Sermon on Elisha | Incredible Lessons from 2 Kings 2:9-14

1. Parted the waters of the Jordan river (2 Kings 2:14).

2. Sweetened the waters of Jericho (2 Kings 2:19-22).

3. Cursed the youths from Bethel (2 Kings 2:23-25).

4. Foresaw the flood from Edom (2 Kings 3:17).

5. Foresaw Israel defeating the Moabites (2 Kings 3:18).

6. Increase of the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1-7).

7. Conception of the Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:8-17).

8. Resurrection of the Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:18-37).

9. Deadly stew purified (2 Kings 4:38-41).

10.Feeding of the 100 (2 Kings 4:42-44).

11.Healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-19).

12.The cursing of Gehazi for covetousness (2 Kings 5:20-27).

13.Floating Ax Head (2 Kings 6:1-7).

14.Warned Israel of the Syrian Army (2 Kings 6:8-12).

15.Vision of the horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:13-17).

16.Syrian raiders blinded (2 Kings 6:18-23).

17.Prophecy of the end of the Syrian siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:24-7:20).

18.Prophecy to the Shunammite woman to leave Israel during famine (2 Kings 8:1-6).

19.Prophecy of the death of Ben-Hadad and anointment of Hazael (2 Kings 8:7-15).

20.Prophecy of the anointing of Jehu as king of Israel and God’s vengeance on Jezebel (2 Kings 9:1-3).

21.Prophecy of three defeats of Syria (2 Kings 13:14-19).

22.Resurrection at Elisha’s tomb (2 Kings 13:20-21).

1. God specially cares for his faithful people.

1) We see this lesson in several of Elisha’s miracles.

a. Increase of the widow’s oil.

b. The Shunammite woman’s son born and resurrected.

c. Purification of the deadly stew.

d. Feeding of the 100.

e. Floating Ax Head.

f. Protection of the Shunammite woman during famine.

2) These were trying times for the people.

3) Famine, war, and suffering were prevalent.

4) While God didn’t simply give everyone everything they needed immediately, He did help them in the most dire of circumstances.

5) 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for he careth for you.”

2. God preserves his people.

1) The sweetening of the waters of Jericho.

2) The flood from Edom.

3) The defeat of the Edomites.

4) The defeat of the Syrians.

5) 2 Peter 2:9 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”

6) Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”

3. God rules in the kingdoms of men.

1) The defeat of the Moabites.

2) The warning of the location of the Syrian army.

3) The end of the Syrian siege against Samaria.

4) The anointing of the new kings: Hazael, Jehu.

5) Three defeats of Syria.

6) Daniel 4:32 “…the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”

7) Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

4. God demands obedience if we expect to receive His blessings.

1) The story of Naaman teaches us this.

2) Naaman was at first unwilling, but when he obeyed, he was blessed.

3) Hebrews 5:9 “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

5. God will punish the wicked.

1) Consider…

a. The death of the youths that mocked Elisha

b. The curse of Gehazi for covetousness.

c. Jezebel’s death.

2) Leviticus 19:32 “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.”

3) 1 Corinthians 6:10 “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

4) Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

6. God provides encouragement through spiritual insight.

1) Consider the opening of the eyes of Elisha’s servant.

2) Do we have the faith to see things from God’s perspective?

3) Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

4) Psalm 118:6 “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”

7. God keeps his promises.

1) Consider the many prophecies of Elisha – they all came true.

a. Prophecy of the flood from Edom.

b. Defeat of Edomites.

c. Prophecy of the end of the siege of Samaria.

d. Prophecy of the famine to the Shunammite woman.

e. Prophecy of the death of Ben-Hadad and anointing of Hazael.

f. Prophecy of the anointing of Jehu.

g. Prophecy of the three defeats of Syria.

2) Psalm 111:7 “The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.”

3) 2 Timothy 2:13 “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

4) Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”

8. God has the power of life!

1) Consider the resurrection of the man who fell on Elisha’s bones.

2) When it was all said and done and Elisha was dead and gone, God still worked miracles through his remains.

3) The power was not in the prophet, but in God.

4) John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

5) John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”