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Underwater. November 1, 2009. Pastor Jim Critcher. 2Kings 6:1-7
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Underwater November 1, 2009 Pastor 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 God’s enlarging 2) Our maturity
… his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” Underwater
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”.
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 Problem See the Promise/Purpose/Plan See the Provision (pre-emptively)
Urging positivity is not just beside the point when our circumstances are rotten, it’s also dangerously distracting.
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 Perception Seeing the problem Seeing the promise Seeing the provision Preparation Participation
Underwater November 1, 2009 Pastor Jim Critcher