RESUSCITATION

L. McFarlane

2 Kings 4: 8–16, 18–22, 25, 26, 32–37; Acts 20: 9–12

I desire, dear brethren, to speak of resuscitation, the power to cause one to revive. We had a helpful word at our last ministry meeting as to revival relating to an old man, Jacob, in Genesis 45, how Jacob became revived as he heard the good news as to Joseph his son—“Joseph is still alive”—and saw the waggons that were sent for him. It says, “the spirit of Jacob ... revived”. It is a great thing to know that Jesus is alive; dear young people, seek to have a link with the Man out of death, Jesus. Jacob became energized in his old age. In faith he went to Beer-sheba, and from there he went down to Egypt to Joseph.

On this occasion I am thinking of our young people in this city and the nearby meeting in New Jersey. What led my thoughts in this direction relates to the year 1970, when there was generally a spirit of revival amongst the brethren and besides that we had a fine number of young people with us. Alas, we would have to confess we have lost many. I speak as feeling this matter and having been affected by it. The urge at this time is that we might be helped to hold on to those within our range; we trust the Lord will help us to resuscitate them. I am sure we would agree that help is needed in these difficult days. This section of Scripture should afford us help as to how we can find, so to speak, common ground with the young.

The first scripture read refers to this wealthy woman. It has been said she is morally the widow woman in the earlier part of the chapter who was about to die, and her sons too. She was in debt, but by the help of the prophetic word she was awakened to what was in the house, typically the Spirit. We need to make room for the Spirit in our households and assemblywise. The widow did that, she used the Spirit.

She had said, “Thy handmaid has not anything at all in the house but a pot of oil” (2 Kings 4: 2). The Lord would freshly call our attention to the Spirit. Speaking about helping young people, I do not think it can be effected on natural lines; that too we have tried; but it will not last; their joy will run out.

The Shunammite is referred to as a wealthy woman, and the things we are speaking of require spiritual wealth. This wealthy sister is concerned not just for her own interests, she is considering also for the testimony, and there is need for stimulation with us as to putting the testimony first. It is good when we come to that, so that all our resources are available to the testimony and its furtherance. This woman is exercised as to the man of God and providing conditions where he can be restful. The details as to this small upper chamber are remarkable and I would like to raise the question with myself and with my brethren, is there anything with us that answers to these exercises—that is, not just my own ease and comfort, but is there the desire to provide these local conditions? The furnishings are to be noted—a small upper chamber with walls, a bed, a table, a seat, and a lampstand. We are to note the humble setting, which would bring the matter down to each of us. We can go over the history of this city in which we live, and it is right that we should. Someone came into it at the beginning of this century, a young man, and he moved on this principle, putting the testimony first. This city has been used of God outstandingly, largely the result of one who provided these conditions.

I desire to be affected by this example and would love to be able to give a lead on this line, and I would encourage all to be thinking of the Lord and the testimony in view of the generation to follow.

God gave increase to the household. Elisha says, “at this appointed time, when thy term is come, thou shalt embrace a son”. God delights to bless us, even in our earthly circumstances, but we need to know how to give them back to God in the waters of baptism. So it says the child went out to the reapers with his father—he was at meetings and externally seemed all right, but the day came when he cried, “My head, my head!” His father says, “Carry him to his mother”, suggesting the assembly, for these matters belong to the assembly; but he died at noon. I revert to what was said as to the need of the upper chamber locally. In one’s own experience I recall as a young man households in the locality in which I was where those of us who were younger could turn in at any time with our problems. Older brethren were always available to give counsel. Some of the most intimate matters were taken up in a godly way; there was confidence in the elder ones; they were persons in whom you could confide.

The mother went up and laid the child on the bed of the man of God and shut the door. These matters are to be more on our hearts, the need of life in our young, not just a mental grasp of the truth. God delights in the freshness of youth with us all and is able to do this even in young hearts; there is abundant evidence of this in the Scriptures. Elisha had to go himself to the dead child; his staff in the hands of Gehazi accomplished nothing, reminding us that more than experience is needed. One would not belittle experience; we are thankful for our elders, nevertheless we are to learn from Elisha, how he went up and lay upon the child, his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, his hands upon his hands, and bent over him. We need to get down; I am saying these things to myself, and it has come to one that when the Lord gives a word for the brethren He intends it to affect the one through whom the word comes; as we allow the penetrating character of the word to search us I feel the brethren will get the gain of it; it is sharper than any two-edged sword.

This matter involved a great deal of exercise with Elisha. What a great servant he was! True greatness, as Mr. Darby said, finds expression in being able to go down—showing the need of compression. This reminds me of Saul being let down by the brethren in a basket (Acts 9: 25)—what compression! It says the flesh of the child grew warm, and then the lad sneezed seven times. There is now ample evidence of life; the matter has been completed, as seven would suggest; so he is given to his mother. We are to have what is potential in mind that these lads may become sons.

In the next scripture we have Paul, the Elisha of the New Testament, one with a double portion of the spirit of the ascended Man. It impressed me reading these sections to see the Spirit of Christ finding expression in these men in their descending attitude. Paul shone as one who was able for whatever circumstances the testimony was found in, whether it be in the shipwreck, in prison, or testifying before the authorities. Here he is at Troas, and it says there were many lights in the upper room where they were assembled. This section would bring up the need of sensitivity as to the current state in our gatherings. It is evident that the prolonged discourse was getting at the state locally, so it says there was a certain youth sitting at the window-opening. We have some young ones here with us this morning, and are thankful for their interest. Eutychus might have been brought to the meeting by his parents, but his thoughts were evidently on what was outside. He was overpowered by sleep, and fell from the third storey to the bottom and was taken up dead. I would, like in closing to draw attention to the skill and grace of the servant—“But Paul descending fell upon him, and enfolding him in his arms, said, Be not troubled, for his life is in him”. Here is expressed true fatherly affection in Paul; he discerned that there was something in the boy. So if there be only two legs or a piece of an ear (Amos 3: 12) let us seek the needed grace to hold on to our young. May the Lord encourage us to do so, for His name’s sake.

Address in Brooklyn, N.Y.
25 October 1980