2 Kings 9:1 – And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:

2 Kings 9:2 – And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;

2 Kings 9:3 – Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.

2 Kings 9:4 – So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.

2 Kings 9:5 – And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.

2 Kings 9:6 – And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.

2 Kings 9:7 – And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

2 Kings 9:8 – For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:

2 Kings 9:9 – And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:

2 Kings 9:10 – And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

Hello readers, today we are going to be discussing quite an inconspicuous but interesting story in the Bible. It’s so easy to go past these stories our whole life and really get nothing from them. But in this story are great truths which are particularly relevant for young Christians today. Elisha was the prophet in Israel at the time, and the story is when he told a young man to deliver a message to Jehu, who would be the next king in Israel. There are a lot of odd stories in the Bible, not that this is particularly odd, but it’s quite a scene, he rocks up, delivers his message, and the Bible says once he finished talking he fled. Fleeing is quite an important thing in the Bible, be it fleeing from the wrath to come, or or fleeing from sin as Joseph did from Potiphar’s wife. So here in the Bible is a story… and what is recorded and what isn’t… it’s all for a reason. This young man obeyed Elisha, and faithfully relayed the word of God to Jehu… and after it, he fled.

The first thing we have to notice is this man was under authority. He was under the authority of Elisha, the man of God. He was acting upon the basis of this authority. Elisha had God’s word, and he told it to the young man to tell Jehu. But the thing to realize is that if you want to amount of anything as a Christian, you need to submit to and go on in life under and with the authority of God’s word. You are useless to others without God’s word to give them. Believe it or not, you’re not as important and amazing and indispensable as you think you and I think we are. Elisha was the prophet in Israel at the time, people would go to him for the word of God. We have a Bible today, but back then it was different. You’d go to the prophet to hear what God said. We’ve got it better today right? The answer is yes we sure do. You can go to the Bible anytime, and God speak to you. Truth, plainly recorded, written down… that same truth which the Holy Spirit honors without fail.

There was another young man of God in 1 Kings 13, before Elijah, who had been instructed by God to do this and that and then go… but the man didn’t fully obey God’s word because an old prophet conned him, and he disobeyed God’s word and it went very badly for him. But in this story we see a better outcome. Elisha told this young man to deliver a specific message and then flee… and so he did. You know, this man carried God’s word to Jehu. That’s what we should do. The most important thing is to tell people what the Bible says. That’s the business of a Christian. Telling others about Jesus Christ, who he is, what he has done, what he requires… according to his written word. And it takes knowing the Bible for yourself right? How will you be able to take God’s word to others if you don’t know it yourself? If you’re not sure on the source? Elisha was a proven source, a proven prophet. God’s word is proven. Stop questioning and doubting, maybe start obeying. This young man was under Elisha, he obeyed Elisha, but I wonder if we have the same adherence and dedication to God’s word like this man did to Elisha. So we have to know God’s word for ourselves first, and then be willing to faithfully relay it to others. This man didn’t add or subtract from what he was told to do. He didn’t put his spin on it, he didn’t have an agenda. He simply heard God’s word, and obeyed God’s word in his life.

This young man remains nameless through the story. What can we learn from this? It’s ok to be a nobody. God uses nobodies. And ultimately it’s not us that’s the most important thing. Because what is important is God’s word, not WHO is delivering it. God’s word can stand for itself. Indeed it will stand when heaven and earth pass away. Let God prove his word, we just stick to it, and base our life on it. People fail in ministry because it is all about them. They can start well, but they don’t do the whole flee part, they stay and get involved and soon God’s glory is leaving, and it’s all about their glory. This man took no credit for his message, because it wasn’t his, he was just the messenger. God is looking for people to take a message, to take his word to others. God uses people to reach other people. The Bible says the tabernacle of God is with men. God can use you to make a difference. But we need to realize it’s God’s word that makes the difference. You’ve gotta know God’s word and obey it first in your own life… and God may just use you to shake a kingdom like this man did.

God’s word gained this young man access to Jehu. Don’t miss this. Jehu was surrounded by a lot of “brethren”…. but Elisha said to get to Jehu specifically. In a crowd, God can reach who he wants to reach. God’s word cuts to the hearts of individuals. What really gets to a man’s heart is God’s word. Not your rubbish. Not your name. Not your agenda. Not your opinion. So often we as we have seen all through Job recently… people are quick to tell you what they think you should do based on where they think you are at and where you should be at in life. So stupid considered how finite we are. We have enough problem with our own sin, yet we think to intrude into areas where God’s word belongs, not our meddling. Advice has to be centered on God’s word. Remember, it was God’s word that made the difference.

You may say… did God’s word make a difference? How did it? Well look what it started. Read the story. God’s word is what produces real change. God’s word can produce repentance, salvation, a new birth, a new person. God’s word can alter eternal destinies. God’s word can shake kingdoms. The Bible says God’s word does not return unto him void, indeed here is the verse… Isaiah 55:11 – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. There’s something huge to learn in all this, it’s WHAT we are giving people. It’s ok to let the reins go and let God get to work. It’s not about us, it’s about relaying God’s word, its not about what we can get out of it. This man got nothing in return for sharing God’s word. He said what he had been told to say… and fled. He got out of there, and we need to get out of places we don’t belong. We need to stop sitting in the seat that belongs to God alone.

We’ve been in Job a lot recently (!), but remember Zophar? He was saying to Job… oh that God would speak, he’d surely back up what I’m saying to you! How often we try and use God to leverage other people, to leverage results we desire, but how about we tell people the gospel, how about it not be about our glory, but about God’s glory, how about it be what’s best for them, not what’s best for us? God’s word isn’t something to be used to engineer our desired result… after what this man told Jehu was God’s will… thus saith the Lord. That’s what people need. Here’s what God’s word says. Or is that too less “you” for you? We like to take over, and sit in God’s seat, but really we should tell people God’s word and get out the way. Maybe you are in the way of someone hearing from and being in the will of God? It should be what God wills right… not our will? What did Jesus say… not my will, but thine (in reference to his Father). What was Jehu hearing? God’s will for his life, not this young man’s idea for what he should do and how to go about it. We need to align our thinking and lives and motivations and intentions to God’s word. Self always seems to get in the way though right, but it shouldn’t be the case, it shouldn’t be about us. Check our motivations, check what we really are about, what we truly are trying to achieve. Self is a ministry killer. Are we truly just talking to people with obedience to God and God’s glory what it’s all about?

We live in a world and Christianity where people aren’t being given what they need, what truly can make a difference. People need God’s word. What does the Bible say? What does God say? There was about to be a whole kingdom shift in Israel, Ahab and Jezebel’s time was up, and it started with a message from God. God’s word can move kingdoms. That can be personal or national! With the delivering of God’s word also came the anointing. God’s word is accompanied always by the Holy Spirit. You want the Holy Spirit, get in God’s word. You get God’s word, you’ll get God’s anointing for your life as well. God’s word comes with power… the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth! He’ll equip you for what he requires of you if you want to obey him. God never tells us to do what he doesn’t enable us to do. He doesn’t put us through what he doesn’t give us the grace to deal with. God’s word turns lives around.

We need to let God’s word change people, not you change people, not you trying to use God to achieve your desired result in their life. 1 John 2:27 – But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. If you give God’s word to people, let God teach them, he will. Do you really want people following you? Get out the way like this young man did. He got out of town. You don’t need to tell people the gospel and herd them everywhere you think they should go, let God do the work in their heart. When God teaches someone, then they’re truly taught. When God changes someone, they’re truly changed. Your efforts will come to naught so why bother. Jehu’s life was completely different after this incident, it is amazing what happens when someone will faithfully deliver God’s word to someone, something God’s Spirit will honor and minister to the hearers life. Let God do the work, get out of where you don’t belong like this man did.

So when you come to someone, what do you have? God’s word gains entry to the heart. God’s word pierces to the heart. Want to make a real difference, want to be able to pull someone out the fire? Give them the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who has the power… Jesus said that all power is given unto him in heaven and in earth. Tell others about Christ. Point them to Christ. Let Christ sort them out. You see, many people have all sorts of things, their own opinions, philosophies, ideas, expertise, wisdom… but that’s not what we should be telling others. We need to tell people God’s word, and God’s word alone. He was a messenger, aren’t we all carrying a message from God’s word to the dying world? Shouldn’t we faithfully relay what the Bible says to them? That’s what this man did, and it changed the course of the nation. If you read about what Jehu did, you see that this man who had a fire lit under him. God’s word is a fire.

Another thing we see in this story is that this young man obeyed God’s word for himself in his own life. What Elisha said to do, he did. How can we expect God to use us if we can’t be faithful in our own lives. Our life, our words… they carry a lot more power when we obey God in our lives. But don’t think it is glamorous. Jehu’s companions ridiculed the man and his message. You know what, these guys would have had an ability to find fault in this man, but they couldn’t fault the message, because it was God’s word. We are only as useful as what we affirm from in our own lives. What will make you stand apart, what will make you stand out… will be the degree to which you cling to the authority and truth of God’s word. Obey it yourself and give it others. There’s nothing to add, there’s no need for us to put our spin on it… God’s word is more than enough. God’s word is what produces change. God’s word gains entry where man’s word cannot. God’s word does what man’s word simply can’t.

It is significant that this man did not hang around. He didn’t wait for validation from others. So often we can want a reward, or think we are great, or want positive affirmation from those we have told God’s word… but our job is to tell people the gospel and leave them in God’s hands. We don’t always need to see what happens. We don’t own other people, God knows what needs to happen in lives and how to do it, what our responsibility is to be faithful to God first in our own lives and faithfully minister the truth of God, the facts, to others. What could’ve happened if he’d hung around? Well he would’ve been disobeying what Elisha told him to do. So often people want to be in the ministry, but do it while in disobedience to God themselves. How can you serve God while disobeying him? How can you share God’s word as truth if you call him a liar in your own life?

Is telling people God’s word with getting nothing out of it enough for you? Would you do it if there was no limelight, no adulation, no benefit to yourself? We shouldn’t tell people God’s word to get validation from them. People will scoff, people will laugh, people will criticize, maybe some people will believe… just let it go and worry about being right with God ourselves. We should get our validation God, not from how the message is received. And sometimes we actually need to get out the way, we can be IN the way of other people getting right with God. We are so busy furthering ourselves, and making ourselves feel good, and seeking our ends… we forget what we are. We are meant to be faithful messengers of God’s word. Why do you think John the Baptist said this in John 3:3 – He must increase, but I must decrease. John the Baptist had a lot of disciples, but he pointed them to Christ… don’t follow me guys, follow Jesus, he’s who it is all about… we don’t want to tell people God’s word to make them follow us, but to follow God and his word.

Is God’s word enough for you? Many people have turned away from God’s word. Maybe God’s word just exposes who you truly are, from your intentions to your motivations to your heart conditions. There are real lessons to learn here from this young man who didn’t make a disaster of his mission like many do. He stuck to God’s word. So often we can go off our mission, and instead of God’s word, it’s our word. We like to be experts on others, to fix other people’s lives, we can clearly see into their lives (so we think) and we think we have the authority to tell them what to do. Why not let God take care of it? We often think we should dictate to others how we think they should go about things, but we end up hindering and interfering, rather than giving them God’s word, which God will use to make a difference in their lives.

Maybe we have enough on our plate just obeying God’s word for ourselves… so often we drift into personal disobedience while being experts in other people’s lives. Jesus said to Peter when he was quizzing Jesus on what would happen to John… John 21:22 – Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. What does that mean? Follow God yourself first. Maybe we should listen to Jesus here? We drift into other people’s lives while in disobedience ourselves. Our house isn’t in order while we rearrange someone else’s. It doesn’t mean don’t care for others, it doesn’t mean you can’t give godly advice, but there is a godly balance to things, remember God looks at the heart. Why are you really doing what you are doing? What are you really trying to achieve. Is it God’s word for the other person’s best… not just your own?

There was no “me” in the message, it was just God’s word. Just a simple bit of obedience to God made such a huge difference. You can be a nobody, but obeying God counts. A life based on God’s word counts. It’s all we really have after all, it’s the most valuable thing you can ever take to someone. Even if noone says thanks, even if you get no plaudits or recognition, even if there is no limelight. People need God’s word, they need the truth… they need to be told Jesus Christ loves them and died for them, and offers forgiveness of sin and eternal life. They need to be told what God’s word says and pointed to the Bible. It’s not about us, we are just messengers, we just carry that incorruptible seed and let God honor his word as he promises to do. It actually relieves us of the pressure of performing anyway right? We can’t do it. Moses couldn’t deliver his people, but at the burning bush he saw a fire that wouldn’t burn out. You’ll burn out without God. We often want to be holding the steering wheel, but why not let the God who knows where we are going take the wheel? We can’t make it all happen, but God makes his word happen. He’s God after all. Let’s just stick to God’s word in our lives, obey him in your own life, tell others the gospel. Trust God in a life that is built upon simple old fashioned obedience. Thus saith the Lord and gone.

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