The Miracle of The Miracle of Working God’s WayWorking God’s Way

James A. CressJames A. Cress

Just a kid’s story?Just a kid’s story?

11 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us."is too small for us."

22 "Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let "Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." So make there a place where we may dwell." So he answered, "Go."he answered, "Go."

33 Then one said, "Please consent to go with Then one said, "Please consent to go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go." your servants." And he answered, "I will go."

44 So he went with them. And when they came So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. to the Jordan, they cut down trees.

Just a kid’s story?Just a kid’s story?

55 But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed." and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed."

66 So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And he showed him the place. So he cut off a And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. iron float.

77 Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself." So Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself." So he reached out his hand and took it. he reached out his hand and took it.

-- 2 Kings 6:1-7-- 2 Kings 6:1-7

What a story!What a story!

Bible story of “the ax head which Bible story of “the ax head which swam.”swam.”

Elisha rescued an embarrassed student Elisha rescued an embarrassed student who had borrowed/lost a valuable tool. who had borrowed/lost a valuable tool.

As a kid, proudly possessing a genuine As a kid, proudly possessing a genuine “Davey Crockett Tomahawk,” I easily “Davey Crockett Tomahawk,” I easily envisioned a hatchet which sprouted envisioned a hatchet which sprouted arms and fins as it propelled its way to arms and fins as it propelled its way to the river’s shore.the river’s shore.

More than a storyMore than a story

Why this curious story in Scripture?Why this curious story in Scripture?

What’s the story behind the story?What’s the story behind the story?

Leadership principles of how to move Leadership principles of how to move any project forward.any project forward.

7 short verses . . . 9 leadership secrets7 short verses . . . 9 leadership secrets

Define your needDefine your need

And the sons of the prophets said to And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha “See now, the place where we Elisha “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.”dwell with you is too small for us.” (verse 1)(verse 1)

Expansion – this place is too smallExpansion – this place is too smallNo situational analysis = paralysisNo situational analysis = paralysisCannot go forward if you don’t know Cannot go forward if you don’t know

where you start fromwhere you start from

Design your planDesign your plan

Please let us go to the Jordan, and let Please let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where and let us make there a place where we may dwell, we may dwell, (verse 2a).(verse 2a).

Specifics – new location, new placeSpecifics – new location, new placeAll involved – “let us”All involved – “let us”Details – each man a beamDetails – each man a beam

Defer to God’s willDefer to God’s will

So he answered, “Go.” So he answered, “Go.” (verse 2b).(verse 2b).

Make your plans, asking God to help.Make your plans, asking God to help.Await God’s permissionAwait God’s permission““Go” = God endorsedGo” = God endorsed

Determine your supportDetermine your support

Then one said, “Please consent to go Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” answered, “I will go.” (verse 3).(verse 3).

Recruit your team.Recruit your team.Followers request leader to participate.Followers request leader to participate.Advance stronger together than Advance stronger together than

individually.individually.Don’t go it alone.Don’t go it alone.

Direct your actionDirect your action

So he went and when they came to the So he went and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. Jordan, they cut down trees. (verse 4).(verse 4).

Once you’ve met the conditions for success Once you’ve met the conditions for success – DO SOMETHING!– DO SOMETHING!

God’s people had been at Jordan before – God’s people had been at Jordan before – set up camp and waited. God intervened. set up camp and waited. God intervened. “Get these people across this river Jordan.”“Get these people across this river Jordan.”

Go to work. Nothing happens by dreams Go to work. Nothing happens by dreams alone. alone.

Describe your traumaDescribe your trauma

But as one was cutting down a tree, But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out and said, “Alas, and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.” master! For it was borrowed.” (verse (verse 5).5).Trauma, not lost tool. “It was borrowed”Trauma, not lost tool. “It was borrowed”Even God-endorsed plan doesn’t eliminate Even God-endorsed plan doesn’t eliminate

trauma. Trauma is not tragedy. trauma. Trauma is not tragedy. Even tragedy can lead to triumph. Darkest Even tragedy can lead to triumph. Darkest

just before dawn.just before dawn.

Delight in your miracleDelight in your miracle

So the man of God said, “Where did it So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. fall?” And he showed him the place. So he made the iron float. So he made the iron float. (verse 6).(verse 6).When you have done your best – allow When you have done your best – allow

God to settle the rest. If God is with us – God to settle the rest. If God is with us – more than they who are against us!more than they who are against us!

Miracle: iron swims? Young man = Miracle: iron swims? Young man = miracle!miracle!

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.rejoice and be glad in it.  

Designate your Designate your responsibilityresponsibility

Therefore he said, “Pick it up for Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” yourself.” (verse 7a).(verse 7a).Appropriate response to God’s miracle? Appropriate response to God’s miracle? Do what you can do. Do what you can do. Pick it up for yourself. Don’t wait for it to Pick it up for yourself. Don’t wait for it to

jump onto shore. jump onto shore. The miracle is the iron floats, not that it The miracle is the iron floats, not that it

crawled up onto the river bank and crawled up onto the river bank and jumped into your pocket.jumped into your pocket.

Decide to obeyDecide to obey

So he reached out his hand and took So he reached out his hand and took it. it. (verse 7b).(verse 7b).

Take it and claim it. Take it and claim it. Choose to obey. Choose to obey. Appropriate consequence of miracle = Appropriate consequence of miracle =

faithfully following in obedience.faithfully following in obedience.

End of the Story?End of the Story?

Just the beginning . . .Just the beginning . . .

How you choose to work!How you choose to work!

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