Eye-Opener
Today’s Verse:
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. ~2 Kings 6:17
A shoe manufacturer decided to open a market in the Congo and sent two salesmen to the undeveloped territory. One salesman cabled back: “Prospect here nil. No one wears shoes.” The other salesman reported enthusiastically, “Market potential terrific! Everyone is barefooted.” The Holy Spirit helps us see things as they really are from His prospective (Source Unknown, http://www.family-times.net/illustration/Holy-Spirit/201495/). Isn’t it incredible that what we see impacts what we do? This morning, we are considering a passage of Scripture where a young man had his perspective transformed through the prayer of Elisha.
We see an intimidated RESERVATION.
“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?” Elisha’s servant looked and saw his entire city encompassed about with Syrian chariots and horses. His reaction was, “Master, what are we going to do? We have no escape! We are trapped!” Although he had witnessed God at work many times before, he did not think God could help him at that moment. Do you see problems instead of possibilities? Do you see obstacles instead of opportunities? Do you see giants instead of God? Does the first sight of a problem intimidate you and cause you to believe that the problem is bigger than God?
We see an important REALITY.
“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” Elisha impressed upon his servant a reality to set his perspective right. First, never let your problem get the best of you or steal your faith. “Fear not” should always be the immediate response. Second, the servant was reminded that they that are with us are more than they that be with them. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Rom. 8:31. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world,” I John 4:4. Through God, you can run through a troop! There are always more with us than with them!
We see an influential REQUEST.
“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” Elisha prayed for the eyes of the young man to be opened. Satan blinds the minds of those who believe not. Prayer is the only antidote for blinded eyes. Prayer opens our eyes to God’s perspective. Prayer opens the eye of faith. Prayer opens our eyes to seeing the invisible. Prayer opens our eyes to seeing we are invincible. Prayer takes away the scales that blind us to the spiritual realities before us. We should daily pray, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I might behold wondrous things from Thy Law.”
We see an incredible REVELATION.
“And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” This young man’s eyes were opened. He saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire about Elisha. He saw that God was in control. He saw that safety is of the Lord. He saw that God had not forsaken them. He saw that God always makes a way. Opened eyes see possibilities and not pitfalls. Opened eyes see the fields white unto harvest. Opened eyes see the opportunities and not the obstacles. Opened eyes are when we believe and then see, and not see then believe.
Open your eyes in faith to what God is doing. Get your eyes off the human perspective and get your eyes on the holy perspective. Opened eyes see more, see farther, and see the impossible. Open your eyes this morning!
Have an eye-opening God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Judges 6-7