Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
12 3 2025
When Iron Floats -Random Acts of God – The God who Sees
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree,
the iron ax head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”
The man of God [Elisha] 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. ––2 Kings 6:4-7
Expectations. What are you believing for? How often have you had to remind yourself to pray for something important to you? It’s like we forget to remember. What happens to our expectations when we forget to remember to pray… or, to put it another way, to remember to believe and have faith…
Like expecting something to happen…to change. A breakthrough!
How long does one persevere in the face of a real need? Can we grow accustomed to the pain?
The lack? The fear? Give up?
Do we see this need as too random… too small…
too insignificant to the God of the universe to care about?
I was on the prayer team at the altar when one of our leaders from Courageous came up for prayer with his wife. She was in her last trimester and had been confined to bed.
The baby was not where they were supposed to be. Her blood count was off,
and they came to the altar of God to pray. I’m sure they had been praying at home. Praying together and believing that this calamity of health would change. But they were still praying without an answer.
I asked them what they were believing for?
They shared she was going to the doctor again on Monday, and hers and the baby’s health was still in peril, and they needed a breakthrough.
I was reminded of King Herod, who arrested the Apostle Peter and intended to execute him; the church gathered for a dedicated time of prayer on his behalf.
- Acts 12:5 says: “Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” An angel was dispatched and freed Peter. There is true power in corporate prayer.
- I’m typically at the altar every Sunday to pray for those who come. But out of 1,000 or more each service, only 5 or 6 usually come forward. What does that say to you? .06 of 1% I don’t think the church today knows the power of coming forward for corporate prayer.
- Notice that although God worked a miracle in making the heavy axe head float, Elisha’s disciple had to step out in faith to reach into the water and pick it up.
What does that mean to a Christian today in coming to the altar for corporate prayer? We are STILL called to participate through an act of obedience and faith: It takes humility to come forward. To raise your hand when you need prayer. Your faith is bolstered when you join with others in prayer. An army is stronger when they go into battle with greater numbers. It is no different when we come forward for prayer. We need our faith strengthen after praying without getting an answer. Certainly not the one we were looking for.
The Moral Lesson
10 quick take aways.
- Do not grow weary in praying for God’s intervention in your life.
- Be intentional about asking Him to renew your spirit and restore your passion for His work.
- Acknowledge your losses and confess your weaknesses. The servant immediately realized, he could not fix the problem.
- The servant realized his error and ran to God’s messenger for help. Don’t make excuses – seek out spiritual guidance.
- Return to the place of departure or where we strayed from God’s path. Elisha asked, “Where did it fall”
- Faith requires action. Elisha said, “Lift it Out.”
- Be intentional about asking others to council, pray and agree with you in prayer.
- The urge to go to the altar or to ask for prayer is not random. It is the Holy Spirit prompting you to reach out to community.
- The example of the ax solidifies that no problem is too small for God’s attention.
- The solution was not magic, but God did overrule the laws of nature. He still does!
The bottom line is we were not made to walk life alone. God gave us marriage, family, and a church community for us to live in and grow with. Even when things feel lost, God can bring it back through the power of His Holy Spirit. He will be there with you through the storm if you will have trust and faith in Him. We must humble ourselves and not give up and be disheartened.
Call in the army! Call in people to pray for you and WITH you.
God uses everyday things like an ax handle to reveal Himself and to build our trust in His providence.
PS: The next day, the Doctor announced to the young expectant couple… everything is normal.
You can come off bed rest. The baby is perfectly lined up. The blood work is perfect!
Do you think they will ever forget that trip to the altar to ask for prayer?
Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes to see.
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The God Who Sees – Nicole Mullen
