HIS RESTORATION POWER

“Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!” Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.” (1 Kings 17: 23 – 24).

God directed His servant, Prophet Elijah, to Zarephath to a widow. He had commanded to feed (sustain) him. He obeyed in spite of the unreasonableness of the arrangement. The widow against all odds, surrendered her last meal and because of this her obedience, her barrel of meal did not waste (finish), neither did her cruse of oil fail (stop) until the day that the Lord sent rain upon the earth (1 Kings 17: 8 – 16).

In the midst of this miracle, the devil did his worst by striking the son of the woman dead. The woman ran back to Elijah and expressed her pains and disappointment. Elijah received the dead child and prayed over him and God restored life to him and he gave her back to her mother (1 Kings 17: 17 – 24). This is the first instance recorded in the Bible of someone being raised from the dead. Other instances are recorded in 2 Kings 4: 18 – 37; John 11: 1 – 14; Acts 20: 9 – 12.

God is still in the business of restoring life to dead persons, things and situations. Jesus Himself said that he came that we might have life and have it in abundance (John 10: 10). However, note the following salient points in the above narrative:

• The woman left her own programme (agenda) of gathering sticks and paid full attention to the programme of God-sustaining the man of God. Are you expecting God to restore life to you, your family members, your business and Spiritual life? Then you should seek the face of God and know what He really wants you to do for Him, and perhaps what programmes (fashions, works, relationships etc.) of your life that He wants you to drop so that you can serve Him better (Matthew 6: 33).

• When a problem (death of her son) struck, she ran to the man of God in faith and the man of God offered that effectual fervent prayer that heals the sick, raises the dead and restores the lost (James 5: 13 – 18; Ezekiel 37: 1 – 4). Where or whom do you run to when sickness, afflictions, disasters fall on you. Jesus said in John 11: 25 – 26 that He is the resurrection and the life; that he who believes in Him, though that person were dead, yet the person will live again and never die. He is ready, able and willing to restore you to life. Just as this woman ran to the TRUE man of God for help and the life of her son was restored through his fervent prayer we are to run to God and His true servants for prayer and counseling when we are in need.

This church has such ministers – Pastors and evangelists, that can help you to restore life to everything that is dead in you by the grace of God. Be committed to the church and her programmes and God will meet you at the point of your need.

• The woman confessed that she became fully convinced that Elijah was a man of God and that the word of God in his mouth was truth. This shows us that there must have been false miracle workers and prophets at that time, just as we have them around now. Simon (Acts 8: 9-11) was one of such men who controlled the lives of the members of the church in Samaria with his magic powers which many mistook for God’s power. The scripture says that we should test every spirit and prove whether they are of God (1 John 4: 1; 1 Thess. 5: 21). A church that is waiting for her Lord’s Return is one that is careful to avoid error and live as her Master expects of her. The good seeds which the Master planted must be allowed to germinate, provided with the right environment to grow and flourish and bear fruits that will support a virile church, for the succeeding generations.

Have a fruitful week as you fix your heart on what your Master expects from you at His Return!

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon

S.Igein Isemede