Just Do It
Pastor Erickson preaches from three stories of Elisha in 2 Kings 3, 4 and 5, where God told people to dig ditches, gather empty vessels and dip seven times in the Jordan, and he shows that each miracle came through simple obedience. He carries the same call into the book of Acts and urges people to repent, be baptized in Jesus name and receive the Holy Ghost without waiting.
The message in 6 points
Just do it
After reading one verse each from 2 Kings 3, 4 and 5, he explains his title. Like the old slogan, it is a call to action: if we obey the word of God whether it makes sense or not, God will do a miracle.
56:40Bring me a minstrel
Three kings and their armies are lost in the wilderness with no water and call for Elisha. Elisha first asks for a musician, and he says worship in the church is not entertainment but is for an audience of one, preparing hearts to hear from God.
1:01:25Dig ditches in a dry valley
God tells them to dig ditches though no wind or rain will come, and the valley fills with water. He says God often answers in ways we cannot explain, needs a vessel to pour into, and even used that water to confuse the Moabite army.
1:10:13Bring in empty vessels
The widow with only a pot of oil sends her sons to borrow empty vessels, and the oil flows until the last one is full. Neighbors will not always understand what God asks of us, but if the church keeps bringing vessels into the house, God will fill them.
1:21:01Dip seven times
Naaman leaves in a rage because the prophet tells him to wash in the muddy Jordan. His servant reminds him it is a small thing, and he says God asks the same of us: stop needing an explanation and simply obey.
1:30:52The commands of the book of Acts
Walking through Acts 2, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 19, he shows believers repenting, being baptized in Jesus name and receiving the Holy Ghost with tongues. These are commands, not extras, and he calls people to repent, be baptized and seek the Holy Ghost now, since the Lord could return at any moment.
1:38:12
In his words
“This is for an audience of one. The reason why we do what we do is so the presence of the Lord would come and reign among us.”
“God is looking at us and saying, I'm just asking you to do a small thing, why is it that you can't do exactly what I ask you to?”
“Sometimes you just kind of look at the word, read the word, obey the word, and just do it.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
2 Kings 3:14-25
14And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. 15But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 17For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. 18And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 19And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. 20And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. 21And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. 22And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: 23And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. 24And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. 25And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
King James Version.
2 Kings 4:1-3
1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
King James Version.
2 Kings 5:10
10And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
King James Version.
2 Kings 5:1
1Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
King James Version.
Acts 2:1-4
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
King James Version.
Acts 2:37-38
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
King James Version.
Acts 4:31
31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
King James Version.
Acts 8:12
12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
King James Version.
Acts 9:17
17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
King James Version.
Acts 10:44-48
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
King James Version.
Acts 19:1
1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
King James Version.
Acts 19:3-6
3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
King James Version.
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