Go and Raise the Dead

We need the power of the Holy Spirit if we are going to raise the dead. Wait, what? You may be thinking this pastor has slipped over the edge, writing such sensational nonsense. The truth is, I have never raised anyone from the dead, at least none who were not breathing anymore and whose bodies had turned gray and cold. But I have seen dead people come to life. Think about it this way. Do you know the story in the Bible when Elisha raised the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead? The child had been given to her and her husband by God as a reward for her kindness to the prophet and now the child lay dead. The dear woman was beside herself with sorrow and grief and hurried to where Elisha was, falling at his feet in great agony. Elisha sent his servant Gehazi to see the child and to lay his staff on the boy’s face, but Gehazi came back and said, “the boy has not awakened.” So Elisha went in and closed the door where the boy was lying, so it was just the two of them in the room and Elisha prayed to the Lord. Then he lay on the child, putting his mouth on the boy’s mouth, his eyes on the boy’s eyes, his hands on the boy’s hands. The boy’s body grew warm, so Elisha got up and walked about the house, perhaps praying again, and then went and stretched himself upon the boy a second time. And the boy sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes. He was alive! 

What is the point? We have children in our homes and perhaps adults as well, who are dead, “dead in trespasses and sins.” Just as we once were, those of us who believe. But we were raised from the dead. Our position with regard to those who are spiritually dead is the same as Elisha’s. He had to deal with a natural death and his only hope for that child’s life was God, and Elisha was determined to do all that he could do to see that boy resurrected by the power of God. We deal with spiritually dead people every day and their only hope is the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. And we have been given the Holy Spirit so that, by his power, we are to do all that we can to see dead people come to life. “Can these bones live?” God asked Ezekiel. “O Lord God, you know,” said Ezekiel. 

Believers, God has given us power through the Holy Spirit to speak to dry bones. Will they live? God knows. Our job is to go. Our job is to speak. Go, speak, and perhaps God will do what he does best, and raise the dead.