Sermon Tone Analysis

Elijah and Elisha 18.

Can we please turn [P] to 2 Kings chapter 4; and we will read a story there – a story, but it really happened.

This is the record of an encounter that a woman had with a man of God, Elisha: [2 Kings 4:8–17 Now there came a day when Elisha [P] passed over to Shunem, [P] where there was a great woman, [P] and she persuaded him to eat food.

And so it was, as often as he passed by, [P] he turned in there to eat food.

She said to her husband, [P] “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually.

“Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber [P] and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”

One day he came there and turned [P] in to the upper chamber and rested.

Then he said to Gehazi his servant, [P] “Call this Shunammite.”

And when he had called her, she stood before him.

[P] He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have been careful for us with all this care; what can I do for you?

Would you be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the army?’” (Elisha was a man who had influence in high places) And she answered, “I live among my own people.”

So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” [P] And Gehazi answered, “Truly she has no son and her husband is old.”

He said, “Call her.” [P] When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.

Then he said, “At this season next year you will embrace a son.” [P] And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God, do not lie to your maidservant.”

The woman conceived and bore a son [P] at that season the next year, as Elisha had said to her.” [P]] The word of יהוה through Elisha came to pass.

A miracle, a barren woman gave birth to a son!

A miracle that occurred on several occasions in the Bible – barren women giving birth: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Manoah’s wife, Hannah, Elizabeth.

This woman welcomed Elisha into her home; and blessing followed.

Now you mustn’t stretch things too far and read in significance that isn’t there; but, Jesus Himself said in: [Matthew 11:14 “if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.]

So, if you are willing to accept that John is Elijah, then the one after Elijah is Elisha, the one after John is Jesus – so, Elisha corresponds to Jesus.

Both their names indicate that God or יהוה saves.

He is not the closest type of Jesus in Scripture; but when this woman invited Elisha into her home, I don’t think we are too far off to consider welcoming Jesus.

At Christmas we sometimes consider that there was no room for Jesus in Bethlehem; and it says in [John 1:11–12 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. (the Jews, on the whole, did not welcome Jesus) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,] They became family through faith, through believing.

Are we those who hold Jesus at a distance or do we welcome Him, invite Him in, make Jesus at home in our life?

This is what Paul prayed: [P] [Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;] The Good News Bible renders it: [Ephesians 3:17 and I pray that Christ will make His home in your hearts through faith.]

[P] Jesus makes His home in our hearts, He comes in and lives in us!

Hallelujah!

If we invite Him in, receive Him, welcome Him: [John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.]

Jesus dwelling at your place!

Or as Paul put it: [Colossians 1:27 Christ in you, the hope of glory.]

How wonderful!

This is what God’s desire is and His ultimate purpose that He will bring about: [Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God (His tent, His dwelling place) is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them!]

Isn’t that just totally stupendous?! Amazing!

Can I just make a few observations about what this Shunamite woman did?

This woman practiced hospitality.

[P] Welcomed Elisha into her home.

You remember Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, she practiced hospitality.

Elisha ate food – it is close communions.

A verse that used to be used a lot in evangelism but is actually addressed to a church, to believers: [Revelation 3:20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me!].

Jesus coming in and sharing a meal with Him if we welcome Him in.

Dining with God! Amazing!

It took place when the first covenant was enacted in Exodus 24; an absolutely amazing thing took place.

The people were warned not to approach Mount Sinai where God was, but then: [Exodus 24:9–11 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.

Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.]

Amazing, twice it states it, because it is so astounding: they saw God! Ate and drank with Him! Close fellowship!

That is what we can have with Jesus if we welcome Him in.

Jesus wants to dine with us! Remember Jesus said to Zaccheus: [Luke 19:5–6 “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.]

Zaccheus welcomed Jesus in for a meal and he was a transformed man!

Hallelujah!

Hebrews 13:2 tells us that We need to welcome Jesus into our heart through faith.

Abraham by hospitality entertained angels unawares – hospitality was a big deal in that society in those days; but this was beyond common courtesy or social expectations she “persuaded him” [P] – she was determined to have him in her home; just like Lydia: [Acts 16:14–15 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.”

And she prevailed upon us.]

Persuaded him, was insistent.

Remember those on the road to Emmaus?

Jesus made out that He was travelling further but: [Luke 24:29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.”

So He went in to stay with them.]

It was not a casual invitation; she was intent on having Elisha as a guest.

We do not have to persuade Jesus to come in; but on our part, it is not a casual whim, it is a vital necessity.

There is that absolute requirement of having Jesus.

We want Him indwelling more than anything else.

Do you: “Gotta have Jesus!”

But, when you think what this woman did, it was fairly ordinary – making a meal, serving someone else.

[P] Now it says that she was a “great woman” – it could simply mean big, or it could mean wealthy, or important, that she had high status or standing in society.

But she was someone of note, my Bible translates “great” as “prominent”.

So, here was this woman of standing and yet she humbled herself and put on a meal for Elisha – a fairly ordinary thing to do.

We can welcome Jesus by just using our natural talent, in the everyday ordinary things we do – but using it for God.

Sometimes people want some special impartation, to do something super-spiritual – but serve God in the ordinary things.

She was an important woman – but she got him dinner.

Don’t despise the little things.

People want to lead in the church; but I ask, “Are they on the cleaning roster?” – humble service.

Elisha came to stay often, it says “as often as he passed by, he turned in there” He was “passing by continually” – it became habitual.

She did not only serve, it was serving faithfully.

Continually serving in the small things.

They key element to service is FAITHFULNESS.

[1 Corinthians 4:2 The one thing required of such servants is that they be faithful.]

A quality highly esteemed by God because that is His own nature – He is faithful.

Where is Jesus at home and welcome?

The heart of the humble faithful servant.

But it wasn’t mere hospitality – she perceived that He was “a holy man of God” – she was spiritually motivated [P].

She wanted to do something special for him not because he was a pleasant guest, important, good company – but solely because he was from God.

She wanted to do something special for Him because: “I perceive that this is a holy man of God” He was from God, he was holy, separate different.

He was a spiritual man, and this was the reason that motivated her.

It was spiritual hunger.

She wanted that which was spiritual.

It seems she was a wealthy woman, but there was a hole, a spiritual desire.

Elisha had something that she lacked and perceived that she needed.

We realise later on she had a real material need; but she wasn’t seeking Elisha to solve her problem, from selfish motives.

It was out of a spiritual desire, a hunger for the things of God.

That is what should motivate us: spiritual desire.

So she wanted to do more, not just a meal – but to go over and above.

That is love – it goes beyond obligation, duty.

She provided for his comfort – a conducive atmosphere.

[P] Some read great significance into what she proposed to provide – but I don’t – it was a room with a bed to rest on and a table and chair with a light – it wasn’t to eat at, he did that with the woman and her husband, it was to write at, read, maybe do correspondence he had to do, or study.

It was making sure that all he had all he needed.

It was a place where he could rest, relax.

We see that is what he used it for (v.11).

She provided a placed that he could be at home in with all he needed.

If we have Jesus at home in our hearts should we not make it a place with an atmosphere that is conducive to Him dwelling there?