WE CAN’T MOVE AHEAD WITHOUT THE AXEHEAD

WE CAN’T MOVE AHEAD WITHOUT THE AXEHEAD 2 KINGS 6:1-7

IT IS THE POWER THAT MADE THE EARLY CHURCH – THE CHURCH! • THEY SAW THE NEED FOR GROWTH • WHERE YOU ARE AT IS TOO SMALL • YOU AND I NEED TO GROW – IN GOD

LESSON 1 WORK COMES TO A HALT WITHOUT THE AXE HEAD

IF WE THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD ARE GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS HOUR, IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN JUST COMING TO CHURCH. IT IS GOING TO TAKE THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST!

IT IS NOT MORE EDUCATION, BETTER ORGANIZATION, FINER EQUIPMENT OR ADVANCE METHODS – ALL OF THESE ARE GOOD IN THEIR PLACE – BUT IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES LIFE PSALMS 62:11 POWER BELONGS TO GOD

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY A HOLY GHOST CONGREGATION SINGS, PRAYS, WORKS, WORSHIPS & EVANGELIZES • NOT EVERY CHURCH IS A HOLY GHOST CHURCH

ITS LIKE THE CAN OF PEACHES ON THE SHELF, THAT LABEL DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING UNLESS YOU FIND PEACHES IN THE CAN WHEN YOU OPEN IT • WHEN A CHURCH LOSES THE TOUCH OF GOD, IT CEASES TO BE THE CHURCH, IT BECOMES JUST A CHURCH

THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE TRUE CHURCH ORDINARY CHURCH A CHURCH IS WORKING FOR SELF – GOD’S WORK HAS STOPPED A CHURCH HAS NO EXCITEMENT, IT HAS RITUAL A CHURCH HASN’T SEEN A SOUL SAVED IN YEARS • THE CHURCH IS WORKING FOR GOD B. THE CHURCH IS FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT ABOUT GOD C. THE CHURCH IS SEEING SOULS SAVED

CONT…. TRUE CHURCH ORDINARY CHURCH A CHURCH IS EXPERINCING STRIFE AND CONTENTION A CHURCH IS IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD F. A CHURCH CAN’T EVEN GET ITS MEMBERS TO RETURN • THE CHURCH IS EXPERIENCING THE POWER OF GOD • THE CHURCH IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE IN LOVE WITH JESUS • THE CHURCH IS LOOKING FOR JESUS RETURN

IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME WE NEED A CHURCH THAT IS PRODUCING MIRACLES – IT IS THIS DAY

WHEN WILL ALL THE UNGODLYNESS STOP – IT WON’T! WHY? BECAUSE THE CHURCH HAS STOPPED!!!

SHE HAS LOST SOMETHING –THE TOUCH OF GOD!!! THE YOUNG MAN GOES TO ELISHA & SAY ALAS MASTER! (SENCE THE URGENCY) --- WHY? IT WAS BORROWED! – IT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO HIM TO USE, SO HE COULD COMPLETE THE WORK

LESSON 2 THE AXE WAS GIVEN FOR A PURPOSE • WHAT IS BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT CANNOT BE FULFILLED BY THE FLESH! • THE MAN WOULD HAVE LOOKED MIGHTY SILLY OUT THERE CHOPPING ON A TREE WITHOUT THE AXEHEAD

MANY A CHURCH IS WASTING THEIR TIME TRYING TO FUNCTION WITHOUT THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT • WE ARE THE HANDLE, CHRIST IS THE HEAD!!!

WITHOUT THE HEAD WE ARE HOPELESS, BUT REMEMBER IT IS THE HEAD THAT IS TO TELL THE BODY WHAT TO DO & NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. • IF THE CHURCH TAKES ON THE MIND OF CHRIST, IT WILL START ACTING, WORKING, THINKING AS THE ONE WHOSE MIND THEY HAVE

IF WE ARE GOING TO CLAIM TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST THEN CHRIST HAD BETTER BE SEEN IN THIS BODY!!!!

ELISHA ASKED HIM “WHERE DID IT FALL?” • MANY ARE NOT WHAT THEY ONCE WERE IN GOD. MANY CHURCHES ARE NOT WHERE THEY USED TO BE

IF WE ARE GOING TO RETURN, AND BECOME WHAT WE ONCE WERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO 2 THINGS: • ADMIT WE HAVE LOST SOMETHING • GO BACK TO WHERE WE LOST IT

THE AXEHEAD WAS LOST BY NOT PAYING ATTENTION • NOTICE THE PROPHET MADE HIM TAKE HIM, TO WHERE HE LOST IT • ELISHA CUT A LIVING BRANCH FROM A TREE (WHY NOT A DEAD STICK?) ONLY ONE WITH LIFE WILL SEE THE SUPERNATURAL

LESSON 3YOU MUST REACH FOR IT ONCE RECOVERED, THE WORK COULD BE COMPLETED THE JOB COULD BE FINISHED SOME 500 WERE PRESENT BUT ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST ONLY 120 WERE PRESENT. WHY? YOUR SACRIFICE WILL NEVER GO UNNOTICED

EVERYTHING WE WOULD EVER NEED IN LIFE IS PROVIDED FOR US THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT HOW HUNGRY ARE YOU AFTER GOD AND ALL THAT HE HAS FOR YOU? PSALM 107:9 LETS FINISH THE WORK!

I CHALLENGE YOU TO ASK THE LORD TO EMPOWER YOU ONCE AGAIN • WE NEED HIS PRESENCE EVERY DAY • WE NEED HIS PROVISION EVERY DAY • WE NEED HIS POWER EVERY DAY

THE DISCIPLES TURNED THEIR WORLD ‘RIGHT SIDE UP’.

WE CAN’T MOVE AHEAD WITHOUT THE AXEHEAD