A Good Father With Many Good Sons Series

A GOOD FATHER WITH MANY GOOD SONS

2 Kings 6:1-7

(by Herman Abrahams)

Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries,

P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.

E-Mail: hermanabrahams@yahoo.com

Note to the reader:

If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God for the fact that all over the globe, the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God.

Thank you.

Herman Abrahams,

Cape Town, South Africa.

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Acknowledgement:

This study was compiled after I listened to Pastor Zakes Kumalo preach on the passage in question in Durban, South Africa in September 2005. I am therefore indebted to my Brother Zakes for this compilation; I’ve used some of his points in this message. I pray you will be blessed by it.

2 Kings 6:1-7

An Axhead Floats

2Ki 6:1 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2Ki 6:2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live.” And he said, “Go.” 2Ki 6:3 Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. 2Ki 6:4 And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. 2Ki 6:5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh, my lord,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!” 2Ki 6:6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.

2Ki 6:7 “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.

1. A Good Son Will Want To Be In His Father’s

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Company

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Vs.1 “where we meet with you”

A good son will want to meet with his daddy – be near him, spend time with him – for instruction, impartation, counselling, prayer, etc.

Mk 3:14 ‘He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach’.

The prodigal (Luke 15:11-32) left home too soon from under the guidance, training & instruction of his daddy – see under 2 below.

2. A Good Son Is Observant & Proposes That Which

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Is Good For The Kingdom Of God.

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Vs.1 “the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2Ki 6:2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live.”

A good son will observe things and propose that which is good for the Kingdom of God and for the benefit of each other in the Body of Christ. As an example, assume the above comment (vs.1) in the light of a New Testament church:

• A good son will observe an opportunity for church planting. There may be many capable leaders in one local church – “the place… is too small for us”. A new church plant will make room for more gift ministries to be exercised.

• A good son will suggest a church-planting venture and identify a suitable site[s] (“Let us go to the Jordan”);

• A good son will, in his observation, make an unselfish suggestion – “where each of us can get a pole” – in other words, each of us will have enough ministry opportunities; we won’t be in each other’s way!

The prodigal had a selfish approach to life:

• He observed only that which was to his immediate personal advantage – “give me my share of the estate” (NIV Luke 15:12). The Message Bible says: ’Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’

• He was not concerned about the effect of his actions on his daddy’s household and the rest of his family.

3. A Good Son Will Propose And Do That Which

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Blesses His Father and illicit a positive response

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from his father.

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2Ki 6:2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; … ‘And he said, “Go.”

Vs.3 Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied.’

• The suggestion of the company of prophets (Elisha’s “servants”, his sons) pleased their daddy so much that he immediately gave then the right-away – “go”.

• Similarly, when his sons asked him to accompany them, Elisha’s immediate response was “I will”.