When Life Gives You Lemons

2 Kings 4:1–7 (NLT)

1 One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.

3 And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors.

4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”

5 So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.

6 Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.

7 When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”

INTRODUCTION:

When life gives you lemons, you need to respond by :

I- ACCEPT THE FACT THAT BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GODLY PEOPLE. (2 Kings 4:1)

2 Kings 4:1 NLT

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

A- Godliness does not guarantee a care-free life.

1- This woman’s family was devoted to God.

a- She and her family were not just casual worshippers of God, they were active in serving God and proclaiming His word.

b- Her husband had died.

c- She and her children had fallen on economic hard times.

d- The creditors were “foreclosing” on her-0 preparing to enslave her sons to pay off the family debt.

2- Severe trials sometimes assail the godly.

a- The trials can take many forms.

(1) Loss of loved-ones

(2) Sickness

(3) Financial

(4) Persecution and mistreatment for living for Christ.

3- There is no scriptural guarantee that godly people are exempt from difficulties.

a- In fact, the opposite is true.

(2 Timothy 3:12)

2 Timothy 3:12 NLT

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

(Romans 5:12)

Romans 5:12 NLT

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

(Hebrews 11:33-40)

Hebrews 11:33–34 NLT

33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

Hebrews 11:33–40 NLT

33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

B- Godliness does guarantee that you do have someone to turn to during trials.

1- Turn to God.

(Hebrews 13:5)

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

(Hebrews 4:16)

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

(John 14:18)

John 14:18 NLT

18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

2- Turn to other believers.

(James 2:15-16)

James 2:15–16 NLT

15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

II- BELIEVE GOD AND SUBMIT WHAT YOU HAVE TO HIM. (2 Kings 4:2)

2 Kings 4:2 NLT

2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.

A- God does not require you to have a lot, but what you do have must be submitted to Him.

1- This lady did not have much.

a- herself

b- her sons

c- her house

d- her oil- not much of that!

2- What do you have that you can submit to God?

a- self

b- family (Joshua 24:15)

Joshua 24:15 NLT

15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

c- possessions

d- prayers

B- The promise - God will use what you have.

1- There has never been anything submitted to God that He has not used.

a- The widow’s oil (text)

b- The oil and flour used to feed Elijah and the family (1 Kings 17:18-24)

1 Kings 17:18–24 NLT

18 Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?” 19 But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. 20 Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?” 21 And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! 23 Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” 24 Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”

c- The loaves and Fish used to feed 5,000. (Luke 9:10-17)

Luke 9:10–17 NLT

10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick. 12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.” 13 But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” 14 For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 So the people all sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. 17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!

III- COMMIT TO OBEY GOD AND LEAVE THE CONSEQUENCES TO HIM. (2 Kings 4:3-7)

2 Kings 4:3–7 NLT

3 And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” 5 So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 6 Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 7 When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”

A- Follow the instructions God gives. (2 Kings 4:3-5)

2 Kings 4:3–5 NLT

3 And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” 5 So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.

1- Those instructions may involve enlisting the help of others.

a- Godly leaders

b- Godly Neighbors and friends

2- These instructions on the line (or on a limb).

a- With those around you.

b- With your family.

Note the definition of faith: (Hebrews 11:1)

Hebrews 11:1 NLT

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

3- These instructions will instruct other people, too.

B- When we obey God, He does the rest. (2 Kings 4:6-7)

2 Kings 4:6–7 NLT

6 Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 7 When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”

1- The widow obeyed what God said through His prophet.

a- borrowed the Jars from friends and Neighbors.

b- Shut the door behind she and her sons.

c- Poured the oil int jar after jar until all were filled.

2- God provided the miracle.

a- Filled numerous jars with the contents of one jar.

b- Provided the means of paying off the debt of the widow and her sons.

c- Provided enough for she and her sons to live on.

3- What will God do for us when we obey him?

a- Save souls

b- Provide needs

c- deepen our faith

(Ephesians 3:20)

Ephesians 3:20 NLT

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

CONCLUSION: