Ahab, Jezebel and Baal worship

A prophet was sent to anoint Captain Jehu as the new king of Israel. He was also given a charge by the LORD to destroy all the house of Ahab and wicked Jezebel. He had succeeded in destroying the descendants of Ahab and Jezebel was killed as she sought to intimidate him.

 

2 Kings 9:30 When Jezebel, the queen mother, heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel, she painted her eyelids and fixed her hair and sat at a window.

31 When Jehu entered the gate of the palace, she shouted at him, "Have you come in peace, you murderer? You are just like Zimri, who murdered his master!"

32 Jehu looked up and saw her at the window and shouted, "Who is on my side?" And two or three eunuchs looked out at him.

33 "Throw her down!" Jehu yelled. So they threw her out the window, and some of her blood spattered against the wall and on the horses. And Jehu trampled her body under his horses' hooves.

34 Then Jehu went into the palace and ate and drank. Afterward he said, "Someone go and bury this cursed woman, for she is the daughter of a king."

35 But when they went out to bury her, they found only her skull, her feet, and her hands.

36 When they returned and told Jehu, he stated, "This fulfills the message from the LORD, which he spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe: 'At the plot of land in Jezreel, dogs will eat Jezebel's flesh.

37 Her body will be scattered like dung on the field of Jezreel, so that no one will be able to recognize her." (NLT)

 

The wicked Jezebel who brought the spirit of fear to oppress the heart of Elijah was dead. May our fears be put to death and may we love and serve the LORD our God with a whole heart. Next Jehu was going to destroy Baal worship.

 

2 Kings 10:19 Summon all the prophets and worshipers of Baal, and call together all his priests. See to it that every one of them comes, for I am going to offer a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of Baal's worshipers who fail to come will be put to death." But Jehu's plan was to destroy all the worshipers of Baal.

20 Then Jehu ordered, "Prepare a solemn assembly to worship Baal!" So they did.

21 He sent messengers throughout all Israel summoning those who worshiped Baal. They all came and filled the temple of Baal from one end to the other.

22 And Jehu instructed the keeper of the wardrobe, "Be sure that every worshiper of Baal wears one of these robes." So robes were given to them.

23 Then Jehu went into the temple of Baal with Jehonadab son of Recab. Jehu said to the worshipers of Baal, "Make sure that only those who worship Baal are here. Don't let anyone in who worships the LORD!"

24 So they were all inside the temple to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had surrounded the building with eighty of his men and had warned them, "If you let anyone escape, you will pay for it with your own life."

25 As soon as Jehu had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, he commanded his guards and officers, "Go in and kill all of them. Don't let a single one escape!" So they killed them all with their swords, and the guards and officers dragged their bodies outside. Then Jehu's men went into the fortress of the temple of Baal.

26 They dragged out the sacred pillar used in the worship of Baal and destroyed it.

27 They broke down the sacred pillar of Baal and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet. That is what it is used for to this day.

28 Thus, Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel.

29 He did not, however, destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, the great sin that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.

30 Nonetheless the LORD said to Jehu, "You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Because of this I will cause your descendants to be the kings of Israel down to the fourth generation."

31 But Jehu did not obey the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. (NLT)

 

Jehu was faithful but not entirely faithful to the LORD. He continued to allow the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Because his heart was not entirely given to God the whole nation of Israel would eventually be judged for idolatry and scattered among the nations. Our nation has it's Ahab and Jezebels allowing evil practices to take over the land. God will judge our nation as he judged Israel if we do not repent and return to the God of Israel, the God of truth and righteousness, with a whole heart. It starts with the church. Is their a lack of full surrender and commitment to God in your heart and in mine?

Our Spiritual Possibilities

John 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

 

Jesus said that his disciples would do greater works than himself. If anyone questions what a spirit filled man of God can do and see by the power of God, then examine the life of Elisha, the double anointed man of God.

 

2 Kings 6:8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, "We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place."

9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, "Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there."

10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God, warning the people there to be on their guard. This happened several times.

11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called in his officers and demanded, "Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?"

12 "It's not us, my lord," one of the officers replied. "Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!"

13 The king commanded, "Go and find out where Elisha is, and we will send troops to seize him."And the report came back: "Elisha is at Dothan."

14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere."Ah, my lord, what will we do now?" he cried out to Elisha.

16 "Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!"

17 Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!" The LORD opened his servant's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

18 As the Aramean army advanced toward them, Elisha prayed, "O LORD, please make them blind." And the LORD did as Elisha asked.

19 Then Elisha went out and told them, "You have come the wrong way! This isn't the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria.

20 As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, "O LORD, now open their eyes and let them see." And the LORD did, and they discovered that they were in Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, "My father, should I kill them?"

22 "Of course not!" Elisha told him. "Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master."

23 So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their king. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel. (NLT)

 

Because Elisha was in Israel the Aramean (Syrian) king stayed away from Israel. Because of the presence of God in Israel, they were protected. We who are the anointed of God need to walk in the anointing we have through Jesus Christ. Do we know what God is thinking and saying? Are we able to see as Jesus saw? If Jesus could call ten thousand angels to his aid, We should have this protection as Elisha had. Our leaders may protect our enemies as brothers. Our brother and Spiritual leader is the Son of God. How much greater can we be in the Spirit. We are in Jesus who is omnipresent, all knowing and all powerful. We must get closer to him in awareness and as Elisha was so much like Jesus, so can we be. We have prophets, but do they do mighty works as did Elisha? There is more for us and we will have more and more as we seek his wisdom and will. We will have it all when we are with Jesus. We will be like him and be joint heirs of all he has. LORD increase my anointing to see and to do your will in this time. LORD your faithful people want to be channels of your power and mercy with your loving heart. Help us to walk in our Spiritual possibilities

and keep us from evil.

Fill my vessel

2 Ki 4:1  Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 Ki 4:2  And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
2 Ki 4:3  Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
2 Ki 4:4  And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
2 Ki 4:5  So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
2 Ki 4:6  And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
2 Ki 4:7  Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

 

My first thought was that God did miracles like Jesus did through Elisha; Amazing and good. The widow borrowed all the vessels she could get and the LORD filled them miraculously through his servant Elisha. This story has been used as an allegory, the LORD will fill you with the oil of His spirit, he will fill all you give to him.

 

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

2 Cor 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

 

2 Tim 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2 Tim 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

LORD fill our clay vessels with the oil of  your Spirit for your service and we will give you all glory honor and praise. Amen

A Double Anointing

  

2 Ki 2:8  And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
2 Ki 2:9  And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
2 Ki 2:10  And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
2 Ki 2:11  And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2 Ki 2:12  And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
2 Ki 2:13  He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
2 Ki 2:14  And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

 

Enoch was another man of God that was taken to Paradise by angels. 

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

 

Elias followed Elijah closely and he followed God closely. He was given the gift of prophecy as he followed Elijah. He fulfilled all the requirements, being diligent in seeking to be like Elijah, his spiritual father. God rewarded him with Elijah's anointing and authority and he was given his own anointing from God, a double anointing. The evidence was shown to the 50 prophets who watched. He smote the waters with Elijah's mantle or cloak, a hairy garment of goats hair. (Elijah was called a hairy man, as John the Baptist would be called hairy with his camel hair garment and beard) and the waters parted.

 

One miracle that showed that God was with a leader, is the parting of the waters. Moses had the anointing as the Red Sea was parted at his command. Joshua followed Moses closely and even stayed in the presence of  the Ark in worship longer than did Moses. Joshua was given the anointing of Moses as he spoke and the Jordan parted as the priests carried the Ark across. Jesus didn't need to open the waters, he walked on the water, but Jesus being God had the anointing of God, he opened the way for those who believe in him to cross over to the eternal inheritance that we have with him. We truly receive an anointing from Jesus by following him closely and his inheritance of eternal life and all that he has. That is the greatest of blessings.

 

A final thought or two...If you want a double anointing, you must follow Jesus very diligently, in his word, his actions, his prayer life. You must want more of God then of the world. We cannot be involved in carnal things and expect the anointing of God. If we do not read his word, do not expect some holy man to give you a double anointing as a preacher of the word. You may receive a gift from God that is confirmed by the laying on of hands. If called, then we
must be diligent. The anointing of God is for all Saints. Are you really seeking a double anointing? I believe it requires a total commitment and the favor of God for HIS purpose.

Light's out

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Truth is not expected or valued in so many people's lives. We are fed one lie after another. Our rights will be taken away because truth is no longer important in America. The land of the free will loose it's freedom because they refuse the truth. Jesus said that he is the way, the truth and the life. Can you believe this?

 

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Will you receive the truth? Or are your lights out?

Jesus cleanses the temple

  

John 2:13  And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
John 2:14  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
John 2:15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
John 2:16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
John 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

 

Psa 69:9  For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

 

Yes, he was zealous for the house of the LORD and his presence. All the selling and business as usual was going on in the court of the Gentiles. This is where the Gentiles came to pray and to seek God for they were not allowed inside the temple. I have mentioned before that so much of what the world sees of the church is the merchandising. It seems to be that the pleas for money and the selling of books, with distorted messages, is what the inquiring seekers see. The gospel came to us without charge and should be given to the world without charge. Business as usual with all the things in the way of worship was the way it was then and it upset the Lord. Soon the reproaches of the religious leaders would fall on him and he would suffer on the cross and shed his blood for our sins. If we knew that our time was short, would we be seeking to worship and pray to him without distractions?

 

Mat 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Isa 56:1  Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Isa 56:2  Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Isa 56:3  Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
Isa 56:4  For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:5  Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isa 56:6  Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:7  Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.Isa 56:8  The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

 

Two evidences that the Gentile was seeking the God of Israel were the keeping of the Sabbath, which was the the sign of the Covenant with Israel and they had to go to the temple, the court of the Gentiles. For the temple was the only place where God was to be in their presence. Also to be a Jew, they had to be circumcised in the flesh. After the cross we come to Jesus by faith and God comes into our circumcised, clean hearts, that he has made clean by his shed blood. The Gentiles were not required to be circumcised in the flesh, they were not told to keep a Saturday sabbath in the New Testament after Jesus was raised on the first day. Church was wherever two or more gathered together in his name. We are told to assemble ourselves together in a local assembly. We need to gather together for all the gifts of the Spirit to be ministered to the body of Christ.

 

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Warning not heeded

 

Josh 6:26  And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

 

Another wicked king

 

1 Kings 16:30 But Ahab did what was evil in the LORD's sight, even more than any of the kings before him.

31 And as though it were not enough to live like Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to worship Baal.

32 First he built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria.

33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to arouse the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.

34 It was during his reign that Hiel, a man from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho. When he laid the foundations, his oldest son, Abiram, died. And when he finally completed it by setting up the gates, his youngest son, Segub, died. This all happened according to the message from the LORD concerning Jericho spoken by Joshua son of Nun. (NLT)

 

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 

Deut 16:21 You must never set up a wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build for the LORD your God. (NLT)

 

Isa 1:9  Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Isa 1:10  Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
Isa 1:11  To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
Isa 1:12  When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
Isa 1:13  Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Isa 1:14  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
Isa 1:15  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

 

Baby killing as law, bloodies the hands of a people. Pretending to be religious will not appease God for your sins. Come to Jesus, believe in him, confess your sins, repent and receive his baptism. He will give you a new heart and forgive your sins. Come to Jesus and pray for your nation to be saved from the wrath of God because of disobedience.