YOU AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT

THURSDAY, 17TH NOVEMBER, 2022.

Topic: YOU AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT – Part 1

(Elisha As our Case Study)

MEMORIZE: “With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd." Psalm 18:26.

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Kings 2:13-24.

“13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, "Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send anyone." 17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, "Send them!" Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. 18 And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?" 

EXPOSITION: 

Our environment is the area in which we live. It has impact over our lives and success in life. Because of our intimacy with our environment, there is tendency that the reaction of people to our lives will be varied. While some will value you and believe in your dream, some will look down on you as they concentrate on your weakness or inability.

Let us look at the life of Prophet Elisha: He was called by God, trained by prophet Elijah, later succeeded his boss Elijah. This great success was enough for everybody to bow down for him and celebrate him. But what was people’s reaction to this greatness and success?

THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS: 

The first group of people are the sons of the prophets. They were once mocking him, thinking it will soon be over for him when his master is taken away from him. They may be thinking he would come to their school to enroll afresh for empowerment. But reverse was the case. They saw that he had possessed the double portion of his master’s spirit and anointing, they bowed down to him 

In your environment, don’t write yourself off due to people’s assessment of you. The sons of the prophets that mocked Elisha were the same who bowed down to him when was successful. The opinion of men holds no ground when God has spoken. Only God has the final say. Are you discouraged because people around you refused to acknowledge or appreciate your dream and effort? Committing suicide is never the option. Elisha will not mind his critics. Don’t loose focus on your God-given dream, press further in the strength of God. You will soon get there and you shall be celebrated. Those who warned Bartimeaus to be quiet were the same men who said unto him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you."” Mark 5:47-49.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, Turn my disgrace to graceful favour and give me a new name as You did unto Elisha in Jesus name.

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DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Acts 26-28.