Resurrection Power: Drawing Near to God

When we gather together, something powerful happens in the presence of God. Many of us come in feeling defeated, worn out by the battles of the week, but God meets us here and breathes new hope and life into us. This is the beauty of proximity—drawing near to God and to one another. Even when we feel spiritually dry or as if our faith is buried under disappointment and frustration, God’s power is never out of reach. The story from 2 Kings 13:21, where a dead man comes back to life simply by touching the bones of Elisha, reminds us that God’s power outlasts any vessel and is never buried, no matter how hopeless things may seem.

God’s promises and His power are irrevocable. No matter how long we’ve felt disconnected or how deep our sense of loss, one touch from God can turn everything around. Just as the woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus and was healed, our proximity to God’s presence brings resurrection to dead places in our lives. The closer we draw to Him, the more we experience His goodness, favor, and love. What we draw near to will influence us—either building us up or breaking us down. That’s why it’s so important to be intentional about what and who we allow into our lives.

God’s desire is for us to be fully alive, not half-hearted or lukewarm. He is jealous for all of us, not just our Sunday mornings or spare moments. Like bumper cars that only move when connected to the power source, we need to stay plugged into God to truly live out our purpose. God is looking for willing vessels—people who will say, “Use me, Lord,” regardless of their past or perceived limitations. He can take our messes and make them beautiful, breathing life into dreams, gifts, and hopes we may have buried out of pain or disappointment.

It’s never too late to let God resurrect what’s been buried. Today is an invitation to dig up those dreams, talents, and hopes, and allow God to restore and use them for His glory. All it takes is a willingness to say yes, to draw near, and to trust that His power is more than enough to bring life where there was once only death.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Power Is Never Buried No matter how dry, disconnected, or hopeless a season may feel, God’s power is not limited by our circumstances or even by time. His power outlasts every vessel and situation, remaining available and active for those who seek Him. Even when we feel like we’ve lost the battle, one touch from God can revive what seems dead. [05:36]
• 2. Proximity to God Brings Resurrection Drawing near to God is not just a religious exercise—it is the very thing that brings dead places in our lives back to life. Like the woman who pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus, or the man revived by Elisha’s bones, it is our closeness to God that determines the magnitude of transformation we experience. The more we focus on Him, the more the distractions and disappointments of life fade into the background. [11:13]
• 3. What We Draw Near To Shapes Us The influences we allow into our lives—whether people, media, or habits—will either build us up or break us down. God calls us to be intentional about our proximity, seeking out community and relationships that encourage, challenge, and hold us accountable. Revival and transformation begin when we privately and collectively press into God, bringing our hunger and desire together. [18:15]
• 4. God Wants Us Fully Alive and Engaged God is not satisfied with half-hearted devotion; He desires all of us. Like bumper cars that only move when connected to the power source, we are called to stay plugged into God, allowing His life to flow through us. Our willingness to be used by God, despite our weaknesses or past failures, is what positions us for His power to work in and through us. [25:10]
• 5. It’s Never Too Late for Restoration No matter what we’ve buried—be it dreams, talents, or hope—God is the King of restoration. He invites us to risk vulnerability, to dig up what we’ve hidden, and to trust Him to breathe new life into it. The reward of surrendering to God’s touch always outweighs the cost, and He delights in making something beautiful out of our messes. [37:24]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:08] - Lighthearted Beginnings & Introductions
• [02:55] - Setting the Scene: 2 Kings 13:21
• [05:36] - God’s Power Is Never Buried
• [08:13] - The Importance of Community and “Jumper Buddies”
• [09:19] - God’s Power Outlasts the Vessel
• [10:10] - One Touch Can Change Everything
• [11:13] - Proximity to God Brings Resurrection
• [16:14] - The Power of Gathering Together
• [17:05] - What You Draw Near To Influences You
• [18:15] - Guarding Your Circles and Pursuing Revival
• [24:28] - Staying Connected to the Power Source
• [25:10] - God Uses Willing Vessels
• [27:53] - Testimonies of Restoration and Influence
• [30:06] - God’s Desire: More Than Past Miracles
• [34:38] - It’s Never Too Late: Invitation to Restoration
• [36:27] - Digging Up Buried Dreams
• [37:24] - The King of Restoration
• [38:30] - Responding to God’s Invitation

Bible Reading

2 Kings 13:21 (ESV) — > And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Mark 5:25-29 (ESV) — > And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

Ephesians 5:14 (ESV) — > For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Observation Questions

1. In 2 Kings 13:21, what happened when the dead man touched Elisha’s bones? What does this say about God’s power and its connection to people or objects? ([02:55])
2. In Mark 5:25-29, what did the woman believe would happen if she could just touch Jesus? What was the result? ([11:13])
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of “proximity” to God? How does the preacher describe what happens when people gather together in God’s presence? ([16:14])
4. What does Ephesians 5:14 call us to do, and how does the preacher connect this to being “plugged in” to God? ([25:10])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chose to demonstrate His power through Elisha’s bones, even after Elisha was dead? What does this reveal about the nature of God’s power and promises? ([05:36])
2. The woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus. What does her determination and faith teach us about seeking God, especially in times of disappointment or spiritual dryness? ([11:13])
3. The sermon says, “What you draw near to influences you.” How does this principle play out in your spiritual life, and why is it important to be intentional about your influences? ([17:05])
4. The preacher uses the analogy of bumper cars needing to be connected to a power source. What does this say about our relationship with God and our ability to live out our purpose? ([24:28])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talks about coming in “defeated” but leaving “with new hope and new fire” because of God’s presence. When was the last time you experienced God reviving you in a dry or difficult season? What did that look like for you? ([16:14])
2. Is there an area of your life—maybe a dream, a gift, or a hope—that you feel has been “buried” because of disappointment or pain? What would it look like to let God resurrect that area? ([36:27])
3. The preacher says, “What you draw near to will influence you—either building you up or breaking you down.” Are there influences (people, media, habits) in your life that you need to draw closer to or distance yourself from? What’s one step you can take this week? ([18:15])
4. God wants us “fully alive, not half-hearted or lukewarm.” Are there areas where you’ve been giving God only your “spare moments” instead of your whole heart? What’s one practical way you can give God more of yourself this week? ([24:28])
5. The sermon says, “God is looking for willing vessels—people who will say, ‘Use me, Lord,’ regardless of their past or perceived limitations.” What holds you back from saying “yes” to God’s call? How can you take a step of willingness this week? ([25:10])
6. The preacher shares about “digging up buried dreams, talents, and hopes.” Is there something you sense God inviting you to “dig up” and offer back to Him? How can the group support you in this? ([36:27])
7. The reward of surrendering to God’s touch “always outweighs the cost.” What is one area where you need to risk vulnerability and trust God for restoration? ([37:24])