The devil would have us think we’re a minority. Today God’s people are threatened with the same devil and the same forces of darkness as they were in Elisha’s day.
II Kings 6: 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 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? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 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. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
This is so like our current situation in the world. Those really dedicated to the Lord were few in number. That didn’t mean few all around. The number of Christians really believing in the true gospel seems to be shrinking. The pressure to compromise is heavy on those who try to stay true. Many fail to keep the faith because they don’t realize God and one is a majority. It’s not by man’s might, power or ingenuity. It’s by the Lord’s power. He is the Captain of our Salvation. He’s not been demoted. He’s still the Commander and Chief and will do what it takes for those who trust in him.
God could stamp out all the evil in the world. He could cause all to die. Here he allowed the Syrian army to test their faith. Our greatest adversary is always around. If we ever need to trust the Lord, it is now. We need to check ourselves and get our lives lined up in formation around the Lord. The devil will cause us to doubt if he can. That will cause us to slack up on praying and coming to church. To doubt God is to believe the devil. So are you going to believe what you see or believe that what you can’t see is greater? Why do we need to see the hand when we can see what the hand does? We see what God does all around us.
Every time a move was made against the King of Israel, Elisha would let him know. Syria would get there expecting the King but he wouldn’t be where they thought he was going to be. The Syrians were baffled. The devil can’t get ahead of the Lord. He will take care of us in the midst of the enemy. He may be in town, but that doesn’t mean he has to be in the house. A minority? Maybe so, but it’s the size of HE who is with us that counts. As long as we follow the Lord, the devil’s strategy won’t work.
Elisha was talking about us and them. He and his servant were us. The Syrians were them. Territory wise it looked like Syria was bigger. The Syrian king looked like a bigger, better king. They thought they had a betrayer in their ranks. One of them said it was the prophet in Israel. He seemed to know everything that went on in Syria and thwarted their attacks making the old devil mad.
The devil hates us. He’s after us. He’s convinced society that we’re just the conservative right. Well, it’s not about right and left. It’s about right and wrong. This is the craziest time I’ve ever seen. Common sense should tell people things, but it’s gone. Everything is messed up and they are trying to push the craziness on us. Don’t worry so much about how willing you’d be to stand up against ISIS. Be concerned about how the devil is working at getting to you and causing you to doubt the Lord.
The army slipped in during the night and waited for the morning. That’s what the devil tries to do—slip in on us while we’re not looking. He wants us to doubt a little here, a little there. Shoot the Bible full of holes. We can’t cut and paste the Word. He’s just getting us in position. The servant went out the next morning and saw the army. He was scared. He ran and told Elisha that Syrians were everywhere on the hillside surrounding them. The “Syrians” have invaded every community and are right in our face today. What will we do? Trust the Lord. Believe him. See beyond what is before our physical eyes. The powers of darkness made the Syrians fearsome. It is frightening. The arrogant attitude that is sweeping the country is frightening, and the ideas are being pushed on us. I’m glad to be saved. Jesus is the same today as he was then. There are just as many in his army now as then.
Elisha told his servant to calm down. He said fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. Whatever is facing you in conflict doesn’t matter. God is greater. He will deliver us out of them all. It’s worth it to serve the Lord. Take God at his word. Victory comes when we do that. The servant was still a little hesitant so Elisha prayed for his eyes to be opened to what he couldn’t see. Sure the hills were filled with the enemy, but a greater army was also there with horses and chariots of fire ready to take out the Syrian enemy.
Elisha was a man just like we are. He could have done what we’d like to do sometimes and punch people out. He could have had the enemy killed but instead he prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. He led them out. That’s what we need to do. Lead our enemy to the Lord. When they could have killed them, instead they gave them food and water and sent them home. The King of Syria didn’t come around Israel for a long time.
Are you willing to line your life up by your faith and open the eyes of your heart to win against the enemy? Remember that whatever comes they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 