7 Reasons To Be A Reacher

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A few days ago, I was rejoicing about how God reaches out to us. . .in so many ways.

God reaches out to us when we’re distressed.

2 Samuel 22:7

“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.”

Jesus reaches out to heal sickness and disease.

Matthew 8:3

“Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, “I’m willing. So be clean!” Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.”

Reached out to strengthen our faith.

Matthew 14:31

“Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”

Yes, Jesus reaches out to us. . .but we need to be reaching out in faith. . .every day.

Here are seven reasons for you to be a reacher.

1.         Reach out for your miracle

In 2 Kings 6. . .the sons of the prophets were in the process of cutting wood for a new dwelling.  To obtain the best beams, they went down to the water’s edge where the trees grow tall and straight.

As one of them was cutting down a tree, the ax head came loose and fell into the water, promptly sinking to the muddy bottom.

At that very moment, the man of God walked by.  The young prophet knew he had but a brief moment to draw the prophet’s attention to his desperate problem.

You may wonder why the loss of such a simple thing as an ax head would be called a desperate problem.  It seems all that was needed was a purchase order for the replacement cost to be used to the young man.  With the money, he could buy a new ax head and all would be well.

The scripture says that this was a very special ax head, for it was borrowed.

2 Kings 6:5 in the New Living Translation says:

“But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. ‘Oh, sir!’ he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”

When an ax head is borrowed, nothing but the safe return of the same ax head, in the same or better condition is acceptable.

Notice the first thing the young man does. He reaches out for help from God. It would seem as if he should call for the best diver or maybe the best swimmer.

However, he doesn’t. Instead he calls on God. His action leads us to believe he knew his God had the answer.  And He did, for He is a debt-canceling God.

2 Kings 6:5 in the King James Version says:

“. . .and he cried, and said, Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”

This was serious to the young man.  The scripture says, “He cried.”

It’s important for you to understand that at this point in Biblical history, an iron ax head was expensive.  If you lost something of great value to someone else, there were serious consequences.

Please notice that the prophet knew God to be a debt-canceling God. As soon as he heard that it was a borrowed ax head, the man of God moves into action.

2 Kings 6:6 in the New Living Translation says:

“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.

This was one of the most extraordinary miracles ever performed.  There was no other reason great enough to merit a swimming ax head than the fact that it was borrowed.

2 Kings 6:6 in the King James Version says:

“…and the iron [ax head] did swim.”

2 Kings 6:7 in the New Living Translation says:

“`Grab it,’ Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.”

The miracle the young man asked for . . .believed for ... was happening right before his eyes. . .but Elisha required him to take action.  The young prophet had to reach for his miracle manifestation. . .his debt cancellation.

If you’re believing God to move supernaturally in your finances. . .you must be a reacher as well.

2.         Reachers prepare for victory

1 Samuel 17:40 says:

“And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”

David prepared for his fight with Goliath by reaching into the brook and selecting five smooth stones as ammunition.  There is tremendous symbolism in the five stones which I really can’t get into during this teaching.

1 Samuel 17:40 says:

“And he took. . .five smooth stones of the brook…”

As you prepare for battle reach for the weapon that works for you.

Eliminate anything that can be weaknesses or that will restrict your movement and possibilities of success.

1 Samuel 17:38-40 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“Saul had his own military clothes and armor put on David, and he gave David a bronze helmet to wear. David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things.  "I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it."

While King Saul’s armor didn’t weigh as much as Goliath’s it’s generally agreed by historians that his armor weighed between one and two hundred pounds.  If you’ve never been used to wearing that much gear. . .it would be a heavy, unmanageable load.

Always find something that works for you.   Never reach for what belongs to another person. . .reach for what God has for you.  Play to your strengths.

1 Samuel 17:40 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“David took off the armor and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.”

David’s weapons of choice wouldn’t work for anybody else but him. . .but that’s okay because he was the only one headed to the field of battle.

David picked his weapons of the brook. . .from the running water.

Water is often a type of the Holy Scriptures.

Ephesians 5:26 says:

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

Without having to use much imagination, you can easily see the brook as representing the Word of God.

The best way to prepare for any battle is to reach for the Word of God.

1 Samuel 17:49 says:

“Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, and struck the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank into Goliath’s forehead, and he fell to the ground on his face.”

As you prepare for victory in every area of your life. . .the best thing to reach for is the Word of God.

By doing so, you will slay every giant you’re facing. . .whether in the workplace, marketplace or the home place.

Reach for the Word. . .and your victory is assured.

3.         Reach for your healing

Exodus 15:26 says:

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

According to Strong’s Concordance. . .the very name of God. . .Jehovah-Rapha reveals He is “. . .the Lord that healeth thee.” (H7495)

The fact that Jesus paid the price for our healing was prophesied 700 years before His birth by the prophet Isaiah.  In fact, Isaiah 53:4-5 says:

“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains); yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

All we have to do is reach out and receive our healing.

1 John 5:14-15 says:

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

The woman with the issue of blood realized the truth of the scriptures when she decided to reach out for her healing.

Matthew 9:20-22 says:

“And behold, a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment;   For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health.    Jesus turned around and, seeing her, He said, Take courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well. And at once the woman was restored to health.”

The woman with the issue of blood made a decision of destiny when she reached for Jesus’ cloak.

When you and I read the word touch we think of a light, gentle, faint tap with a finger or hand.  Secular dictionaries confirm that definition.

However, it’s not the definition of touched I found in the Strong’s Concordance.

The Greek word for touched is (hop to my) haptomai and it means:

“to fasten one's self to, adhere to, cling to.”

If you want God to move in your life. . .it’s going to take more than a light touch of faith you’ll need to reach out. . .fasten, adhere and cling to His Word. 

4.         Reach out to Jesus when it seems all hope is lost.

No matter how sinful you’ve been. . .how many times you’ve backslid. . .ignored His Word. . .the truth is and always will be. . .He’s waiting to save you.

Luke 23:42-43 in the New Living Translation says:

“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The thief on the cross was down to the last minutes in his life when he made a decision that changed his destiny forever.

In Acts 16:22-34 we read about Paul and Silas being thrown into the prison and not just prison but the inner prison. . .the dungeon and their feet were fastened in stocks.

25 But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them,

26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.

27 When the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul shouted, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!

29 Then [the jailer] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling and terrified he fell down before Paul and Silas.

30 And he brought them out [of the dungeon] and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved.

Things turned around in the midnight hour. . .the jailer reached out and he got saved along with his family.

5.         Reachers seek answers

Have you ever reached out to someone who you thought could help you solve a problem or give you personal, financial or family advice?

In an effort to find answers. . .some people reach out to speakers at seminars or conferences where they’ve traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to attend.

I’m sure that at one time or another. . .we’ve ALL reached out to other people for answers. I know I have. . .but there’s one thing I’ve never done. . .nor will I probably ever do in my continuing pursuit of wisdom.  I’ve never climbed a tree.

Luke 19:2-4 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And there was a man called Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, and [he was] rich.    And he was trying to see Jesus, which One He was, but he could not on account of the crowd, because he was small in stature.  So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass that way.”

Not only was Zacchaeus reaching out to Jesus for answers. . .he was willing to reach into his own bank account.

Luke 19:8 in the Amplified Bible says:

“So then Zacchaeus stood up and solemnly declared to the Lord, See, Lord, the half of my goods I [now] give [by way of restoration] to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I [now] restore four times as much.”

The Queen of Sheba did the same thing as Zacchaeus.

1 Kings 10:1 in the Amplified Bible says:

“When the queen of Sheba heard of [the constant connection of] the fame of Solomon with the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions (problems and riddles).”

We should always be reaching for answers.

6.         Reachers seize the moment

There are defining moments in all of our lives where we must reach out and seize our opportunity.

Mark 14:3 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And while He was in Bethany, [a guest] in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining [at table], a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment ([a]perfume) of pure nard, very costly and precious; and she broke the jar and poured [the perfume] over His head.”

Mary found her moment.

So did blind Bartimaeus… in Mark 10:46-52 the scripture says:

“. . .blind Bartimaeus. . .sat by the highway begging. . .when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus. . .have mercy on me. . .And Jesus …commanded him to be called … saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise…..   

“And he, casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. . .And Jesus answered and said unto him, What will thou that I should do unto thee?  The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

“And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way:  thy faith made thee whole.  And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way.”

In this beautiful story in Mark 10, did you notice what blind Bartimaeus did?  First, he reached out to our Lord in faith. . .then he “. . .casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.” 

It is interesting to note that in this particular period of history the coat he threw away was a special garment that certified Bartimaeus as really being blind.  He cast aside his old way of receiving the things that he needed and wanted. . .that coat was the thing Bartimaeus had previously trusted in. . .however, in great anticipation of his healing, he cast it down.

When we give honor where honor is due. . .take a step of faith. . .casting off our previous way of doing things. . .we gain immediate access to His blessing flow.

7.         Reach out for your reward

Philippians 3:13 says:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

Philippians 3:14 in the Amplified Bible says:

“I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

The Apostle Paul was a man with vast knowledge of the Word, one who saw signs and wonders following his travels. . .one who raised up disciples. . .one who endured extreme persecution. . .and he speaks of one thing that he did. 

“. . . forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

Paul was reaching out to new things. . .new opportunities. . .new places. . .new people.  He was not living in the past. . .if there was ever anyone who could have lived in the past, it was the Apostle Paul.  But the scripture says that he left the past in the past and he journeyed on toward a new thing.

Once again, Philippians 3:14 says:

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

If you want the prize. . .to hear God say. . .”well-done my good and faithful servant” . . . then you’ve got to forget the past. . .reach out to do new things. . without looking back.

Philippians 3:12-14 in the Message Bible says:

“I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.” 

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