REVIVING A DEAD MIRACLE—II Kings 4:8-37

Introduction—The typology in this chapter:

    a. The “great woman” is a picture of the Church.

    b. Elisha is a picture of the “man of God,” the Preacher.

    c. The boy as a “convert,” born again.

I. THE BEGINNING OF A MIRACLE—Vs. 8-16

   A. The Church’s Attitude Toward the Man of God

        1. She Fed the Man of God—Vs. 8—“…she constrained him to eat bread”

        2. She Furnished the Man of God—Vs. 10—“Let us make a little chamber”

   B. The Church’s Action Toward the Man of God

        1. She Faced the Man of God—Vs. 12—“…and when he had called her, she

            stood before him.”  She did not hesitate but quickly and obediently

            answered his call.

        2. II Kings 4:13—“I dwell among mine own people.”  She explained that

            her life was contented and undisturbed. She had not extended hospitality

            to them for gain.

        3. The Second Call—Vs. 15—“And when he had called her, she stood in

            the door.”

II. THE BIRTH OF A MIRACLE

    A. The Man of God Promised a Birth—Vs. 16

    B. The Might of God Performed a Birth—Vs. 17

        1. This Birth was a Miracle—So was our “New Birth.”

        2. She Fed the Miracle, Dressed the Miracle, Invested in the Miracle and

            Loved the Miracle.

        3. When we got “Born Again,” we did the same thing.  Our New Birth was

            the center of our attention.

III. THE BEREAVEMENT OF A MIRACLE—Vs. 18-20—Sometimes our

    experience with the Lord dies.  Why does our experience with the Lord die?

    A. The Causes

        1.  “And when the child was grown…”

        2.  “…he went out to his father to the reapers”

        3.  “And he said unto his father, My head, my head”

    B. The Contestants

        1. Her Family Fought Her

            a. Her husband sent the boy to the house “to his mother.”—Vs. 19

            b. Her husband would not saddle the donkey for her—Vs. 22-24

        2. Her Foes Fought Her—Vs. 27—“…but Gehazi came near to thrust her

            away.”

    C. The Conquest—Vs. 30—“As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will

        not leave thee.”  The Source of the Birth is the Solution to the Bereavement.

IV. THE BLESSING OF A REVIVED MIRACLE—Vs. 32-37

    A. The Method—Vs. 33-34

        1. Prayer—Vs. 33

        2. Prostration—Vs. 34—“And he went up, and lay upon the child…”—

            Picture of dying to self.  This contact with a dead body would

            communicate ceremonial uncleanness, yet, in performing the great moral

            duties of piety and benevolence, positive laws were sometimes dispensed

            with, particularly by the prophets.

        3. Partner—“…and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his

            eyes, and his hands upon his hands”

        4. Prolonging—“…and he stretched himself upon the child”

    B. The Miracle—Notice it was a gradual process.  Our problem is we want

        God to do in an instant what took time to die.

        1.  “…and the flesh of the child waxed warm”

        2.  “…and the child sneezed seven times”—Movement

        3.  “…and the child opened his eyes”—

CONCLUSION—What would we do if God blessed with a revival of our

    miracle?  Vs. 37