This is for the men and the women who sustain them and their God given priesthood. As I studied the life of Elisha this year I became aware of the privilege of this gifted power. It became obvious to me that being endowed with the priesthood is not the same as manifesting the power associated with it. The true power of the priesthood can only be manifested in men with purity of heart and mind devoted to God.
Consider Elisha’s purity of heart when Elijah called him to the ministry. At the time of the call Elijah found Elisha ploughing his fields with twelve oxen (1 Kings 19:19). Men who had two oxen in ancient Israel were considered well off, the fact that Elisha had twelve suggests that he was a wealthy man. The minute of the call, Elisha killed all the oxen and distributed the meat among the people (1 Kings 19:21). This was an amazing sign of denouncing his wealth and forsaking the world.
Now consider Elisha’s commitment to his calling. He stayed by Elijah’s side even though Elijah’s life was wanted far and wide by King Ahab. His assurance was: “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee” (2 Kings 2:2,4,6). When Elijah was about to depart, he told Elisha to make a request of him and all Elisha asked for was that a ‘double portion of his spirit be upon him’ (2 Kings 2:9). This he received and proceeded to perform 10 recorded miracles showing forth faith such as has not been shown before (2 Kings 2:14,22; 4:2-6; 16-17,32-35, 40-41, 42-44; 5:14; 6:4-6, 18).
Elisha’s miracles, his prophecies and the goodness of this man is too lengthy to recount here but can be gleaned by study of his ministry. This, however, is true evidence of the greatness of this man. As the Moabites were invading Israel after Elisha’s death, a dead man, during his burial, was lowered into Elisha’s sepulchre in haste. When the dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and came back to life (2 Kings 13:21). How is that for the legacy of a man of priesthood?
The miraculous priesthood power of Elisha reminded me of the Apostle Paul who sent handkerchiefs and aprons to the sick and ‘their diseases departed from them’ (Acts 19:11,12). Likewise, the sick were brought out into the streets so that the mere shadow of Peter passing might heal them (Acts 5:15). Does it remind you of someone else who performed the greatest miracles of all? From turning water into wine, to raising the dead, to feeding 5,000 with few loaves and fishes, to His own resurrection, the Saviour outperformed them all. It is by His priesthood power that the worlds were created and the salvation of man assured. Elisha, Paul and Peter were men of God because of the allegiance they paid to the God of heaven, Jesus of Nazareth, the God of Israel. Without Him the priesthood would not be available to the men of this earth. Without Him, the earth would not be possible…. The God of Creation, the God of Light, the God of Salvation…..may we stand in awe of His power now and forever.
The truths of heaven distil upon my soul
Like petals fluttering in autumn breeze;
My heart is full of thoughts of Thee
As I stand in awe of Thy majesty.
The magnitude of worlds
And the stars of heaven
That roll upon their wings praising Thee;
But none greater than this:
The creation of man, a crowning glory
To Thy priesthood and Thy throne
In endless praise of Thy name
In the splendour of Thy celestial home.
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