The Power of God in your Christian Service

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2025 – MR GARETH McINTYRE

2 Kings 6 verses 1 to 7

The Power of God in your Christian Service

Here in 2 Kings 6 we have the story and the miracle of the swimming axe head. It was performed by Elisha the prophet of God through the power of God. He helps this distressed student recover the lost axe head as it flew off the shaft and sinks into the muddy waters of the Jordan river whilst he was cutting down a tree. This young man lost his power and effectiveness in his work. This axe head speaks of the power of God that is essential in the work of God and in the life of every true Christian. Without the axe head firmly fitted on the shaft to continue working we would only have been beating the tree. Yes we would still feel tired being engaged in the work but the result would be utter failure. It is very possible for us to be working tirelessly but at the same time we could be working powerlessly. Remember what Jesus said in John 15 verse 5 “For without me ye can do nothing.” Dr Wilbert Chapman was once asked the secret of his power. He replied “I find that I have power just in proportion as my soul is saturated through and through with the word of God.” Another wrote “the power in the Christian life depends on our communication with the source of that power.” 2 Kings confronts us with the question “have we lost our power?” Or it could confront us with the warning “be careful not to lose your axe head.” Warren Wiersbe puts it “Have you lose your cutting edge?”  

In verse 1 we see the people involved. This was a young man, a student, one of the sons of the prophets. Not referring to his ancestry but the nature of his calling. He was called by God, into the ministry and trained in one of the schools of the prophets. There were 3 schools – Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho. There were many more. This one probably was in Gilgal. They were taught and trained in the things of God. They sat before Elisha their principle. Chapter 4 verse 38 “and Elisha came again to Gilgal and there was a dearth in the land and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him.” He was not just a mighty miracle worker but had a concern for these young men. He would have poured into these young men. He would have shared his knowledge and experiences. He nurtured them with love and patience. He set before them a pattern of godliness. He was onto them an example. He would have exhorted them to “go through with God their vows to pay and their lives upon the altar lay.”  The little poem “I would rather see a sermon” says

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.”

It is amazing how one person can have an impact on so many lives. D L Moody “the world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him.” It is not what man can do, it is what God can do with one man or one woman. God can use you to impact one family. He can use your godly example and he can turn this town upside down for Christ. One faithful witness the Lord can use mightily. I recently read of a sociology class in the 1920’s at a John Hopkins university that did a study of children in deprived neighbours in Baltimore. They identified 200 children who appeared doomed to spend years in prison. After 25 years another study was done to see what had happened to these 200 children – surprisingly only 2 were incarcerated. As they were interviewed the name of their teacher came up over and over again - Mrs Smyth. The sociologists were correct by their predictions but there was an intervention - a Christian school teacher who loved them. She had an influence on these children, she left a mark on their life and her example had a lasting influence. Sunday School teachers, godly grandparents and parents be encouraged - your example will leave a mark that God can use in later years for his glory. Elisha had an influence on these young men called to the ministry. Like Paul who referred to his son in the faith, Timothy. He came alongside him, he took him under his wing. Isn’t that what it is needed today in this world of sin and wickedness out there willing to influence our young people today? Teaching them falsehood, seeking to sift them as wheat but we can have a greater influence, be that fine example. Elisha was a fine example. He left all, he burnt his bridges and followed after Elijah. He served Elijah for 10 years. He was known as the man who poured hands on Elijah. Speaks of his humility. A humble man willing to allow him to be first. That speaks of commitment. In 2 Kings 2 before Elijah’s departure, Elijah said to him “Tarry ye here I pray you, the Lord has sent me to Bethel” and Elisha said “I will not leave you.” At Bethel again “Tarry ye here for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” Elisha replied “I will not leave you.” At Jericho Elijah said a third time “tarry ye here for the Lord has sent me to Jordan.” Elisha said “I will not leave you.” A man of commitment. Elisha would not leave his master. How committed are we to our master? Will we go the extra mile for God? Can we sing “I love my master, I will not go out free, He is my Redeemer and He paid the price for me.” When it came to his departure Elijah asked him “ask what I should do for thee.” Elisha said “Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” He knew he needed the power of God to do the work of God. When Elijah rose up his mantle fell. Elisha picked it up and smote the waters and cried “where is the Lord God of Elijah?” The waters parted hither and thither. Unbeknown to him the sons of prophets saw him and said of him "the spirit of the Lord doth rest on Elisha." They said he was the real deal. What an example he was. What do people say when they watch us? When our unsaved family watch us what do they say? They might never read a bible or attend a church but they read your life and you can be sure they arebwatching from a distance.

“You are writing a gospel, a chapter a day.
By the deeds that you do and by the words that you say
Men read what you write whether faithless or true
Say what is the gospel according to you?”

Verse 1 “ And the sons of the prophets said into Elisha. "

The expansion of this work - verse 1 "Behold now the place where we dwell with the is too strait or us." They said it was too straight, too small. The work was growing, progressing, advancing. God was at work here. He was extending his kingdom, he was calling young men into the ministry despite what was happening around them. Even though there was much opposition without. They were surrounded by sin of every kind. God said “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This took place in the northern kingdom of Israel. The northern kingdom never had a godly king after they split north and south. Their king was Jehoram, son of wicked king Ahab. It is said of him “he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord.” He was a wicked king. It is said of him “they cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel to sin." This land was over flowing with idolatry. Sin of every kind. But God was at work. These were young men not prepared to bow the knee, to conform to the wickedness around them. That should bring hope today . Sometimes we can look back and become discouraged when we remember days of blessing from the Lord. Remember the Lord will continue to build his church. You must remain faithful. Each one is called to the kingdom for such a time as this. This is a time of opportunity. The Lord has us for this time, for his sovereign will. This expansion came after sin was rooted out within. Remember Elisha’s servant  Gehazi. He coveted the gifts brought by Naaman the leper. He took them and sinned against the Lord.  He abused the privileged position, having set his affections on earthly treasure. Elisha punished him and the Lord did too. Cast out as a leper, as white as snow. When sin is rooted out it is then that God will bless and give the increase. The college expanded.

A desire for this work – verse 2 "Let us go we pray there into 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." Their numbers were swelling. This place of training became too small. It was time to expand. They had a desire to work firstly because they saw the need. Their desire was in the work, their motives were pure.  These were industrious young men, they were burdened about the need. They were prepared to do whatever they needed to do. They were young man called by God. They did not use their position to shy from hard manual work. They saw the need. Do you see the need around you? Have you a mind to work today? Is our mind too occupied on the temporal needs that we fail to recognise the spiritual needs around us? They acted upon the need. Every man a beam. Not one was excluded. Everyone had his part to see the work extended. They had a work to do. It involved sacrifice, an effort when all are united. Matthew 21 verse 28 “my son go work in my vineyard”. There was urgency here. Time was short and the clock was ticking. What am I doing for the Lord? They had a desire to work. They saw the need, they shared the load but they also sought the prophet – “let us go.” They sought his permission. Elisha was the prophet of God, if they had his approval then they had God’s approval. It was important to seek the Lord before they went forward. Psalm 40 “I waited patiently for the Lord.” “He who waits on God wastes no time.” Psalm 37 “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” “Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain who build it.” They sought his permission. They were careful to know the mind and will of God first. They sought Elisha’s presence as well as his provision. Verse 3 " And one said He content I pray they and go with they servants. And he answered I will go." They desired his presence, his advice, his guidance. They wanted his wisdom. They wanted to be under the watchful eye of their master. Matthew Henry said “good disciples always desire to be under good discipline.” How much do we desire God’s presence? Do we crave it? Psalm 16 “Thou wilt show me the path of life, in thy presence is fulness of joy.” The hymn writer said

“I must have the Saviour with me
For I dare not walk alone
I must feel his presence near me
And his arms around me
Then my soul will fear no ill
Let him lead me where he will
And I will go without a murmur
And his footsteps follow still.”

They sought his permission - verse 2 “go ye”. They sought his presence - verse 3 “I will go”. Not only was there an expansion and a desire.

There was a hindrance in this work – verse 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." Picture this scene in these 7 verses. These young men were working hard together. They were cutting down trees on the bank of Jordan river. Everything was going well until one of the students raises his axe and the head flew off and fell into the muddy water. This young man was hindered in the work. He lost that thing that was vital, that thing that made him effective in his work. He didn’t lose it by sitting down but while he was engaged in the Lord’s work. We could say it was not really his fault, unfortunately these things just happen. We could say although he was working eagerly he wasn’t working watchfully. He was not careful in checking the axe head was not firmly fitted. He was not being watchful to know the axe head was slipping. We can as believers be busy in the Lord’s work and fail to examine our lives. Sometimes we can neglect God’s word. We can neglect the place of prayer. We can go through the motions, attending meeting after meeting. We do not lack activity but do we lack power? The enemy of our soul knows full well that our salvation cannot be lost. The Lord said in John 10 “I give unto my sheep eternal life and they will never perish.” But the devil knows how to tempt us, to trip us up and to set before our eyes those things that feed the flesh and starve the spirit. His chief objective is to make us an ineffective witness for God that we would be a powerless people. Perhaps we could use Samson as an example. The most remarkable man of his day.  He began his service for God in the power of Holy Ghost. He had so much potential, he had so many doors of opportunity of service open to him. Time and time again we read the Spirit came mightily on Samson. It was victory after victory but then he became careless. He told the deceiver Delilah the secret of where his strength really lay. Those locks of hair that were a sign of separation unto God. As they shaved off his hair as he slept on the lap of the world, he was rendered powerless by his enemy. Samson arose as at other times and said “I will go out as before.” Then you read Judges 16 verse 20 “and he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.” The  axe head in Samson’s life had slipped off.  Could that describe anyone? Maybe you can look back to one time when you walked close with God, when you knew the power of God in your life, when you enjoyed sweet fellowship with your Master, when you had a vision for lost souls, when you worked for souls and did it effectively? This man was conscious of his loss. He was concerned about his loss. He was poor, he didn’t even own an axe but he so much wanted to be involved in this work that he went out and borrowed one. He did not use any of the excuses he could have. That reminds us that everything you have is borrowed. 1 Corinthians 4 “what has thou that thou didst not receive?” Our bodies, our time, our gifts, our abilities but most of all the power of God that enables us is a borrowed power. It reminds us of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. 3 servants each given money according to their ability. This money represented the opportunity of service available to them. At the end they were considered either faithful or unfaithful, either going to hear those words “well down thou good and faithful servant” or else they would hear “thou slothful servant.” These students were distressed knowing this axe head was borrowed it must be returned as he was accountable for it. The Old Testament law stated that something borrowed needs to be returned. This young man did not want to be unjust to the owner. We are no different as servants of God. The Lord has given us all we need to serve him in the manner he has chosen. We will be accountable too. Daniel Webster was asked “what is the greatest thought that could occupy a man’s mind?” He replied “his accountability to God.” Romans 14 verse 12 reminds us “so that every one of us should give an account to God.” It is a personal accountability. Leonard Ravenhill said “the most shattering thought is my personal accountability to God.” Oh that we will work for him while it is day remembering that the night cometh when no man shall work. That we must do something for the son of God who loved us and gave himself for us. That we would do the will of God and do it in the power of God. For that is all that will last in eternity. 

This young man was restored back to the work. He was conscious of his lost. He wasted no time in seeking restitution. Look at the steps of recovery. Firstly we see the person he called out to - verse 5 “alas master”. He cried out to his master. If you feel you have lost out with God, if you are conscious of your loss, the Lord is the only one who can restore you back to effective service. Just as this axe head was raised to effectiveness again, the Lord can do the same to anyone. Not only see the person he called to but we see the place he pointed to - verse 6 “And the man of God said where fell it? And he showed him the place.” Elisha drew alongside him lovingly and tenderly and asked the question. When we lose our power we are the only ones who can answer that question. We must look back and retrace our steps, point to the exact place. Do we lose it in bitterness towards someone? Galatians 5 verse 7 “You did run well who did hinder you?” Did you return to the well of impurity? Was it greed, pride or disobedience? Did you yield to the lusts of flesh? Did you return to that place where the Lord called you out of? Has the business and pressures of life overtaken you? You know you have lost out with God. Call out to the Master and point to the place. In verse 6 we are told he cut down a stick and cast it in. This young man was taken to the tree where they cut down a stick. That takes us to a tree - the cross of Calvary. The only place we can find restitution. Where the son of God bore our own sins on the body, where we were lifted out of the mire and brought back to God. The miracle - the iron did swim. This iron that had sunk in the mire was lifted and restored. Verse 7 that young man got down on his knees and by faith he reached out his hand and took it. The Jordan river speaks to us of death. If we are ever going to live for Christ we must die to self. Galatians 2 “I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul died to self. Oh that we would all die to self today. Oh that we would be a people set on fire for God, a people full of the Holy Ghost and power. A people willing, a people working effectively for our master keeping before us the brevity of life. Because there is only one thing that is done for Jesus that will last.