Wednesday Night Services

How is it that someone can be so zealous in doing the things of God, but still not be a follower of God? Jehu's rise to power gives us some clues!

Did you know that what is probably the biggest detours from the plan of God was not made by a idol worship king of Israel or Judah, but by one of the most celebrated kings of Judah for his worship and trust in Jehovah? Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, was involved in probably the most destructive plot against the plan of God and it started with his father, king Jehoshaphat.

You will be hard pressed to find any one in the Word who fell from grace that did not first become unthankful / ungrateful for the blessings God through grace put into their lives. Here is a look at why that is. This is our Thanksgiving service for 2015.

'If God knew a person was going to do really terrible things, why would He let them live or stop them in some way?' In 2 Kings 8, Elisha predicts that Hazael would become king over Syria and do some very terrible things to the people of Israel. Is God responsible for this if He doesn't stop it? Are we right in thinking God should? We could go further and ask why God allows great storms to form that kill hundreds or even thousands of people. Is this not in God's realm of things to stop? So what can or will God stop and what won't He? We look at this and other questions in this Wednesday service.

How quickly have you learned to over what God says? Our obedience today opens the door for God to work on our behalf down the road. In this story of the Shunammite woman when she is warned of a coming famine, obeys the word spoken by Elisha and leaves her home. When she returns 7 years later she finds God has worked on her behalf and is restored her house, land, and even more.

Wednesday Night services

The king of Israel did not need a spy network or surveillance systems to know the traps the Syrians would set for him. Elisha would hear about them from God and tell the king how to avoid them. This made the king of Syria angry and set an army to get Elisha. Elisha’s response has much for us to learn!

How easy it is to go from servant to master in any relationship, whether it be between us and God, or the ones we are supposed to serve in this life. The Bible gives us a great example who accomplishes this in mere minutes, but the affects last a lifetime.

Elisha is a type of the ministry of the Lord Jesus, and in this midweek service we look at the similarities. As Jesus feed a group of 5,000 and 4,000 men (with their wives and children) Elisha feeds 100 hungry prophets during a famine with just a few food items. We see a very similiar reaction from the servant of Elisha that Jesus saw in His 12 deciples, and we take some time to look at the limiting power of unbelief.

This is the story of a woman who decided she wanted to minister to the prophet Elisha just because it was a good thing to do. She wanted nothing and asked for nothing, so Elisha asked what she needed. He then gives her a prophecy that she would have a son. But after some years the young boy died and Elisha is called upon. She tells no one of the death and only has one response to anyone who asks her why she is going to Elisha ... she says "It is well." From her story we learn lessons on stability, sowing and reaping, and how some people pick up on spiritual things that others are oblivious to

Whenever we are up against something that seems impossible, we can fall into a certain way of thinking. That thinking keeps what seems impossible from ever becoming possible, and the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 that we will be look at in tonight’s midweek service was battling this same thinking. There are four things this woman is told to do that fight the kind of thinking that keeps us powerless. We will see some of these same things in other places in the Bible where what was impossible became possible. Do you know what these four things are and have they become part of your thinking in some area of your life?

Jehoshaphat once again allies himself with a king of Israel (Joram this time) and goes into battle against Moab. Once again he asks for the guidance of a prophet of God and they go down to meet Elisha. Elisha's words can teach us a lot, as does the miracle God performs with the ditches in the valley.

After Elijah is taken up into heaven, Elisha picks up the mantle that fell. We look at some principles of mentoring in this one including how to be a good mentor, and open to being mentored.

Elijah is caught up in a whirlwind as he leaves Elisha behind. Elisha makes a request of Elijah.

Will God or has God ever teamed up with satan's kingdom to accomplish what He plans to do? King Ahab joins forces with the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, in a battle against the Syrians and Jehoshaphat asks if there is a prophet of the Lord to inquire of. Again, a prophet not named Elijah is called upon - Micaiah. He gives a very grim outcome of the battle and for king Ahab. He also gives us a very interesting look into something that happened in heaven that had results on the earth, and it can be confusing to a lot of people who read the Bible. So here is a question ... Does God ever use satan or his kingdom to accomplish what He wants to do?

Sister Ethel Waters took the midweek service as pastor Steve and Connie were at the RMAI Regional Meeting, teaching on what we need to say (and think) when we face challenging circumstances. She shares her own personal testimony of something she faces.

Elijah returns with a word for Ahab after Naboth is murdered so Ahab could turn his vineyard into a vegetable garden. With all the material goods king Ahab had, he is sad over what he doesn't possess. A good lesson to learn ... stay thankful for all you have!

Prophets not named Elijah are sent to Ahab to deliver three different words to him.

We look at Elijah's response to queen Jezebel's threat on his life, and what caused Elijah to have such a set back after a great victory with the fire coming down from heaven and burning up the alter and sacrifice, as well as the rain that came after 3 1/2 years of drought. We also have encountered set backs like this, though maybe not as grand. How do we come back from them? How can I recognize that I could be set up for such a set back? Is there something I can do to prevent this in my life? All this and more is found in 1 Kings 19.

As we continue looking at 1 Kings, we will be answering the questions this encounter between Elijah and Ahab raises. FIRST - Why is it if something is the will of God (in this case for the rain to come and break the drought) will it not happen until Elijah prays? SECOND - If something like the rain is the will of God, why don't the clouds appear after the first time Elijah prays? In this case the rain cloud didn't appear until after the 7th time of "fervent" prayer, and once Elijah was told the little tiny cloud appeared in the sky, he stopped praying and warned Ahab to get on his way and a torrential downpour hit the land. This chapter exposes a lot of ignorance we have regarding prayer and the will of God.