Elisha

June 19

2 Kings 2:19-22

The test

Elijah had been taken up to heaven and now Elisha was on his own. Because Elisha had seen Elijah as he was taken, he knew he had been given an extra portion of the Spirit’s power. But now everyone wanted to find out whether he was really a prophet. The people from Jericho came to him and said, “This is a wonderful city, but the water makes people sick.”

So Elisha said, “Get me some salt in a bowl.” Then he took the salt and threw it in the spring, saying, “This is what the Lord says, ‘I have made this water pure and it will no longer cause people to die.’” And the water was pure from that day on.

How can I know that the Spirit of God lives in me?

One way a prophet could show that his message was truly from God was by doing miracles. When God works in amazing ways through His servants, it gives them the authority to speak as though God is speaking.

The people of Jericho had had this problem with their water for some time. Now they had a chance to get their water problem sorted out, and to find out whether Elisha was for real.

How do your friends know that your belief in God is for real? The only way someone can tell that the Spirit of God lives in you is by seeing your fruit. Just as you can tell a fruit tree by its fruit, people can tell what is in your heart by the fruit in your life. The Spirit lets fruit appear as you live out the goodness that God has put in your heart. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” Galatians 5:22-23.

Verse for today

(Jesus said); “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. … You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17