II Kings 13:20, 21

The Man Who Lives For God Never Dies

Introduction

1. I love cemeteries, especially unusual ones. In Huntsville, AL there is such a cemetery. You stand before hundreds of little graves that dot the landscape. Your eyes catch a Big tomb, which has written on it: TO A LOST CAUSE. As you walk across the cemetery you step lightly. You stop in front of a grave with a spire. It is so unusual you stop. The name inscribed on it: Alexander Irwin 1820-1860 and then this little note beneath his name: The love of Christ doth me constrain to seek the wandering souls of men with pleadings, cries and tears to save. The one writing the above: “This man lived over 160 years ago, but he spoke to me today.” “Over there is a lost cause and here is a man who lives on.”

2. I thought of many people who are dead, but live on…my grandfather, my father, Mrs.

Paulhemus. Each of us has someone.

3. II Kings 13:20, 21 If you would have tuned in on the radio or bought the Jerusalem Gazette, or have seen the morning news on CNN, you would have known that battles are raging. The Moabites are invading the land and Israel is pressed.

As we think about all that is taking place as armies are on the march, we suddenly spy a band of men. They are scurrying along the valley, but their progress is hindered by a corpse which they are carrying. Israel has been reduced to such a state that all they can do is bury their dead, and they have many of them.

The men carrying the body spy a Moabite raiding party. Fearing for their lives they must get rid of the body. These men spy a cave used by a grave at the edge of the rocks. It is covered by a great stone, but they roll aside the stone and push in the corpse. The corpse enters the grave and at the moment of touching the bones of the occupant…this corpse stood on his feet.

Curious about the occupant and read the inscription over his tomb: Man of Genius No…Man of Wealth No…Man of Eloquence No. Written on this tomb is a simple epitaph, but the greatest that could be written of any man: Elisha, Man of God.

If the men at the tomb were to take notes, they would have jotted down this note: The man of God may be buried and a stone rolled over his tomb, but the man who lives for God never dies!

What would be said from this one to fearful, fleeing hearts? What would he say to me?

I. ELISHA IS DEAD BUT GOD IS ALIVE

A. Spirits were down, morale was low.

B. The chariot of Israel and its horsemen v. 14 The protection and power of Israel

has died... BUT GOD IS ALIVE!

C. Great men come and go, but God is alive! The man of God speaks: “God Is

Alive” “God Is Alive” We need to be reminded of this daily!

What would be said from this one to fearful, fleeing hearts? What would he say to me?

II. ELISHA IS DEAD BUT GOD IS ACTIVE

A.It looks so dead, so hopeless, so helpless.

B.Servants of God come and go, BUT GOD IS ACTIVE!

C.“God never does anything.” Touch the bones and be reminded: God Is Active. He is at work in Pennsville Baptist Church. God is active in your home. God is active in your life!

D.God is always at work. See what God is doing. See Him in the seemingly little things…Sunrise…Sunset…Nature…People in your life…Your thought life…When hearts are moved by the Holy Spirit. Then say, “Thanks”. GOD IS ACTIVE!

What would be said from this one to fearful, fleeing hearts? What would he say to me?

III. ELISHA IS DEAD BUT GOD IS ABLE

A.The God of Elisha is a quickening, reviving God.

B.Only God can take that which is dead and make it alive.

C.Hopes and dreams die…God wants to breathe life. Marriages become cold and dead…God wants you to touch Him and see that corpse come alive. Our walk with God can grow cold…God wants to warm that heart with life anew. “I can’t go on.” God wants to pick you up and revive that which is cold and indifferent.

D.Touch the bones of Elisha and be reminded: GOD IS ABLE!

What would be said from this one to fearful, fleeing hearts? What would he say to me?

IV. ELISHA IS DEAD BUT GOD IS AWESOME

A.Stand in awe! What can you say as you stand beside that which was dead, but is now alive?!

B.You see…once I was dead, but now I am alive! For you who was dead in trespasses and sin has He made alive! Jesus Christ wants to make you alive!

C.All we can do is worship, praise and say, “Thanks.” GOD IS AWESOME!

The man or woman of God may be buried and a stone rolled in front of their tomb,

but that man or woman never dies BECAUSE THE GOD OF THAT MAN

OR WOMAN NEVER DIES!

GOD WANTS TO TAKE THAT WHICH IS DEAD AND MAKE IT ALIVE!

Are you fearful and fleeing?

GOD IS ALIVE

GOD IS ACTIVE

GOD IS ABLE

GOD IS AWESOME