Hard Work Precedes Miracles

[2Ki 6:1-7 KJV] 1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. 3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. 4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast [it] in thither; and the iron did swim. 7 Therefore said he, Take [it] up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

Introduction

Often when you are told something by God or given something by Him, it is not in the form you expected. All the plants you see in the world start in seed form. We understand this in nature, but fail to understand it in life. You were once a seed. You were planted. From an unexpected occurrence of conception, gestation, labor, and delivery, you came into the world fully equipped, but immature. Growth is what occurs when potential meets expectation, maturity, and time.

As we look at this passage, Elisha has a school of prophets. Our understanding of school has us of a mind that these prophets were learning how to prophesy. If we feel, know, or seek to operate in the gift or office of prophecy, it is wise to look at prophetic people of the Bible. Their discourse, their calling, their heartache, their books, and, yes, their training.

From the very definition of prophet (Hebrew nabi or navi), we would think that these students would be in classes learning to be spokesman, speakers, or statesman. We view the school as one for diplomats. Our Biblical imagination leads us to believe that these prophetic gifts were learning how to deliver a word, how to interpret dreams, and how to hear God more clearly. The truth is that they were, but would have to learn God’s voice not in the comforts of a classroom, but in the rugged realities of life itself.

This brings us to Elisha and the sons of the prophets in 2 Kings 6:1-7. We learn principles that if we seek to grow in any course of ministry, we are wise to take heed and understand.

1) You cannot grow by talent, calling, and gifts alone

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.

• Understand when it is time to grow

When in a strait – a tight, closed in, narrow place

When you are being contained and not cultivated

• Be prepared to work toward the growth you need

  Things get tight and uncomfortable to provoke you for better

Growth is obvious when what you are in constricts your needs

If it doesn’t fulfill your need, it is a seed

2) Everyone has a part to play in corporate growth

2 Kings 6:2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.

• Identify your beam

Beam – qowrah; a rafter; part of the structure of the roof

Indication that the foundation was sure and ready

There was a need to work on what covered their head

A foundation is set, but your mind must now be furnished

Everyone’s contribution is needed for this transition

• Jordan is associated with transition

  Transition of leadership

Transition of thinking

Transition to purpose

Transitioning beyond current abilities or limits

• The sons of the prophets under Elisha had a beam in mind when the prophet spoke of building

You may already see where your place is in this part of the transition

• Vision should undergird vision

Every beam (vision; structuring element(s)) was for the bigger purpose of the new place

3) Good leadership builds alongside and with you

2 Kings 6:3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

• Be teachable

• Ask for help with building

• Be ready to build quickly when answers come

4) Beams (vision) start out as raw materials

2 Kings 6:4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

• Raw materials require work

• Before you get to the work we can see; there is work to do behind the scenes

• Don’t just see a tree, see a potential beam

Discouragement and discouraging things can occur when working hard

2Ki 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

• Your hard work often goes unappreciated, unrewarded, and unnoticed

• When problems occur, you officially enter the school for your gift or office

• It is okay to cry out for help, because it is dividing line between where your hardwork meets miracles.

6) God’s school includes life tests

2Ki 6:6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast [it] in thither; and the iron did swim.

• Expect tests that grow you when it is time for transition

• Loss is a common denominator for growth

• Remember places that you lost something, because it identifies a place where miracles are bred.

• A miracle is when God enters a situation to bypass the natural laws of time, space, and the material world.

• God can cause the harshness or hard things to not have the same effect in your life

7) Take a hold of the product of your miracle

• A leader can speak it over you, but you have to take ahold of it

• Elisha spoke to it, but the prophet working for a beam had to take possession

• The first step is to admit where you are so that help can follow

• Be willing to grab hold of the hard thing required for you to cut your own beam, even if you have to borrow strength, grace, hope, love, endurance, perseverance, and faith.

• Let your hardwork go after your vision, so that miracles can occur to confirm your faith and direction

• Go after something bigger that provokes you to go after your beam!