Underwater

November 1, 2009Pastor Jim Critcher

2Kings 6:1-7 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.

Recognizing (our) smallness is often the genesis of 1) God’s enlarging 2) Our maturity

Go!

... of them …

But as one was felling a log …

… his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.”

Underwater

WHEN he showed him the place …

And he said, “Take it up (for yourself).”

So he reached out his hand and took it.

He had to REACH IN and violate natural laws of gravity. Miracle only completed once he had participated/cooperated with it.

God is calling many of us from a passive role of “reaching out or reaching up” to a more active posture of “reaching in”.

We start out with things being placed in our hands.

As we mature, we learn to take hold of those things around us.

Manna.

Manna defined …

• PERCEPTION

• PREPARATION

• PARTICIPATION

Perception

We must begin to see differently.

Perception

Power “if you see me” (2Kings 2:10)

Warfare (2Kings 6:17-18) Fellowship (1Corinthians 13:12)

PERCEPTION

See the ProblemSee the Promise/Purpose/PlanSee the Provision (pre-emptively)

Urging positivity is not just beside the point when our circumstances are rotten, it’s also dangerously distracting.

Seeing the Promise

Genesis 31

10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.

The threefold cord of Biblical faith …rightly “seeing” the problem, the promise,

the provision

Preparation 2Kings 4:1-

7

Participation of Obedience

Our obedience has to be first motivated from relationship (John 14:23, 15:10; 1John 5:3), not just a met requirement for our blessing or acquisition (Deuteronomy 28).

John 5“pick up your mat”

One thing …Mark 10:17-21

REVIEW“Reaching in” for your miracle

PerceptionSeeing the problemSeeing the promiseSeeing the provision

Preparation

Participation

Underwater

November 1, 2009Pastor Jim Critcher