Roll up your sleeves to serve!
2 Kings 6:1"And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us."
“Roll up your sleeves to serve” signifies moving beyond passive belief to get "hands dirty" in ministry, loving others, and fighting spiritual battles. This action reflects a readiness to work with all one's heart for the Lord. WHENEVER YOU ARE BUILDING A BIGGER PLACE, THE DEVIL WILL ATTACK YOU. BUILDERS ARE ATTACKED. MOREOVER THIS IS SCHOOL OF PROPHETS SO THE DEVIL WILL NEVER BE QUIET, HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING TO DISTURB, DISRUPT AND DESTROY. DEVIL HATES EXPANSION OF GOD’S KINGDOM, HE WANTS DESTRUCTION.
WHEN YOU DO GREAT THINGS FOR GOD, YOU MAY NOT GET HELP FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSING YOUR WORK, SO THAT MEANS IT IS MORE TOUGH. YOU MAY NOT GET HELP AT ALL . It was a time that King Joram also called Jehoram, second son of Ahab, was king, and Jezebel ruled too, so you can imagine the persecution that they would have gone through. Nevertheless, the school of prophets was growing and multiplying and that’s exactly why they needed a bigger place. Hurrah! Don’t blame your circumstances or environment for your failure, arise from the ash heap!
2) JUST A BEAM: verse 2 “….each of us can get a beam; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”
Each one of them took a BEAM. Imagine! Such was the unity! No fun in attending 1000 seminars and crusades, arise to help the kingdom of God. Volunteer to help your pastor, Sunday class and see where your talents are needed to build His Kingdom. Our eyes should be on the work of the Lord and not on anything else.
3) LEARN TO ENDURE INCONVENIENCE AND DISCOMFORT:
Though they were surrounded by such hostility, they still persevered to study, learn, be close to prophet Elisha because they knew his value. Don’t look for comfort, convenience and ease, do whatever it takes to be close to God and your mentors. Attending night zoom prayer is very tough but the spiritual harvest you get is enormous.
Rev. Billy Graham celebrated his 95th birthday on November 8, 2013! This man of God has been special for me because of his amazing life! He got saved at the age of 16, went to study Bible college at the age of 18, preached his first sermon while still in Bible college, besides this, he preached minimum 8 sermons on a single Sunday regularly. Phew! He preached in a big crusade in 1944 for 21 weeks at the age of 26; after marriage, he left his wife behind with her dad and mom and went on to travel many countries to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is hard work! Are you listening?
We give umpteen silly, lame excuses for not being able to attend church or prayer meetings; but today I am talking about jumping on fire for God. Nothing can stop you if you love Him madly! When we were having fasting prayer meetings, some people would travel from far distances to attend our meetings, my heart would ache to feed the crowd. Arranging food caterers each time was an expensive affair, I decided to cook myself. I actually had to travel to a different city with all the equipment necessary for the meeting and at the same time cook on the day I arrive. People at home felt it would be a tedious job for me; yet, I endeavoured to do it. On an average, every month I would cook full meals (rice, curry, vegetable and sweet) for more than 75 people, after cooking, I would walk up to the pulpit to preach. Little did I realize that God was preparing the ground in my life to feed huge poor kids in Hyderabad and start ABIDE SCHOOL, ( here HERE to view school) free school for the poor! Today, be it prayer meetings at our church, cooking meals at our School or any function - I am well trained.
