Trinity Life Center

Young at Heart Class

September 24, 2023

Guest teacher

Responding to Spiritual Attacks

2     Kings 6:1-23 NIV

I.      Assessment
To fulfill the task of protecting us, the angels fight against the devil and all our enemies and carry out God’s vengeance. Theologian John Calvin
Billy Graham’s book Angels: God’s Secret Agents

II.     Hearing and Obeying God (vv. 8-10)

8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, "I will set up my camp in such and such a place."
  9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: "Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there." 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

III.  The Enemy Will Attack (vv. 11-14)

11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, "Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?"
      12 "None of us, my lord the king," said one of his officers, "but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom."
      13 "Go, find out where he is," the king ordered, "so I can send men and capture him." The report came back: "He is in Dothan." 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

1 Peter 5:8; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Peter 1:13; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
2 Kings 6:8-23

IV. God’s Got Our Back (vv. 15-17)

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

For me, these verses are the highlight of the passage!

Psalm 68:17; Hebrews 1:7; Psalm 104:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8; Psalm 78:49; Psalm 91:11; 1 John 4:4

V.    God Reveals His Power (vv. 18-20)

18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So, he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria.20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.

Whenever we hear from God, step out in obedience to His will, and trust Him to see us through, the Lord will reveal His mighty hand and power!

Ephesians 6:18; 1 John 5:14-15; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 4:7-8

VI.     Love Your Enemies (vv. 21-23)

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?" 22 "Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill men you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So, the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory.

We see here that Elisha spared the lives of the Syrian soldiers, and that he even gave them food and water and released them from captivity.

1 John 3:22 

1 John 4:7-8 

Reflection

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Romans 10:9, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

1 John 4:4, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”