Sermon – “Secret Things Made Known”

8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Be-ware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” 10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” 14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, sur-rounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria. 20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria! 21 Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” 22 But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.

The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

That one song the one verse said God is for ever strong. We know that he is forever strong. But then it also said there are not last one. Let the weak say I am strong. I hope when I’m done today that you will know that the we can say I am strong that you have a better understanding of the strength and the power of Almighty God. In a down and sad a school David posed the question there. What’s lacking in the church. And we’re talking about spiritual gifts and what spiritual gifts are lacking and of course we are sought from bouts specific for this church and also the church as a whole now. Not specifically for this church but I think for they church as a whole. I think there is a lack of understanding of the spiritual realm around as a spiritual war that’s going on. Over the souls of men and women. I think there is a lack of understanding of that and I hope today that this will clear some of that up that we can have a better understanding of that spiritual realm. In On Wednesday night Bible study as we’ve been studying Daniel and I guess that’s kind of how I have gotten drawn into this message today. And Daniel Chapter ten. Daniel was praying and praying for understanding and God sent a messenger but it was three full weeks before that message got to Daniel because the messenger once he did get there. He said The kingdom of the Prince of Persia withstood me for three four weeks until Michael the Archangel came to help. What an eye opening into the spiritual realm. What an eye opening to the power of prayer offerings there is a tremendous war going on. Unbeknownst to many in the world today because their spiritual eyes are dark and a war going on for the souls of men and women. We need to understand that bad. Don’t understand our place in that battle the number want to spray or how many times you’ve heard some of they all I guess all I can do is pray. Oh. That’s a big number one. Number one is pray secret things made known secret things made known as a title I gave this message of course I could have given it a dozen titles but I still want to chose you know Day John Chapter ten verse ten it says. Speaking of the evil one. He comes to steal kill and destroy you know I’ll get the message here eventually this is all extra This is all extra no extra charge enough. You know I think about the drug epidemic in our country and we know that it is all it is is a crisis level in this area. Well you know what it’s not just this area. It’s everywhere and I and I’ve often I’ve had this thought and one thing it’s really happening a lot today is they are lacing these drugs with lethal doses of stuff that have killed them. And you know nothing of that and I thought why in the world would you kill your customer. Now I know you know if you own a bakery. You’re not going to put a lethal dose of icing on top of those donuts or cupcakes are you if you don’t want to kill your customer because you want to keep coming back and buying more. Now then donuts might eventually kill you but no. One dose of this lethal drug in are killing our customers and I’m thinking why why would they do such a thing you know they want them people to keep coming back and buying more no kill steal and destroy Satan don’t. He’s not worried about the profit. He’s worried about killing and destroying before that so might repent and come to Jesus Christ. So this is part of the message that it’s all extra but. I’ll get to the reading Second Kings Chapter six verses eight through twenty three hear the word of the Lord. Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel and he consulted with his servants saying my camp will be in such and such a place and the man of God sent to the king of Israel saying be aware that you do not pass this place for the Syrians are coming down there. Than the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told them told him. Thus he warned him and he was watchful there not just once or twice. So this didn’t happen just one or two times it happened many times. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing and he called his servants and said to them. Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel and one of his servants said none my lord king but he lies the prophet who is in Israel tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom. So he said Go and see where he is that I may send and get him and it was told him saying Surely he isn’t often. There for he sent horses and chariots and a great army there and they came by night and surrounded the city and when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out there was an army surrounding the city with horses and chariots and his servant said to him a las my master what shall we do so he answered. Do not fear for those who are with us or more than those who are with them and I should pray to said Lord I pray open his eyes that he may see then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw all and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around the last ship. So when a Syrians came down to them a lot of ship prayed to the Lord and said. Strike this people I pray with blindness and instruct them with blindness according to the word of the live show. Said to them. This is not the way nor is this the city. Follow me and I will bring you to the man hating to see. But he led them to Samarium going to pause for a moment and we’ll finish this up. It says he blinded them but you know they were able to follow him. They was able to travel. I’m thinking this blindness was a blindness of confusion. They had eyes to see where they were gone. But they had no idea who it was it was laid in them or where they were going. God is able to do that thing. So it was when they had come to Samarium that he lies to said Lord open the eyes of these men that they may see. And Lord open their eyes and they saw all and they were there and there they were inside some area. Now when the king of Israel saw them he said to my father. So I kill them. So I kill them. He was beside himself one. You know what to say but he answered. You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow set food and water before them that they may eat and drink and go to their master. Then he prepared a great feast for them and after they ate and drank he sent them away and they went to the Master so the bans the bands of Syrian Raiders came no more into the Land of Israel. How a million. May God had His blessing so they hear it in the reading of His Holy Word. Let us pray gracious Father we thank you so much for your words we thank you for your word that reveals your relationship with mankind reveals your power in your might. God is your soul mazing you are so amazing. We thank you father. I just pray that your spirit would open all of our hearts to to fully grasp and understand how wonderful you are how powerful you are how all knowing you are God may we be fate. May we have the faith in the trust of your servant lies God just move in our hearts today let everything spoken would be for your glory your praise and your honor in Jesus’ name. Ality the Syrian King during this time. Time period a life his ministry was banned had died one commentator though calls him the king of ROM Arab I should say Ehrman said of Syria and refers to the writers as a rainy or a me an area. How do you say that. Anyway but history shows that there were many times that many came from a ROM era must keep saying that wrong as refugees into Syria. But the Bible calls them they came to Syria and Syrian Raiders so I’m going with that because these are say whichever they were though they were making a hefty profit on these raids. You know they would they would attack and raid people that was traveling with a good of the neighboring cities of the in the borders and raid the homes and they were stealing from the Israelites making a good profit. So you know think of this doesn’t seem like they’ve always had this sense a term or whatever their civics been going on forever. Well because it pretty much has been. It has been going on forever. You know in today’s world. There are still many like these Syrian writers that they make their living by stealing from others. Today though their tactics are different they do it on the computer electronics they get ahold of your credit card number or steal your identity and steal from others. You know God if they don’t work that I’m not eat that I’m not steal from others. You know it’s it’s a sickening way people steal from others but you know I think God must have got back to the Syrian writers God must have got to the point where he said enough is enough. I’ve had enough you know I’m not going to sit back and longer and watch this. Or maybe by the prayers of the people got up to God and he said to just do something about it. It’s amazing how God can frustrate the enemy completely frustrate the enemy when he chooses. Ben had thought had become very very frustrated because every time he planned a raid He’d say This is where I’m going to goes what I’m going to do is who I’m going to raid they’d know before hand. So that either the people didn’t go that way or they were prepared. Whenever the Raiders came in was able to fend them off and defend themselves. It happened as a said more than one time. It’s gonna like the king of Israel had been had dogs playbook didn’t you know abuse in a football game. And somehow your team got ahold of the playbook of the other team. You knew every play. They were going to run before they ran it. Boy. You would have your way with them. Wouldn’t you. Well the king of Israel in Israel was having their way with Ben had odd they knew what was going to happen forty even happen. Ben had thought there is a spy among it’s. I know there’s got to be a spy someone is sent out word let them know where we’re going to be find out who that’s going to be God revealed to want to bend have God’s servants that it’s not a spy. Rather it is a prophet Elijah revealing the king’s plans. The king of Israel at the time was Jeremy. Have you ever thought that you could keep a secret from God. Has anybody ever thought that you could keep a secret from God something that you didn’t want him to know about you something you didn’t want in the sea. Well if you. I mean if you heard what I just read. You know that is impossible. You cannot keep a secret from God. Ben had God’s servant said the prophet tells the king of Israel even the words that you speak in your bedroom. Meaning that your most private conversations. God knows your most private conversations friends. God knows it. He knows the thoughts of your mind. He is the revealer of secrets. Some money for eleven says the Lord knows the thoughts of a man that they are futile. He knows every thought that you have that can be scary. Again. So we need to be careful what we think what we say and what we do I found it very interesting that after the servant of Ben had revealed the truth to him that it wait a minute. It’s not a spy. It’s a prophet. So after he tells him this. He says. All right. He says I want you to go look for him see if you can finding and bring him back or if we can send in getting and I want to say really. What do you think. And he knows all your plans and now you’re going to sending the fine the prophet and bringing back wealthy lodger would have chosen he could have sent them they could They’ve been on a wild goose chase. Couldn’t he could have went from city to city they’d numb for weeks or months he reveals one thing that that King has not one clue about spiritual things does he’s clueless when it comes to spiritual things the very one who knows all the king’s plans and now he thinks he is going to go on capturing one thing you do not see in our passage today. You do not see one speck of panic or surprise from the prophet Elijah do you surely he knew the king’s plans to come find him to seek him out he. Knew all the king’s plans God revealed them to him but he did not become fearful for one second. He didn’t run. He didn’t go hide. He didn’t get a bit excited. Well he might have got a little sight about what God was doing but he didn’t get one bit excited about that great army coming against him. One man against a great army the word said it he sent a great army to finding they surrounded the whole city. One man against of army and was he surprised. Was he worried humanly speaking a lie. Sure would have been much safer to be inside the walls of Samarian to spend his time there but because of his ministry he went from sound city to city but it wasn’t fair for he had no fear because he knew that God was caring for him he knew that God was his protector. It is almost like when God’s servant or completely in his will. During the ministry that they have called them to do that. It’s almost like they’re immortal. Isn’t it. I mean not just the lasher look at many other examples in the Bible. Joseph Moses Elijah many of the others the disciples while they are doing the ministry they got to call them to do. It’s almost like they’re immortal. Nothing can harm them. And John Chapter eleven Jeez disciples were trying to discourage him from going back into to do. The Judah lose him up speech trying to dissuade him from going back because or say Master it is too dangerous. They’re one to step in you to death. He says and I’m one of the vine timetable. They cannot harm me. There’s another time they want to throw him off a cleft No I’m one of the vine timetable says the Lord no fear do not worry the enemy had absolutely no power over Jesus until he completed every single thing that he came to do until he completed the Father’s will. They had no power over him in John seventeen Jesus spoke these words lifted up his eyes to heaven and said Father the hour has come glorify your son that your son also made glorify you not until he said the hour has come. Jesus could have called down twelve thousand legions of angels are to man speaking on that that would have amounted to millions upon millions upon millions of angels. And there is a passage in the scripture where one angel defeated eighty five. That was a hundred and eighty five thousand troops are the enemy so have won and you could destroy one hundred eighty five thousand. How many would millions and millions millions be able to destroy they had no power over Jesus whatsoever. They couldn’t touch him until he said the hour has come the hour has come. The the minister the prophet can say they have no power over me until the hour has come and so I have completed the ministry that God has called me to do. We can have the same faith that Eliza had and the other servants of God It ought to give our faith a boost. When we know that we are doing what God has called us to do when we see God’s protecting hand over his people. It ought to boost increased our faith. It ought to build a sub it ought to encourage us that God is going to protect us until we complete the work that he’s called us to do. Amen. Here’s an amazing example revelations non-O. this is the two servants revelations eleven fourth or seven. These are the two olive. Trees into lamp stands witnesses standing before the God of the earth and if anyone wants to harm them fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies and if anyone wants to harm them. He must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they desire. When they finish their testimony. The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them overcome them and kill them but not until when. Well that say when they finish their testimony they can’t touch them until they are finished Have faith my friends because God will complete his plans. So here’s a lie in our passage today he is all calm calm as a cool calm as a cucumber calm as a cucumber. He is in control he is trusting God He is knowing all that’s happening but there is his servant. This servants not so calm. Is it. It calls him a young man young servant. Apparently this was a relatively new servant for his former servant. Is no longer with things. So this guy may be had seen the power of God work through the lies and like his previous servant his previous servant was Ghazi and I actually spoke a little bit about name in the last week in his healing. I don’t know how but I’ve got him back here again. So we know that this young girl sends naman to see a lie. Shouldn’t a lie Should didn’t go out. It just told. Servite Ghazi to go tell naman to dip into Jordan spoke of this last week. Reluctantly he did after serving convincing seven time his skin was made new so he goes back I didn’t get to this last week he goes back to the lies his house want to give him all these gifts but I just as no no no we don’t take money we don’t take these things for doing God’s will. Send him away. So now pick up in the King’s five verses twenty two twenty seven. Ghazi the servant of your lies or the man of God said to himself. My master was too easy on name and this or mania and by not accepting from him what he brought as surely as little lives I will run after him and get something from him so Ghazi hurried after naman. And when a man saw him running toward him he got down from his chariot to meet him. Is everything. All right. He asked. Everything is all right. Ghazi answered my master sent me to say to young men from the company of the prophets have just come from the to me from the hill country of F. or him. Please give to them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing that is a bold faced lie isn’t it. A lie. Should it not sending by all means take two talents said name and he urged to go HASI to accept them and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants and they carried them ahead for Ghazi when Ghazi came to the Hill. He took the things from the servants and put them away in the house he set the men sent the men away and lo and they left when he went in and stood before his master Eliza asked him Where have you been Ghazi your servant didn’t go anywhere. Ghazi answered. Another lot. Another lie but he lies to said to him. Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you. You can’t hide anything from God You can’t hide anything from his servant his prophet a live chicken it is this the time to take money or to accept clothes or all of Groser vineyards or flocks and herds or male and female slaves. Name and leprosy which will claim to you and to your descendants forever then Ghazi went from allies his presence and his skin was leprous and had become as white as snow. Wow So there you see what happened to lies is previous servant. He lied to the prophet he lied to God greed greed took over his life. Greed will eventually catch up to everybody. Sooner or later and it will destroy it would destroy your life. But anyway back to this new servant kind of still green behind the ears. He went out very early in the morning. To his dismay. They were completely completely surrounded all hope is gone. There’s no way out of this the odds are too great. There’s no way they’re severely out numbered master. What shall we do what shall we do. I’m a defendant’s young man for a moment. Because as I said as I began. I think that’s one thing is deficient in the church today. The Church. Because many people in the church today would react the same way this young man did only seeing that which is unnatural not understanding the spiritual things that are there. Would it be awesome. If God. Would once in awhile just open our eyes. And allow us to see the spiritual around see the battle that’s going on. Some It would be scary. Would it be awesome to have an understanding. An understanding of God’s mighty hand of protection over us some would be more than amazed. Some will be more than a maze whenever God If a god does someday reveal to us all the time that his angels watched over some protected us. Probably more than amazed because they’re there every day there is a little minnow This called for eyes. It makes its home in Central and South America. What’s unusual about this little fish that he has great big bulging eyes and they are so situated on his head right on the top of his head that he can spend his time cruising along the water. And in the upper half of the eyes will stick out their Khana like a focal so they can skim along the top his body underneath but those little bulging eyes above the water and he can see what’s going on above with one part of his eye the other parties I can see what’s going on below. We’re not because of that we can see what’s going on in the spiritual world above us as well as in the natural life that we are living a lie should not one bit disturbed by that enemy that surround them. He tells a servant do not fear for those who are among us or more than those who are with them. My friends whenever the Satan sin. He was cast out of heaven only one third went. Two thirds on our side. More are those that are with us than those that are against us. God’s angels Angels are always at the ready. God showed Jacob in Genesis twenty eight verse twelve then he dreamed that behold a ladder was set up on the earth and its top reached to heaven and there were angels of God. There were ascending and descending on it. My friends this is going on all the time Angels ascending and descending coming down and doing God’s work. Every day. In our busy day God’s angels or work. There’s a modern day example John Patten. He and his wife were a missionary in a new pay brides islands and one night hostile natives surrounded the mission station and tent burning out Patton and killing them. Patton and his wife prayed during this terror filled night that God would deliver them when they like came they were amazed to see their attackers leave a year later the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ remembering what happened. Pat Nasa’s Chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise. Who are all those men with you there. Pat knew that no men were present but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds and hundreds of big men and shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission statement station those who are with us are more than them. He can send an army to surround us. Hebrews one thirteen and fourteen says to bow to which of the Angels has he ever said sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. Are they not all the. Mr in spirit sent forth to minister for those who won her salvation. You are those who were hared salvation. And he sent his ministry and spared. To fend for the you. To protect you. To comfort you to be with you were do you stand as a Christian would you be like allies a servant filled with fear. Or are you like. Strong in faith with confidence in the all powerful mighty God. I can answer that for you but where would you stand shaking at the knees when you see that huge army. Are confident in knowing. God is for me. And you know what God says well. It’s time have the faith of the apostles a Soviet trust in the Lord. Some believers so they are stressed out because the things they see happen in the world today. My friends we should not be stressed out because our God is sovereign or God is in control of all things first. John four four says you are you are of God Little children and have overcome them because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Be strong the last just showed us that one man. With God leading him. Can control a whole army. One man singlehandedly. He goes from being surrounded. To leading his enemy in to them being the one surrounded. In the walled city. Wow. Think about that when I’m God’s open their eyes up and are like whoa this. And turned out the way we planned. The gang says Should we kill Should we kill the king of Israel. Knew who was in control that situation. Didn’t he knew it wasn’t him. He says that a lot of father. Father. Should not kill no life just says no. Prepare prepare meal for them because a sit down together and under one roof. And to share a meal is making a covenant agreement. So by showing mercy to them and sending them back they just signed a coven agreement of peace but they would no longer come and raid their body remember. If you didn’t even see it. Do you remember the movie War Room. There was a movie called War Room. Doubt last year I think what a powerful movie but it just showed the power of prayer. A woman had a room in her house. That was called The War Room. It was her prayer room where she would go and do battle. Do battle and prayer. My friends we need to have a war room. Whether it be your claws it whether it be some other room in your house. I don’t care for your car but we need to have a war room in our lives where we can go to battle. You know I shared a couple weeks ago we’re talking about visions and it’s not unlike I don’t get visions then I’m like oh wait a minute. You know I did kind of have a vision of the spiritual darkness that’s covering this nation. You know some say that the Dark Ages began to subside in the sixty’s hundreds. Well look around. I don’t think the dark ages have since that subsided. But I had just just as I didn’t for picture in my mind of the United States in the darkness it’s covering not darkness is a spiritual realm the spiritual darkness is hovering over this nation because in Daniel the one of the. Demonic forces called the spear or the prince of the kingdom of Persia so friends there is a prince of the Kingdom of the United States and that darkness is covering this nation. But I had his vision it. If the people of God would pray if the people of God would go to their prayer clause it truly understand a spiritual battle and began to pray against the forces of darkness and us envision the darkness beginning to flee in the light beginning to emerge the darkness going from the north to the south into the waters. My friends it can happen. It can happen when the church gets on their knees in price. We can have the victory. It begins in the spiritual realm. I got that message eight years ago. It begins in the spiritual realm. We must get on our knees and pray for the spiritual battle that’s taking place over our nation over our families over our churches. We need to pray for the leaders of the churches. You better believe that the leaders are coming under attack. We need to pray for the leaders of our nation as well. Because you better believe it is a spiritual battle over them trying to direct their plans and their paths. It begins friends right here on these needs. Are you willing to be a prayer warrior or are you willing to be a prayer warrior for God. And stand against the forces of darkness because we can stand. We can stand a man.