2 Kings 13:20-21

Intersection of converging storylines and themes.

A prophet that had been promised a double portion by his mentor and Spiritual Father.

a King, Joash (we read of in the previous verses) who in the final days of Elisha’s life is positioned to be the recipient of the final miracle that will bring about the fulfilment of the double portion promise…But because of the King’s lack of faith…lack of passion…lack of desire…The moment is missed and the miracles is not manifest..

and The bible tells us that the prophet…one miracle shy of the promised double portion is buried a sepulchre.

2. A nation, in Israel, that has seen a succession of evil kings which the bible says of these kings that they have made Israel to sin…and as a result the anger and judgment of the Lord has been turned upon them.

A climate of oppression and fear…A nation that had been brought into this land of promise, miraculously crossed the River Jordan, supernaturally saw that walls of Jericho, toppled their enemies and overthrown their adversaries. And yet…now the are pillaged and plundered by the Syrians…Invaded and intimidated by the Midianites.

Judges 2:11 records when they first crossed the Jordan, the hearts of their enemies melted within them at the news that Israel was approaching…now their enemies invaded and stole their crops.

Such a fearful and despondent environment is abundant in Israel that vs. 21 says a group of men is in the midst of a funeral procession, and they see a band of men in the distance…It doesn’t say that the band of men were Midianites…likely they were…but just at the chance of the band of man being Midianites, the abandon the procession and pitch the body.

3. There are other story lines converging at the intersection of these two verses…the story of this mans life…though untold in the pages of scripture…had, without a doubt, culminated in a procession to pay respect and honor the life of this nameless man.

And when we walk into these verses, it feels like a let down…

A prophet buried with unfilled promise

A nation in decline

Enemies invading

A funeral cut short

A life has ended

BUT>>>What feels like a let down, is really a set-up! A set up for fulfilment, the miraculous and a revival!

By the help of the Holy Ghost, I came to preach to someone today that your circumstances look an awful lot like a let down…but if you’ll allow the Holy ghost to move…if you will let Jesus step in…what looks like a let down is a set up!

A set up for fulflilment of promise

For a demonstration of the miraculous

And for a revival of hope!

Now…I’m not here today to hype you up and preach you into an emotional frenzy…rather to tell you that there are some variables that you need to SATISFY in order to QUALIFY for this reviving in your soul!

This isn’t some touch three people and tell em’

Blab it and grab it

Name it and claim it...

No…its going to take some intentionality and some purposeful steps to come out of this let down with a lift and with life!

I want to introduce this first variable by looking at this man for whom the funeral procession is taking place.

This man has experienced the ultimate in let downs:

First of all, we know that he died -

We don’t know how he died, the circumstances surrounding his death. Sickness, tragedy, old age…we don’t know

To add insult to injury, the proper burial ceremony cannot be held due to the invading Moabites.

and if that isn’t enough…the writer, inspired by God himself, doesn’t even provide the guys name.

I mean some of us would miss the miracle over the lack of mention. The Holy Ghost is moving and we’re hung up on the fact that we didn’t get recognition...

We’d prefer recognition over revival!

Affirmation over restoration

Rather be notably dead than nameless but alive!

But I want to look at the variables that will end this story much different than it begins. What looks like a let down is really a set-up to a step-up

First of all because of whose hands he fell into when his let down came!

I want to tell you the outcome of your let-down will be vastly different depending on your associations1

At the point that we find this man in vs. 21, he is a dead, lifeliess corpse.

He has:

no power to determine his direction,

no strength to determine his progress,

no voice to shout his wishes or wants.

No opinions to express.

Can I tell you when those friends saw that band of Midianites, they could have just dropped his body and said we will come back and get him later!

They saw the enemy in the distance, but rather that ditching HIM to cover THEM, they took time to get him positioned for a miracle.

Custom at that time was that a sepulchre would be covered by a stone. Likely not to the same extent that the tomb of Jesus was covered, sealed and guarded…but without question, there was a stone that had to be removed before his body could be placed into the sepulchre of Elisha.

And at the risk of their own well-being. At the risk of their own peril, they take the time to remove the stone.

Listen…LIfe has let downs....My life…your life…all life’s have let downs...

But what is going to determine if your let downs become stay downs or step ups…is your associations!

I think of the man in Mark chapter 2. in a paralyzed condition. His friends carried him to the place where Jesus was…those are pretty good friends. If that was as far as they carried him....thats better than most friends.

But the bible says when they got there, they couldn’t get their friend in to where Jesus was because of the crowd…many friend would have turned around and gone back home. They would have just said this is as close as we can get…and that paralyzed friend would have remained a paralyzed friend…

But thank God for friends that don’t let our let downs become stay downs…thank God for friends that say....no…we didn’t come to church to play games....to sit back here and let mold grow on our bibles…we came to get in the presence of Jesus...

and they got up on the roof, tore a whole in the roof and got their friends in the presence of Jesus!

Thank God for everyone of you that came in this place to worship today…you didn’t let a rainy day postpone your praise!!

And some you that have been through some lets downs....are still down…because you’re associated with the wrong people!

You’re associated with:

pouters instead of praisers!

Worriers instead of worshippers

Gossips instead of Givers

Fault-finders instead of faith builders

Carnal instead spiritual

IF you’re let down is going to lead to a step up…the best thing you can do right now, is get next to a worshipper! Stop hanging around fornicators and get connected to some friends that are striving to live Holy! Get away from the gossips and get around those that edify and build up!

Get around some friends that are going to encourage you to grow in your faith!

Vs 21 “And when the man was let down, he touched the bones of Elisha”

what do you touch when life lets you down?

What do you connect with when you are dealing with life’s let downs?

Some of us when life’s let downs come, we head for the fridge…for the King…but not the king of kings…the king of Beers…can I tell you that the king of Beers might prop you up for a while, but thats the best he can do

Some of us disappear into a cloud of smoke when we are dealing with life’s let down…we get connected to the 420 crowd...

Others get connected to entertainment…hobbies…promotions…

but you have to be careful what your life is touching when you have been let down!

Life’s let downs leave us in a vulnerable state. We are more easily influenced and more susceptible when we are dealing with life’s let downs.

You’ve got to be careful what you place yourself in the proximity of during these times in life.

There are people that intentionally prey on those that are navigating life’s vulnerable seasons.

Con-artists,

Scammers

Hustlers

Swindlers

Fraudsters

Whatever your name of choice for these exploiters might be.

They come promising hope.

They come promising a step…but it truly is a set up to rob you of any value that might remain in your life.

you have to be careful what you are touching when you have been let down.

Because what you connect with when you are let down will determine wether you stand up or stay down!

Reach back to the previous verses…there was a promise that was fit for a king…No sincerely…it had been teed up for King Joash…but he had too passive…too pathetic…To dismissive of the potential that was in front of him....

and because of that…there was one miracle locked up in the bones of that prophet. He had been promised a double portion and it had not yet been fulfilled…

Elisha had died with a promise still within him

And when this man died…he connected with the bones of Elisha…He connected with a man of God that still had promise locked up in his bones!!

It matters what you touch when you’ve been let down!!

It matters what you connect with when you’re struggling with a setback!

If you connect with things that don’t have promise…your let down WILL be a STAY down! You setback will be a STAY back!!

But if you can get connected with something that has promise!

If you can get in touch with something that has power!

Let me give you some things you need to make sure you are touching when you’ve been let down!

Hebrews 4:15–16 KJV 1900

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Prayer!!! There is promise in prayer! There is power in prayer! When you’ve been let down, but you touch the throne of grace…and the mercy of God starts flowing!!!

2.

Matthew 18:19–20 KJV 1900

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

the body of Christ! our natural inclination when we are dealing with let down is to isolate…but there is no power in isolation! We need to get connected to the body of Christ!

there is promise in the body of Christ!!

Matthew 16:18 KJV 1900

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

3.

Psalm 119:89 KJV 1900

89 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.

2 Corinthians 1:20 KJV 1900

20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

The Word of God!!!

4.

Acts 2:38–39 KJV 1900

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The Holy Ghost!

the bible says…that when that man was let down, he touched those promise filled bones of Elisha…He revived!! and he stood up on his feet!

I wonder who is in this building today that is hungry for a revival in your spirit!?

Those of you that have already checked out with your carnal companions. You have already made up your mind that you have no spiritual desire to step up! you are content to stay down and live down to your carnal appetites…Like King Joash…you will miss the miracle that is in the house today…custom crafted for you, but missed because in the moment you were content with the appearance of desire but no real passion.

But for those today that have come today ready to touch something with promise! Ready to connect to the power and the promise of God!!

There is a spiritual and personal revival today for those that are hungry…You have come today…struggling through life’s let downs…but ready for a step up!