Your Oil Will Not Run Out, If You Believe
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1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.
6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
I Need A Miracle
Part 1 -
Don’t Give Up, Help is on the Way - 2 Kings 7:1–20 NKJV
• Be careful who you take instructions from when you are at your breaking point.
. The King - 2 kings 6:33
• The Prophet - 2 Kings 7:1
• The Solider - 2 Kings 7:2
• The Lepers - 2 Kings 7:3-5
• You must have a balance evaluation of your circumstances. - 2 Kings 7:3–5 (NKJV)
• God will always honor his words - 2 Kings 7:6-8
• When you have receive your breakthrough, remember to share with others - 2 Kings 7:9-11
• Not everyone will believe your testimony of God’s deliverance - 2 Kings 7:12-20
Part 2 -
Your Help Will Come From Unexpected Places
1- Do not hesitate to obey God - 1 Kings 17:1–3
2- Your obedience can sometimes result in hard times - 1 Kings 17:3
3- God always have provision secured for you - 1 Kings 17:4
a. The waters of the brook
b. The meat delivered by a raven
c. Food from A Widow at Zarephath - 1 Kings 17:8-24
Part 3
1-Elijah’s Response to God’s call
i-God will lead you in even in the enemy’s territory - 1 Kings 17:8-9
ii-God will lead you to the place design that will refine you (bring out the best in you) - 1 Kings 17:8-9
iii-God will lead you to the provision he has prepared for you - 1 Kings 17:10-11
iv-Don’t look down on the sources God has provided - 1 Kings 17:10-11
v-Don’t limit your request for help; ask for what you need - 1 Kings 17:11
2 - The widow’s response to God’s Call
i-Do not just obey when the request is easy push through in the difficult requests - 1 Kings 17:10-11
ii-State your position with clarity and without reservation - 1 Kings 17:12
iii-Always give to God first and prove his crazy miracle in your life - 1 Kings 17:13-14
iv-Obedience to the impossible request from God will result in crazy miracle - 1 Kings 17:15-16
Part 4 -
Your Oil Will Not Run Out, If You Believe
1 - Tragedy Has No Restrictions - 2 Kings 4:1
2 - Do not underestimate what is in your possession -2 Kings 4:2
3 - Your level of preparation directly impacts the outpouring of your blessings - 2 Kings 4:33
4 - Preparation is vital to your deliverance. - 2 Kings 4:3-4
5 - You must act upon your faith - 2 Kings 4:5-6
6 - Your deliverance is wrapped up in your obedience - 2 Kings 4:7
Introduction
As we continue to examine the theme “I Need a Crazy Miracle” There are certain principles that are similar in each of these stories.
Your Faith will lead your obedience
Difficulty times happens to everyone
Don’t underestimate the power of God
God will use whatever means to fulfill his plan for our lives
We cannot help but see the superintended hand of God in these stories uniquely.
Persons involved in the story
Elisha, Widow, The Widow’s sons, Creditors
Background
We have been seeing the power of God’s providence in the life of his servant the Prophet Elijah. In todays sermon we will see is student, Elisha following almost identically some of Elijah’s experiences.
Elisha asked for a double portion of the Spirit that was on Elijah to fall upon him.
We can see several points that were made in this story. God always support those who fear Him. God does not fail us no matter our conditions
18 He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary v. Stories about Elisha (4:1–8:15)
God’s, support for those who fear the LORD.
1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary a. The Widow’s Oil (4:1–7)
One lesson implied by the historian here is that God does not fail as the God of the widow and fatherless (Deut. 10:18; Jas 1:27) as do some earthly rulers.
The experience of the widow while natural is not normal. She was faced with an issue that could see her children sold in slavery. What a future to face with your husband the one who love, care, provide and protect you.
If she is going to escape this tragedy it will take a crazy miracle.
We as a church must continue to demonstrate concern for those who are less fortunate than us. We must continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. Our hospitality and generosity is not just towards those of lest fortunate but also includes everyone who is needy.
God addresses every area of our lives and makes provision for us to operate in the environment we are in. This does not means that God condone or promote such negative acts by making provision to survive these circumstances.
The enslavement of defaulting debtors or their families was common throughout the ancient Near East (cf. 1 Kgs 2:39–40; Lev. 25:39; Isa. 50:1; Neh. 5:5; Laws of Hammurapi §§ 117, 119, 213)
Wiseman, D. J. (1993). 1 and 2 Kings: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 9, p. 215). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
A time limit was set to avoid the misuse of the law - Exod. 21:2–3, 7
2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing.
3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.
7 “And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.
The Pot of oil
1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary a. The Widow’s Oil (4:1–7)
possibly for a small anointing flask.
Here are four points to consider today.
1 - Tragedy Has No Restrictions - 2 Kings 4:1
2 - Do not underestimate what is in your possession -2 Kings 4:2
3 - Your level of preparation directly impacts the outpouring of your blessings - 2 Kings 4:33
4 - Preparation is vital to your deliverance. - 2 Kings 4:3-4
5 - You must act upon your faith - 2 Kings 4:5-6
6 - Your deliverance is wrapped up in your obedience - 2 Kings 4:7
1 - Tragedy Has No Restrictions - 2 Kings 4:1
1 - Tragedy Has No Restrictions - 2 Kings 4:1
1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
Everyone of us has at sometime or another questioned why those who are serving God faithfully seems to experience some hard times.
Again we see this point being made in this story. Christians, God fearing people are not excluded from tragedies or disasters.
It is worthwhile pointing out the level of respect that the widow has for the prophet. Never let your circumstances cause you to loose your respect for outers.
2 - Do not underestimate what is in your possession -2 Kings 4:2
2 - Do not underestimate what is in your possession -2 Kings 4:2
2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
Small pot of Oil will not contain the full extent of your blessings.
Your current disposition will not limit your final disposition
Don’t throw away the source of your blessings simply because it is not the size of your of your future!
Big things are composed of several little things, don’t throw away your future!
3 - Your level of preparation directly impacts the out pouring of your blessings - 2 Kings 4:3
3 - Your level of preparation directly impacts the out pouring of your blessings - 2 Kings 4:3
3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
You have to be willing pour out all you have in order that you will have more.
1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary a. The Widow’s Oil (4:1–7)
The ‘pot (’āsûk) of oil’ (AV; NIV a little)
1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary a. The Widow’s Oil (4:1–7)
vessels’, kēlîm)
1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary a. The Widow’s Oil (4:1–7)
a general word for utensils irrespective of type and size.
1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary a. The Widow’s Oil (4:1–7)
The quantity of oil was only limited by the woman’s lack of faith in failing to ask for more empty jars
4 - Preparation is vital to your deliverance.
4 - Preparation is vital to your deliverance.
Obey God’s directive even when it seems foolish - 2 Kings 4:3-4
3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
Preparation is vital to your deliverance.
Preparation is vital to your deliverance.
5 - You must act upon your faith - 2 Kings 4:5-6
5 - You must act upon your faith - 2 Kings 4:5-6
5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.
6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.
6 - Your deliverance is wrapped up in your obedience - 2 Kings 4:7
6 - Your deliverance is wrapped up in your obedience - 2 Kings 4:7
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”