Sermon Nuggets Mon June 28
Theme THE DEATH OF A SAINT
Verses: II Ki 13:14-21
Death of a Saint
In one of the Parade Magazines there was a little article,"How much does your soul weigh?" An experiment by Dr. Duncan MacDougall of Haverhill, Mass. in 1907 moved the bed of a dying TB patient into sensitively balanced platform beam scale and kept close watch on him throughout his final hours. And at the precise moment of death the beam fell and the scale showed a 3/4 ounce weight loss. He continue this type of experiment on five others who all showed between 3/8 to 1 ½ ounces weight loss. He also did a similar experiment on 15 dogs of various sizes with no weight loss. Where will your soul go?
We will discuss this week of the death of a saint, namely Elisha. This week we will conclude our long series on the prophets- Elijah and Elisha. As I think of the various devotions on Elisha and he has intrigued me more as I have studied about his life in the last few months. He was called as a young man, a wealthy farmer, who was willing to leave all to follow the call of God and become a disciple of Elijah. God called Elisha and empowered him for service. When we compare the two ministries, that of Elisha and Elijah we realize that they were two very different sort of men. Elijah was the rugged individualist, while Elisha was more comfortable as a godly advisor to Kings, but with many miraculous incidents of his love for individuals. He had served God well. He is now old and passed on the spirit to others. Even in his death I see he was an influence for God.
Just as our lives influence people in various ways, so can death. It is natural part of our existence since we all die. But it is very difficult to expect life to go on as normal when that person has had a great influence on the life of another.
As we looked at the home going of Elijah who passed the responsibility on to Elisha, so Elisha has a home going of a different nature. Elijah never died the natural death but the fiery chariots of heaven took him up in a most unusual way. However the death of Elisha was more in keeping with the natural way of slipping away due to old age or illness.
Simply put his life on earth was over. But his life eternal not.
Yesterday I officiated at the funeral of our friend and former associate, Pastor Bob Grover. Although he died in January his family gathered at the Stanchfield Cemetery yesterday afternoon to bury his ashes. There was a certain amount of closure since his death. But the thoughts and memories of the ministry of Bob were shared among the family. The relationship and experiences were honored. The reminder of the victory Jesus has over the grave became the sustaining hope we have as believers.
All of us will die. But not all of us will have that hope of heaven. Although the Old Testament saints by faith looked to the provision of God, the New Testament believers look by faith to the provision made known which is Jesus Christ, who died for our sin, was raised again on the third day and calls us to trust Him for our salvation.
Do you have the same confidence of being forever with our Lord when you die? If not, contact me and I will show you want the Bible says and how you might have assurance of salvation.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues June 29 –
Theme – The Death of a Saint
Verse- 2 Kings 13:14 Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. "My father! My father!" he cried. "The chariots and horsemen of Israel!"
INFLUENTIAL IN SICKNESS
We shared last week the influence of a godly life and the reputation that follows in words, witness, works, and wisdom. The prophet was a revered and honored person, even though others wanted to kill him. When Elisha was sick unto death the king came and wept over him. Prophets waited upon kings, not kings upon prophets; If a king came to a prophet's house, it was likely to be on an errand of vengeance, not one of kindness and sympathy.
The king prayed, "O my father..the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof", the very words which Elisha himself had used at the assumption of Elijah. Perhaps he thought Elisha would be like his predecessor, but indeed if Luke 16 refers to all saintly deaths God’s messengers carry every saved soul into the presence of God.
Elisha was ready to go and showed no emotion concerning his own life or longevity at this point. Elisha knew that he was on his death bed.
The Scriptures said he suffered an illness. One of the biggest problems that man has is facing the theology of suffering. I read a quote that says the believer in God has a hard time explaining suffering, the atheist has a hard time explaining every things else.
Being a man of God who served and loved God like he did, did not keep him from suffering sickness physically. It is not true, as some believe, that if you suffer something is wrong with you and you are harboring some sin or you would not suffer. Suffering is not necessarily punishment for specific sin. It is part of the curse certainly of the general sin of this world. But I do want to acknowledge that saints can undergo physical suffering in the dying process too.
When I was a chaplain's student in Hennipen County Hospital, I wrote a paper on pain because I had a hard time facing suffering patients. I felt I had no real word of comfort for the person in extreme pain. The worse the pain the less I felt I could minister. I remember a dear lady in my church who loved the Lord and was sort of the spiritual mother to many people. She was a lovely person. But in her dying process she was about a month in the hospital. The nurses would close her door because her cries of pain was such a disturbance. I would walk into her room as she was thrashing on the bed and crying out. She had a type of cancer of which pain medications did not help. I prayed; I questioned God as to why he would allow this and not just take her to heaven to take her life and put her out of her misery. I could understand why a loving family member could carry out mercy killing to put someone out of their suffering, even though I do not believe it is right.
I would often wonder how some people could live a life in that type of state. I used to suffer migraine headaches with horrible pain and feelings of nausea for about 3 to4 hours, but some would be so afflicted 3-4 days, other months or some even years of such pain.
Both the books of Job and Corinthians recognized some suffering is from the hand of Satan. Yet II cor. 1:6 If we are afflicted it is for your comfort and salvation." Paul speaks later of the thorn in his flesh used to keep him humble and in weakness so that the strength of God would be made manifested in his life. The afflictions of a Christian are often designed by God to achieve the comfort and salvation of those around him. Elisha still points Jehoash to God and does not center in on his personal situation.
There are mysteries that we may never understand, but pain should never be that which stands as a barrier between us and God, only that which causes us to cling stronger to him. He promises that he will not tempt us beyond what we are able to bear. The saints of God may undergo pain and suffering to show the world that God is still worthy.
There is no reason for Elisha's suffering, but he did. That helps me to know that there will be strength for me too if God should so desire. Elisha was not healed. There is a sickness unto death. God is still God and does not need our understanding to do his work, His way, and in his timing. There are worse things than being ill and Elisha wants to share that with the King.
Pastor Dale
Sermon nuggets Weds June 30, 2010
Verses- 2 Kings 13: 15 Elisha said, "Get a bow and some arrows," and he did so.
16 "Take the bow in your hands," he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.
17 "Open the east window," he said, and he opened it. "Shoot!" Elisha said, and he shot. "The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!" Elisha declared. "You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek."
18 Then he said, "Take the arrows," and the king took them. Elisha told him, "Strike the ground." He struck it three times and stopped.
19 The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times."
Influential in Service
When someone is on their deathbed, it isn't typical that the dying one is looking to others for support at that time, but we see the King looking to Elisha. AS a faithful servant to the end, Elisah points the King to the spiritual concerns of Israel and specifically God's work in winning their wars.
There have been numerous reports of Christians encountering terminal illness having a tremendous spiritual impact on peoples lives. It was Teddy Roosevelt who said, "There has never been a man who lived a life of ease whose name is worth remembering." Perhaps it is because of suffering some people go through that qualify them for insights.
This week I heard the news of Joni Earickson Tada discovering breast cancer. Not only has she used her disability to shine like gold in her testimony to the Lord, but this illness is faced with the same confidence in God as she had to depend upon His strength throughout her life.
Here Elisha spent his strength to show Jehoash that the battle he was going to face was not his own, but Gods. Just like the physical battle that was facing Elisha was also in God's hand and he need not worry.
He instructed him to take a bow and arrow as a dramatic and prophetic way to demonstrate the victory over the Syrians. Then he was told to take the arrows and hit the ground. He struck the ground 3 times and stopped. Elisha rebuked him. He saw what God could do if only the king had more faith. That was such a disappointment for Elisha.
King Jehoash could have been zealous and followed though by striking the ground many times assuring that number of victories against their enemy but did not. So he was to win those battles, but not be ultimately victorious over them.
Elisha was desirous to see the king have a victorious faith by trusting completely in the power of God and not in his own self. The sticking of the ground apparently became a symbol of trusting God only so far.
As long as God gave Elisha a task, he would do it even when he was on his death bed. He was a faithful servant until the end. His focus was not on himself as it was on the Lord. He was a vessel for the masters use.
Dawson Grover shared with me when he was at the death bed of his father, Bob. His dad was in a lot of pain and discomfort. He said that what he is going through doesn’t compare to the suffering and pain that Jesus went through to take away His sin.
A saint will look to the Lord and help others see Him and His glory.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs July 1, 2010
Verses II Ki 13:20-21
20 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring.
21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.
Influential in Death.
This is the most unusual part of the story when Elisha dies and then some time later there is another funeral near his tomb. Since the Moab nation was raiding the land the undertakers quickly disposed of another's body by throwing it into the tomb of Elisha and suddenly and miraculously the body came to life again. What a miracle. There are not many examples of someone coming back to life in all of the Bible, but this one was completely without prayer, or petition to our knowledge.
What do you make of such a story? Most liberals will say this is just a legend that has no validity. If I believed that the Bible contained errors and fables then I would be drawn to that conclusion too. However, I do believe the Bible and the truth and authority of all Scripture that is inspired by God and believe this is not only possible, but in fact did happen.
I agree that this is not common that bodies come to life, especially when touching another's bones. Yet other stories in the Scriptures remind us of the healing power of God when many sick and lame try to be so positioned as to have Peter's shadow pass over them they might be healed. Or the episodes in Ephesus when there were napkins and handkerchiefs from the Apostle Paul that were placed on the sick and diseased and they were healed.
Here the body touched the bones of Elisha and he was healed and resurrected. Can you imagine happened after that? Well, if it is anything like people's obsession with relics and holy places there were probably 100s of people who died whose bodies were brought to the tomb of Elisha and placed on top. Yet there is no record of any other resurrection.
Certainly, there were others who were under Peter's shadow that were not healed and it was not an everyday occurrence that Paul's handkerchiefs were brought to the sick and all were healed in that manner.
First we must acknowledge that healing was NOT through shadows, napkins and bones. It was through the special power and will of God. Those happened to be the instruments used by God in such special occasions to bring authority to the word of those prophets. It was to bring people to faith. It was to authenticate their word was from God. It was for the purpose of people believing and obeying God.
We do not compliment a hammer, or a wood plane, or a screwdriver and think they were something, but we give glory to the skilled carpenter that brought about the work by using those tools. We don't give first prizes to brushes and little tubes of paint for creating a masterpiece of art, but rather we honor the one who used those things for being the artist who deserves praise. The artist may not use the same brush twice, and God may not use the same person twice in the same way for something he is doing. Religious relics in themselves are useless idols. But may they serve as reminders of the greatness of God.
There is nothing Elisha can do in his death to influence others. This is something God did to influence others in the death of Elisha. I would hope that when I die God would use that event to somehow and in some way to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. But I absolutely will have nothing to do specifically. That is entirely up to God, but it is my prayer.
In Elisha’s situation part of an answer as to why this happened might be for God to bring human honor to the man. Others might reflect over the holy and godly life and desire to turn their own hearts to Him. Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind, and Elisha was well thought of for God's grace and goodness by the king and others that knew he was indeed a man of God. This was a means of honoring his service, faith and life.
Rev. Drummach shared a story of a woman who was influential with her great wealth and social position. When she was to get married she was concerned that she might lose the life to which she was accustomed. She had her fiancé promise not to deprive her of her finery. He told her. "I'll leave you and your trinkets and fine clothing until the Lord himself stripes you of them."
The man was in a storm on a ship and drowned. Conviction of her sin came to her life and she felt the judgment of God on her self indulgent life. She cried to God for forgiveness and gave away her wealth. His bones brought to her spiritual life. The influence of his life extended to her beyond his watery grave. His faith spoke to her of the need of her salvation even after his death. Pray that your works and witness will follow you.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri July 2
Verses- Luke 4:18-30
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.
23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
24 "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown…
27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-- only Naaman the Syrian."
Influential for Eternity
The final word in the Bible is from Jesus. He is used as an illustration of a faithful prophet throughout Israel. The context of this comment came when the people of his hometown did not listen or believe what Jesus was saying. He offered them truth of life in Him. They rejected his message because he was just one of their boys.
They put him in a box from which they would not listen to his message. Elisha was a faithful servant who could have done so much for Israel but because of their rejection of him the miracle of healing came to a foreigner.
His earthly job, however miraculous in details, did not produce the repentance of the peope to whom his ministry was focused. There were some who listened. There were some to heeded his advice, but for the most part they ignored him and God.
However, the attention is to be on Elisha at this point. He was continuing his service to Israel and to God even though Israel was never to leave their disobedience. Was Elisha a failure because in his prophetic manner the people did not ultimately follow the Lord? No, not at all. This is just a commentary on the mercy and grace of Almighty God that speaks of his patience with his people by providing someone like Elijah and Elisha who will not stop in their work and service in seeking to bring back a people to God.
There are times certainly when it is easy to feel discouraged. Parents can be discouraged as they instruct and pray for their children who are well into their adult years. It can be discouraging for pastors and evangelists to work and preach the truth without the people responding in obedience and faith in Christ. It can be discouraging for youth sponsors and S.S. teachers and workers to provide Christian alternatives for their students only to see them go the ways of the world. But God still calls us, parents, children, church and workers, to serve him. However people may respond is not ultimately our responsibility. They have been told the truth and taught the lessons of God's word. Being obedient to what God wants is our responsibility.
I close with a story from Philip Yancey a writer in Christianity Today. He traveled with the noted missionary physician Dr. Paul Brand who specialized with the disease of leprosy. While in India they were warmly greeted by people he had helped. They sang hymns, danced, and shared in the joy of seeing their friend the Doctor who healed and shared with them about Jesus.
He met Namo who had a photo of Dr. Brand on the wall of his humble home. "May the Spirit that is in him live in me' he said. He had given up on life as a leper, but Medical treatments halted the spread of the disease and a series of surgical procedures over 5 years allowed him to regain the use of his hand and feet. He took training in physiotherapy, and began working with other leprosy patients and went on to become chief of physical Therapy at the All-India Institute.
He visited Sadan another former patient of Dr. Brand. He looked like Gandhi. He told Yancy of wrenching stories of past rejection: classmates who made fun of him in school, driver who literally kicked off a public bus, many employers who refused to hire him, hospital that turned him away. He told how Dr. Brand was the first physician to touch him. "Still, I must say that I am now happy that I had this disease. Apart from leprosy, I would have been a normal man with a normal family, chasing wealth and a higher position in society. I would never have known such wonderful people as Dr. Paul and Dr. Margaret, and I would never have known the God who lives in them."
Yancey continued his trip with Brand in England. They toured the Royal College of Surgeons her Brand delivered two prestigious Hunterian lectures. As they wandered form receptionist to receptionist at the University College Hospital they did not even recognize some of the names of the renown physicians teaching there. If he had stayed in London perhaps he could have achieved tremendous honors and maybe a Nobel Prize, but what then? his picture would join the others in the darkened hallway now dusty and beginning to yellow. His name would appear as a footnote in the medical textbooks.
But fame in the annuals of medicine rarely lasts long; microsurgery techniques have already outdates most of the procedures considered breakthroughs in the last 15 years. But in contrast his sacrificial work as a missionary surgeon in India continue to bear fruit, in the transformed lives of Namo and Sadan and 100s like them. There is fleeting fame or permanence for eternity that continues in others we serve.
Whether we live out our days in India, England, or Stanchfield the true measure of our worth will depend not on a resume or income, but on the spirit we pass on to others.
Jesus said, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." We know that Elisha recieved his rewards as a faithful servant..
Pastor Dale
