By Pastor Matefu Mokoena
When the city was in a crisis of bad water that even caused sicknesses and death in 2 Kings 2: 19 – 22, Elisha became the problem-solver and brought the solution by healing the troubled water with salt and calling the name of the Lord upon it.
The Bible says the water has remained pure to this day according to the word spoken by Elisha. This is because this prophet, Elisha spoke life over the water.
2 Kings 2:19-22 New International Version (NIV)
Healing of the Water
19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
According to the Bible, life and death are on the power of the tongue. This is the time for us to speak life. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18: 21
This is the time for the Children of Mighty God to demonstrate the power of LIFE that is on our TONGUES by SPEAKING and PROPHESYING Life.
Let us speak and prophesy life over our families, our relatives, our neighbours, our country, people we know and those we don’t know. As Elijah spoke life over the water, so shall there be life upon every person we speak and prophesy.
This was the first miracle performed by Prophet Elisha after he parted ways with his mentor and predecessor, Prophet Elijah, who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. This incident is related in the very same Chapter of 2 Kings 2.
It is striking to note that Jesus Christ’s first miracle was to turn water into wine in John 2: 1 – 11.
The miracles of Elisha and Jesus Christ are the same. Bad and infectious water is cleansed and turned into drinkable and clean water – Elijah. Water is turned into sweet wine – Jesus Christ. These two incidents are related in the second chapter of the respective books. The same chapter number – 2. Elijah in 2 Kings 2. Jesus Christ in John 2.
Elisha says pour salt into the bowl. Jesus says pour water into a jar.
In Elisha and Christ, we come across a biblical typology. Similar incidents in the Old Testament and the New Testament. In this biblical typology, the Old Testament was symbolising the coming of Messiah, who was to be fulfilled and realised in the New Testament. Elijah is a type of Christ.
The names of Elisha and Jesus have the same meaning. Elisha means God is salvation. Jesus means God will save.
It is also interesting to note that there are several striking similarities between Elisha and Jesus Christ.
After parting ways with Elijah, the young prophet, Elisha, comes to the city to find that there is a crisis. Men of the city tells him of a water crisis.
He acts immediately and attends to the crisis. He attends to the problem.
HE ACTS TO DEAL WITH A PROBLEM AND TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. HE BECOMES A PROBLEM-SOLVER.
He could have chosen to keep quiet and leave the city quietly, but he chose to respond to the cry for help. He faced the problem head on.
Face the problem head-on:
- If you have to pray, pra.y
- If you have to fast, fast.
- If you have to give, give.
- If you have to call upon the name of the Lord, call upon the name of the Lord.
- If you have to worship, worship
- If you have to do something, do something.
At the time when our country and the world is faced with a crisis of Covid-19, the best thing we can do as the church is to stand up and call upon the name of the Lord. This is not the time to fear, but a time to call upon the name of the Lord as Elisha did.
It is also a time to speak faith. A time to speak life. A time to speak encouragement. A time to speak hope. Fear not. Speak life.
Where-ever you may find yourself my brother, my sister, my father or my mother, be a problem-solver. Let people look up to you for solutions. Be part of a solution. Sometimes, you may not be at the forefront, but be part of the solution.
- Choose to be a problem-solver rather than being a troublemaker.
- Choose to be a motivator rather than being a mocker.
- Many people have abandoned their dreams, ideas and initiatives because they were mocked.
- In Genesis, when Joseph told his dream to his brothers, they mocked and hated him.
- Be a motivator. Spur others to their dreams and to unlocking their potential.
- Choose to be an inventor rather than a destroyer.
- Choose to be a builder rather than a destroyer.
- Choose to be a helper rather than a destroyer.
- Choose to be a messenger of good news rather than being a messenger of lies, conspiracies and fake news.
- The Bible in Ephesians 6 says our feet should be prepared to spread the gospel of peace.
- Choose to be a hero rather than being a villain.
****Choose to be a Problem-Solver
Jesus Christ chose to be our master problem-solver. He is the best solution to the lost world.
- He chose to be the bread of life to the hungry.
- He chose to be the living water to the thirsty.
- He chose to be the healer to the sick.
- He chose to be a Saviour to the lost world.
- He chose to be a good shepherd to the lost sheep.
What do you choose to be today?
- What are the traits of problem-solvers?
- They are good listeners.
- They believe in the possibilities of the impossibilities.
- They always believe God for a miracle.
- They rely on calling the name of the Lord.
- They are innovators.
- They act immediately.
- They are decisive.
Therefore, choose to be a problem-solver.
*****Pastor Matefu Mokoena is the Presiding Pastor of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa – Batho Assembly, Bloemfontein
