ELISHA Sunday Morning Bible Class Series GULF SHORES CHURCH OF CHRIST

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2 ELISHA:: God s New Man In Israel ELISHA Sunday Morning Bible Class Series GULF SHORES CHURCH OF CHRIST CHAPTER/STORY PAGE Another Great Prophet of God Passing of the Torch Ready For Action Half Hearted or Whole-Hearted? Half-Hearted Whole Hearted? Bring Me Another Jar The Pressure Cooker Faith & Works Friend or Foe? A True Witness You Will Get What's Coming to You A New Sheriff in Town Unlimited Power Perilous Times Study guide created by Ray Reynolds Material rial gleaned from David Roper Roper, Jack Peters, Peters, & The Pulpit Commentary

3 Another Great Prophet of God Text : I Kings 19:19-21 INTRODUCTION : Elijah was a GREAT prophet of God! As a great prophet he could see the need for more prophets in the future. Therefore, he encouraged the establishment of prophetic schools and he took on an apprentice. II Kings shows us there was a changing of the guard between Elijah and Elisha. The role of prophet was being solidified by Elijah and Elisha. All other prophets would consider their example, their teachings, and their zeal for the Lord. However, there was a change in personalities between these two great men of God. Elisha had a fiery personality. Some might say that Elisha was a little less controversial. God's didn't change His plans or qualifications for His prophets because God does not change (Malachi 3:6). But the times change, leaders change, and situations change, so God is able to use both of these unique men to bless his kingdom. I. A Survey of II Kings A. The Final Acts of Elijah (1:1-2:12) B. The Works of Elisha (2:13-9:10) C. Jehu of Israel (9:11-10:36) D. Series of Rulers (11:1-17:41) E. Hezekiah of Judah (18:1-20:21) F. Two Evil Kings of Judah (21:19-26) G. Josiah of Judah (22:1-23:30) H. Two More Evil Kings of Judah (23:1-37) I. Babylon Conquers Judah (24:1-25:30) II. The Kingdom of Israel A. Consider the context of the times of Elijah (I Kings 16:29-30). - He was virtually on his own with a tyrannical king and queen. B. Consider the context of the times of Elisha (I Kings 19:19-21). - He has a mentor but it still dealing with difficult political problems. III. Another Great Man of God A. Who was Elisha? B. What did he look like to the people? C. What did he stand for in his day? D. Why did he and Elijah make such a terrific team? E. This was God's new man in Israel! CONCLUSION : We may look different, sound different, and have different personality traits, but God can use that uniqueness to His glory! God still needs His special people for special times, but He can only use one who is completely dedicated to Him! Are you willing to live as God's man or woman? We need people who are willing to stand up and work together for the kingdom of God.

4 Passing of the Torch Text : I Kings 19:19-II Kings 2:14 INTRODUCTION : Elisha is going to be chosen for a great work. Why did God choose him? What can we learn about our own calling and work when we read his story? When God has a job for someone to do, He does everything necessary to prepare that person for the work. Elisha had the talent, but the choice was his to make. How would you feel in this situation? The torch must be passed. I. The Destiny of Elisha A. Elisha was chosen by God to be the next prophet in Israel (I Kings 19:16, 19). B. Elijah was willing to take him as his protégé. II. The Decision of Elisha A. Elisha chose to accept the call of God (I Kings 19:20-21). B. Elijah chose to accept Elisha as his apprentice. III. The Discipleship of Elisha A. Elisha began, not as a prophet, but as Elijah's servant (I Kings 19:21). B. Elijah would have trained him to become a great prophet. IV. The Drama of Elisha A. Elisha was able to witness some amazing events (I Kings 20-II Kings 2). B. Elijah went through several ups and downs, but Elisha was by his side. V. The Dedication of Elisha A. Elisha was determined to stay with Elijah to the end (II Kings 2:1-7). B. Elijah was complimentary to Elisha and gave him several blessings. VI. The Desire of Elisha A. Elisha wanted to have a double portion of Elijah's spirit (II Kings 2:8-9). B. Elijah allowed the Lord to make the call and he did receive this privilege. VII. The Demonstration of Elisha A. Elisha's miracle showed that he was the new prophet in Israel (II Kings 2:13-14). B. He needed to "get on board" with God's vision for his life and for the kingdom. CONCLUSION : If you have ever had the torch of leadership passed in your direction, it is heavier than you might think. Imagine filling the shoes of Elijah! The next several chapters give us reason to celebrate the work of God in this man's life. There is a reason why many of us confuse the life and works of these two great men of God. Their names are similar, their works are similar, but each are unique. Will you carry the torch when the Lord demands it be passed to you?

5 Ready For Action Text : II Kings 2:13-25 INTRODUCTION : Elisha wastes no time getting right to work. The chapter cannot finish before the great prophet performs three interesting miracles and some amazing details. Each displays his ability and his resourcefulness. He has learned much from Elijah, but he has a unique way of doing things on his own. He provides a great pattern and example for the people of God. What can we learn from his actions? I. The Conviction of Elisha (II Kings 2:13) A. Elisha could not spend his time grieving and mourning his spiritual "father" very long. B. He picks himself up off the ground and decides to move forward. II. The Question of Elisha (II Kings 2:14) A. Elisha may have held some hostility toward God for taking his mentor. B. The miracle proves that God was present and would be there for Elisha. III. The Wisdom of Elisha (II Kings 2:15-18) A. Elisha was accepted as the new leader of the prophets. B. Many of the young prophets wanted to send a search party, which he did not think was wise. C. His wisdom was proven when a search was made and nothing was found. D. He gave the men a mild rebuke, but understood their grief. E. Proverbs 19:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. F. Elisha modeled an exemplary behavior ( I Timothy 4:12). IV. The Creativity of Elisha (II Kings 2:19-22) A. Elijah spent time in Jericho, and was familiar with the water, but Elisha solved the problem. B. Elisha performed few miracles exactly like Elijah. He was original and creative. C. There is nothing wrong with being like someone, or doing things like someone else, but the Lord has given us all unique abilities and we should not be afraid of being creative. V. The Authority of Elisha (II Kings 2:23-25) A. Do you think Elisha was mean to small children? Is that the picture you see? B. These were not small children but youth, teens, and/or young adults. C. They were making fun of God's servant, Elisha, and the ascension of Elijah. D. They were being disrespectful and rebellious. E. Elisha had every right to rebuke them and used his authority as a man of God. F. God hopes that we will respect our leaders and his anointed servants. CONCLUSION : The last verse in this chapter is a curious one. Why would Elisha go to Mount Carmel? What happened there? Then, he went to Samaria. There is much work yet to be done, but Elisha is just getting started. He is establishing a name for himself. He was ready for action! Are you ready?

6 Half-Hearted or Whole-Hearted? Text : II Kings 3:1-27 INTRODUCTION : The book of I Kings shows how the kingdom divided. The book of II Kings shows how they are destroyed. Both books show evil kings and endless warfare. Chapter two ends with Elisha taking a trip to Mount Carmel and then on to Samaria. The people are listening to him and taking notice of his work. This third chapter starts with a description of some troublesome events that were happening in Samaria with Joram, Ahab's son (more in 8-9). As a half-hearted king, will he be faithful or stay on a path of evil? Would they follow in God's ways? Elisha will be called upon for help. What will he say? I. The Half-Repentant Son of Ahab (II Kings 3:1-3) A. Joram was better than his father, mother, and brother. B. His actions show he wanted to do some things right, but leave other things undone. C. He expelled the stone pillars of Baal, but embraced the sinful lifestyle of God's enemies. D. His repentance of his parents sins are commendable, but Jeroboam's sins is unacceptable. E. He was suffering the fate of the people in Elijah's day (I Kings 18:21). II. The Half-Hearted Efforts of the Leaders (II Kings 3:4-10) A. A double minded person is unstable in all their ways, they are off balance (James 1:8). B. Rebellion is not entered into with a light heart. C. The king of Moab had his allegiance with Israel until Ahab's death. D. Joram and Jehoshaphat join forces, along with the king of Edom, to defeat Moab. E. They consider manpower, strategy, and force, but do not consider the wisdom of God. III. The Half-Way Mark on the Road to Battle (II Kings 3:11-12) A. Seven days into the travels the men run out of water. Poor planning? Providential? B. The kings visit Elisha, not for a speech or sermon, but for him to petition God for help. C. Notice who decides to approach the prophet (v.11) and which king is named (v.12). D. The three kings made the effort to visit Elisha instead of calling for his presence in the field. IV. The Half-Witted Kings Ask Elisha for Advice (II Kings 3:13-20) A. Elisha is disrespectful to Joram but honors the presence of Jehoshaphat. B. Joram tried to persuade Elisha that he was doing the will of God. C. The prophet gives them advice, they follow it, and they are spared and blessed. IV. The Half-Time Efforts of the Moabites (II Kings 3:21-27) A. The Moabites start off assuming that the armies have killed each other. B. As the battle rages, the king of Moab makes two decisions that should be carefully studied. CONCLUSION : God's people should always consult God before making a tough decision. Are you giving God a half-hearted effort? Will you give God your whole heart? Consider the blessings.

7 Bring Me Another Jar Text : II Kings 4:1-7 INTRODUCTION : Do you have a personal success story? Are you close to anyone that has been extremely successful in business? Most of us would like to be successful. As Christians, we should desire to be successful in the eyes of God. We are seen as successful when we are faithful (I Corinthians 4:2), filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and bearing fruit for the kingdom (John 15:1-8). I. Suffering of the Innocent (II Kings 4:1) A. Elisha was apparently the chief prophet in Israel at this time. B. There were schools of training for those who would aspired to become prophets. C. A widow of one of the students finds herself bankrupt and in peril. D. Her creditors were coming to take her sons as slaves to pay the debt she owed. E. She did the right thing, as it is God's will that the Lord's people care for widows and orphans. F. She was honest, she sought out Elisha, she did not try to fool him, and she simply told the truth. II. Service of the Righteous (II Kings 4:2) A. Elisha had compassion for this woman and her plight. B. Elisha wants to know her talents and resources. What was available for God to multiply? C. Jesus uses this same method in His own ministry with water, bread, fish, etc. (John 2, 6). D. Elisha might have learned this from Elijah (I Kings 17:8-16). We also know that God the Son E. She only had a little oil, and it was a valuable commodity, but not enough to repay the debt. F. Therefore, Elisha used what she had and planned to multiply it greatly. III. Salvation of the Needy (II Kings 4:3-6) A. God will always provide for those who are needy. B. Elisha's advice was simple: use your resources and ask for help. C. She was to borrow empty pots, go home, shut the door, and start pouring. D. She was obedient and when there was no longer an empty vessels, the oil stopped flowing. IV. Sensibility of the Family (II Kings 4:7) A. What would you do with all of this oil? B. The woman and her boys could have skipped town and moved far away. C. Elisha encouraged her to sell the oil and pay her bills. D. Paying what you owe is the sensible thing to do, not ignoring your debt. E. There would be enough of God's blessing to go around after the debts were paid. CONCLUSION : God blesses us with provision, guidance, and multiple resources. One of the greatest resources we have is the Holy Spirit, which gives power, victory, hope and joy. We are called to bear the fruit of the Spirit. If we stop bearing fruit we will be as useful as an empty vessel. When God fills us up we need to be prepared to share our blessings! Are ready to be filled up?

8 The Pressure Cooker Text : II Kings 4:8-37 INTRODUCTION : There will be times in our lives that we will face pressure. The pressure of persecution, trials, tribulations, financial troubles, sickness, death and dying, family problems, church arguments, spiritual struggles, etc. The prophet Elisha faced many of these pressures as well. How did he make it through? He relied on God and remained steady under pressure. We can learn from his great example. How will you react when you are in the pressure cooker? I. The Catastrophe in Elisha's Ministry (II Kings 4:8-23) A. Things seem to be going good for Elisha and he has a servant named Gehazi. B. This lady had taken care of Elisha's physical needs and Elisha promised the reward of a child. C. The child was born, and grew, but eventually the child died. D. The lady had laid the boy on Elisha's bed and went to find Elisha. II. The Character & Concern of Elisha (II Kings 4:9, 24-30) A. It was obvious that Elisha was a "holy man of God" and he could help. B. If we expect remain steady under pressure, we need to have a similar character. C. He knew that God would be with him and with His people. D. Elisha was genuinely concerned about the well being of this woman and her family. E. He understood that the woman was hurting. F. He sent Gehazi, his servant, to help them immediately. G. Then, he went himself and was willing to get involved. III. The Companionship, Confrontation, & Cry of Elisha (II Kings 4:31-34) A. Gehazi was unsuccessful, and evidently there was no prayer on his part. B. Elisha got alone with God, confronted the problem, and cried out in prayer. C. Crying out to God was common (Jeremiah 33:3, Mark 11:22-24). D. After his prayer, Elisha dealt with the corpse in a unique. IV. The Continuation of Elisha's Ministry (II Kings 4:35-44) A. Elisha stayed with the problem until it was resolved. B. The pressures we face will not be relieved completely, until we face them head on! C. After this event he finds the land of Gilgal without food, and he showed them how to use the vegetables and herbs around them. D. Then, he multiplies loaves of bread, which reminds us of Jesus' miracles too. CONCLUSION : Pressure is relieved, when God is with His people! I wonder if the people praised the Lord. They should have been thankful for all of these blessings. When we suffer, the Lord often requires us to get close to unpleasant problems. Why? To reveal His presence in our lives! God is all around us. Sometime tragedy and trials wake us up and discipline us. How do you react in the pressure cooker?

9 Faith & Works Text : II Kings 5:1-27 INTRODUCTION : As Christians, we are expected to demonstrate reasonable thinking. We should have the ability, with God's help, to think things out clearly, logically, and rationally. This section of Scripture presents us with a good example of the importance of positive thinking. The way people reacted to the leprosy of Naaman, and his appeal for healing, give us some examples of good and bad thinking. We know that one of the enemies of Israel at this time was Syria. The general of the Syrian army, Naaman (meaning pleasant), was blessed by God to deliver the people. However, he was stricken with the dreaded disease of leprosy (Leviticus 13:3, 45-46). I. The Faithful Thinking of Naaman's Servant (II Kings 5:1-3) A. The Syrians sent raiding parties into Israel, and this little girl was taken away from her home. B. She spoke of Elisha, the prophet of God, whom she felt could heal her new master. II. The Favorable Thinking of the King of Aram (II Kings 5:4-5) A. The king is concerned for his friend, the general of the army. B. The king sends papers (with his seal and signature) to aid Naaman's efforts. C. Naaman also prepares large and generous gifts for the king and the prophet. III. The Foolish Thinking of the King of Israel (II Kings 5:6-7) A. The king is arrogant, hateful, and brushes aside the words of the king and the needs of Naaman. B. Naaman had the testimony of a child of God, the word of a king, and expensive gifts. C. Instead of relying on God, the King was overtaken with fear (Proverbs 29:25). IV. The Fearless Thinking of Elisha (II Kings 5:8) A. Elisha was not afraid of the king or the general, he was confident in God. B. He instructs the king of Israel to send Naaman to the prophet's house. V. The Faulty Thinking of Naaman (II Kings 5:9-14) A. Elisha didn't come out to meet Naaman when he arrived (Gehazi is being tested too). B. The prophet told Naaman to go wash in the river Jordan seven times, but he is angry. C. However, after reasoning with him, the prophet does it and is healed. VI. The Frightful Thinking of Gehazi (II Kings 5:15-26) A. Naaman is grateful and offered gifts to Elisha, but the prophet refused. B. Gehazi, Elisha's trusted servant, deceived Naaman and took some of the gifts. C. Gehazi was punished for this deception and greed (I Timothy 6:10). CONCLUSION : Who displayed great faith? Who revealed this faith with their works? Which person shows the best example of positive thinking? This is a very thought provoking story.

10 Friend or Foe? Text : II Kings 6:1-23 INTRODUCTION : As Christians, we have enemies because of our faith in Christ (Matthew 5:10-11, John 15:19, II Timothy 3:12). How we deal with our enemies is an indication of how close we are walking with God (Matthew 5:38-42). Our enemies tend to scare us, but like Elisha, God wants us to be fearless (Proverbs 3:5-6, 29:25). What can learn from his example? I. His Passion Created An Atmosphere of Trust (II Kings 6:1-7) A. This first story is fascinating, but it shows how much the other prophets trusted him. B. The others around Elisha were confident that he could do almost anything. C. There was mutual love and encouragement between all of these people. II. His Problems Were Caused By Unrighteous People (II Kings 6:8-14) A. Elisha was sharing Syria's war plans with the King of Israel, which came from God. B. When the King of Syria discovered that Elisha was doing this, he became Elisha's enemy. C. Soldiers were sent to apprehend him, but Elisha got in trouble for doing what was right. III. His Protection Came From the Lord (II Kings 6:15-17) A. Elisha was not upset with his enemies because he knew God was protecting him. B. He asked God to show his servant the great heavenly host was protecting them. C. God had his back the whole time! IV. His Prayers of Faith Brought Victory (II Kings 6:18) A. Elisha prayed that his enemies would become blind, and this happened. B. This prayer did not result in permanent blindness, but gave Elisha the edge he needed. C. Great things happen when we trust God to answer our prayers. D. No doubt this was taught from Elijah's great example to his protégé (James 5:16-18). V. His Plan of Forgiveness and Mercy Confused Both Sides (II Kings 6:19-23) A. Elisha blesses his enemies by feeding them and sending them home in peace. B. The last verse tells us that "killing them with kindness" works. C. Jesus expected His disciples to act in this way (Matthew 5:43-48). D. This is also the teaching of the apostle Paul (Romans 12:18-21). CONCLUSION : The end result of the kindness Elisha proved that men of God should always choose to do the right thing. He blessed his friends and his enemies. Maybe the line between the two can be blurred. The problem is we do not let our guard down from time to time. We have not learned to radically forgive on occasion. We believe in the Jesus and Elisha models, but it's much harder to put into practice. Are you ready to make a permanent change? Will you follow the model that God has set before you? There is so much we still have to learn from our Lord.

11 A True Witness Text : II Kings 6:24-7:20 INTRODUCTION : The stories we will study today show people in the pit of despair. They are lost and weak and need guidance. People were desperate for food and healing. Will anyone take notice? When they receive assistance will they praise the Lord? What does it take to be a true witness? I. The Tragedy Facing the People (II Kings 6:24-30) A. The shortage of food had led to chaos and cannibalism among the people. B. The king finally heard the cries of the people, but turned his anger in the wrong direction. II. The Testing of the Prophet (II Kings 6:31-33) A. The king sends for the head of Elisha. B. Elisha is wise and he knows that God will be with the people. III. The Teaching of God (II Kings 7:1-2) A. The prophet promises God's deliverance. B. There are doubts and questions as to whether or not God is paying attention or will help. C. Clearly, the prophet is not worried about God's part in the plan. IV. The Turmoil of the Nation (II Kings 7:3-4) A. The people are hurting, and hungry, but are honest about the situation. B. The lepers decided to take a leap of faith and leave the city. C. They decide to make their way towards the camp of the enemy. V. The Terror of the Syrian Army (II Kings 7:5-7) A. The army left their riches in a mad rush of fear. B. The lepers are blessed and are satisfied with the things left behind. VI. The Trauma of the Lepers (II Kings 7:8-11) A. God drove out the enemy, but there is cause for concern. B. The lepers did not want to be selfish with their plunder. C. They went back to tell the king about what they had found. VII. The Thoughts of the King (II Kings 7:12-20) A. Where the lepers were hopeful and full of joy, the king is skeptical. B. Eventually they find that the lepers were truthful and the kingdom rejoices. CONCLUSION : The lepers decided to spread the good news that the famine was over. They found plenty of food, clothes, and valuables. Would you tell? We are blessed with salvation and great spiritual blessings. Who have you told lately? Are you a true witness?

12 You Will Get What's Coming To You Text : II Kings 8-10 INTRODUCTION : God has a way of making things work out in the end (Romans 8:28). We have to trust that His way is the best way. There are cycles in life and God's people need to be aware of this fact. History repeats itself. There is a constant cycle of good and evil. These three chapters, though placed on the backdrop of Elisha's great work, show us that both sides have their highs and lows. I. The Restoration of the Shunammite's Land (II Kings 8:1-6) A. The command of Elisha seems hard, but it is followed. B. The woman has to suffer in the short term, but is eventually blessed. C. The fact that Gehazi is seen here shows us that the story is put here for dramatic effect, not to establish a chronological timeline, because he could not have an audience with the king. D. We should also note that these things are better explained when we back up to chapter three. II. The Revelation to Hazael (II Kings 8:7-15) A. This story shows a strange set of circumstances. B. Elisha feels compelled to share his personal thoughts with the future king. C. Things happen exactly as the prophet predicted. III. The Rulers of Judah (II Kings 8:16-29) A. Jehoram became king of Judah (8:16-24). B. We can go back a few chapters to learn more about how this happened. C. During this time the Edomites broke away from Judah. D. Ahaziah became king of Judah after him (8:25-29). IV. The Ruler of Israel (II Kings 9:1-10:36) A. Elisha anoints Jehu as King of Israel (9:1-10). B. Jehu kills Joram and Ahaziah (9:11-29). C. Jehu kills Jezebel (9:30-37). D. Jehu kills Ahab's 70 sons (10:1-11). E. Jehu kills Ahaziah's 42 sons (10:12-14). F. Jehu kills other relatives of Ahab (10:15-17). G. Jehu kills prophets of Baal (10:18-28). H. Final thoughts on Jehu (10:29-36). CONCLUSION : The record shows that while Judah was losing ground, Israel was picking up some steam. However, the divided kingdoms are still suffering because they will not stay consistent. Good kings still participate in evil lifestyles. Jehu gets the spotlight, but the end of chapter ten reveals that he was far from perfect. A cycle in the next two chapters will show that Judah will take center stage. God's people should always seek unity! And, we should wait for His direction.

13 The New Sheriff in Town Text : II Kings INTRODUCTION : In our last lesson we noticed how Israel was doing some great things, while Judah was struggling to find it's true identity. Those under Judah's rule were not happy and suffering great tragedies. What would they do? God has plans to bring someone new on the scene. Someone who would repair the temple, restore the people, and revive Jerusalem. Will the people follow him? I. The Preservation of Joash (II Kings 11:1-3) A. Ahaziah, the mother of Athaliah, killed the entire royal family after her son's death. B. Where there are women of cruelty, women of peace and hope will be found. C. Joash was hidden by his aunt and Jehosheba, the daughter of king Jehoram and wife of a priest. D. They allowed a nurse to raise Joash (Jehoash) in the temple of the Lord. II. The Purge of Jehoiada (II Kings 11:4-20) A. Queen Athaliah of Judah was evil and did many wicked deeds. B. Jehoida, the priest, made plans to overthrow Athaliah and destroy the idols. C. He decided to meet in the temple of the Lord, the hideout for the young Joash. D. It was in the temple that he mediated a covenant and established a plan of action. E. His works were twofold: destroy the idols and end the reign of tyrannical kings/queens. F. The wicked had obtained power by force and he refused to adopt a non-resistant mentality. G. He saw the governments leadership as treacherous, treasonous, and disrespectful to God. H. The new covenant contains radical thinking and making a seven year old boy their king! III. The Potential of Joash (II Kings 11:21-12:3) A. This young man has loads of potential. B. He was saved, protected, taught in the temple, adopted by a priest, etc. C. The text tells us that under Jehoida's tutelage he did many great things. IV. The Plan for the Temple (II Kings 12:4-16) A. The temple of the Lord was is disrepair, and this was unacceptable to Joash. B. They began to collect money and organize the manpower to get the job done. C. The people worked together to make this happen. V. The Peril of Jerusalem (II Kings 12:17-21) A. Hazael was bringing havoc to the people and the city, as Elisha predicted (II Kings 8:7-15). B. In order to save the city, Joash gave all the holy items in the temple to the king of Aram. C. The officers (servants) became angry with their king, so they murdered him along the road. CONCLUSION : The story of Joash (Jehoash) is interesting because with a "new sheriff in town" things began to improve. But culture and corruption get the best of him. Will you take a stand and stay faithful?

14 Unlimited Power Text : II Kings 13:1-21 INTRODUCTION : Elisha was an old man. It appears that during the last few chapters Elisha became ill and was on his deathbed. However, Elisha sought to challenge Jehoash (Joash) to a deeper faith in God. The great prophet wanted to describe the unlimited power available to a servant of God. Would the king heed his advice? Was Elisha hoping in vain? The prophet's story is about to come to an end, but his memory and his teachings will live on forever. I. The Power Abused (II Kings 13:1-13) A. The life of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, is described along with the goodness and severity of God. B. The life of Jehoash, king of Israel, is also described to show the persistence of evil. II. The Power Needed (II Kings 13:14) A. Joash was probably lamenting the eminent death of Elisha. B. The king evidently realized that the loss of a godly man was equivalent to a loss of God's power. C. We have probably lamented the death of a godly person who showed the power of God. D. Who could fill such shoes? Who would lead the people? III. The Power Communicated (II Kings 13:15-16) A. Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands, indicating that the power was coming from God. B. The power has been communicated to us through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). IV. The Power Promised (II Kings 13:17) A, The king was to shoot an arrow in the direction of the enemy. B. The arrow was symbolic of the victory that God would give him over his enemies. V. The Power Neglected (II Kings 13:18) A. Elisha told the king to strike the ground with the arrows (probably shoot them into the ground). B. He did not use all his arrows, therefore he showed his limited faith (three times only). VI. The Power Limited (II Kings 13:19) A. Elisha was unhappy with Joash's lack of faith. B. The king should have hit the ground more often and he would have had a total victory! VII. The Power Renewed (II Kings 13:20-25) A. Elisha's bones still contained miraculous power because a man is brought back to life! B. Things are also made right in the end of the story. CONCLUSION : We are limited in our victories over Satan by our lack of faith. The more we use our faith, the more we will have the victory! Will you rely on the power of God? Will you stand strong?

15 Perilous Times Text : II Kings INTRODUCTION : The life and times of two great prophets have concluded, but the story is not over. We must notice some things that came as a result of the actions of these great men of God. The next ten chapters show us the direction of God's people when they lack a great spiritual leader. I. A Series of Rulers for Judah and Israel (14:1-17:41) A. Amaziah of Judah (14:1-22) B. Jeroboam II of Israel (14:23-29) C. Azariah (Uzziah) of Judah (15:1-7) D Zechariah of Israel (15:8-12) E. Shallum of Israel (15:13-16) F. Menahem of Israel (15:17-22) II. Hezekiah of Judah (18:1-21:26) A. Introductory notes on Hezekiah (18:1-2) B. Hezekiah's reform (18:3-8) C. Assyria conquers Israel (18:9-12) D. Sennacherib invades Judah (18:13-19:37) E. Hezekiah's illness (20:1-11) III. Josiah of Judah (22:1-23:37) A. Introductory notes on Josiah (22:1-2) B. Josiah's reform (22:3-23:27) C. Death of Josiah (23:28-30) IV. Babylon Conquers Judah (24:1-25:30) A. Babylon attacks Judah (24:1-4) B. Death of Jehoiakim (24:5-7) C. Jehoiachin of Judah (24:8-9) D. Fall of Judah (24:10-16) E. Zedekiah (Mattaniah) of Judah (24:17-20) V. The Future of God's People A. Assyria took Israel captive around 730 B.C. (North of the Tigris-Euphrates valley, capital city was Ninevah). G. Pekahiah of Israel (15:23-26) H. Pekah of Israel (15:27-31) I. Jotham of Judah (15:32-38) J. Ahaz of Judah (16:1-20) K. Hoshea of Israel (17:1-41) F. Hezekiah entertains Babylonians (20:12-19) G. Concluding notes on Hezekiah (20:20-21) H. Manasseh & Amon, two evil kings of Judah (21:1-26) D. Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim (Eliakim), two more evil kings of Judah (23:1-37) F. Destruction of Jerusalem (25:1-21) G. Gedaliah, governor of Judah (25:22-26) H. Jehoiachin released from prison in Babylon (25:27-30) B. Babylon took Judah captive around 600 B.C. (South of the Tigris-Euphrates valley, capital city was Babylon). CONCLUSION : What happens from here? If you read I Chronicles you will see the history of Israel from Adam to David, while II Chronicles gives the history of God's people from Solomon to the captivity. Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, and Daniel are the prophets that worked during the captivity. Then, we see from Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther that the people were freed. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi prophesy after the exile. Have you studied these books? If not, then you don't know the rest of the story. New leaders arise! Will you lead God's people? Are you ready to become a true man/woman of God?