Elisha's Bones
"And Elisha died and they buried him. And the band of Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 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 sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha he revived, and stood up on his feet." (II Kings 13: 20-21)
What an amazing story! A man of God that had so much power in his life that it remained after he was dead, and another dead man touched his anointed bones he lived!
When thinking of prophets or mighty people of God, we tend to think of them as always being that way. However, the truth is, they were not. They were ordinary people like you and me had to learn God's ways and make decisions to walk in them. The Bible says that Elijah, the prophet before Elisha was a man of like passions just like us, yet he had great power in prayer. (James 5: 17-18)
Our prophet Elisha was a farmer before becoming a prophet. He was faithful to God and honored his parents. We find him plowing when Elijah threw his mantle on him. He must have been reasonably wealthy for he had servants plowing with the other eleven yoke of oxen. More than all of this, he must have been a man after God's own heart like David was. His life and devotion before being called to be a prophet was what God saw. God knew he could trust such a man with His anointing.
When the call came, Elisha left all to follow God's will for His life. We find this true in many others throughout scripture and our own life's experiences. Examples of this are found in Moses, David, and the apostles who left all to follow Jesus.
Elisha did not become a prophet at first after his call and commitment. Neither did David after being anointed King. David became armor bearer and music minister to King Saul. Elisha became a servant to Elijah just the way that his servant Gehazi did to him. Later, his master went to heaven and Elisha was ready to step up to his place. Elisha had asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, and he got it. This should be a lesson to us to receive from the anointed men and women that God has us serving now, for it will be needed later.
Now, we must ask ourselves the question: What are we leaving behind us? Elijah left his ministry with double portion to Elijah. Elisha left such anointing and power that the dead are raised by touching it.
You and I will leave behind us a path or a road that others will see and know about. Some will choose to follow it. What they find on it will be what we have for them. The wake of our waves will foam out either dirt or the image of Jesus.
Just think for a while. What will be left of us on this earth when we are gone? Just bones! That is right! Nothing but bones just like Elisha. What will happen when the dead touch our bones? Our lives will make waves; our bones will be here to remind others of our waves. Will the dead live when they touch the lives we have lived? Will the memory of you bring life to those left behind? Then they that feared the Lord spake often one of another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon His name." (Mal. 3:16)
"And the Lord answered me and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." (Hab. 2:2)
Think about it!
"And Elisha died and they buried him. And the band of Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 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 sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha he revived, and stood up on his feet." (II Kings 13: 20-21)
What an amazing story! A man of God that had so much power in his life that it remained after he was dead, and another dead man touched his anointed bones he lived!
When thinking of prophets or mighty people of God, we tend to think of them as always being that way. However, the truth is, they were not. They were ordinary people like you and me had to learn God's ways and make decisions to walk in them. The Bible says that Elijah, the prophet before Elisha was a man of like passions just like us, yet he had great power in prayer. (James 5: 17-18)
Our prophet Elisha was a farmer before becoming a prophet. He was faithful to God and honored his parents. We find him plowing when Elijah threw his mantle on him. He must have been reasonably wealthy for he had servants plowing with the other eleven yoke of oxen. More than all of this, he must have been a man after God's own heart like David was. His life and devotion before being called to be a prophet was what God saw. God knew he could trust such a man with His anointing.
When the call came, Elisha left all to follow God's will for His life. We find this true in many others throughout scripture and our own life's experiences. Examples of this are found in Moses, David, and the apostles who left all to follow Jesus.
Elisha did not become a prophet at first after his call and commitment. Neither did David after being anointed King. David became armor bearer and music minister to King Saul. Elisha became a servant to Elijah just the way that his servant Gehazi did to him. Later, his master went to heaven and Elisha was ready to step up to his place. Elisha had asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, and he got it. This should be a lesson to us to receive from the anointed men and women that God has us serving now, for it will be needed later.
Now, we must ask ourselves the question: What are we leaving behind us? Elijah left his ministry with double portion to Elijah. Elisha left such anointing and power that the dead are raised by touching it.
You and I will leave behind us a path or a road that others will see and know about. Some will choose to follow it. What they find on it will be what we have for them. The wake of our waves will foam out either dirt or the image of Jesus.
Just think for a while. What will be left of us on this earth when we are gone? Just bones! That is right! Nothing but bones just like Elisha. What will happen when the dead touch our bones? Our lives will make waves; our bones will be here to remind others of our waves. Will the dead live when they touch the lives we have lived? Will the memory of you bring life to those left behind? Then they that feared the Lord spake often one of another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon His name." (Mal. 3:16)
"And the Lord answered me and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." (Hab. 2:2)
Think about it!