Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - How to Break a Log Jam - #6300

Friday, March 4, 2011

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Up in Maine, where the roads run out, it's logging country. Now, the loggers will tell you that once you get a tree down, the next challenge is getting that big, old log where it's supposed to go to the mill. The answer? Well, you're not going to carry it there probably. So, you use natural power. They float those logs right down the river, until of course; too many logs decide to have a meeting in one place. And they call that a log jam. Suddenly nothing's moving. The answer? Explosive power. Dynamite breaks that jam and gets things moving again. Well, that's how real life log jams are. It takes something explosive to get them going.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "How to Break a Log Jam."

Our word today from the Word of God comes from 1 Samuel chapter 9. I'll be reading from verse 21. In order to get the context of this, understand that we are approaching the time when Israel is about to get it's first ever king. Saul has been God's choice for that. And Samuel is God's representative to let Saul know that. Unfortunately, even though he's got the ability, and he's been selected by God, he doesn't seem to have the heart for the challenge. That's the one obstacle. When given the news that he was God's choice, Saul answered, "But am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" He said, "Man, I come from a dinky tribe, and nobody's ever heard of us. Boy, I think you've got the wrong man for the job."

Well, then comes the message from God, and then the change that takes place in 1 Samuel 10:9 . The log jam is broken. "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day." Did you get it? That's the dynamite that breaks the human log jam. God changed Saul's heart. Samuel didn't change his heart. Circumstances didn't change his heart. The signs didn't change his heart. God changed his heart. Sometimes the only way a situation will move is if someone's heart changes.

Sound like a situation you're in? And you can't change a heart. A changed heart is an act of God. I'll bet there's a changed heart needed in someone you know right now. Maybe it's your boss. Maybe it's your folks, or in your son or daughter. Maybe there's someone who's attacking you unjustly. Maybe there's just a log jam right now, and there can't be any more progress until something changes - actually, until someone changes. You've done all you can do. You've planned, and worked, and done your homework, and you've tried to persuade. The real issue, though, is someone's heart isn't it? Well, you have a powerful weapon to break the log jam - fervent, consistent prayer that God will do what only God can do - change that person's heart like He did Saul's. It's a weapon right within our reach...that prayer is. But it's one we so often fail to use.

Do you want to get things moving? Reach for the dynamite. Light the fuse called prayer.

Then stand back and watch the awesome power of God, who is the changer of people's hearts.