“The Bones of Elisha” (ready to Worship S9E11)

May 3, 2019

Ready to Worship Season 9, Episode 11 for Friday, May 3, 2019

This season on Ready to Worship, we are examining the resurrection of Christ. I believe that examining this great event has the power to perfect our worship. An interesting story is recorded in the thirteenth chapter of Second Kings. We read, “Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet” (2 Kings 13:20-21). Imagine the fear and the surprise of these men. First, they were surprised by and fearful of the raiders. That is the reason why they had to quickly place the body somewhere. Second, they must have been surprised and afraid by the revival of the man. They knew the man was dead. After all, they were in the process of burying him. Now, here he was alive and standing before them. This had to be both fascinating and frightening. Did the man revive for a moment or live on for years? Did he speak, and if so, what did he say? There are many questions, but few answers. All that we know for sure is that the bones of a dead prophet revived a man. As amazing as this story is, there is an even more amazing story in the New Testament. It is about an even more powerful prophet. It is about a prophet who didn’t see corruption. It is about a prophet who has the power to raise all men from the dead. It is about a prophet who doesn’t just have the power to temporarily revive a man, but has the power to give eternal life unto all who believe. It is about a prophet who defeated death, and not merely defied it. It is the power of this prophet that is worth every sacrifice to know. Paul declared, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Phil. 3:7-11). As we get ready to worship this week, let’s come together to remember the resurrected Christ. Let’s strive to know the power of His resurrection.