The BIG Picture (Shorts)

Today’s Truth "And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim." ( 2Kings.6:6 ) In 2Kings.6:1-7 , a borrowed iron axe head flew off the handle and sank to the riverbed. By God’s power, Elisha made the heavy iron float. Whilst we do not look for physical miracles today, this Old Testament account provides three profound spiritual truths that line up beautifully with the gospel of grace. Today’s Application The Sufficiency of Grace: The worker was entirely helpless to recover the lost tool on his own strength. Similarly, we were completely helpless under the debt of sin, but God’s grace steps in to accomplish what is completely impossible for man ( Rom.5:6; Eph.2:8-9 ). The Principle of Identification: To retrieve the iron, Elisha cast a piece of wood into the very place where the axe head sank. This wood beautifully represents the cross; Christ did not rescue us from a distance, but identified with us, entering our death to lift us up through the cross...

Between the Kingdom and Grace programs, provision works differently when you study and compare the two. In the Kingdom program the Lord told His disciples they can ask for anything (for ex: Matt7:7-8, Matt.18:19, Matt.21:22) and it will be given them. This is actually a command that will be more relevant in the Millennial Kingdom, when the law is written upon their hearts according to the New Covenant (Jer.31:31-34; Ezek.36:24-28). Nevertheless, even when Peter, and the other 11 prayed, their prayers were answered and the dead rose, the sick were healed, and necessities were provided. Today in this grace age, God, in His wisdom and purpose, can work miracles today, but it is not the primary focus. We live by faith today. Paul prayed many times for help, needs and relief, but he did not get it, 2Cor.12:7-10. Today, we can pray all kinds of prayers and supplications, but our faith is in His grace and not in favourable answers for provision, comforts, and necessities. Whether God provides...