Serving a Dynamite God with a Firecracker Life — E.A. Johnston

Faith Christ Seeks in His Disciples

My Bible says, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? That's a question that demands an answer. I believe God is looking for faith. Jesus, in his earthly ministry, continually tested his disciples on the matter of their faith.

How Unbelief Hinders Christ’s Works

He'd say to them, where is your faith? Or, oh ye of little faith? He was even hindered by lack of faith. For in Matthew 1358 we read, and he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. I believe, when our life is over, friends, and we stand at the judgment seat of Christ, and he reviews our life, we will clearly see then what could have been now.

The Firecracker Life and the Dynamite God

Had we had more faith, we will be shown how God wanted to give us a victory here and a blessing there, but we failed to appropriate it because of our unbelief and little faith. I like what Vance Havner once said, because it sums up my message today on faith.

Vance Havner said, if we serve such a dynamite God, why are so many of us living firecracker lives? And that's true, friend, and it's also the title of my message today, serving a dynamite God with a firecracker life.

Elijah, Elisha, and King Joash

We will be in the Old Testament today, in the book of 2 Kings. You can turn in your Bibles there now, friends. We will be in chapter 13, beginning in verse 14, which is a passage dealing with the prophet Elijah's death.

Elijah has had a remarkable life as God's prophet, performing twice as many miracles as his mentor Elijah. And here in chapter 13 of 2 Kings, he's on his deathbed. Well, let's look at this striking passage of scripture.

The Word of God and the Dying Prophet

Here now is the word of God, and may the spirit of the Lord attend the reading of his holy word. Now, Elijah was fallen sick of his sickness, whereof he died. And Joash, the king of Israel, came down unto him and wept over his face and said, Oh, my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof.

And Elijah said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it. And Elijah put his hands upon the king's hands.

The Influence of a Man of God

Let me pause here to say, friends, here we see this tender scene. The king of Israel, King Joash, paying a special visit to God's sick prophet. There's something special as to being in the presence of a man of God.

You know, it's special. I felt that way every time I was with my homiletical mentor, Dr. Stephen Olford. God was all over him because of his holy walk of faith. I remember visiting Stephen Olford in the hospital right before his surgery.

And he grabbed my hand and said, Let us pray as he was lying on his hospital bed. And I stood there over him, silent, holding his hand, waiting for him to pray like he always did. But to my embarrassment, I finally realized he was the one sick and he needed me to pray for him.

And he was waiting for me to pray. Oh, how my legs trembled and shook as I attended to pray for that prophet of God. But you know, friends, when you are in the presence of God's man, there's no questioning it.

Elisha’s Hands and the Impartation of Power

Well, here in our text, Elisha places his hands on the hands of King Joash. And there's something significant here I don't want us to miss. As Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of his power, here Elisha is ready to impart power to King Joash by laying hands on him.

God Announces Victory Through Faith

Well, let's pick up the narrative in verse 17. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, Fear of the Lord's deliverance from Syria, for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Apec till thou hath consumed them.

Now, let's pause here again, friends, to say, notice how the prophet Elijah is announcing God's intention for Israel's victory in battle over Syria. He says it's pretty much a done deal, depending on what happens next here in this test of faith.

Joash’s Limited Response to the Arrows

Look at verse 18. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him and said, Thou should have smitten five or six times.

Then hast thou smitten Syria till thou has consumed it. Whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. I will stop there. What this story tells us is that God wants to do more with us. But we, at times, get in the way.

How Little Faith Limits God’s Work

God wants to give us a victory here and a blessing there. But our lack of faith prevents him. Our ministry lacked power because we lacked faith. We scratched our heads wondering why God didn't answer a particular prayer when it was our little faith all the while hindering him.

Why doesn't God use me more, we ask ourselves. Not realizing God wants to use us more, but he's looking for faith from us. So we end up serving a dynamite God with a firecracker life when it could have been otherwise had we exercised more faith.

Adversity as an Opportunity to Build Faith

Every trial, every storm, every hardship is an opportunity for God to build faith in us. And how we respond to our adversity is a testimony to what kind of faith we have. You want to make a noise for God in this world?

Then go out on a limb for God by faith and make a big bang for him. C .T. Studd went out on a limb for God at the age of 53 in frail health, taking a one-way ticket to the heart of Africa because he had a burden for the souls of men.

Historic Examples of Courageous Faith

William Chalmers Burns left Scotland at the height of fame in revival to go bury himself in obscurity in China to plant the gospel there for the heathen. John Song flamed out at 42 after turning China upside down in revival for God.

George Whitefield wore out at 55 after shaking two continents for Christ and the gospel. These were men who lived by a big faith in a big God. And God did big things with them for eternity. How is it with you, friend?