full of horses & chariots of fire

2 Kings 6:8-18 records a fascinating story of Elisha (Prophet Elijah's protege) and his servant when the King of Aram sends a host of chariots and horses to capture the prophet who was aiding Jehoram, King of Israel, thwarting King of Aram's plans to defeat Jehoram.

The servant cries out in fear seeing the powerful Aramean chariots and horses surrounding them, but Elisha prays to God to open his servants eyes so he could see the spiritual reality - a greater host of horses of chariots of fire encompassing them.

Whether we live in acknowledgment of the spiritual warfare that rages on every moment of every day, it is a reality. Just because we willfully live ignorant of the spiritual reality, cannot and does not negate its existence.

God's great army of horses and chariots of fire were there before the servant's spiritual eyes were opened.

But we must remember these three things about the Spiritual Eyes:

1. Spiritual Eyes are Free of Fear. When the Servant was afraid, he could not see the true reality. So long as we focus on the problem, we will never see past it to see the might God behind our problem. Remember the story about Patch Adams and the "crazy old man" who helped him see past the four fingers and see a whole different perspective.

2. Spiritual Eyes are Opened Eyes. The servant could not see until prophet Elisha asked God to open his eyes to the spiritual reality that already existed. How are our spiritual eyes opened? When truth is declared and realized and received.

Never forget: the One fighting for you is mightier than the one fighting against you.

3. Spiritual Eyes are Discerning. It doesn't seek for human ways for solution. It seems an obvious and logical thing to simply leave the enemy blinded and confused, but Elisha, instead, leads them to the capital royal city and instructs Jehoram to basically feed and help his enemy. But it is through this discerning wise act that the bands from Aram stops raiding and wreaking havoc on Israelite territories. Just because it is peace, it doesn't mean it is from God.

Without spiritual sight, life is hopeless. If there is nothing beyond right here and now, there is nothing worth living for.

Remember the Olympic Games race in which the winner is not the one who gets to the finished line first but the one who keeps his torch still burning at the end of his run. It's not about being first; it's about having the fire of the Spirit, that fire of love for Jesus, burning in our hearts until the Day Christ returns.

--from Nakwon EM July 15, 2007 First Anniversary Service