I Kings 17:24

"And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth."

The performin of miracles is found in a man of God. This woman exclaimis this because of the evidence that is placed in front of her, her child was restored. Now remember, Elijah is in hiding, he is being protected from Ahab as the duration of the drought continues. God is allowing for time to take its toll on the Israelites because of the sin of Jeroboam and the sin of Ahab. And while this time is going forth, the Lord has provided for Elijah by the brook and with this widow woman. Two characteristics is noted here: Now by this I know that thou art a man of God - word study, to know; She knew by the power of God demonstrated right before her eyes. Is there evidence around us of this power? the church is weak, the ministers are weak and the power is lacking. Sharing of answered prayers is almost a grief to me, because the way people perceive the testimony. They do not give glory to God, but they look with skepticism and unbelief. This woman bases everything of her perception about Elijah on this one event. I fear too many are of the same mindset. When they get what they want then they will believe God. And if they don't get it then they excuse themselves to say, "There is no God", simiply because they didn't get their selfsih desires. There is evidence within the people of God, God does answer prayer, God does show Himself mighty for His people. The man of God should be leading in this. But this is all based on his walk with the Lord. If he has no walk, he has no power. If he is in sin, the Lord will not hear him. The power in a man or the church is shut off for one reason, sin dwells within. Remove the sin, ask for the power to return, for the glory of God. 2. And that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth - not the word of man, but the word of the Lord is truth; The two get interchanged and mixed up quite often. We become reliant on tradition and vani repetitions of what the Lord has said and what He is saying. For example, I know many people that can recite the Lord's prayer, for they do so in many church servcies every Sunday. They have learned it, they can recite it, but the meaning and practise of it, they do not do, it is a vani repetition. This is the sin of 'saying prayer', they recite what they always recite and never speak in truth. For how can we ask the Lord to forgive us our sins, when we know there is sin toward someone else and we know that we must make right with them first? We don't, we go ahead and ask for forgiveness and ease our conscience because we 'said' our prayers. But this is not truth, for truth is secured and based upon one's thoughts and intents of the heart. Elijah spoke and the child was raised, that is power in speech. At least, this womoan recognized it as the 'word of the Lord'. Too many in churches know not the word of the Lord. They don't read their Bibles and they don't apply the truths found therin to everyday life. Jesus declared 'the truth shall set you free'. PErhaps, the reason so many are still bound is the truth is not know nor accepted.