The sixth chapter of 2 Kings records some of the exploits of Elisha, the prophet of God. At this particular time, Israel was at war with Syria. Whenever the Syrians would go out and set an ambush, the word of knowledge would work in Elisha’s life, and he would inform the king of Israel about Syria’s plans. Time after time, Israel’s troops avoided the ambushes.
This happened so often and so regularly that the king of Syria said, “We must have a fink in our ranks. Some spy is giving away our military secrets.”
One of the soldiers said, “Oh, no, king, that is not the problem at all. There is a prophet over there in Israel, and he knows everything…even what is going on in your bedchamber.”
And the king said, “Send some spies to find out where this prophet is.”
When the spies returned, they told the Syrian king that Elisha was in Dothan.
Then the king said, “Get the troops and chariots together. We’re going to go over and lay siege against this city. We’re going to put a stop to this leak in our communications.”
So they went over that night and surrounded the entire city.
Early in the morning, Elisha’s servant went out to draw water, as was his custom, but this time his eyeballs almost fell out of their sockets. Everywhere he looked he saw Syrian troops.
He dropped his bucket and ran back to the house. “Alas, my master, what shall we do? The army of the Syrians has us surrounded! What shall we do?”
Elisha said, “Come and show me what you are talking about.”
They went outside, and the servant said, “Look! Everywhere you can see there are Syrian troops waiting for us.”
“Oh,” said the prophet.
“Oh?” said the servant. “Man, we’re about to die, and all you can say is ‘Oh’?”
Elisha said, “Fear not, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.”
“Open His Eyes”
The servant looked at the thousands of Syrian troops, then at the two of them and then back at the troops and chariots. He thought, “The prophet has really lost it this time. He can’t see, or else he can’t count.”
And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see (2 Kings 6:17).
Wait a minute. What kind of nonsensical prayer is this? The prophet is saying, “Lord, open his eyes,” when the servant’s eyes were already wide open. That is what had scared the poor dude so much.
But the prophet was not talking about the servant’s physical eyes. He was talking about the eyes of the spirit – the eyes that see beyond what the physical eyes can perceive.
So the Lord opened the spiritual eyes of the young man, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (v. 17).
Everything Elisha needed was already in the spiritual realm. Even when the servant could not see the horses and chariots of fire, they were still already there. The spirit world is more real than the physical world. The physical world is only a shadow of that real world – the realm of the Spirit of God.
Whether you see it or not, and whether you feel it or not, everything you need that is consistent with a godly life is already in the spirit realm. You have to speak it from the spirit realm into this three-dimensional physical world. If it is consistent with a godly life, you can have it.
You initiate it by your faith, and that takes effort and determination. Some people want God to pour it out on them without any effort on their part. But 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, we walk by faith. It does not say, “God pushes.” It says, “We walk.”
You can walk above the circumstances of life. That is walking by the Word and not by the senses. That is casting all your cares on God and taking Him at His Word. That is bringing the supernatural realm in to the natural realm.
by Frederick K.C. Price, Ph.D.
Excerpt permission granted by Faith One Publishing
Apostle Frederick K.C. Price is the founder of Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) in Los Angeles, California. He began CCC in 1973 and shepherded it into a ministry of world renown, with services held in the 10,000-seat FaithDome.
In 1978, Apostle Price received instruction from God to begin a television broadcast and, as a result, Ever Increasing Faith Ministries (EIFM) began broadcasting in five major television markets. Thus, the television broadcast soon after became global.
EIFM can be viewed on many television stations in all 50 states and in many foreign countries. Apostle Price is also heard on numerous radio programs and 19 Internet broadcast stations. Additionally, he can be seen on most social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and others. In 1990, Apostle Price founded the Fellowship of Inner-City Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM), which later became the Fellowship of International Christian Word of Faith Ministries before disbanding in 2017. And in 2001, he established an East Coast church, Crenshaw Christian Center East.
A visionary and prolific author, Apostle Price is the author of some 50 books on faith, healing, prosperity, and the Holy Spirit. How Faith Works is a classic on the operation of faith and its life-changing principles.
Although he had already operated in the fivefold ministry gift of apostle, in 2008 Apostle Price was publicly affirmed as an apostle of faith. Under the mantle of the teaching gift, Apostle Price established several schools for ministry and formal education at CCC. Among them are Frederick K.C. Price III Christian Schools (preschool to 12th grade); the Ministry Training Institute in 1985; a CCC Correspondence School; the Frederick K.C. Price School of the Bible; and in 2008, the Apostle Price Ministry Training Center. Over the years, Apostle Price has received many prestigious awards, most notably the Horatio Alger Award and the Kelly Miller Smith Interfaith Award.
A year after his affirmation and after more than 35 years of service, Apostle Price stepped aside as pastor to formally install his son, Frederick K. Price Jr., as his successor. For years he served as the presiding prelate of both CCC West and CCC East and as the chairman of CCC’s board of directors. Having retired from his position as pastor and all other official duties, he restricts much of his travel.
A devout husband, Apostle Price has been married to Dr. Betty Price for 67 years. They are the proud parents of four children, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.