Sermon Nuggets Week of May 10
Sermon Nuggets Mon May 10
Theme Mighty Miracles
Verses 2 Kings 4:38-44
Mighty Miracles
The London Observer included this parable of a family of mice who lived all their lives in a large piano. To them in their piano- world came the music of the instrument, filling all the dark spaces with sound and harmony. At first the mice were impressed by it. They drew comfort and wonder from the thought that there was someone who made the music-though invisible to them above, yet close to them. They loved to think of the Great Player whom they could not see.
Then one day a daring mouse climbed up part of the piano and returned very thoughtful. He had found out how the music was made. Wires were the secret; tightly stretched wires of graduated lengths which trembled and vibrated. They must revise all their old beliefs; none but the most conservative could any longer believe in the Unseen player. Later, another explorer carried the explanation further. Hammers were now the secret, numbers of hammers dancing and leaping on the wires. There was a more complicated theory, but it all went to show that they lived in a purely mechanical and mathematical world. The unseen player came to be thought of as a myth. But the pianist continued to play."
We live in an age that has been scientific and mechanical. Science observes the how of creation, but it is not qualified to point to the unseen and unmeasured power of God. Sometimes we may understand how God works and sometimes we may not understand how God works, but that does not make it any less the work of God in our world and life. God is in control. The immanence of God means that he didn't just create our world and leave us to discover him, he is continually involved within creation and within our lives, if by faith you see his work.
Miracles need not be explained away. If God is God, He is not bound by his own earthly rules and manner of doing things. If God would be limited in power then He would not be God.
Miracles are simply a diversion from the ordinary earthly laws of nature. As He created the world, it stands to reason that He need not be bound by the very natural laws, or ordinary ways He choose to do things. The purposes of the miracles of Jesus were not to draw crowds to a magic show and keep everyone entertained. Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost.
He came to redeem mankind and to show us the Father. He came to overthrow the power of sin and Satan in the world and the grip Satan has on mankind. There were miracles confirming Christ's message and his power. But whither God works supernaturally or naturally, it does not make him any more or less God.
Now admittedly we learn through the miracles of Jesus that the Kingdom of God is come. We understand why Jesus had the power that he did have. He was the Messiah the one send from heaven and It was proof that he was God. But what about the miracles that Elisha performed?
Clearly Elisha was not pointing to himself, but to the God he serves.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues May 11, 2010
Verses- II Ki 4:38-41
38 Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men."
39 One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine. He gathered some of its gourds and filled the fold of his cloak. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were.
40 The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it.
41 Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot.
God Can Overcome Our Mistakes.
The story is told of a woman who prepared a meal for some guests. The meat was old and she was not sure if it was safe or not. She decided to first feed it to the dog and see if there were any ill effects. Seeing none she completed the meal and served it.
She was about to serve dessert when her son came running into the house crying, “The dog just died. ‘
Panic struck the embarrassed wife who explained the problem to her guests and they all took an unexpected trip to the hospital to have there stomachs’ pumped. Feeling none the better for the episode she insisted they return to her house.
Now she recognized the sorrow of her son for the loss of the dog and inquired more. He told her Fido ran in front of a car and was hit and killed.
Sometimes things are not as they appear.
There is a famine, the sons of the prophets, or some call them seminary students, prepared a community dish by looking for vegetables and other spices to be included in the stew. One person wants to do his share. He gathers wild gourds, cuts them up, puts it in the stew and cooks it with the rest of the food. As the men were eating they begin to choke and realized the food in the pot is poisoned. They cry out to Elisha who sprinkles flour into the pot and the food is made good again.
The commentaries surmise that the wild gourd was probably a melon called a colocynthus which grows by the Dead Sea. It looks and smells pleasant, but is a poisonous wild fruit. The young man was not familiar with the fruit and out of ignorance, made a grave mistake. Such a mistake could have cost many lives and many very sick people, but God in his grace can overcome the mistake. God is able to take what is bad and make it good.
Innocence and ignorance are not guarantees of immunity from problems, or consequences. Innocence and ignorance according to the law are no excuse. It is also no excuse concerning God's laws. If someone mistakes some poison for food the natural law of chemical reaction in our bodies result in sickness and possibly death. If a child innocently and ignorantly plays with fire he can get burned.
Many people in innocence and ignorance believe religious activity will get them in heaven. They may worship in church Sunday after Sunday and think by their attendance or baptism, or some superficial confession they are saved when, in fact, they are lost.
Do not think I am saying God overlooks innocence and ignorance and intervenes always to make it right. Prov. 14:12 "There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end are the ways of death."
But praise the Lord He has given us His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins, and miracle of miracles the resurrection overcame death. By faith and acceptance of Jesus, God brings salvation to all who believe. This is a saving act of God and his grace.
Elisha applied flour to the pot. That was God's way to bring intervention and salvation in that incident and Elisha by faith and obedience responded and the people were saved.
There are consequences for mistakes, but I also have an assurance that God can help me overcome my mistakes and carry out His good will. I do not always expect God to create a miracle, but I do have the promise of Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good to those who love God and called according to his purpose." I can have confidence that as my life is in God's hand He can overrule my ignorance, well intended, but mistaken actions and make things right. I can have the assurance that if He does not choose to bring about the results I want or pray for, He is still in charge and is worthy of my trust praise and love. Faith in God is faith that God can overcome our mistakes and bring results that praise His name.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds May 12, 2010
Verses- II Ki 4:42-44 A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said.
43 "How can I set this before a hundred men?" his servant asked. But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat and have some left over.'"
44 Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
God Can Supplement our Shortcomings
The second miracle has some similarity to the feeding of the 5,000. In this context it is only 100. During the famine there was not enough food. There wasn't enough barley bread. A man came with a sincere and honest offering unto God by giving it for the prophets. "Give it to the people to eat." says Elisha. When the servant received such instruction he was bewildered; there wouldn't be enough. Elisha was aware that this was a command by the Lord, for the Lord says, "They will eat and have some left over." and of course it happened according to the word of the Lord.
Christ had compassion on the multitude not only to teach them but to feed them. He took what little was offered and used that for a banquet in which all had their fill, and saw the glory of God. There have been other miraculous incidents of similar provision by God, even the
experiences of Elijah and Elisha and the widows. God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.
There are many illustrations of the provisions of God at times of specific need that point only to the miraculous intervention of God.
I am reminded of George Mueller, the man of faith who ran the orphanage in England of the last century. One morning with no money and children to feed he sat them all down and prayed. A milkman came to the door right after the prayer informing Mueller that his milk wagon broke down and he did not have the means to preserve the milk could he use it for his children. Between morning and noon money came through special gifts in the mail which was immediately used to buy food for the orphanage. God knows our needs and as we are faithful provides in a variety of ways.
He had compassion on His servants who were doing God's work. Faith is trusting that God will supplement our shortcomings and provide for our needs whether naturally, or supernaturally. He will give us what He wants us to have to do what He wants us to do. The offering of bread was given in good faith, only it wasn't enough. Yet, God supplemented the shortcomings and all had what they needed.
What do you have to offer God? The death of Christ reminds us of the extent of his love. But there isn't anything that you have or I have that God needs. We are puny in His eyes, but loved. What he wants is that we still take our puny gifts and offerings and give them to him to be used and then watch and see what He does with them. Gifts can be money, talent, time, or ministry. Whatever we have it is the Lord’s. He wants us to be faithful with what we have and he will supplement our shortcomings according to His will.
Therefore as it is written. "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." Isn't that great? God supplements our shortcomings for the very reason that He receives glory. We cannot boast about how much we give, or how much we do for God, or what talents or gifts we bring. They are not enough; they cannot accomplish much for God unless His spirit works and supplements when we fall so short.
Do you ever question when you see others with their talents and gifts, "How can God possible use me? Lord what can I do for you?” Then I am reminded of God's heroes who give what they can and let God do the rest. Divine power is exercised and Elisha more than anyone is fully aware of his humble position before the Lord. He knows he is only the tool; God is the God of miracles. God providentially supplies their need.
Pastor Dale
Sermon nuggets Thurs May 13
Verses- II Ki 6:1-7 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live." And he said, "Go."
Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?" "I will," Elisha replied.
And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"
The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.
"Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
God Can Correct our Accidents
Mistakes are out of ignorance; accidents are out of carelessness. The situation with this prophet could have possibly been avoided if he was more careful about the axe-head being more secure.
The company of prophets was large enough they needed a bigger place. They invited Elisha to assist in the carpentry work. There is a sense of excitement with the project. All people can work together, sort of like work day at the church or the many hands that help with kitchen remodeling.
While they were working on the project, one man was cutting down a tree and the axe head was loose. It fell off and dropped into he nearby river. He was concerned because it was borrowed. He confessed it before all others that he was in trouble. Elisha asked where it was and threw a stick into the water. The miracle of God caused it to float and the fellow got it and repaired the axe head.
In this situation we see that God intervenes even in an accident. He personally allowed the man to be spared the embarrassment of going to the individual from whom he borrowed the axe and explain the situation to him. Maybe that was one the few axes and the job was stopped. But one thing for certain it was useless on the bottom of the river and not useful again until it was in the rightful place. God took the accident and made it a praiseful incident.
God tells His disciples to commit themselves to obey His guidance and His command in a way that requires complete faith in His word. Being faithfulness to our working and trusting God He works His will in His ways and in His time- Sometimes miraculously, most often naturally.
I think that we need to realize that God has given us natural laws and spiritual laws we cannot break. If we do then there are consequences for Christian and for non-Christian alike. We need to be careful and not careless. We need to do our best in all this, but we also must realize that the work is not ours. I do not think I am misrepresenting the text when I say that there are times in our service and work of God we will innocently make mistakes. Remember God can take those and overcome them.
We have a God that is worth praising and serving. We can take our failures and our weaknesses and not be afraid of using them, but boldly go out and when we fail let Him pick up the pieces. He may do so in either in small or great ways. Remember He accomplishes what He wants and the ways he chooses to do it. Faith is learning to trust the situations to Him and watch Him perform. And sometimes we witness a miracle.
How have you seen God act in your situations in surprising ways? Do you see this as a personal mans of His intervention in your daily life? Do you always expect God to work in the same way? Sometimes He surprises us.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri May 14, 2010
Verses- 2 - Kings 6:1-7 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live." And he said, "Go."
Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?" "I will," Elisha replied.
And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"
The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.
"Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
The God of Compassion and Concern
While I look at the 3 miracles of this week I am reminded of the concern and the compassion that is shown in all three incidents. First it was demonstrated by the participation of the individuals for the group. They were a team. Those making the stew worked together to do their part for one another. Those bringing bread were willing to share it. Those building a building worked together to accomplish something better for the whole. It was in fellowship with one another we see and celebrate the cooperation of Elisha. Elisha was the voice and mantle of the Lord. He was the one God chose to demonstrate is word and power. That spiritual gift was not given to anyone and everyone. He as willing to participate also with the group as an expression of his concern and compassion.
And the greatest part of the lessons shows a God who is concerned even in our daily lives.
The fable is told- Once upon a time there were four men named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. But Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it. But Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about it, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, and Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody and Nobody did the job that Anybody could have done in the first place. (anonymous)
During Elijah’s day the prophets were in hiding. Now they are building and eating and in lager groups out in the open. Since the conflict at Mount Carmel things have gone easier for the people of God. Baal had proved false. The Lord was the power greater than any other. But the miracles were not of the grander of fire from heaven with 100s of non believers, these miracles were ways to demonstrate to a caring people of God the caring nature of their leader and especially of the Lord.
Elisha was with the prophets in humility willing not onlyh to teach but work along with them. Eat with them and serve with them. It was an opportunity for on-the-job training and an opportunity to study these men in their work. He demonstrated concern for these young men.
When Elisha stepped forward, inquired concerning the place where the axe head went into the water, and made the iron swim with the stick he cut, he was giving this entire school of prophets a wonderful illustration of the sovereign care and providence of God.
One main lesson in these miracles is how God demonstrates concern for us. He is interested and cares about even the small and trivial incidents in our lives. He tells us to pray about everything and to cast all our cares on Him. Why? He cares for us. So Peter in his epistle tells us we can cast all our cares upon Him.
Note that God provides in cooperation with everything else that one does. The men did not sit back and just pick up their food. They worked for it. Elisha worked. The building did not automatically materialize. The ax was a tool to be used by the men provided by the Lord to accomplish their tasks.
His concern is also to give us the tools to take our journey of faith. Sometimes those tools are common, like bread, and axe-heads, sometimes very uncommon like floating axe heads and multiplication of food to be passed out to demonstrate His glory and provision.
Jesus tells us not to be anxious about this life. The Kingdom of God is our priority and He will take care of our needs. That does not mean we do not work and plant and water and grow, or whatever else is needed to be done in the process of eating and living. But times of intervention when we know that in all thing he cares for us.
Jesus says in Matthew 6 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”
These miracles do not cause me, like so many others, to wonder how they happened. Many will try to explain away the mighty power of the Lord to explain how the meal made the stew good again, how the bread multiplied or how the axe head floated. But it is enough to know that the God who is concerned about us did it His way, at His timing, for His purposes.
God is able to do super abundantly above all we are able to ask or think no matter how small or how large the problem. He does so in natural and normal ways. But at times demonstrates to us his special concern that only He can do in cooperation with other concerned Christians who become tools in his hands.
Pastor Dale
