Is the faith in Jesus Christ merely a form of spiritual chicken soup, offering only mental solace? Is God distant and unreachable, merely providing a hope for the afterlife? Absolutely not! God desires to tell each of His people that He is the God of the living, that He will enter into every detail of your life, becoming the answer to all your problems. When you are surrounded by difficulties, He has already dispatched chariots of fire to fight for you. In this chapter, God wants to reveal to all who trust in Him that He is a faithful God, capable of solving all your life's problems!

Questions for Reflection:

Reflect on instances in your life where you have experienced God's grace.

What do you consider the most important task of pastoring? Why?

After reading this chapter, will you still fear when you encounter a crisis? Why or why not?

Yearning to Seek the Lord

Everyone must understand that believing in the Lord can solve problems. Believing in the Lord is not only as essential as food, but it can also help find an axe, resolve issues of war, and address many other problems in life. As I advance along my path of faith, I have discovered a very difficult truth. Only today have I fully realized that although God has given me abilities that surpass many others, I have only grasped a small fraction of the spiritual realm.

Today's chapter mentions mothers eating their own children. It is strange that people are still so foolish when they experience such circumstances (cf. 2 Kings 6:28-31)! Do they not know that Elisha is among them? Are they unaware of the things Elisha has done? Are you not all aware of the things God has done through me? Can you seriously consider how such things can happen and what the reason is? It is tragic when a Christian does not know that believing in the Lord can solve all of life's problems. Even I, who have received power in the Lord, feel regret because I have only grasped a little. Is it not a tremendous pity for those who do not seek at all?

I am most opposed to false prophets, false Christians, and those who are detached from reality. They only shout Hallelujah but do not do practical things. If they lose an axe, they are indifferent, thinking it is God's will. This kind of belief only corrupts people and has no other value. If you encounter a situation where mothers are eating their own children, you must know one thing: you have accumulated a lot of anger before God. If people accumulate a lot of anger before God, they are spiritually blind and will enter into such tragic circumstances.

Having Faith in God

Once, during a dinner sharing session with brothers and sisters, I suddenly had a spiritual inspiration: I felt that cancer, heart disease, and herniated discs are all very small spirits, and they are easy to deal with. Even for a small spirit like cancer, there is a reason why I say the demon of cancer is not a big demon: because I do not need great faith to deal with it. However, when the demon of cancer attacks a secular person, that person will feel extremely fearful. Even if the demon is small, a secular person cannot deal with it.

But a spiritual person, even when facing a bigger demon, is not afraid and can handle it with ease. I think that when people have spiritual vision and spiritual ability, they have a treasure in their lives. Just as Paul often mentioned in the Bible, I have this treasure in earthen vessels (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:7), so Paul never despaired in any situation.

Such people are remarkable. We should emulate Paul, never despairing in the face of anything. When you see people panicking, you can calmly respond: Don't worry, there won't be any problems, I will pray for you, and it will be alright soon. The person being served will be comforted by seeing you and hearing your words.

Thank God very much, God has done many wonderful things around us. Recently, I encountered a psoriasis patient who had been suffering for sixteen years and had sought medical treatment everywhere, but the problems only multiplied. First, there were sleep problems, and then all kinds of other issues arose. He found our brothers and sisters online and contacted me through QQ.

I shared the above words with him to build his faith. He responded by saying, When I hear you say this, I have hope! I said, Of course, of course there is hope. This disease is not difficult to deal with. As long as you begin to understand that the spiritual world determines the secular world, basically half of the problem is solved. How do you solve the other half? By taking up spiritual authority. Jesus Christ has died on the cross, has shed His blood for us, has accomplished healing through His wounds, and has risen from the dead, overcoming the power of darkness. Take up this authority and you will surely be victorious!

Methods for Building Faith

Let's return to this chapter of the Bible. The axe fell into the water. I ask everyone a question: How did Elisha know that if he threw a piece of wood into the water, the axe would float up (cf. 2 Kings 6:1-7)? In my experience, sometimes you need to use props to build people's faith.

Elisha was someone who frequently used props. When the axe fell into the water, the servant panicked and said, Alas, my master! It was borrowed. At this time, Elisha used a piece of wood as a prop and threw it into the water, causing the axe to float up, and he reached out and took it. The problem is, why didn't this disciple understand the spiritual principle? Why didn't he learn this lesson?

I will tell you a secret: you must learn to solve problems with faith. When you encounter a problem, like this axe falling into the water, you should ask yourself, What should I do? A spiritual person's reaction is, I will make this axe float up. But the axe is made of iron, how can it float? It doesn't matter, I will give it a boost. I will throw a piece of wood down, and as a result, the wood sticks to the axe! At this time, you will find that many things are truly miraculous.

I also often use props. How do I use them? Actually, you can use them however you want. Don't think it's strange. When you have an inspiration, it's often difficult to distinguish whether the inspiration comes from God or from yourself. Just follow your feelings and try to do it. In any case, never be passive. For example, during healing and deliverance services, I often practice this way: when the person being served has a backache, I ask him to move his back while praying. If someone has an eye ache, I ask him to put his hand on his eyes and pray. If it doesn't work the first time, I pray again, and he gets better soon.

If that doesn't work, I try something else. You must learn to operate in this way, five minutes this way and five minutes that way, praying in the spirit for a while. This way, the person being served's faith will rise. Once they have faith, the problem will be solved quickly. In any case, the goal is to increase people's faith. I think if Elisha threw a piece of wood down and the axe didn't come up, he would throw another one. This is a process of constantly increasing faith.

Maintaining Faith and Fighting the Good Spiritual Fight

Regarding pastoring, I have summarized a rule: pastoring is actually about increasing people's faith, pastoring people's faith. It doesn't matter if the axe falls, but don't let your faith sink.

Warfare is a critical matter. You must know that fighting is always a spiritual matter. Elisha said, Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them (2 Kings 6:16). What is with the army of the King of Aram? The spirits behind them. What is with us? The spirits behind us. The key to victory in a battle between two people, two groups of people, or even two countries, lies in the spirits behind them.

We must know that the living God is with us. Once, God opened my eyes and let me see in a vision that the mountains and fields were full of ghosts. Each ghost was holding a bow and arrow, shooting at me. It was a terrifying scene. I exclaimed, Wow! What is this? My prayer changed, and the sound coming from my throat was like the wailing of ghosts. I prayed desperately. Then God opened my eyes again, and I saw that the sky was filled with God's angels descending. Immediately, I saw the demons collapse in defeat.

I was excited to be able to see this vision! I exclaimed, Believing in the Lord is so good! Believing in the Lord is so good! If I didn't believe in the Lord, not to mention a countless number of ghosts, even if one ghost came to find me, I would be in big trouble. In fact, many people have been captured by ghosts, but everyone should not be afraid, because those who are with us are more than those who are with them!

Brothers and sisters, if you have problems with your boss at work, you must understand that your state of mind determines the state of your angels fighting for you, do you understand? If you are afraid inside, your angels have no way to fight for you! But if you are strong and courageous, as the Bible says, Be strong and courageous, be a man. When you are strong and courageous, your faith rises, your angels' power comes, and you will see victory!

If this is the case, why couldn't the King of Israel see the spiritual truth? In fact, not only the King of Israel, but almost all powerful people in the world are spiritually blind. Powerful people like to play political games. Political games may work when people are fighting with each other, but they are completely useless in the spiritual realm.

When the King of Aram came to fight the King of Israel, it was a spiritual battle. Why did the King of Aram come to fight the King of Israel? Because the King of Israel had accumulated a lot of anger before God. Brothers and sisters, I warn you, never accumulate anger before God, because God will send someone to discipline you, and you will get into big trouble. The King of Aram was sent by God to discipline the King of Israel because the King of Israel was spiritually blind. God wanted him to open his spiritual eyes.

If the King of Israel was willing to ask Elisha why such things were happening, I believe Elisha would tell him how he had sinned against God, and that sinning against God would surely lead to such situations. In fact, this king was very interesting. When he heard about the situation of mothers eating their own children, he tore his clothes. He had no ability to defeat the King of Aram, nor the ability to come before God to confess and repent, but he said, May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today! (cf. 2 Kings 6:31). He actually said such things, how foolish!

Elisha being blamed by the King of Aram reminds me that in the church, I lead everyone to fight spiritual battles. Fortunately, no one in the church wants to drive me away, thank God! But many churches have no ability to cast out demons, but they are very good at driving out pastors, just like the King of Aram. Everyone must know that these people are already in a very confused state spiritually.

Those Who Please God Will Surely Prevail

What should we do if we encounter similar situations? I tell everyone that we must begin to turn back to God, because God is full of grace, full of mercy, full of love, slow to anger, and relents from sending calamities. Human repentance is a great grace. If people stubbornly cling to their pride, like the King of Aram, thinking, I am the King of Israel, why should I repent? I do not need to repent! then they will encounter such situations.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, change our mindset. On one hand, know in the spirit that the spiritual realm determines our world. Then, in the spirit, strive to please God in every way. This matter is also confirmed among us. Everyone yearns to do things that please God in His presence. Those who please God dedicate a significant amount of time to seek God, draw near to God, study the Bible, and do all kinds of things, and we have not neglected anything. Then, the testimonies among us are countless one after another, and these are all God's grace.

God can open people's eyes, and He can also blind them. It is an amazing thing that Elisha blinded these people. The soldiers of the King of Aram followed Elisha into a trap. Fortunately, the King of Israel asked Elisha whether he should kill them, and Elisha said no. As a result, we know that solving war problems with spiritual methods is better than solving them with human methods. If everyone has such abilities, how many unnecessary troubles can be avoided! Therefore, when everyone encounters problems, do not be blind, do not panic, and do not be chaotic. When you know such spiritual principles, there is only one thing you can do: come near to God. Pleasing God well is the fundamental solution to problems!

Scripture

2Ki 6:1 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us.
2Ki 6:2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a log; and let us build a place there for us to live.”
Elisha said, “Go ahead.”
2Ki 6:3 Then one of them said, “Please go with your servants.”
“I will go,” Elisha replied.
2Ki 6:4 And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees.
2Ki 6:5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”
2Ki 6:6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.
2Ki 6:7 “Lift it out,” Elisha said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
2Ki 6:8 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.”
2Ki 6:9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.”
2Ki 6:10 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.
2Ki 6:11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of Israel?”
2Ki 6:12 “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.”
2Ki 6:13 “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.”
2Ki 6:14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
2Ki 6:15 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 no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
2Ki 6:16 “Don’t be afraid,” Elisha answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
2Ki 6:17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that 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.
2Ki 6:18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
2Ki 6:19 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.
2Ki 6:20 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 saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.
2Ki 6:21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
2Ki 6:22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword and bow? Set food and water before them so they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.”
2Ki 6:23 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 Aramean raiders stopped raiding the land of Israel.
2Ki 6:24 After this, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria.
2Ki 6:25 There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a pint of dove’s dung for five shekels.
2Ki 6:26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”
2Ki 6:27 The king replied, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?”
2Ki 6:28 Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’
2Ki 6:29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she has hidden her son.”
2Ki 6:30 When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his robes. As he went along the wall, the people looked, and there beneath his robes, he had sackcloth on his body.
2Ki 6:31 He said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!”
2Ki 6:32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Don’t you see how this murderer is sending someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it shut against him. Isn’t the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”
2Ki 6:33 While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”