“And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” 2 Kings 6:17
Dear Ones:
In the Apostle John’s first letter, he makes a most remarkable, and immensely important statement: “…greater is He that is within you, than he that is in the world.” (4:4) This short declaration is imperative to understand, and grasp, by faith. First of all, John speaks of strength, power and authority, by speaking of greatness. The greatness of which he speaks is that of the Spirit of God, Christ dwelling in the heart. We need to remember that this Spirit of God is the One who moved upon the face of the waters at creation, and brought order out of chaos. He is also that One, who throughout the Old Testament reveals Himself as the One who anoints the believer, coming upon him or her, so that by HIS power and strength, the will of God is done, and the enemies of the Lord are overcome. But perhaps the most extraordinary revelation concerning this One who is declared to be “great,” is that He is inseparably one with the soul and spirit of the believer. The work of God at Pentecost, when the Spirit of God was poured out upon all flesh, brought about this union of the believer with the “greatness” of God. That greatness now resides in the heart of every believer, in all of His power, strength, and authority. However, it is only as faith grasps the reality of this finished work of God, that the Spirit of God in His greatness is revealed in the life.
In the second part of John’s declaration, he draws a comparison between the greatness of God, and that of the devil. It is important to note, and to realize, that this greatness in the heart by the Spirit is greater in magnitude and effect, than that of the enemy of our souls. James would illustrate this contrast in writing on the subject of temptation: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (4:7) It is as the believer takes his position of faith, believing in the greatness of God, that he submits himself to God. In doing so, the very authority of God becomes his, to resist, and overcome, the enemy. The effect of this comparison of the greatness of God as opposed with the “greatness” of the enemy is revealed in the promise associated with the act and attitude of faith: “…and he (the devil) WILL flee from you.”
Over five hundred years before the coming of Christ, the author of 2 Kings relates the story which illustrates this same spiritual reality, especially with regard to seeing the invisible spiritual reality of God’s greatness as opposed to that of the enemy. At a time when the king of Syria warred against Israel, the Lord would reveal to Elisha, the man of God, what the enemy-king intended to do in attacking Israel. The enemy-king finally came to believe that Elisha was the cause of his defeats, and sent his soldiers to apprehend him. With horses, chariots, and a great host, the king surrounded the town of Dothan, where Elisha was staying. Early in the morning, Elisha’s servant came forth, and saw the whole city was surrounded by these enemy-soldiers. He comes to Elisha, and declares: “Alas, my master! How shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15) Elisha’s response to his servant was a call to faith: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” (v.16) Elisha’s servant did not initially see the reality of this. It is then that Elisha prayed: “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see.” (v.17) God did this, and he saw: “….the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” The point is this that the greater spiritual reality was invisible, until the eyes of the servant were opened. The eyes of the believers in John’s day also needed “see,” or perceive, the great reality of the GREATNESS of the One that was within them. This they did, for God opened their eyes.
Dear Father, Anoint our eyes to see Thy greatness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad