Sometimes it’s hard to see how the unfolding of our circumstances can always be as ‘good’ as God says they are. In 2 Kings 8:1-6, we have the situation where the woman from Shunem acted upon what Elisha had told her to do, only to have the whole thing unravel before her eyes. Maybe that’s also been your experience? You’ve trusted God, but it’s all gone ‘pear-shaped’? This story, though, reminds us that even ‘pear-chaped’ circumstances are no problem to the Lord. he is able to make good come from evil and able to bring the loose threads together according to His purposes and plans. We ought always trust Him to do that.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: All Creatures of Our God and King
00:17 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
04:25 Bible reading: 2 Kings 8:1-6
Song: Behold the Lamb of God
06:10 Kids’ Talk
Song: Remember the Lord
10:25 Bible reading: Romans 8:18-30
Song: Before the Throne of God Above
Sermon: 2 Kings 8:1-6
Song: It Is Well With My Soul
13:18 Closing

There’s an awful ring to the story recorded in 2 Kings 6:24-7:20. Not only is the prophet Elisha in danger – this time from the king of Israel! – the whole nation has hot rock-bottom due to the siege laid by the surrounding armies of Syria. Inside the captial, Samaria, things are a mess. Awful. There’s famine, desperation, hopelessness and unbelief. But then God did something. Having tried His people to an extremity, He then acted to save them and drive the enemy away, leaving it very clear that none else but He was the Saviour of His people, and reminding us that the grace of God is far greater than we can imagine.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Worship the King
00:17 Introduction
00:41 Prayer
04:45 Bible reading: 2 Kings 6:24-7:2
Song: Christ Is Mine Forevermore
07:20 Kids’ Talk
Song: We Give Thanks (Psalm 75:1)
11:35 Bible reading: 2 Kings 7:3-20
Song: He Will Hold Me Fast
Sermon: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20
Song: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
15:38 Closing

To be able to see is such a wonderful gift. Sight is such an important aspect to everyday life. But to be able to see what is invisible…now that’s something else. In the text of 2 Kings 6:8-23, it’s very clear that Elisha and his servant were in trouble – surrounded by the Syrian army. Elisha and his servant could both see what was right before them. But Elisha could see what his servant could not – that surrounding them Syrian army was an even bigger army of angels sent by God for the protection of His servants. It’s a great text and one that forces us to ‘see’ that what is viisble is not always the whole story!

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: My Faith Looks Up to Thee
00:16 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
04:49 Bible reading: 2 Kings 6:8-23
Song: Grace Unmeasured
08:05 Kids’ Talk
Song: Blind Man
12:34 Bible reading: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Song: Consider Christ
Sermon: 2 Kings 6:8-23
Song: We Rest on Thee
13:52 Closing

In this next instalment in the life and ministry of the prophet Elisha, the incident he is called to address in 2 Kings 6:1-7 seems almost insignificant. A borrowed axehead falls to the bottom of the river and needs to be retrieved. Rather than sending in divers or having a dam built to stop the flow of water, Elisha miraculously arranges for the axehead to float! Because God has unlimited power, this miracle was no difficulty for the God who made everything from nothing, but what does this seemingly insignificant event teach us today?

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: What a Friend
00:17 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
03:40 Bible reading: 2 Kings 6:1-7
Song: My Heart Is Filled
04:53 Kids’ Talk
Song: The Chooky And Her Chickies
08:54 Bible reading: Luke 12:1-7
Song: O Great God
10:06 Sermon: 2 Kings 6:1-7
Song: God Whose Almighty Word
34:58 Closing

Of all the stories that the Old Testament tells us that concern the ministry of the prophet Elisha, it is perhaps this one, recorded in 2 Kings 5:1-27, the healing of Naaman, that we remember the most. The reason for that is probably the fact that Naaman was an outisder. he was a Syrian. Even a soldier. Even a commander of soldiers. And yet, for such a man of power, he was helpless to do anything about the disease with which he was afflicted. Enter Elisha into the picture and his direcive that Naaman wash himself in the Jordan River. Enter Naamn’s pride into the picture and you have the scenario where this ‘outisder’ almost remained an ‘outsider’ forever. See, pride has to go, if ever we are to receive what God wants to give us. And in this story, we see ourselves. Outsiders, but also those who are brought in throught the dor marked ‘humble yourselves before the Lord’.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Be Thou My Vision
00:21 Introduction
00:45 Prayer
04:33 Bible reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14
Song: My Hope Rests Firm
07:22 Kids’ Talk
Song: 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (Let Him Who Boasts)
12:10 Bible reading: 2 Kings 5:15-27
Song: O Lord My Rock
15:17 Sermon: 2 Kings 5
Song: Jesus Paid It All
41:43 Closing

In the text of 2 Kings 4:38-44, we find two miracles linked by the same topic – food. In the first, where the food was poisoned, Elisha’s miracle cure was found in the addition that he made to the food. In the second, where the food was insufficent, Elisha’s miracle was found in the multiplication of what was available. These two stories highlight the fact that Elisha was confirmed as the Lord’;s prophet before all Israel, but they also speak about the wayward relationship of Israel to God in 9th century BC. In chasing after idols such as Baal, the people were adding ‘death to the pot’ and coming up ‘unsatisfied’. This modern world calls us to keep on compromising the truth of God’s Word. To do so leads to danger. Not to do so will bring much blessing.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Crown Him With Many Crowns
00:19 Introduction
00:37 Prayer
05:14 Bible reading: 2 Kings 4:38-44
Song: There Is a Higher Throne
06:39 Kids’ Talk
Song: Old Black Crow
10:31 Bible reading: John 6:1-15
Song: O the Mercy of God
12:23 Sermon: 2 Kings 4:38-44
Song: O Christ in Thee
37:10 Closing

The miracle in the story recorded for us in 2 Kings 4:8-37 is probably one of the greatest ever done through the prophet Elisha. After establishing a strong friendship with this couple from Shunem, the prophet was confronted with the unexpected death of their young son – a son that he had prophesied would be born to them. When the news reached him of the boy’s death and after his staff in the hands of Gehazi had failed to revive him, Elisha stretched himself out on the boy – hands to hands, face to face – and the boy lived again. The story is complete with many lessons – perhaps the greatest of all the pointer once again to Jesus and the fundamental nature of faith – clinging to the feet of the One who alone can raise the dead!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
00:20 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
05:04 Bible reading: 2 Kings 4:8-37
Song: Beautiful Saviour
11:06 Kids’ Talk
Song: Remember the Lord
15:34 Bible reading: Mark 5:21-43
Song: My Worth Is Not in What I Own
19:36 Sermon: 1 Kings 4:8-37
Song: Have Thine Own Way
43:22 Closing

One again the circumstances for Elisha have changed. From being with and ministering to the Kings of Edom, Israel and Judah in matters that affected the whole nation, we next find Elisha with a poor widow in an unknown location. The widow’s trials were manifold. Not only had she lost her husband, she had also incurred a debt on his passing and her creditor was threatening to take away her sons as slaves (as the law permitted). How the woman came to know of Elisha is not told, but we are told that Elisha not only gave her advice (to collect jars) but also the plan for her to exit her trial (through the multiplication of her sparse oil into greater amounts). Elisha again points us to Jesus who paid our debt by His own blood!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: How Sweet the Name
00:15 Introduction
00:35 Prayer
04:39 Bible reading: 2 Kings 4:1-7
Song: 10,000 Reasons
05:59 Kids’ Talk
Song: Behold our God
10:22 Bible reading: John 7:14-39
Song: Breathe on Me Breath of God
14:01 Sermon: 1 Kings 4:1-7
Song: Amazing Grace
38:17 Closing

After Elisha’s initial encounter with the people of Jericho and then some youths of Bethel, the scene changes somewhat in 2 Kings 3:1-27 where we meet Elisha in the company of the Kings of Israel, Judah and Edom. The situation facing these kings and their armies was nothing short of desparate. Having taking the desert route to attack the kingdom of Moab, they soon ran out of water and were facing the prospect of death. How Elisha came to be among these kings and their armies is not told to us, but he was, and when approached, the miracle he performed not only guaranteed the survival of the kings and their armies, but also the defeat of Moab and brought glory to God who can do ‘more than we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20).

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: And Can It Be
00:17 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
04:56 Bible reading: 2 Kings 3:1-27
Song: Only A Holy God
10:39 Kids’ Talk
Song: Blessed Be Your Name
14:06 Bible reading: Ephesians 3:7-21
Song: This Life I Live
16:07 Sermon: 1 Kings 3:1-27
Song: Teach Me Thy Way
39:46 Closing

Critics of the Bible might use the text of 2 Kings 2:23-25 to point out how evil the God of the Old Testament is or how uncaring his servants (in this case, Elisha) really are. At first glance of this text, it might appear that they have a point. But with some extra examination and information and perspective, there might be more to this incident than first meets the eye – and it might just turn out to be the exact opposite – something that critics of the Bible (and all of us, for that matter) should take notice of and be warned by! God’s judgement is not something that anyone can take lightly!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Standing On The Promises
00:15 Introduction
00:37 Prayer
04:53 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 36:9-16
Song: Nothing Can I Boast In
06:34 Kids’ Talk
Song: The Power Of The Cross
09:57 Bible reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
Song: In Christ Alone
11:45 Sermon: 1 Kings 2:23-25
Song: At The Name of Jesus
35:19 Closing