If you use any or all of this message--would you be willing to fire off a quick email to:pastorjerryvargo@juno.com? I would like to have an idea of how often my sermons are actually being preached to strengthen the Body of Christ. Thanks!
Open up the Sky
Pastor Jerry C. Vargo
I. Introduction.
A. Last Sunday, I was struck with the importance of an open Heaven. If you remember, I prayed for all of us to have the skies open up, not just over us corporately, but over each of us individually.
B . This is important. Why? Well, because any good that comes into our lives is a result of revelation from God. It is not our intellect, wisdom, or ability to manipulate God or twist His arm.
C. Listen to what the Apostle Paul had to say about His own Revelation in Ephesians 3…
Ephesians 3:3a
"…by revelation there was made known to me the mystery…"
D. I want to challenge you today that you cannot get anything from God unless it comes by revelation.
E. And this begs many questions—how do I get revelation—does everyone get revelation—what is my part—can I see an increase in revelation—is there a biblical precedent?
F. I’m really concerned…why? Well, I just think we are living way below our level in the faith. Our minds dominate—our souls kick in—and we miss God.
G. God is standing on the edge of our lives in order to speak into our ears and give us knowledge of Him—yet we don’t seek after revelation. We seem to be content with what we know.
H. We make excuses (especially to ourselves—when no one can listen) and find every reason under the sun as to why we can’t go after more of God.
I. HOWEVER, after today’s message…we will soar…we will seek…and we will find!
Jeremiah 29:12-14
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD,’ and I will restore your fortunes…"
J. I want to look at a example in the OT to encourage you to go after more of God and receive greater revelation. Why? So, your Christian life gets exciting!!!
K. Turn with me to 2 Kings 6:8-23:
II. Body.
(The Message)
One time when the king of Aram was at war with Israel, after consulting with his officers, he said, "At such and such a place I want an ambush set." The Holy Man (Elisha) sent a message to the king of Israel: "Watch out when you’re passing this place, because Aram has set an ambush there." So the king of Israel sent word concerning the place of which the Holy Man had warned him. This kind of thing happened all the time. The king of Aram was furious over all this. He called his officers together and said, "Tell me, who is leaking information to the king of Israel? Who is the spy in our ranks?" But one of his men said, "No, my master, dear king. It’s not any of us. It’s Elisha the prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel everything you say, even what you whisper in your bedroom." The king said, "Go and find out where he is. I’ll send someone and capture him." The report came back, "He’s in Dothan." Then he dispatched horses and chariots, an impressive fighting force. They came by night and surrounded the city. Early in the morning a servant of the Holy Man got up and went out. Surprise! Horses and chariots surrounding the city! The young man exclaimed, "Oh, master! What shall we do?" He said, "Don’t worry about it--there are more on our side than on their side." Then Elisha prayed, "O GOD, open his eyes and let him see." The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha! When the Arameans attacked, Elisha prayed to GOD, "Strike these people blind!" And GOD struck them blind, just as Elisha said. Then Elisha called out to them, "Not that way! Not this city! Follow me and I’ll lead you to the man you’re looking for." And he led them into Samaria. As they entered the city, Elisha prayed, "O GOD, open their eyes so they can see where they are." GOD opened their eyes. They looked around--they were trapped in Samaria! When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "Father, shall I massacre the lot?" "Not on your life!" said Elisha. "You didn’t lift a hand to capture them, and now you’re going to kill them? No sir, make a feast for them and send them back to their master." So he prepared a huge feast for them. After they ate and drank their fill he dismissed them. Then they returned home to their master. The raiding bands of Aram didn’t bother Israel anymore."
A. In order to get a greater revelation and see the sky open up over our lives we must understand some things about the nature of the Father.
B. First, He is the Father of Love—and that Love compels Him to bless us.
C. Secondly, His word tells us that it is his desire to give good gifts to his children:
Matthew 7:11
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"
D. This morning, I want to use our text to pull out some principles related to knowing God and His ways through revelation.
E. Understand that I’m not using this story as a proof-text. It’s just principles of God’s Word.
F. I just have 4 points that I want to make:
1. Revelation Should Happen All the Time!
"This kind of thing happened all the time."
A. Note this: Elisha was anointed by God. How did he get there? He got there by hunger AND by keeping his eyes on God!
B. Go 2 Kings 2:7-14 (Point: The prophet Elijah told Elisha if he saw him depart, he would get the anointing of God. The Chariot of fire was a diversion to see if Elisha would put his eyes on the supernatural or keep his eyes on Elijah (a type of keeping our eyes on Christ). There is nothing wrong with walking in the supernatural (we should) however, we must keep our eyes on Jesus in order to have revelation in our lives.
C. So, with the anointing of God, the things that happened to Elisha "happened all the time."
D. My point? Revelation only comes if we have been anointed by God—and it should happen all the time.
E. If these scriptures are true, then I conclude that If God did something supernatural for Elisha, he can do something supernatural for YOU and ME….
F. He can open up the skies over our lives!
2. Discernment is a Normal Part of the Christian Life!
"He tells the king of Israel everything you say, even what you whisper in your bedroom." Verse 12
A. Now, I am not proposing that we can hear the words of people in their bedrooms—that could be quite embarrassing for some of you!
B. But listen church, there is a greater discernment in God that WE HAVE NOT TAPPED INTO YET!
C. We need this discernment to walk the walk. It is critical. And it only comes about when we seek after God—HARD!
D. You don’t get discernment by coming to church once a week—you get discernment by going after God.
E. Discernment is MEAT—It is NOT Milk. If we do not progress in our walk with God, we stay babies. Listen: You get discernment through usage. Turn to Hebrews 5:12-14:
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
3. We Get Greater Revelation Through Consistent Warfare and Prayer!
Surprise! Horses and chariots surrounding the city! The young man exclaimed, "Oh, master! What shall we do?" He said, "Don’t worry about it--there are more on our side than on their side." Then Elisha prayed, "O GOD, open his eyes and let him see." The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha! When the Arameans attacked, Elisha prayed to GOD, "Strike these people blind!" And GOD struck them blind, just as Elisha said.
A. I know Christians who panic every time trouble strikes. I have panicked at times.
B. Elisha is living the normal Christian Life—He’s surrounded by the demonic and he’s saying: "Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than their
side."
C. This is the result of a deep relationship with God. It is the only way to develop a confidence.
D. Watch this: Elisha prayed to have his servants eyes opened. Then, he prayed to see the enemies eyes blinded! I wonder if we have stumbled upon a great principle here?
E. May our eyes be opened and the enemies eyes be closed.
F. This part of our text reminds me of Psalm 23: "He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies."
G. Listen, we don’t have to panic during warfare—we need to PRAY!
Transition: My last point doesn’t have anything to do with the text directly…
4. Revelation is for YOU—God is No Respecter of Persons!
A. I love what the scripture say:
Acts 10:34
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons."
Romans 2:11
"For there is no respect of persons with God."
B. There are numerous examples in the Book that show us that Revelation is a NORMAL PART of the Christian Life.
C. Let me just site a few examples:
Galatians 1:11-12
"For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 1:15-17
"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him."
Revelation 1:1-2
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw."
D. I just happen to believe if God does it for one, He will do it for another.
E. I am living proof of it. For years now, I have experienced different levels of revelation. From the smallest of experiences, to dreams, to visions at altars—God is a Good God and He wants to bless us.
F. We need to begin to go after God for more revelations. We need to seek God for deeper understanding.
G. God does not increase in the universe. He is LOVE, PEACE, GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, etc. We only get understanding of Him and His ways through the sovereign revelation of God the Father.
H. And lastly, you know what? HE LOVES YOU…and HE desires to give you revelation.
III. Conclusion.
A. I want to pray for people today to begin to see an increase in Dreams, Visions, and Revelations…not for the sake of these things.—but for the Glory of the Lord and to draw close to him.
B. If Elisha could get a double portion from Elijah, we can get a double portion from the Holy Spirit of God.
