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3:20
And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the
Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
13:21
And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold,
they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the
sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched
the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
2
Kings 13:20-21
Intro:
Who says that a dead person has no influence?
Here
is a very interesting account of a dead preacher who
accomplished more than many living
preachers!
Elisha
was know for doing the unusual. It did not change with his physical death.
I
have entitled this message, “Preacher’s Bones,” for a
reason.
Then
I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in
his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut
up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not
stay.
Jeremiah 20:9
Jeremiah,
the weeping prophet, certainly knew what it meant to be called
of God. He knew
what it meant to have the fire of God in His bones!
The
bones make up the skeleton or foundation of the human body.
God’s calling is at the foundation of the preacher’s
life.
Please
note with me 3 characteristics of Elisha’s bones----
1.
THEY WERE BONES OF POWER
1.
Elisha had been Elijah’s understudy.
Someone has rightly said that if you want to be
“great,” associate with great people.
Elijah was a good teacher.
We find the call of Elisha in the following scripture.
19:19
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who
was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the
twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
19:20
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I
pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow
thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done
to thee?
19:21
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew
them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen,
and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and
went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
1
Kings 19:19-21
Elijah
cast his mantle on Elisha. (v19)
He
put his garment on Elisha.
It showed God’s authority.
Here
is the man of God! Judges
wear a robe to remind us that they have the authority of the
people/government. Not
their own.
Elisha
not only wanted to be as great as his leader, but requested a
double-portion of the Spirit.
What nerve!!
The
condition for Elisha to receive the mantle of Elijah was he must
see his mentor taken up from him(v10).
2:9
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said
unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken
away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double
portion of thy spirit be upon me.
2:10
And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou
see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but
if not, it shall not be so.
2:11
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that,
behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire,
and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind
into heaven.
2 Kings 2:9-11
2.
Elisha was serious about seeking power of Almighty God!
I
believe this is the single greatest
need of any preacher.
Greatest
need not a big crowd, fancy buildings, culture, education,
dignity, talent, personality, etc. BUT the power of God!
3.
Oh, for the power today of Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Peter,
Paul, John Wesley, Jonathon Edwards, Sam Jones, Bob Jones, Billy
Sunday, D.L. Moody, Charles Finney, Charles Spurgeon, could go
on and on. Men who
knew what it meant to spend time with God and go into pulpit
with God’s power placed on them.
Ill>
David Brainerd, born on April 209, 1718, the son-in-law of
Jonathon Edwards - great man of prayer - worked with Indians of
the North - left kneeprints in snow - often prayed all day
-begin in morning and pray 12 hrs. straight.
Died a young man because he LITERALLY prayed himself to
death. There are
some things worth dying for.
We
don’t have power simply because we do not pay the price!
To possess something you must pay for it.
And
be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with
the Spirit;
Ephesians
5:18
Then
secondly---
2.
THEY WERE BONES OF TESTIMONY
1.
Sometimes, in death, God’s children accomplish as much or more
than in life.
By
faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than
Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God
testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh Hebrews
11:4
Elisha’s
testimony did not die with his body!!
notice
the text again.
3:20
And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the
Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
13:21
And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold,
they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the
sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched
the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
2
Kings 13:20-21
It
is important to live right.
If you live right, they you will die right.
ill>
Jimmie Davis, “I’m not anxious to die, but I am anxious to
be prepared to die.”
2.
Death is a common denominator.
Even
Christ, Himself, walked through the doors of death.
And
as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
Hebrews
9:27
How
will you be remembered? When
your funeral is conducted and people file by your casket - what
will go through their minds?
Ill>Harvey
Springer Memorial Service in Englewood, CO.
I
have conducted many funerals.
Some maybe only 2 or 3 people come to the service.
We
don’t live to be popular, but we should affect people’s
lives. The power of
God will cause our testimony to be potent.
ill>
On February 26, 1972, the soul of Robert Lee Shook was
transported by the Angels of God from here(Colorado General
Hospital) to that blessed abode of the redeemed, Heaven.
My hand lay on his forehead when he took his last breath
of physical life. His testimony did not die! He
has been and still is a very vital
part of my ministry. He
lived more in eight years than many do in eighty.
He always said, “Fine,” when asked how he was.
He gets a share of the credit for any soul I have the
privilege of seeing come to Christ.
Any little thing I have done or ever shall, he will get a
share of the credit.
Then
thirdly---
3.
THEY WERE BONES OF RESURRECTION
1.
In our text when this man touched the bones of Elisha he
‘revived’ and stood up!
He was resurrected!
Think of it!
2.
If we have the power of God upon us and we have the proper
testimony, it will effect others.
Consistency is the important thing.
And
beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and
to virtue knowledge;
2 Peter 1:5
3.
I mentioned a while ago - Christ walked through the doors of
death - BUT praise God - He not only died and was buried, He
arose!!
So
many, many things depend on this one great truth!
(1)
The Gospel we preach
15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures;
15:4
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
(2)
Our own salvation
That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:9
(3)
Others salvation
It
stands to reason that if believing
the resurrection in our heart is necessary for our salvation it
is also for those to whom we take the Good News.
(4)
Our resurrection, both spiritual and physical
Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
Baptism
pictures the resurrection that took place in our life.
We were dead, but now are alive!!!
But
now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of
them that slept.
1 Corinthians 15:20
What
a resurrection!!
The
only one who was resurrected who didn’t have to die again.
Lazarus had to die again.(John 6)
One
day Jesus is coming and will raise those who died in Him.
5:50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption.
15:51
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed,
15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for
the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality.
15:54
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and
this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought
to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in
victory.
15:55
O death, where is thy sting? O grave,
where is thy victory?
15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
15:57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.
15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know
that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1
Corinthians 15:50-58
Elisha
requested and received a double portion of the Spirit of God.
There are 7 miracles that Elijah performed.
14
are recorded performed by Elisha. A double portion!
May
God cause us to seek after Him so that we may
always
abound in the work of the Lord. It is the only thing that will last forever.
The
Touch Of The Master’s Hand
‘Twas
battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought
it scarcely worth his while
To
waste much time on the old violin,
But
held it up with a smile:
“What
am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll
start the bidding for me?”
“A
dollar, a dollar’; then, “Two! Only two?
Two
dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three
dollars, once, three dollars, twice;
Going
for three-” But
no,
From
the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came
forward and picked up the bow;
Then,
wiping the dust from the old violin,
And
tightening the loosened strings,
He
played a melody pure and sweet
As
a caroling angel sings.
The
music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With
a voice that was quiet and low,
Said:
“What am I bid for the old violin?”
And
he held it up with the bow.
“A
thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two
thousand! Once, and who’ll make it three? Three thousand,
once,three thousand, twice,
And
going, and gone,” said he.
The
people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We
do not quite understand
What
changed its worth,” Swift came the reply,
“The
touch of a master’s hand.
And
many a man with life out of tune,
And
battered and scarred with sin,
Is
auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much
like the old violin.
A
“mess of pottage,” a glass of wine;
A
game- he travels on.
He
“going,” once, and “going,” twice,
He’s
“going,” and almost “gone.”
But
the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never
can quite understand
The
worth of a soul and change that’s wrought
By
the touch of the Master’s hand.
-
Mrya Brooks Welch
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