Many people ask, “What makes ENLACE different?” While there may be a variety of unique qualities about ENLACE’s methodology and approach, I think a more pertinent question might be “what makes the difference in ENLACE’s ministry?” Every Monday morning at the ENLACE office in San Salvador all of the staff and volunteers come together for a time of prayer followed by a devotional reflection. In January, ENLACE director, Ron Bueno, started the year with a series of devotionals entitled “La Diferencia” or “The Difference.” Over the next few months we’d like to share some of these devotionals with you as Ron explains “La Diferencia” for ENLACE.
David McGee, Director of Communications
Part 2: God's Spirit in Us
In 2 Kings 4:8-37, we read an amazing story about how the prophet Elisha resurrected a young boy. The story is all the more interesting because the boy had been a gift from God to a generous and kind Shunammite woman. The story tells us that a well-to-do woman invited Elisha to stay for a meal during his travels to and from Shunem. She eventually added on a room to her house for him to stay during his visits. Elisha, out of gratitude, and not upon the request of the barren woman, promised her a son.
The son was born and grew. One day he was working in the fields with his father and complained of a headache. They took the boy home to his mother where he soon died. The mother immediately went to visit Elisha. She told Elisha the news of the boy’s death. Elisha sent his servant, Gehazi, with his staff ahead of them to resurrect the boy. Gehazi placed Elisha’s staff on the boy’s face as he was instructed but nothing happened. Gehazi returned to Elisha to tell him that the boy was still dead.
Elisha then went to the boy himself. The boy was lying dead on his couch. Elisha closed the door and began to pray to the Lord. Then, he got on the bed and stretched his entire body over the boy’s body so that his mouth, eyes, hands were over the boy’s. Incredibly, after a couple of times of lying on the boy’s body and praying, the boy opened his eyes. While this is a breathtaking story, I find myself wondering what made the difference between the actions of Elisha and Gehazi? Why did God answer Elisha’s prayers and not Gehazi’s obedience?
The first and most important part of the answer to this question is that God is sovereign. He heals when He wills it. Second, I think that there is another important answer to these questions which is embedded in the life of Elisha. I believe that God did not answer through the staff used by Gehazi because the staff was merely an object. Even if Elisha had ordered Gehazi to place his staff on the boy’s face it was not the same thing as Elisha being there himself.
I believe that there are two very important applications to this story for our lives and ministries. First and foremost, Elisha lived in the fullness of the Spirit of God. Elisha’s primary desire was to have a double portion of the Spirit of God in his life (2 Kings 2:9). He also gave himself to the call of God on his life (1 Kings 19:20-21), lived in complete integrity (2 Kings 5:15-16) and in the authority of God (2 Kings 3:16-17). Elisha made the difference because God’s Spirit was in him. Likewise, Jesus promises us his Spirit (Luke 24:49) to transform our lives (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:9) and empower us to fulfill God’s purposes (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4; Ephesians 3:16).
The second application, which stems directly from the first, is that we cannot replace our lives in Christ with any formula, model or ritual. Our lives and ministries depend upon us desiring more than anything in our lives to be in the presence of God and letting God’s Spirit transform and empower us for ministry. We must remember, ministry that makes a difference is only realized through the Spirit of God resting and moving in us, not in the tasks, strategies and programs—no matter how proven they might be. The difference in our lives and ministries is that God’s Spirit is within us.
