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The Miracle of Working God’s Way

This Bible story from 2 Kings 6:1-7 tells the tale of Elisha rescuing a student who lost a borrowed tool. This story holds leadership principles on how to move any project forward, with 7 short verses and 9 leadership secrets. Learn to define your need, design your plan, defer to God's will, determine your support, direct your action, describe your trauma, delight in your miracle, designate your responsibility, and decide to obey.

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The Miracle of Working God’s Way

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  1. The Miracle of Working God’s Way James A. Cress

  2. Just a kid’s story? • 1 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us." • 2 "Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." So he answered, "Go." • 3 Then one said, "Please consent to go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go." • 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.

  3. Just a kid’s story? • 5 But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed." • 6 So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. • 7 Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself." So he reached out his hand and took it. -- 2 Kings 6:1-7

  4. What a story! • Bible story of “the ax head which swam.” • Elisha rescued an embarrassed student who had borrowed/lost a valuable tool. • As a kid, proudly possessing a genuine “Davey Crockett Tomahawk,” I easily envisioned a hatchet which sprouted arms and fins as it propelled its way to the river’s shore.

  5. More than a story • Why this curious story in Scripture? • What’s the story behind the story? • Leadership principles of how to move any project forward. • 7 short verses . . . 9 leadership secrets

  6. Define your need • And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.” (verse 1) • Expansion – this place is too small • No situational analysis = paralysis • Cannot go forward if you don’t know where you start from

  7. Design your plan • Please let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell, (verse 2a). • Specifics – new location, new place • All involved – “let us” • Details – each man a beam

  8. Defer to God’s will • So he answered, “Go.” (verse 2b). • Make your plans, asking God to help. • Await God’s permission • “Go” = God endorsed

  9. Determine your support • Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” (verse 3). • Recruit your team. • Followers request leader to participate. • Advance stronger together than individually. • Don’t go it alone.

  10. Direct your action • So he went and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. (verse 4). • Once you’ve met the conditions for success – DO SOMETHING! • God’s people had been at Jordan before – set up camp and waited. God intervened. “Get these people across this river Jordan.” • Go to work. Nothing happens by dreams alone.

  11. Describe your trauma • But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.” (verse 5). • Trauma, not lost tool. “It was borrowed” • Even God-endorsed plan doesn’t eliminate trauma. Trauma is not tragedy. • Even tragedy can lead to triumph. Darkest just before dawn.

  12. Delight in your miracle • So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he made the iron float. (verse 6). • When you have done your best – allow God to settle the rest. If God is with us – more than they who are against us! • Miracle: iron swims? Young man = miracle! • This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

  13. Designate your responsibility • Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” (verse 7a). • Appropriate response to God’s miracle? • Do what you can do. • Pick it up for yourself. Don’t wait for it to jump onto shore. • The miracle is the iron floats, not that it crawled up onto the river bank and jumped into your pocket.

  14. Decide to obey • So he reached out his hand and took it. (verse 7b). • Take it and claim it. • Choose to obey. • Appropriate consequence of miracle = faithfully following in obedience.

  15. End of the Story? Just the beginning . . . How you choose to work!

  16. Delineate • Declare • Divide • Destroy • Develop • Deploy • Derive • Delay • Depend • Defend

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