Poison, The Sign

Yesterday, the incident of Elisha and the prophets was recounted for us. First, we saw how they drank a poisonous soup and all cried out to the prophet, O man of God, there is death in the pot! 2 Kings 4: 40b. Second, we saw how Prophet Elisha was given the ability to heal the prophets and the pot of soup. Elisha said, Get some flour. He put it into the pot and said, Serve it to the people to eat. And there was nothing harmful in the pot.  2 Kings 4: 41. The question was then asked about its relevance to us now, in respect to the Pentecostal sign. It is with the Spirit’s enabling, that we want to hear and will hear.

Thank You Spirit Divine, for being our Counsellor, Teacher, Guide and Ever Present Help. Amen!  

Let’s listen to the sign again.  

In My Name they will not be at all hurt, when they drink deadly poison.

In the incident with Elisha, the invited prophets drank poison which was in a pot, but do you know that poison comes from the lips of people? Let’s be reminded of some of what the Scriptures tell us about poison, and we would do well to take it all seriously and heed the wisdom of the word.

Here, the psalmist is in fervent prayer to Sovereign, Creator God. Note carefully what he tells God and the deeply, clear and descriptive language he uses. Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up wars every day. They make their tongues as a serpent’s; the poison of a viper is on their lips. Psalm 140: 1 – 3.  Poison is in the tongue and the tongue can spread its venomous poison on unsuspecting, believers also.

We look at just one more word given to us in James 3: 8. But no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Again, we take careful note that venomous, deadly, poisonous words can come from the lips of people. It is with this understanding that we return to Pentecost and an experience which Peter and John had, after the miracle which the Lord had wrought through them.  

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, has just healed a beggar who was lame. This miracle causes a great stir among all the people. So astonished are these people, who have witnessed what Peter and John have done, they can’t keep quiet. They quickly spread the news and on hearing, crowds of people keep coming to them. Doesn’t this remind you of Pentecost, when the Spirit-engendered speaking of the disciples, drew crowds to Jesus’ disciples? Indeed! It was the Spirit-engendered working of the disciples, which drew this huge crowd to Jesus’ disciples.

When Peter realises how utterly astonished the people are, and notices how they are staring at John and himself, he is led to address all who have gathered. Don’t miss the continued working of the Holy Spirit, He who is the Spirit of Truth, in Peter. Even without the people uttering one audible word, Peter is given the Spirit’s sense to know exactly what these people are saying in their minds and hearts. Will you agree that what these people are saying in silence, is poisonous, deadly poisonous at that? Are they not looking at these disciples as gods, and feeding them the poisonous nectar of paganism and idolatry? For John and Peter, to even accept any of this poisonous talk, will indeed be fatal. Peter and John are kept from the harm of such poisonous words of human praise. 

As indicated, we are receiving this in two parts as with Elisha and the poisonous pot. What was eaten did not harm the prophets and the pot was made clean and good for eating. Peter does the same as he uses his lips to do both.

Let’s receive and accept, tomorrow.