Summary: The Secret of Victory

2 Kings 6:8-23 The Secret of Victory

I. The Futility of Satanic Opposition 13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

(a) The Motivation of the Enemy is Always Wrong

i. The Deception - Go and spy where he is

ii. The Destruction - that I may send and fetch him.

iii. The Direction - it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

iv. The Determination - 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

(b) The Calculation of the Enemy is Always Wrong

He oversteps himself -

14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

“… If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31);

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:

2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) M. Luther

Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing,

Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God's own choosing …

2. The Reality of Spiritual Revelation

(a) Elisha Saw the Invisible 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

(b) Elisha Shared the Invaluable 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.

(c) Elisha Showed the Invincible 17 And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

3. The Authority of Sovereign Vindication

(a) The Man of God was Graciously Delivered

18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

(b) The Enemies of God Were Gloriously Defeated

23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. A) HE REDUCED THE SYRIANS TO A STATE OF HARMLESSNESS

18 And he smote them with blindness

Rev. 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death

“overcame” means “to render the enemy harmless.”

B) TO A STATE OF HELPLESSNESS 20 AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THEY WERE COME INTO SAMARIA, THAT ELISHA SAID, LORD, OPEN THE EYES OF THESE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE. AND THE LORD OPENED THEIR EYES, AND THEY SAW; AND, BEHOLD, THEY WERE IN THE MIDST OF SAMARIA.

C) TO A STATE OF HOPELESSNESS

23 AND HE PREPARED GREAT PROVISION FOR THEM: AND WHEN THEY HAD EATEN AND DRUNK, HE SENT THEM AWAY, AND THEY WENT TO THEIR MASTER. SO THE BANDS OF SYRIA CAME NO MORE INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL.