Time with Jesus - Monday, 12 November 2012
Hi all,
Miracles! Fact or fantasy? Those who believe in God
have no problem believing they actually happened. Those who don’t, usually do
so based on their belief that God is a myth. Today’s meditation looks at the
resuscitation of the young son of a woman from Shunem, by God through His
agent, Elisha. This was clearly a miracle. In the light of Jesus’ crucifixion
and subsequent resurrection from the dead, can you see Elisha breathing “life”
into the child? If so, why should it be rejected?
Blessings,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Monday, 12 November 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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RESURRECTION
OF THE WOMAN’S SON.
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Up
until the middle of the 19th century, the Bible was considered to
be the “Word of God” throughout the Western world. People who denied this
were very often persecuted and died. Some made claims which seemed to
contradict God’s Word. Galileo is perhaps the best known man who discovered
the earth rotated round the sun. Prior to this, everyone believed that
everything revolved round the Earth based on Scriptures which suggested this.
The fact that the meaning was misunderstood was beside the point. The
comment, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My
mind is made up!” is as true today as it was in Galileo’s day. Of
course there was much religious bigotry back then as there is today.
Bigots
come in all shapes and sizes and the reaction of the church to new ideas is
still a problem. Some of this originates in the way words have changed their
meaning over time. The best example is the word “gay”. Today it means
homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual. My opinion is that this community have
“hijacked” the word and given it the current meaning. But 100 years ago, the
word “gay” meant “merry, bright in colour and carefree”. Today it means, “attracted
to members of the same sex” and occasionally “debauched”.
In
those bygone days, men and women believed in miracles, in particular the
miracles mentioned in the Bible. It was almost unthinkable to suggest that
they were not true. All this changed with the introduction of rationalism
into human thought. Put very simply, this meant that if something couldn’t be
proved scientifically, it wasn’t true. Ultimately this led to what we see
around us. Human reason has taken root in many countries. Thus if it can’t be
demonstrated in the science laboratory, it is not true. There had to be a
rational explanation for everything. This gave rise to “Darwinian
evolutionism”. To this very day it cannot be demonstrated scientifically. It
is only believed by those who refuse to believe in the God Who is “alive and
active” in the universe. So much for rationalism. Believing in “evolution”
which has no provable scientific substance.
Today
we look at one of the miracles recorded in the Old Testament. The story of
Elisha restoring to life the son of the Shunamite woman. It is pointless
telling me that it didn’t happen and it’s something recorded in an old
outdated book. For me, the Bible is still the Word of God. It always will be.
For me, it remains infallible. I may misunderstand a meaning. But that is my
problem. So please don’t be surprised if I see Jesus on every page. Today we
look at an Old Testament “resurrection”. Here, we see Elisha bringing back to
life a youngster who had died. Elisha breathed life into a victim while reflecting
the cross of Jesus. It’s a foreshadowing of our resurrection when Jesus
returns. His breath is life!
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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26 (Elisha said to Gehazi) Run out there
to meet her (the Shunamite). Ask her, 'Are you all right? Is your husband all
right? Is your child all right?'" "Everything
is all right," she said.
2 Kings 4:26 NIrV
13 The
following is written, "I believed; therefore, I (Psalm 116:10)
spoke." We have that same spirit of faith.
We also believe; therefore, we also speak.
2 Corinthians 4:13 GW
9 We
are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we
are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have
not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have
joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to
others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
2 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted,
but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that
the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ESV
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting
away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the
things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the
things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV
1 The
elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that
you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
3 John 1:1-2 ESV
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Shunem was a border town, 5 K’s
from Jezreel. – 2 Kings
4
In the land of Issachar as best as
we can tell.
This town was where Elisha had
multiplied the oil.
To save a prophet’s widow and
Satan’s plans to foil.
There was another woman there, wed
to a wealthy man.
She said, “Let’s help this prophet, the best
way that we can!”
And so they built a little room so
he could find some rest.
And when Elisha saw it, he thought
she should be blessed.
“What can I do to help
her”, Gehazi was then asked?
“How can we reward her
for this charitable task?”
She had no need for money. Her
husband lacked for naught.
But she did not have children. A
child is what she sought.
Her husband couldn’t help her, for
he was far too old.
Her chances of a baby were just
about ice cold.
And so Elisha said to her, “by this time next year
You will have the son you seek; the one
you hold so dear!”
Just as Elisha stated, this woman
then conceived.
And she brought forth the man child
for which she had believed.
The little boy grew healthy; then,
at plus or minus six,
He went to see his father and soon
was in a fix.
His father and the harvesters were
working in the sun.
Suddenly the boy screamed out! “My head, it hurts like fun!”
They took him to his mother. And in
her arms he died.
“I’ve got to tell Elisha!” is what the woman cried.
“My son is dead”, she told him. “O
what am I to do?
And in my desperation I’m calling
out to you”.
The little boy was lying upon the
prophet’s bed.
And so Elisha, all alone, confirmed
the child was dead.
Then after praying to the Lord he
knew what was required
And so he lay upon the child the
way the Lord desired.
Mouth to mouth and eye to eye and
holding the boys hands;
The crucified position is what we
understand.
The body of the little boy then
started to grow warm.
The prophet then repeated and a
seven-fold sneezing storm,
Issued from the man child. He was
no longer dead.
The woman had her little boy just
as Elisha said.
“Resurrection life is real!” This story
makes it plain.
And we’ll be resurrected, when Jesus
comes again!
Jim Strickland
Written
12th November 2012
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