2 Kings 13:14-21: Passing on the anointing

LifeLine Church Weekly Talks

Hugh Osgood was with us on Sunday 9th February – a couple of weeks after the sudden and unexpected passing of John Singleton, father of LifeLine and brother to many.

John passed away in the early hours of 28th January, surrounded by his family. We are giving God thanks for John’s life, well-lived, which flowed from a deep relationship with Jesus, enabling him to minister to others right up to the end, without seccumbing to the suffering he was experiencing as his health declined.

The qualities he exemplified were a reflection of the love he had experienced through his relationship with his heavenly father. This was characterised over 50+ years in his desire to release the potential he saw in others, include those who were marginalised, and facilitate the building of supportive communities at home and across the world. He leaves behind a significant inheritance which the LifeLine family now have the joy of building on.

Hugh’s word to us on this particular Sunday was a commissioning word for the next season: Elisha is on his death bed and King Jehoash visits him, using a phrase that Elisha used when Elijah was dying.

When someone significant passes away, it’s tempting to become sentimental, as King Jehoash did. But this isn’t the time for sentimentality. It’s a time for gratitude for everything that God has done; a time to fling open the windows and let the wind of the spirit blow through us afresh. It’s a moment for opening up. A direction has been set, and there’s an arrow of the Lord’s deliverance that’s flying.

The story in 2 Kings is about a moment of transfer of responsibility. The king was invited to pick up the arrows and then strike the ground. Elisha was clearly looking for a vigorous response, and when one wasn’t forthcoming prophesied the comparably tepid fate of the King’s future endeavours. This is a similar moment for the family of LifeLine – are we going to rise to the occasion with determination?

To stay up to date with podcasts from LifeLine Church, please subscribe. Shows include:

1. LifeLine Church Sunday Services – a weekly broadcast of the message from our Sunday meeting
2. Evolution Revolution with LifeLine Church – an exploration of how foundational values can transition across generations
3. Reflections on Acts – exploring the application of the practical, faith-filled exploits of the early church in today’s context
4. Reflections on Kings 1 & 2 – applying the insights and lessons from these two old testament books to our lives today
5. Kingdom Finance – Jesus talked more about money than about anything else. Why? How do we handle money correctly?
6. Kingdom Relationships – Relationship is core to the character and nature of God…so what does real friendship look like for us?

To access a range of resources and supporting material, series on specific topics including Kingdom finance and Kingdom relationships please visit lifelinechurch.co.uk

If you prefer to watch, please visit our YouTube channel @LifeLineChurchDagenham where we broadcast our Sunday meeting live at 10.30am. Playlists include:

• Reflections on Kings 1 & 2
• Reflections on Acts
• Sunday morning talks
• Testimonies
• A Pilgrim’s Story

Dawn’s First Light by Sascha Ende
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