-ORDAINED COINCIDENCES! TO THE SKEPTIC GOOD LUCK, TO THE BELIEVER HIS PROVIDENCE! HE SHALL DO ALL THAT HE PLEASES TO DO!

2Kings 7, HE is Able!

2Ki 7:1-2, Then Elisha said, “HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. THUS SAYS THE LORD: ‘TOMORROW ABOUT THIS TIME A SEAH OF FINE FLOUR SHALL BE SOLD FOR A SHEKEL, AND TWO SEAHS OF BARLEY FOR A SHEKEL, AT THE GATE OF SAMARIA.’ ” So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, IF THE LORD WOULD MAKE WINDOWS IN HEAVEN, COULD THIS THING BE?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

The Economic situation of Samaria will be inverted, from dire need to abundance! The LORD promised yet an officer doubted if the LORD was even capable of doing so a thing!

Mal 3:10, BRING ALL THE TITHES INTO THE STOREHOUSE, That there may be food in MY HOUSE, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “IF I WILL NOT OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT FOR YOU SUCH BLESSING THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT.

The LORD is faithful and HE rewards those who are faithful in giving to HIS house and to HIS work! We may not see how or where from, but HE is able! NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD! HE FEED ISRAEL FOR 40 YEARS, HE FEED THOUSANDS WITH 2 FISH AND 5 LOAVES OF BREAD! HE BROUGHT FORTH WATER FROM A ROCK! HOW CAN ANYTHING BE HARD FOR THE LORD?

Jer 32:27, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

Job 42:2, “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

HE IS ABLE, HE IS FAITHFUL, HE IS THE GOD OF ALL FLESH! STOP DOUBTING AND START BELIEVING!

2Kings 6, OPEN HIS EYES!

2Ki 6:5-6, But as one was cutting down a tree, THE IRON AX HEAD FELL INTO THE WATER; …, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed… SO HE CUT OFF A STICK, AND THREW IT IN THERE; AND HE MADE THE IRON FLOAT.

GOD HAS NO LIMITS; HE CAN DO ALL THINGS EVEN IF IT DEFIES HUMAN REASON! I DON’T SEE WHY ELISHA USED A STICK BUT GOD CAN USE ANY MEANS, EVEN US, TO GET IT DONE!

2Ki 6:7, Therefore he said, “PICK IT UP FOR YOURSELF.” SO HE REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND TOOK IT.

GOD DID HIS PART, BUT WE MUST DO OUR PART! THE LORD CAN HEAL WITHOUT ANYONE PRAYING FOR HIM/HER, BUT HE GETS US INVOLVED IN HIS WORK WHEN WE PRAY!

2Ki 6:17, 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.

ONLY GOD CAN OPEN THE EYES OF THE SPIRITUALLY BLIND. ELISHA AND HIS SERVANT WERE SURROUNDED, YET GOD OPENNED HIS EYES TO THE TRUTH! THERE ARE MORE FOR US THAN AGAINST US!

Psa 119:18, OPEN MY EYES, THAT I MAY SEE WONDROUS THINGS FROM YOUR LAW.

2Co 3:16, NEVERTHELESS WHEN ONE TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY.

THE LORD GETS US INVOLVED IN HIS WORK THAT WE MAY PLANT SEEDS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN, BUT IT’S HIS JOB TO MAKE IT BLOOM SO THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SEE HIS GLORY!

2Kings 5, HIS WAYS ARE NOT OURS!

2Ki 5:6-7, … Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, THAT YOU MAY HEAL HIM OF HIS LEPROSY. And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, “AM I GOD, TO KILL AND MAKE ALIVE, THAT THIS MAN SENDS A MAN TO ME TO HEAL HIM OF HIS LEPROSY?…

The king of Israel had the correct response because only GOD can heal anyone!

2Ki 5:9-10, So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and WAITED AT THE DOOR OF ELISHA’S HOUSE. BUT ELISHA SENT A MESSENGER OUT TO HIM WITH THIS MESSAGE: “GO AND WASH YOURSELF SEVEN TIMES IN THE JORDAN RIVER. THEN YOUR SKIN WILL BE RESTORED, AND YOU WILL BE HEALED OF YOUR LEPROSY.”

Elisha wasn’t being rude but it seems that GOD was working on Naaman’s pride, faith and obedience!

2Ki 5:11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I SAID TO MYSELF, ‘HE WILL SURELY COME OUT TO ME, AND STAND AND CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD HIS GOD, AND WAVE HIS HAND OVER THE PLACE, AND HEAL THE LEPROSY.’

Pro 12:15, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, BUT HE WHO HEEDS COUNSEL IS WISE.

HE IS ALWAYS WORKING AND KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING! HE HAD TO HUMBLE NAAMAN FROM HIS PRIDE FIRST BEFORE THE BLESSING! HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAY NOR HIS UNDERSTANDING OURS. HE WANTS THE BEST FOR US IF BUT ONLY WE HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD!

2Kings 4, He can provide!

2Ki 4:1, A certain woman … cried out to Elisha, saying, “YOUR SERVANT MY HUSBAND IS DEAD, AND YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SERVANT FEARED THE LORD. AND THE CREDITOR IS COMING TO TAKE MY TWO SONS TO BE HIS SLAVES.

Her husband owed a debt and it’s about to be paid by using her 2 sons as slaves until the debt is paid off!

2Ki 4:2, So Elisha said to her, …. Tell me, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE HOUSE?” And she said, “YOUR MAIDSERVANT HAS NOTHING IN THE HOUSE BUT A JAR OF OIL.”

The LORD can use anything to bless a family ANYTHING, even a jar of oil!

2Ki 4:7, …”Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”

THAT SMALL JAR FILLED MANY, MANY JARS AND SHE WAS ABLE TO PAY HER DEBT AND LIVE OFF THE REST! WE CAN’T LIMIT GOD IN ANYWAY; HE CAN EVEN FEED THOUSANDS WITH JUST 5 LOVES OF BREAD AND 2 FISHES!

Mat 14:18, … “BRING THEM HERE TO ME.”

HE BROUGHT WATER OUT OF A ROCK, FEED A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE DAILY FOR 40 YEARS! NOTHING IS TO HARD FOR THE LORD IF WE BRING IT TO HIM! HE IS ABLE TO MULTIPLY WHAT WE HAVE!

Mat 17:27, … cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” Psa 86:10, FOR YOU ARE GREAT, AND DO WONDROUS THINGS; YOU ALONE ARE GOD

2Kings 3, He can provide!

2Ki 3:9-11, So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and THERE WAS NO WATER for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. And the king of Israel said, “ALAS! FOR THE LORD HAS CALLED THESE THREE KINGS TOGETHER TO DELIVER THEM INTO THE HAND OF MOAB. BUT JEHOSHAPHAT SAID, “IS THERE NO PROPHET OF THE LORD HERE, THAT WE MAY INQUIRE OF THE LORD BY HIM?”

These 3 kings went up to fight against a rebelling nation, Moab. Yet as they went, they found themselves in need of water! The evil king of Israel thought that the LORD set them up, but the other king, who followed in the way of the LORD wanted to inquire of the LORD!

2Ki 3:17-18, FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD: ‘YOU SHALL NOT SEE WIND, NOR SHALL YOU SEE RAIN; YET THAT VALLEY SHALL BE FILLED WITH WATER, … AND THIS IS A SIMPLE MATTER IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

THERE IS NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE TO THE LORD, HE CAN PROVIDE EVEN IF WE JUST CAN’T SEE HOW!

Mat 19:26, But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “WITH MEN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.”

Job 42:2, “I KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, AND THAT NO PURPOSE OF YOURS CAN BE WITHHELD FROM YOU.

HAVING FAITH IN THE LORD IS NOT ABOUT SEEING GREAT SIGNS, BUT KNOWING THAT HE IS ABLE AND WILL PROVIDE HIS PEOPLE!

Zec 4:6, ‘NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT,’ SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS.

2Kings 2, faithful to the call!

2Ki 2:2, Then Elijah said to Elisha, “STAY HERE, PLEASE, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “AS THE LORD LIVES, AND AS YOUR SOUL LIVES, I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU!” So they went down to Bethel.

Elijah was testing Elisha if he would stay faithful to the call of GOD by going with him all the way! He told Elijah to “STAY HERE, PLEASE” three times verses 2,4,6 But, he stayed with him!

2Ki 2:9, … when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “ASK! WHAT MAY I DO FOR YOU, BEFORE I AM TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU?” Elisha said, “PLEASE LET A DOUBLE PORTION OF YOUR SPIRIT BE UPON ME.

ELISHA SAW THE POWERFUL MINISTRY OF ELIJAH AND DESIRED A DOUBLE PORTION OF THAT! REMINDS ME OF JESUS WHEN HE WENT UP LEAVING HIS DISCIPLES! THEY TOO WERE GIVEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF GOD!

1Co 12:4-5, There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

THE LORD HAS GIVEN US GIFTS TO BE USED FOR THE GAIN OF HIS KINGDOM, BUT WE MUST RUN THE RACE TO THE END! NOT FOR RICHES, GLORY, POSITION OR ANYTHING ELSE BUT FOR HIS GLORY!

1Ti 5:17, Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Psa 34:10b, BUT THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD SHALL NOT LACK ANY GOOD THING.

2Kings, the unrighteous deception!

2Ki 1:2-3, Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “GO, INQUIRE OF BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF EKRON, WHETHER I SHALL RECOVER FROM THIS INJURY.” But the ANGEL OF THE LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘IS IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO GOD IN ISRAEL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO INQUIRE OF BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF EKRON?’

For the vast majority of people, the LORD is always last on their list! BUT THERE IS A GOD, ONLY ONE GOD, IN ISRAEL WHO CAN HEAR AND HAS THE POWER TO HEAL! JEHOVAH-RAPHA “THE GOD WHO HEALS”

Luk 11:15, But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

Jer 17:14, HEAL ME, O LORD, AND I SHALL BE HEALED; SAVE ME, AND I SHALL BE SAVED, FOR YOU ARE MY PRAISE.

Yet, Ahaziah turn to satan first, the father of lies! He wanted to hear someone say that he will recover even though it was a lie!

2Th 2:10, AND WITH ALL UNRIGHTEOUS DECEPTION AMONG THOSE WHO PERISH, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED.

SEEK THE LORD FIRST IN EVERYTHING! LEAN NOT IN YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS!

1Kings 22, speaking the truth!

1Ki 22: 18, AND THE KING OF ISRAEL SAID TO JEHOSHAPHAT, “DID I NOT TELL YOU HE WOULD NOT PROPHESY GOOD CONCERNING ME, BUT EVIL?”

A cousin of mine asked me that if his friend who was a good person but didn’t believe in GOD would go to heaven! I had him open his bible and showed him this!

Joh 3:18, … BUT HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.

My cousin got upset with me also because he couldn’t handle the truth! Some people only want to hear what pleases them!

1Ki 22:32, So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, AND JEHOSHAPHAT CRIED OUT.

Ahab setup Jehoshaphat in battle and when he cried out to the LORD, the LORD saved him!

2Ch 18:31, BUT JEHOSHAPHAT CRIED OUT, AND THE LORD HELPED HIM, AND GOD DIVERTED THEM FROM HIM.

Rom 10:13, For “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.”

THE LORD IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A REPENTANT HEART AND HE IS WANTING TO SAVE ALL THOSE WHO CRY OUT! SPEAK THE TRUTH FOR WE REPRESENT THE KING!

1Kings 21, False witnesses!

1Ki 21:13, And two men, SCOUNDRELS, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels WITNESSED AGAINST HIM, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!” THEN THEY TOOK HIM OUTSIDE THE CITY AND STONED HIM WITH STONES, so that he died.

FALSE WITNESSES ALSO SETUP JESUS AND STEPHEN!

Act 6:11, Then they SECRETLY INDUCED MEN TO SAY, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

Mat 26:59, Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council SOUGHT FALSE TESTIMONY AGAINST JESUS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH,

NABOTH WAS KILLED BY JEZEBEL BECAUSE AHAB COVETED HIS VINEYARD AND WORSE YET THEY ALSO KILLED HIS SONS!

2Ki 9:26, ‘SURELY I SAW YESTERDAY THE BLOOD OF NABOTH AND THE BLOOD OF HIS SONS,’ says the LORD, ‘AND I WILL REPAY YOU IN THIS PLOT,’ SAYS THE LORD….

Psa 140:3, THEY SHARPEN THEIR TONGUES LIKE A SERPENT; THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS. SELAH

Jer 17:9, “THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED; WHO CAN KNOW IT?

THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN IS PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN HIS WORD, YET HE STILLS LOVES US? AMAZING LOVE!

Psa 8:4, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?