AXES, TREES & THE JORDAN RIVER
October 10, 2010 am
10-10-10
MF
Blume
2 Kings 6:1-7 KJV And the sons of the prophets said unto
Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait
for us. (2) Let us go, we pray thee, unto 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. (3) And one said, Be
content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will
go. (4) So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan,
they cut down wood. (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. (6) And the man of God said, Where fell
it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it
in thither; and the iron did swim. (7) Therefore said he,
Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
Matthew 3:5-11 KJV Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all
Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, (6) And were
baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (7) But
when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he
said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee
from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits
meet for repentance: (9) And think not to say within
yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God
is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
(10) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees:
therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire. (11) I indeed baptize you with
water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I,
whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost, and with fire:
The bible teaches about not walking after the flesh but instead walking
after the Spirit.
- This is just a lot of complicated words to many Christians.
- “What does that mean? Do not steal or commit
adultery?”
- Paul actually taught that it meant you cannot successfully
be the strong Christian you want to be by dead, dry and empty religious
tradition and self making self more spiritual.
- Walking after the flesh can be described as looking to your
fleshly weak human abilities to make yourself spiritual.
One story from the Old Testament helps us understand more about this
principle.
The story in which Elisha caused the iron to swim.
Words related to John the Baptist help bring this story’s point
together for us.
Things common to both accounts we read are the Jordan River, Axes and
trees.
- The students of Elisha were unable to dwell with him
because his dwellingplace was too small.
- They had to be able to dwell with the prophet so as to
learn of him.
- So they knew they had to go to the Jordan river and each
cut down a tree to contribute to the larger HOUSE they had to build in
order to dwell with the prophet.
John the Baptist had come in the spirit of Elijah, much like Elisha
carried on from Elijah’s ministry.
- Elijah and Elisha’s ministries were each associated
with the opening of the Jordan River.
- When Elijah departed from Elisha in a chariot and
whirlwind, it was after he opened up the Jordan River with his mantle.
- Elisha took the mantle and opened the same Jordan River up.
- So Elisha’s experience at the Jordan where he began
his ministry was to be repeated in a sense with his students, the sons
of the prophets.
It seems Jordan is a demarcation point.
- A very supernatural experience must occur with us in order
for us to graduate into actual ministries of our own.
- Israel crossed Jordan supernaturally due to the dividing of
the river by the Ark of the Covenant.
- The elder doubters had died off and this speaks of
something being cut off from our lives in order for us to be able to
progress INTO THE KINGDOM.
- The younger were not only freed from the elder doubters,
but they were circumcised at this point as well, cutting off the flesh
quite physically to show us the emphasis upon cutting off fleshliness
and carnality in order to enter KINGDOM LIVING.
These sons of the prophets were students.
- Those who are true students and wish to operate a ministry
in this world and work for God will come to this demarcation point.
- They WILL COME to a true self denial.
- It’s like Red Sea is learning who Jesus is and
getting saved, and JORDAN RIVER is denying yourself, to enter the
KINGDOM LIFE.
The disciples each had to cut down a tree.
- This represents that each person who needs to enter the
KINGDOM LIFE must personally cut down and cut off any carnality that
may be hindering them, like the younger Israelites had to be free of
the older doubters in the Exodus before they could enter the promised
land.
- Those older doubters of the Exodus represents the carnality
that must be removed from our lives.
- We have preached before about the removal of SINS at the
Red Sea (beginning of Exodus) and the removal of CARNALITY at the
Jordan (end of Exodus).
John the Baptist preached and baptized at the Jordan.
- He began his ministry here as well.
- It was here that John knew Messiah would be manifested.
- It’s like Jesus is in a true believer’s life,
but cannot be manifested from within such a life due to all the
carnality that may be present.
John 1:29-31 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and
saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world. (30) This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a
man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
(31) And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to
Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Nobody can see Jesus in our lives until we get to the Jordan and see
the carnality cut down so He can be manifested.
- Carnality hinders Him from being seen in our lives.
John demanded people only be baptized if they truly repented.
Matthew 3: (7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and
Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of
vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
(8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Those sincere people who came to John’s baptism had truly
repented and were living changed lives to prove it.
- Liars did not lie any more, and thieves stopped stealing.
- A tree is known by its fruit just like a REPENTANT PERSON
IS KNOWN BY A LIFESTYLE THAT SHOWS A REAL CHANGE!
- Repentance means TURN AROUND.
- Fruits meet for repentance are lifestyles that tell
everyone around you that you really changed.
- God sees the heart, but people need to see a CHANGED PERSON.
Matt 3: (10) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of
the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Notice the trees that bear bad fruit, not fruit meet for repentance,
WILL BE CUT DOWN and BURNED.
- God will judge them.
- It would be forty years when judgment would come to Israel
in the destruction and burning of the city and temple.
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should
not be judged.
If the bible teaches we can judge ourselves and deal with the
wickedness and carnality in our lives, then God will not have to judge
us and see us lost forever, then that means we can cut down the trees
with bad fruit IN TRUE REPENTANCE so that He does not do it and cast us
into the fire.
So when we see each student of Elisha cutting down a tree in order to
do his part in membership in a dwellingplace with the prophet, we are
seeing a picture of how each of us must DO OUR PARTS IN RIDDING
OURSELVES OF CARNALITY BY TRUE REPENTANCE.
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
(3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Jesus was like Elisha – the disciples were supposed to be where
He was, but a place had to be prepared for them to be able to be there.
- This is not speaking of a place in Heaven after this life
is over.
- Jesus said he was already at the place when He spoke to
them where He wanted them to be.
- It was not a physical place, for they were there physically.
- But it was a SPIRITUAL STATE OF BEING.
- It was associated with THE FATHER'S HOUSE.
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the
Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:
but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
The Father dwelled in Jesus, and that was said after Jesus spoke of the
Father’s house.
The same word translated MANSION is translated ABODE as follows:
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he
will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
him, and make our abode with him.
The Father’s House had many ABODES in it, and Jesus went to
prepare a place FOR US so that the Father could dwell in us as well!
HE WENT TO THE CROSS TO PREPARE THAT PLACE FOR US.
But while one student was cutting down his tree, representing his
process of repentance and ridding himself of carnality, the axehead
flew off into the Jordan, and he could not continue.
- Many people are partway through their true preparation of
heart where their elderly doubters are cut off, and their carnality is
circumcised, when they LOSE IT.
- People are seeing themselves progress spirituality and
changes are being made in their lives that are vital to seeing them
enter KINGDOM LIVING.
- But the process stops, and it is like the WORD
Ecclesiastes 10:10 COMPLETE APOSTLES BIBLE If the ax-head
should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put
forth more strength; and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man.
Interestingly enough this version of the bible gives the exact picture
of Elisha’s predicament with his student.
- Skill is useless if the axehead is lost.
- We need MORE POWER.
- Divine help.
- Power of the cross.
- And the passage in Eccl mentions serpents all around this.
The AXE HEAD was the means by which the tree was cut down.
- It is possible for the believer to LOSE THIS MEANS.
- The Bible says SPIRIT BAPTISM is given to us to MORTIFY THE
DEEDS OF THE BODY.
Romans 8:11-13 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from
the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in
you. (12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the
flesh, to live after the flesh. (13) For if ye live after
the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the
deeds of the body, ye shall live.
It quickens our mortal bodies so that we do not live after the flesh.
- Not living after the flesh but after the Spirit means we
mortify the deeds of the flesh BY THE SPIRIT.
- We will not die… OR BE BURNED… but we will
live... carry on into the KINGDOM LIFE!
- Many believers just have joined church, but are not serious
students who really go all the way and see their carnality cut off so
they can enter true KINGDOM LIVING.
- Kingdom Living is HARD CORE SPIRITUALITY.
- Where God is really using a person.
- EVERYONE IS A MINISTER.
- And the work of the Spirit actually only truly begins when
serious disciples of the Lord go all the way and see their carnality
cut away so that God truly dwells in them for all the world to see.
(If you are not actively engaged in genuine Spiritual ministry, it is
because the flesh has not been cut away adequately enough to give way
for the Spirit within to minister through you.)
Elisha asked where the axe fell into the water.
- He threw a tree at that spot, and the axe head swam to
shore.
When we fail and lose progress in cutting away our carnality, we must
apply the cross to the situation.
- The tree is the cross.
- MORE POWER.
- Revelation of the cross must be applied.
- WE DIED WITH HIM.
- Have faith in that.
When we lose progress in this, we have lost sight of the cross and
slipped into the very carnality we are in need of cutting down.
- We’ve lost the revelation of the cross.
- This revelation of the word is the axe at the roots, and it
is a gift for it was borrowed.
- We must identify with the cross again.
2 Kings 6: (7) Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put
out his hand, and took it.
You have to personally GRASP this revelation.
- When we stop cutting off carnality, we actually stopped
mortifying the deeds of the body.
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if
ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death.
We mortify the deeds of the body with the POWER OF THE SPIRIT.
- It quickens our mortal bodies so we do not sin.
Romans 8:11-13 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from
the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in
you. (12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the
flesh, to live after the flesh. (13) For if ye live after
the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the
deeds of the body, ye shall live.
The Spirit that quickens our mortal bodies is that through which we
mortify the deeds of the body.
- We mortify these deeds by seeing the Spirit quicken us.
- Paul said the Spirit does this when we KNOW we died with
Him, and reckon it to be true for ourselves personally, and then YIELD
TO THE SPIRIT in faith that HE WILL GO TO WORK.
The axehead is the POWER OF THE SPIRIT THAT MORTIFIES THE DEEDS OF THE
BODY.
- The SPIRIT IS THE GIFT!
- THE AXE HEAD!
- And when we act in the flesh and religion becomes
traditional and Lifeless, we LOSE THE SPIRIT’S EFFECTS.
- We still have the Spirit, but it’s like we DROP THE
BALL and slip into ineffective and dead religion.
- And that is NO REAL CHANGE AT ALL.
- Like the Pharisees!
Romans 8 is written well after Romans 6 where we see the revelation of
the CROSS deeply involved in getting us to the place we mortify the
deeds of the body through the Spirit.
So we have to go back to Romans 6 and renew the revelation of the cross
in our hearts, in order to see the Spirit begin working again!
YOU CAN HAVE THE SPIRIT, BUT NOT ALLOW IT TO WORK.
- The Spirit requires your revelation of the cross to work.
So when Elisha threw the tree into the Jordan to return the axe head to
his disciple, we see that we have to go back to the REVELATION OF THE
CROSS in order to see this SPIRIT go to work in us again.
Let’s go back to Rom 6 and review the revelation.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into
Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not
serve sin.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed
unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
KNOW, RECKON and YIELD.
- First know YOU DIED WITH JESUS.
- Apply this personally to YOU, YOURSELF.
- Then when you realize this for yourself to such an extent
that you actually see yourself ALIVE FORM THE DEAD – since you
know you died with Him and are raised with Him – yield yourself
to God with that CONFIDENCE, AND THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT WILL COME BACK
IN FULL FORCE to CUT DOWN THAT CARNALITY, that religious activity can
never remove.
THEN the axe head returned to the man supernaturally, and HE GRASPED IT.
We revert to walking after the flesh in fleshly religion after we begin
to actually see the SPIRIT WORK IN OUR LIVES – and we cannot see
our progress continue!
- Since the Spirit can only work in our lives after we FIRST
KNOW WE DIED WITH HIM, THEN RECKON APPLY IT TO OURSELVES PERSONALLY,
and then YIELD TO GOD AS THOSE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, whenever we
“lose it” and get back in the flesh again, we have to get
focused on the cross once again, and then SEE THE SPIRIT’S
QUICKENING RETURN and continue chopping down and mortifying these deeds
of the flesh.
John said that instead of being cut down and burned in fire, we need
baptism of the HOLY GHOST!
- In other words, all this repentance and baptism issue is
meant to ready us for the BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT.
- THAT SPIRIT BAPTISM is the POWER to mortify deeds of the
body.
- Power to minister!
Matt 3: (10) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the
trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn
down, and cast into the fire. (11) I indeed baptize you
with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier
than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with
the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Some think Holy Ghost and fire is a good thing.
- Technically they are not reading it correctly.
- The FIRE is the wrath of God for those people whose lives
are bad trees without good fruit.
- They will be cut down and burned.
- The HOLY GHOST baptism is for the good trees that bring
forth good fruit indicating genuine repentance has occurred.
And this brings us into PLACE Jesus prepared for us!
KINGDOM LIVING!