Recovering What You Lost

Here we see the one of the accounts of Elisha the prophet. This was not to long after the prophet Elijah had been taken up in a whirlwind. As many of you know, Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. Elisha had taken the mantle, both literally and symbolically of Elijah of his authority and power to work and prophesize on behalf of God. As a matter of fact it says in:

And he did receive a double portion of the power that Elijah had, performing double the miracles that Elijah did. It is interesting that Elisha was not just satisfied with how far his master had gone, but he wanted to take it and do more. He wanted to take the service of the Lord; faith in God that is, to new heights.

So Elisha did something unusual, something that had never been done before. He started a school for the sons of the prophets. Now not a lot is known of this school, but I believe it was school to cultivate and to encourage young prophets for God.

It is interesting also that he was not just the executive vice president of the school, but he was a servant within the school. This Is a great lesson to all of us, that we need to be servants in whatever ministry God has put us, showing others how to labor and participate. We see Elisha getting his own hands dirty in helping build this school.

One of the men was chopping a tree for a clearing, or possibly as building material. I don’t know if the were in a marsh or if possibly they were by a river which seems more likely. But as he was chopping, the axe head flew off of its handle and landed in the water. I have no idea how deep the water was or how far it flew, but the man, the likely young prophet called out to Elisha and asked him for help. Saying to Elisha, that it was not his axe, it was borrowed.

Axes in those days and your local Homes store or Home Depot were expensive.

Elisha asked him to tell him where it fell. The man showed him and Elisha then threw a stick into the water and the axe head floated. Elisha then told him to reach out and grab it and that the young man did and RECOVERING THAT WHICH WAS LOST.

No doubt this a very odd account within God’s Word. Of all the great things Elisha had done, God in His divine wisdom chose to put this in there. Of all the recorded miracles in his life, this one does not readily have come with an interpretation but only a listing of an account. But the careful student will realize that there are some great symbols and applications for our lives.

So, what are the symbols and what are the applications?

I. To Show God’s Power

Psalm 62:11 AV

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

A. God is Power

He created the universe in 6 days, he is power

He created man from the dust of the ground, He is power.

He divided the Red Sea, He is power

He took a small, insignificant people, Israel, and has kept them since for 4,000 years

He sent His Son to born of a virgin

He revealed His power through His Son, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, setting the captives free.

Isaiah 61:1 AV

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

B. God wants to reveal His power to you

2 Chronicles 16:9a (AV)

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him...

God wants to show you his power, display his power to you and through you, because he loves you and wants to reveal himself to you.

Ephesians 2:5–7 (AV)

v.5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ...

v.7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

God is a God of His Word, he keeps His Word, and he will show His power through you if you allow Him.

What else does this recovered axe head show?

II. To Show That there is Nothing To Small For God

Why would God show us something like this, no doubt a miracle, but insignificant to the redemption of the world certainly, compared to other things that were going on in the land at that time, this axe was not of utmost importance to the defense of Israel and the fulfilling of the prophecies of our coming Savior.

But you know what is interesting to consider, it was very important to at least one person that day, the young prophet who had lost His axe head.

A. God cares about the smallest details in our lives

Philippians 4:6 AV

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

B. God wants to meet your needs

James 1:17 AV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Matthew 6:33 AV

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

III. To Show the Believer a Key To Spiritual Growth

It seems our Christian lives seem to have to general ingredients, successes and setbacks. If we are honest most of us feel like we have more setbacks that successes. Remember, we often are to quick to forget the blessings of God and focus on our problems.

You may be hear today and you have been in the dumps or a set back for a while now. I believe we can find some simple answers to find help in this passage today.

A. Where did you lose it

B. Go back there

Visit that spot, look at it, how did you get to that position, what were the circumstances of the failure.

· Was there temptation, was there a character flaw, was there sin that was unconfessed, was there a work for Christ that you omitted, where you in rebellion, look at is and realize the circumstances of the sin, the setback, the diversion to put you off course.

C. Grab it and take it back

Ask for forgiveness

Ask for wisdom

Ask for discernment

IV. The Symbolism

A. The Axe Head - Sinner

Representing a sinner, no way could iron swim, now way could it float, now way could it come to the top on its own.

Just like the sinner, you and me, now way could we ever rise above our sins, pay for our sins, lost means lost, never able to save oneself, stuck in the mire never to climb ones way to the top.

B. The Water - Life

· This life, it quickly surrounds you and drowns you. Just when you think you are making it or that you have succeeded, you find out that it is empty. You’ve tried to find love, happiness, reason, purpose, you have sought to find in every corner or vice life offers, but still, you are still in the same place, tiring, and sinking, until in not only encompasses you, but pulls you under.

C. The Stick - Christ becoming flesh

It is a new stick, one cast into the water. Just like Jesus was cast into the world, closing out the age of the law and ushering in the age of grace. That tree, that vine, that cross that he suffered for us, that we might have life.

D. The Raising of the Axe Head - Salvation

Without he stick, the axe head, lies at the bottom, never to be retrieved, like us today, without the cross of calvary there is no hope for us.

We must look to the cross, look to the tree, look to the one that died for us, that bore our sin that we might have life, and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior.

Friend, have you trusted Christ.

Christian, where have you lost it, will go retrieve it and get back on the straight and narrow. God help each of us as we look to make the decision God would have us to make today.

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