TIME in the Word - Daily Devotional Together for Inspiration, Motivation, and Encouragement
Verse of the Day - Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
Puritan Catechism Question #24 - How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
Answer: Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering up himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice (Heb. 9:28), and to reconcile us to God (Heb. 2:17), and in making continual intercession for us (Heb. 7:25).
Chapter 31 - All believers in the time of this life, are in a continual warfare and combat against sin, self, the world, and the devil; and are liable to all manner of afflictions, tribulations and persecutions, being predestined and appointed thereunto, and whatsoever the saints possess or enjoy of God spiritually, is by faith; and outward and temporal things are lawfully enjoyed by a civil right by them who have no faith.
Devotional Thoughts We have examined so far this week the raising of the sons of two women in the Old Testament. One by Elijah and the other by Elisha. As we continue through the week we will take a look at the others in the Bible who were raised from the dead, remembering of course that the week started with Resurrection Sunday as we celebrated the resurrection of Christ who is the "first-born" from teh dead. That phrase does not mean that He was the first ever raised, but that He is the most preeminent.
Today we will look at another occurence involving Elisha, sort of! In 2 Kings 13 we read that Elisha the prophet became sick and after one last prophecy to the king of Israel, he died and was buried.
As the seasons changed and spring was springing, it came time for war. The winter rains and the barren cold were being replaced by warmer and longer days. And armies were on the march. Groups of men from Moab began to attack without warning.
One day, as a man was being buried, the friends and family who were burying him spied a band of these raiders and so they rushed to finish the burial. When they did this they lowered the body down into the grave of Elisha, which was likely a cave that had been covered with a stone and had many caverns or rooms for burying dead bodies. As this particular body was put into Elisha's grave it touched Elisha's remains. And the Bible says that when he touched Elisha's bones he came back to life!
Yes indeed. What an awakening! This man was dead and when his body touched Elish's bones, he was resurrected and stood up. I imagine he wanted out of the grave rather urgently. We are not told anything more about it here but can you imagine the scene? Grieving family and friends attempting to save their lives from this band of marauding radiers hurredly buries their deceased loved on only to have him stand up and climb out of the grave!!
And what a testimony to the power of God. Even though dead, Elisha's bones still conveyed the power of God. We have to remember that it is not the person, the minister, the counselor, the preacher, or the Christian who has power in and of him or herself. That power comes from God. And here Elisha's bones prove that not even death can stop the power of God.
One illustration that we can use from this text is to remember that it is not by power, or by might, but "by My Spirit says the Lord." Often we rely on the tactics and programs of man to do the work of God. We think we have to add to teh Bible, or make it interesting, or liven it up and make it attractive. But the truth is that the power of God is at His disposal as He desires, and He is able even to use a boring preacher or a pitiful gospel presentation to save souls! Why? The power is not in the preacher or the person - it is in the Word by the Spirit.
This is why Jonathan Edwards could preach a sermon in a monotone with no emotion or intonantion and those who heard were grabbing the pillars and pews for fear that the floor was opening up and they were about to fall into the flames of hell!! That is exactly what happened when he preached "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
It is not methodology that we need in the church today - it is POWER. The power of God flowing through usable vessels. Think about it - if God is able to raise a man from the dead through a dead man's bones, what can He do through a living Church?
Links for Further Study (links to study each daily topic in more detail if you have the desire and the time)
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