Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com

 

 

 

 

Miraculous Power No Tongue Can Explain

 

ŇWhen the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.Ó (2 Kings 13:21)

 

Here is miraculous power neither mind can comprehend, nor tongue explain. As ElishaŐs dead body was an instrument used of God to give life to the one touched by it, so it is the gospel of God preached by mortal men that is the instrument by which God the Holy Ghost gives life eternal to chosen, redeemed sinners (1 Peter 1:23).

 

GodŐs Chosen Instrument

There was no power in ElishaŐs dead bones to give life; but God made it an instrument by which he gave life. And there is no power in the most faithful gospel preacher to give life to anyone. But God has ordained by the foolishness of preaching to save his elect. — ŇFaith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.Ó — Three lessons:

1.    Be sure you do not despise the preaching of the gospel but seize and treasure every opportunity to hear the message by which God may communicate life to your needy soul.

2.    Do everything you can to get sinners under the sound of the gospel. God may be pleased to give life to those you bring to hear the gospel of Christ.

3.    God often uses the labors of his people for the furtherance of the gospel long after they have left this world, just as he used ElishaŐs dead bones to communicate life to that dead man touched by them.

 

Elisha a Type

As John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ, JehovahŐs Firstborn, Elijah was the forerunner of Elisha, to whom God gave the double portion of the firstborn. Elisha was himself an eminent type of Christ. As this man was cast into ElishaŐs sepulchre, believing sinners are buried with Christ in the likeness of his death, confessing our faith in him who fulfilled all righteousness for us by his obedience unto death as our Substitute, our union with him in his obedience and death, and our confident hope of resurrection in his likeness in the resurrection Romans 6:4-6).

 

Old Testament Saints

Old Testament saints were not spiritual morons, as many foolishly think. Those saints of old lived by the same faith you and I live by, looking to Christ who is our Redeemer, our Resurrection, and our Life (John 11:25). This manŐs resurrection prefigured both the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the grave and of GodŐs elect in him, with him, and by him as our Substitute, in the new birth, and in the second resurrection at the last day. Those saints of old lived in the sweet, assured hope of resurrection glory with Christ. Job declared that hope with joy (Job 19:25-27). And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of our SaviorŐs glorious second coming to accomplish it (Jude 14-15).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor FortnerŐs

 

Audio Sermons

Video Sermons

Books

Itinerary