Part I Act out 2 Kings 6:8-23 (entire class or congregation divided into 3 groups)

• Group 1 – Arameans Army
• Group 2 – Elisha and Servant
• Group 3 – Israel King and Army

• Open Blinded Eyes (Visions)
• Opened Deaf Ears (Hearing God’s Voice)

PART I  Act out 2 Kings 6:8-23 (entire class or congregation divided into 3 groups)
 

• Divide your entire class or congregation into 3 groups. 
• You should have another teacher.  One teacher will draw the chalk talk while the children are acting.  And the other teacher read the story from 2 Kings 6 (NIV). 
• Begin acting and guiding the children as you read or tell the story 2 Kings 6 (NIV) 

2 Kings 6:8-23

Elisha and King of Israel

8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, "I will set up my camp in such and such a place." 
9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: "Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there." 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. 

Arameans, King of Israel

11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, "Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?" 
12 "None of us, my lord the king," said one of his officers, "but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom." 
13 "Go, find out where he is," the king ordered, "so I can send men and capture him." The report came back: "He is in Dothan." 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. 

Arameans, Servant, Elisha

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. 
16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 
17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD , open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 
18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD , "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 
19 Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria. 

Arameans, Elisha, Israel

20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD , open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. 
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?" 
22 "Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill men you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory.

Instruct all three acting groups to return to their seats.  Is God a powerful God?  What a wonderful story directly taken from God's Word, the Bible.

Elisha's servant was afraid wasn't he?  He saw the real army that surrounded him and was scared!  But, what happened when the servant's eye's were opened?  He could see into the spiritual realm. 

Do you know that surrounding you are angles.  There are many kinds of angles -- you don't want to ever pray to an angel -- but you can pray to God, "please God send your warring angles to fight for me when I'm in trouble".  And, don't you know, God will answer your prayer.  I want to ask you, "What do you fear?  (Ask children to name their fears.)  Then ask, if you could see into the spiritual realm that Elisha could see and the servant was able to see when his eyes were open -- would you still have your fear?  If you could see the angels around you and your situation, you would no longer be afraid.

1. Keep the same three groups –  choose a leader for the group – a teacher would be best to lead

2. Ask, “how many have ever had a vision from God.”  Ask, “how many would like to be able to see into the spiritual realm similar to what Elisha and his servant were able to do?”  We have a few exercises that will help you begin to see more in to the spiritual realm and to hear God’s voice.

3. Very few people today are able to see into the spiritual realm with our eyes open.  But most of us can see into this realm with our eyes closed –. Sometimes we call this receiving a vision from God. Not all of you will receive a vision from God, but most of you will.  As you practice and press into the spiritual realm of God, you will get better at it.

4. Now, we are going to practice a little.  Ask the children to close their eyes and picture the following examples one at a time.  Then, wait a moment and ask the children to open their eyes and share the picture the Lord gave to them.

• Picture in your mind, an ice cream cone,  (wait a few seconds and ask the children to open their eyes). Ask the children if they could picture an ice cream cone. Ask them what flavor was on their cone? Did it have a cherry on top? What kind of cone did it have?
• Now, close your eyes again. This time picture a balloon – ask the children again to share what they saw
• Close your eyes again. This time picture a bird – ask the children again to share what they saw
• God may place a picture in your mind in a similar way – pictures from God are called visions
• Now, close your eyes again and this time picture Jesus in your eyes. Wait a few seconds and then ask the children to raise their hand if they saw Jesus. Ask the children what Jesus looked like. Many of the children will want to share.


5.   Try meditating with a Bible verse

• Ask the children to recite their verse together with the teacher 3 times in a row. A good one to start with might be Revelation 3:20 & 21
• Ask the children to close their eyes and listen as the teacher reads and see if God gives them a picture
• Ask the children to open their eyes and share what God showed them

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• It is important for us to gain understanding of the spiritual realm of the heavenlies. 

• There are also messenger spirits and warring spirits and various others working in the Heavenly realm 
• He may send an angel from the heavenly hosts to heal someone who is sick, or in trouble.
• It is good for us to begin to recognize the powers available and surrounding us in the spiritual realm.

Lord, we want to know you better.  We ask you to open our spiritual eyes so that we may see you more clearly.  And, open our spiritual ears that we may hear you more clearly.  Reveal yourself to me as the Commander of the Lord of Hosts.  And, use me to further your kingdom here on earth.

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