Approaching The Man of God - 2 Kings 1:9-14
In this day and age, man or a prophet of God is a scary thing or idea. It never happens nowadays, but wait a minute God does not change He's the same yesterday, today and forever, before you drop the idea of man of God, there's a real God, and there's a real man of God so be careful how you approach a man of God. Obviously, if there are fakes around, there is also a genuine one.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I. Don't Approach With Numbers (2 Kings 1:9)
II. Don't Approach With A Command (2 Kings 1:9, 2 Kings 1:11)
III. Don't Approach With Haste (2 Kings 1:11)
IV. Approach Prayerfully (2 Kings 1:13)
V. Approach With Humility (2 Kings 1:13)
VI. Approach As If Man of God Owns your life (2 Kings 1:13)
VII. Approach With a Humble Request and Prayer (2 Kings 1:13)
VIII. Aproach saying "Don't be angry with me!" (2 Kings 1:14)
IX. Research First Before You Approach (2 Kings 1:13)
X. Approach With A Request To Spare Your Life (2 Kings 1:13)
I. Don't Approach With Numbers (2 Kings 1:9)
2Kings 1:9 Ahaziah sent a captain and 50 men to Elijah.
The world today things if they are majority and only a few believed in the Lord, they will win? Think again, God wins because He's already majority, you and God is already a majority. You don't need the number of people with you, to prove you're right. God is always right, let everyone a liar. What works with the world, doesn't work with God. There are many illustrations in the Bible, but you may notice that God never accomplishes things if you're few or many, it's irrelevant all to God. Remember Gideon and 300 people defeating military, fighting men without number (Judges 6:33, Judges 7:12)
Romans 8:28 We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan.
Romans 8:29 God knew them before he made the world. And he decided that they would be like his Son. Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:30 God planned for them to be like his Son. He chose them and made them right with him. And after he made them right, he gave them his glory.
Romans 8:31 So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us.
Isaiah 55:9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts."
Judges 6:33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east, banding themselves together, went over and put up their tents in the valley of Jezreel.
Judges 7:12 Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the east were covering the valley like locusts; and their camels were like the sand by the seaside, without number.
II. Don't Approach With A Command (2 Kings 1:9, 2 Kings 1:11)
2Kings 1:9 The captain said to Elijah, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!'"
2Kings 1:11 Ahaziah sent another captain with 50 men to Elijah. He said to Elijah, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down quickly!'"
The captain is conceited. He thought 50 of his people can restrain Elijah, so he commanded Elijah in front of his 50 people. What did happened? They were burnt to a crisp. They're well done! Being conceited will kill you. The second captain never learned from the first captain's lesson. He even hurried Elijah to come down.
2Kings 1:10 Elijah answered the captain of 50, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your 50 men!" So fire came down from heaven and destroyed the captain and his 50 men.
III. Don't Approach With Haste (2 Kings 1:11)
2Kings 1:11 Ahaziah sent another captain with 50 men to Elijah. He said to Elijah, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down quickly!'"
The second one is much more foolish than the first one, imagine he has the privelege of burning/dying second place, but he never learned his lesson from the first captain. What happened to him? He hurried to his death, he and his 50 men.
2Kings 1:12 Elijah told the captain and his 50 men, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your 50 men!" Then God's fire came down from heaven and destroyed the captain and his 50 men.
Remember don't command God, or his man, ask, seek with humility.
Matthew 7:7 "Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you.
IV. Approach Prayerfully (2 Kings 1:13)
2Kings 1:13 Ahaziah sent a third captain with 50 men. The third captain came to Elijah. He fell down on his knees and begged Elijah, saying to him, "Man of God, I ask you, please let my life and the lives of your 50 servants be valuable to you.
By now, the third captain learned a lot from the first and second captain burnt to a crisp. The 2 captains must be even seen in the front burning or burned black.
Learn from this third captain:
1. Fell down on his knees - he begged Elijah instead of commanding him
2. Begged Elijah - he treated the man of God same as the king who sent him.
3. Man of God - he recognized the authority and power of Elijah as Man of God.
4. I ask you - he asked politely obviously he did this on his knees.
5. Please let my life and lives of 50 servants - he asked politely and reverently Elijah for the lives of his 50 men and his life to be spared.
6. be valuable to you - he asked Elijah to value their lives.
Anything can be done in prayer on our knees. With God, nothing is impossible.
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer."
Psalms 86:5 My Lord, you are good and merciful. You love all those who call to you for help.
V. Approach With Humility (2 Kings 1:13)
2Kings 1:13 Ahaziah sent a third captain with 50 men. The third captain came to Elijah. He fell down on his knees and begged Elijah, saying to him, "Man of God, I ask you, please let my life and the lives of your 50 servants be valuable to you.
The third captain knows all these, Elijah had already killed 102 people, 2 captains and 100 fighting, military men even without lifting a finger, he did all of these actions with humility.
Psalms 147:6 The LORD supports the humble, but he shames the wicked.
Proverbs 3:34 He will humiliate those who make fun of others, but he is kind to those who are humble.
Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be a humble person living among the poor than to share the wealth among the proud.
Proverbs 18:12 A proud person will soon be ruined, but a humble person will be honored.
Proverbs 22:4 Respect the LORD and be humble. Then you will have wealth, honor, and true life.
It pays to be humble as you can see.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride is the first step toward destruction. Proud thoughts will lead you to defeat.
VI. Approach As If Man of God Owns your life (2 Kings 1:13)
2Kings 1:13 Ahaziah sent a third captain with 50 men. The third captain came to Elijah. He fell down on his knees and begged Elijah, saying to him, "Man of God, I ask you, please let my life and the lives of your 50 servants be valuable to you.
He really does own the 202 people that he killed without lifting a finger. God just confirmed Elijah is a Man of God, that's about it, God just did target practice on the first 2 captains.
Remember the song:
Acts 17:28 It is through him that we are able to live, to do what we do, and to be who we are. As your own poets have said, 'We all come from him.'
Yes, God owns all of us but He wanted us to love Him with all our hearts willingly.
Exodus 25:2 "Tell the Israelites to bring me gifts. You will accept gifts for me from everyone who is willing to give.
He wants our willingness to serve Him, not our pocket. Obey willingly.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifice that God wants is a humble spirit. God, you will not turn away someone who comes with a humble heart and is willing to obey you.
Luke 12:8 "I tell you, if you stand before others and are willing to say you believe in me, then I will say that you belong to me. I will say this in the presence of God's angels.
Our willingness to serve makes us different from the political leaders and secular leaders of our day. We obey a Loving God.
VII. Approach With a Humble Request and Prayer (2 Kings 1:13)
2 Kings 1:13 Ahaziah sent a third captain with 50 men. The third captain came to Elijah. He fell down on his knees and begged Elijah, saying to him, "Man of God, I ask you, please let my life and the lives of your 50 servants be valuable to you.
2 Corinthians 13:9 We are happy to be weak if you are strong. And this is what we pray--that your lives will be made completely right again.
Why should we be happy whenever we're weak, it's because whenever we're weak God is strong in our lives.
2 Corinthians 13:13 I pray that you will enjoy the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But the Lord said, "My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power." So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can stay in me.
VIII. Aproach saying "Don't be angry with me!" (2Kings 1:14 )
2Kings 1:14 The two other officers and their men were killed by fire from heaven; but please be merciful to me!"
Come on now, you got 50 men, you can kill 1 old Man of God, you have the upper hand, but instead the third captain, said "but please be merciful to me!" It's the other way around. He know God is with Elijah, and Elijah is much more powerful than them, and he knows one request from Elijah, and they will be burned to the ground. This third captain was not even named in the Bible, but the attitudes was noted down.
The attitude is very important in serving God.
Numbers 14:24 But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has remained loyal to me, I will bring him into the land which he explored, and his descendants will possess the land
Philippians 2:5 The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:
Philippians 3:15 All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you.
Philippians 4:5 Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.
Titus 3:2 Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone.
1 Peter 3:8 To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another.
Need I say more? God can read minds, hearts and our attitudes. Start serving clean from the heart, from the inside out.
IX. Research First Before You Approach (2 Kings 1:13)
2 Kings 1:13 Once more the king sent an officer with fifty men. He went up the hill, fell on his knees in front of Elijah, and pleaded, "Man of God, be merciful to me and my men. Spare our lives!
The third captain has done his homework, if it weren't for him, he and his 50 men should be then by now. Elijah might conclude the first and second were odd balls, so will be the third, but he waited for the third captain to come. Are you the third one?
Research first and do your homework. Don't die like the first and the second, but live like the third. Where will you research? Where will you need to study? Study God's Words, the Bible.
Exodus 13:9 This observance will be a reminder, like something tied on your hand or on your forehead; it will remind you to continue to recite and study the Law of the LORD, because the LORD brought you out of Egypt by his great power.
Joshua 1:8 Be sure that the book of the Law is always read in your worship. Study it day and night, and make sure that you obey everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Psalms 1:2 Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the LORD, and they study it day and night.
Psalms 119:15 I study your instructions; I examine your teachings.
Proverbs 22:17 Listen, and I will teach you what the wise have said. Study their teachings,
John 5:39 You study the Scriptures, because you think that in them you will find eternal life. And these very Scriptures speak about me!
Ecclesiastes 7:25 But I devoted myself to knowledge and study; I was determined to find wisdom and the answers to my questions, and to learn how wicked and foolish stupidity is.
Studying God's Words can be free, take a look at this website, also it's all around the internet, free bible study tools.
X. Approach With A Request To Spare Your Life (2 Kings 1:13)
2 Kings 1:13 Once more the king sent an officer with fifty men. He went up the hill, fell on his knees in front of Elijah, and pleaded, "Man of God, be merciful to me and my men. Spare our lives!
The Lord Jesus Christ is about to return! Maranathai! Are you His? As a Man of God, I tell you to spare your life in the coming judgment. Accept the Lord while He may be found! The Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon! Believe my call, I may be a few that says this to you, seemingly weak before you, but God is coming soon!
2Chronicles 36:15 The LORD, the God of their ancestors, had continued to send prophets to warn his people, because he wanted to spare them and the Temple.
Psalms 26:9 Do not destroy me with the sinners; spare me from the fate of murderers---
Psalms 51:14 Spare my life, O God, and save me, and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness.
Be like the prophet Nehemiah:
Nehemiah 13:22 I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to go and guard the gates to make sure that the Sabbath was kept holy. Remember me, O God, for this also, and spare me because of your great love.
Spare me because of your great love.
Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Lord, Master and Savior. You can do this by prayer.
Psalms 51:14 Spare my life, O God, and save me, and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness.
