AXE HEAD
2 Kings 6: The Axe Head Recovered
1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us.
2 "Please let us go to the Jordan and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live." So he said, "Go."
3 Then one said, "Please be willing to go with your servants." And he answered, "I shall go."
4 So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed."
6 Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float.
7 He said, "Take it up for yourself." So he put out his hand and took it.
INTRODUCTION:
1) BUILDING A BIGGER PLACE
2) JUST A BEAM:
3) LEARN TO ENDURE INCONVENIENCE AND DISCOMFORT:
4) HAVE A SUPERVISOR OR MENTOR
5) SATAN WANTS THE HEAD: AXE HEAD
6) OPPOSITION/ATTACKS WILL COME TO STOP YOUR WORK IN MANY FORMS:
7) Y0U HAVE A MIRACLE WORKING GOD WITH YOU
8) Made the iron float!
1) BUILDING A BIGGER PLACE !
2 Kings 6:1"And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us."
WHENEVER YOU ARE BUILDING A BIGGER PLACE, THE DEVIL WILL ATTACK YOU. BUILDERS ARE ATTACKED.
MOREOVER THIS IS SCHOOL OF PROPHETS SO THE DEVIL WILL NEVER BE QUIET, HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING TO DISTURB, DISRUPT AND DESTROY.
DEVIL HATES EXPANSION OF GOD’S KINGDOM, HE WANTS DESTRUCTION.
WHEN YOU DO GREAT THINGS FOR GOD, YOU MAY NOT GET HELP FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSING YOUR WORK, SO THAT MEANS IT IS MORE TOUGH. YOU MAY NOT GET HELP AT ALL . It was a time that King Joram also called Jehoram, second son of Ahab, was king, and Jezebel ruled too, so you can imagine the persecution that they would have gone through.
2) JUST A BEAM:
Their expectation was not about a BIG building but just a small place to run the school, that’s it. Each one of them took a BEAM. Imagine!
Our eyes should be on the work of the Lord and not on anything else.
3) LEARN TO ENDURE INCONVENIENCE AND DISCOMFORT:
Though they were surrounded by such hostility, they still persevered to study, learn, be close to prophet Elisha though he did not even have a proper Bible college because they knew his value. Don’t look for comfort, convenience and ease, do whatever it takes to be close to God. Attending night zoom prayer is very tough but the spiritual harvest you get is enormous.
The axe they used also was borrowed, no funds, no extra workers also, they had no masons to help them, they got to do it themselves. Yes, even if none come to help in the church work, choir or other areas, we got to move on and fulfill the purpose of God in our live. Many pastors are working without any help, people do not know the suffering they go through behind the pulpit; nevertheless, they will be rewarded by God.
Rev. Billy Graham celebrated his 95th birthday on November 8, 2013! This man of God has been special for me because of his amazing life! He got saved at the age of 16, went to study Bible college at the age of 18, preached his first sermon while still in Bible college, besides this, he preached minimum 8 sermons on a single Sunday regularly. Phew! He preached in a big crusade in 1944 for 21 weeks at the age of 26; after marriage, he left his wife behind with her dad and mom and went on to travel many countries to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is hard work! Are you listening?
We give umpteen silly, lame excuses for not being able to attend church or prayer meetings; but today I am talking about jumping on fire for God. Nothing can stop you if you love Him madly! When we were having fasting prayer meetings, some people would travel from far distances to attend our meetings, my heart would ache to feed the crowd. Arranging food caterers each time was an expensive affair, I decided to cook myself. I actually had to travel to a different city with all the equipment necessary for the meeting and at the same time cook on the day I arrive. People at home felt it would be a tedious job for me; yet, I endeavored to do it. On an average, every month I would cook full meals (rice, curry, vegetable and sweet) for more than 75 people, after cooking, I would walk up to the pulpit to preach. Little did I realize that God was preparing the ground in my life to feed huge poor kids in Hyderabad! Today, be it prayer meetings at our church, cooking meals at our School or any function - I am well trained.
4) HAVE A SUPERVISOR OR MENTOR
"And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go."
Not only did the prophets seek out the permission of Elisha to build this house, but they also desired the presence of man of God with them. Always have a good mentor by your side and constantly ask for advice.
5) SATAN WANTS THE HEAD: AXE HEAD
The devil is not interested in the tail but he wants the head! I am speaking to someone out there! If only the evil forces can touch your brain and mind and get you addicted to porn, movies, sports, money, fame, luxury and what not; then he has got you half into his pocket. He then gets your eyes roving over unhealthy, unclean stuff, gets your entire body defiled and thereby stuffs you little more deeper into his pocket. Thus, your eyes, ears, mouth are used for destructive purposes other than glorifying God and eventually your entire head has become a rotten mess: think bad, see bad, hear bad and talk bad, now, having given your head to the devil, you have been trapped into his pit. You fall because of your unfettered desires! Listen carefully today! The devil is out to attack the roots, smother the growth and destroy. If you are a new convert into Christianity, be sure, you would be targeted, if you are in any way connected with serving the Lord, you got to expect attack; it is bound to happen, I say this not to scare you but warn you. Attack may come in the form of temptations, problems, hindrances and much more.
Herod had married his brother’s wife and John the Baptist strictly pointed out to Herod: "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." There is no palpitation over adultery today; after all, adultery is normative according to most media standards. Enraged over this blatant preaching and seething with anger Herodias was waiting for the right time to kill John the Baptist. The devil was obviously looking for a weak moment! On Herod’s birthday when his heart was merry with drinks and the beautiful dance of Herodias daughter, he blabbers, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.’ Herod had gone crazy! The devil acted quickly! I repeat quickly – unlike lazy Christians who procrastinate! Quickly she instigates her daughter to ask, “give me the head of John the Baptist!’
Now you see! The devil is interested in the ‘head of the church’ and none other. He would want to sever the head and abandon the body of Christ! The modus operandi is to get the pastor into sin and ruin his relationship with Christ. Do you get it friends? The devil is all out to attack the youth leader, the prayer-cell leader and all those who are leaders. Beware!
Spiritual inertia and recklessness has been cause for Christians being easy prey like bananas for the devil. The Bible says, Herod admired John the Baptist and feared him too; but alas he did not put them into vogue in his life. That is no good at all! Some of you may like my devotions, but that is vain until you start living out every scripture in the Bible.
“I am head over heels’ in love with my girl says a man who hardly knows the girl, be warned, she would turn you topsy-turvy one day! Take care of your head!
Deuteronomy 28:13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.”
6) OPPOSITION/ATTACKS WILL COME TO STOP YOUR WORK IN MANY FORMS:
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed."
Just watch how cleverly the devil planned to remove the axe head so that they are unable to continue. WORK STOPPED. Party in heaven. It went deep into the water, that’s what the devil does sometimes takes the HEAD deep into sin, so that they are unable to think and work for God. However, since the prophet of God Elisha was with them, God did a miracle and made the axe head float on water. Amen.
7) Made the iron float!
2 King 6:6”…..he (Prophet Elisha) cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float.”
The stick did not make the iron float, the connection between Elisha and God made the iron float! There is no magical power in the stick but certainly there was spiritual power in Elisha that drew the iron to the surface of the water and the anointing of God that made the iron float. Glory to Jesus! Nothing is impossible with God! Amen. How do you feel today? Stuck deep in the water like the iron? Fear not, His Hands can reach you into the deepest pit and the worst rut and bail you out! Fire would burn the dross and cleanse you to be His child! We need Elishas’ to rescue people stuck in hopeless pits.
My helper who worked for me for 14 years was from a hindu background, who got saved through our ministry. She was a dedicated girl who became part of our family, the real crisis came when we had to get her married! We had to face battles from her own parents, we had to struggle to find the right partner and much more. We fasted and prayed ceaselessly for her, God unraveled a miracle for this wonderful girl who stood with us in our most difficult situations, a young boy from our own ministry circle came forward to marry her – around ten pastors attended the marriage in the same hall where we conducted our revival meetings and blessed her. Yes, God can make the iron float!
