"The Deals That Matter"

Today's message may or may not seem like a big deal to you but it can be found in 2 Kings 6:1-7. Its the story of a group of young men who had a need and in the process of things it became apparent that one in particular had an even greater need. Now it might not seem like much of a miracle to most people, after all it is a small little account sandwiched between two pretty big deals. The Syrian army commander, Naaman, was healed from leprosy by dipping in the Jordon on one side of the story and on the other side was when Elisha asked, that God would open the eyes of his servant and he was able to see the mountain filled with horses and chariots of fire. It is also where God gives them the victory over the army that surrounded them by blinding their eyes at Elisha's request. So, this story, in between these two big deals seems to get lost but the truth is, even though it looks and seems small its pretty important because it shows us that everything that concerns us, matters to God! It shows us that whatever the issue or the need - all things are possible!
 
And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordon, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." And he answered, "Go." Then one said, "Please consent to go with your your servants." And he answered, "I will go." So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordon, they cut down trees. 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." And 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. Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself." So he reached out his hand and took it.

Thats the whole story. The place they were living in was too small. They were going to chop some trees down and build a bigger place. In the process one guy lost the ax head off his ax and it fell into the water AND SANK out of sight to the bottom of the Jordon. He was upset because it didn't belong to him. He had borrowed it from a friend. He went to Elisha and told him his dilemma. Elisha doesn't hesitate to help. He doesn't throw up his hands and say, "O well. Its gone." or "Its not my problem." Instead he immediately takes action, cuts off a stick and He took it and put it in the spot where the ax head had sunk. Suddenly the ax head was made to float to the surface. Iron doesn't float! A stick isn't a magnet! But Elisha used it in a way that makes it look like it worked like one. The Iron ax head came to the surface and he told the young man to "Pick it up himself."

Have you ever wondered why and how a stick could possibly make an ax head float to the surface. I know that I have. Why or rather how did that stick become a magnet? Personally I think its all about the anointing of the Spirit of God. Look in 2 Kings 13:20-21. Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands of Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of  raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. A dead man was revived back to life just because he came in contact with the anointing still on the bones of Elisha.There must be a reason he didn't command them to bring him a stick. He cut it. He touched it and carried it to the spot and threw it in. That stick came into contact with His anointing.

I also think it had to do with what Elisha was in the process of doing with these young men. It calls them the 'sons of the prophets' and it says that they were living with him. He was in the process of training them! He was teaching, training, raising them up in the ways of God. Like Jesus, who always used things in their day to day to reveal the kingdom to his disciples, Elisha took this opportunity to show them-all things are possible! When the young man cried out, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed!" it indicates his attitude towards what had happened. He believed it to be lost with no hope of retrieving it. Elisha asks where it went and immediately takes action. He doesn't stop to pray. He doesn't work up his faith. He knows and understands the anointing he walks in. He just acts in faith.  He throws a stick expecting it to work like a magnet or rather to BE THE POWER that pulls the ax head to the surface.  He doesn't just talk it - he lives it for them to see! He shows them that with God all things are possible. All things - no matter what!

WHY? Because big or little they are both a big deal to God. God cares about the things that matter to us.  He cares about the things that affect you! Big or Little! They are the same to him and there is nothing too small  or too big for Him to handle. He cares about Naaman's leprosy, Gehazi's fear, and this young man's borrowed ax head. He is a God who cares! He cares about every little thing that affects us and He wants us to understand that if we will trust Him with all our cares He is big enough. He cares enough to even concern himself with making an ax head float. Trust Him with all your needs! Both big and small deals matter to Him! Why?  Because you matter and to Him YOUR THE BIG DEAL!

Walk in faith! Trust Him and you too can make an ax head FLOAT or as Jesus put it, "Have faith as big as a mustard seed and say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20