Shut The Door Sermon
SHUT THE DOOR
2 KINGS 4:1-7
4 THE WIFE OF A MAN FROM THE COMPANY OF THE PROPHETS CRIED OUT TO ELISHA,
“YOUR SERVANT MY HUSBAND IS DEAD,
AND YOU KNOW THAT HE REVERED THE LORD.
BUT NOW HIS CREDITOR IS COMING TO TAKE MY TWO BOYS AS HIS SLAVES.”
2 ELISHA REPLIED TO HER, “HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE?”
“YOUR SERVANT HAS NOTHING THERE AT ALL,” SHE SAID, “EXCEPT A LITTLE OIL.”
3 ELISHA SAID, “GO AROUND AND ASK ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS FOR EMPTY JARS. DON’T ASK FOR JUST A FEW. 4 THEN GO INSIDE AND SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND YOU AND YOUR SONS.
POUR OIL INTO ALL THE JARS,
AND AS EACH IS FILLED, PUT IT TO ONE SIDE.”
5 SHE LEFT HIM
AND AFTERWARD SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND HER AND HER SONS. THEY BROUGHT THE JARS TO HER AND SHE KEPT POURING.
6 WHEN ALL THE JARS WERE FULL, SHE SAID TO HER SON, “BRING ME ANOTHER ONE.” BUT HE REPLIED, “THERE IS NOT A JAR LEFT.” THEN THE OIL STOPPED FLOWING.
7 SHE WENT AND TOLD THE MAN OF GOD,
AND HE SAID, “GO, SELL THE OIL AND PAY YOUR DEBTS.
YOU AND YOUR SONS CAN LIVE ON WHAT IS LEFT.”
4 THE WIFE OF A MAN FROM THE COMPANY OF THE PROPHETS CRIED OUT TO ELISHA, “YOUR SERVANT MY HUSBAND IS DEAD, AND YOU KNOW THAT HE REVERED THE LORD. BUT NOW HIS CREDITOR IS COMING TO TAKE MY TWO BOYS AS HIS SLAVES.”
THIS WOMAN HAD A BIG PROBLEM.
SHE HAD NO MONEY, HER HUSBAND HAD DIED
AND HE'D LEFT HER WITH A LARGE DEBT.
THE WIDOWS HUSBAND WAS A GODLY MAN.
HE SERVED THE LORD,
BUT FOR SOME REASON HE HAD BORROWED MONEY.
1. BORROWING MONEY IS GENERALLY NOT A GOOD IDEA.
THE BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS 22:7 (NIV)
7 THE RICH RULE OVER THE POOR,
AND THE BORROWER IS SERVANT TO THE LENDER.
THE BIBLE IS TELLING US THAT THE BORROWER BECOMES SERVANT TO THE LENDER.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A SERVANT TO THE LENDER, THEN DON'T BORROW. FIND SOME OTHER WAY BESIDES BORROWING.
2. IF YOU HAVE A CREDIT CARD,
THIS IS WHAT I RECOMMEND
KEEP AN ENVELOPE SOMEWHERE
AND WHENEVER YOU USE YOUR CREDIT CARD,
PUT THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE ENVELOPE.
WHEN THE BILL COMES, YOU'LL BE ABLETO PAY OFF THE BALANCE.
3. I CAN UNDERSTAND
BORROWING MONEY TO BUY YOUR HOUSE,
BUT THE TRUTH IS, THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS TOO.
4. WHEN WE WERE LOOKING FOR A HOUSE TO BUY IN BATTLE CREEK, THEY TOLD US THAT WE COULD BORROW OVER $300,000.00 DOLLARS.
THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD HAVE AFFORDED THE PAYMENTS ON A LOAN LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHY OUR ECONOMY IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE TODAY.
TOO MANY PEOPLE WALKED OUT ON THAT LIMB
AND BORROWED MORE MONEY THAN THEY COULD AFFORD.
AND THEN WHEN THINGS WENT BAD,
THEY COULD'NT MAKE THEIR HIGH PAYMENTS AND LOST EVERYTHING.
BORROWING MONEY IS GENERALLY NOT A GOOD IDEA.
IN FACT, THE BIBLE RECOMMENDS JUST THE OPPOSITE.
PROVERBS 13:11B (NIV)
HE WHO GATHERS MONEY LITTLE BY LITTLE MAKES IT GROW.
PROVERBS 6:6-8 (THE MESSAGE) SAYS IT RATHER HARSHLY.
A LESSON FROM THE ANT
6–11 YOU LAZY FOOL, LOOK AT AN ANT.
WATCH IT CLOSELY; LET IT TEACH YOU A THING OR TWO.
NOBODY HAS TO TELL IT WHAT TO DO.
ALL SUMMER IT STORES UP FOOD;
AT HARVEST IT STOCKPILES PROVISIONS.
PROVERBS 13:22a (NIV)
22 A GOOD MAN LEAVES AN INHERITANCE FOR HIS CHILDREN’S CHILDREN,
THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU LIVE THAT KIND LIFE?
HOW DO YOU GET A CAR WITHOUT BORROWING THE MONEY?
ANSWER:
START WITH AN OLD INEXPENSIVE BEATER CAR.
PUT A CAR PAYMENT IN THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING THIS RUSTY OLD BEATER.
(THE BIGGER THE CAR PAYMENT THE SOONER YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BUY A BETTER CAR)
YOU MAY NEED TO USE SOME OF YOUR SAVINGS TO KEEP YOUR OLD RUST BUCKET ON THE ROAD.
WHEN YOU HAVE SAVED ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A NEWER USED CAR, THEN PAY CASH FOR IT.
CONTINUE PUTTING A CAR PAYMENT INTO THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS, THE DAY WILL COME WHEN YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY CASH FOR A NEW CAR.
BUT WHEN THIS TIME COMES,
YOU MAY STILL OPT TO BUY A NICE NEARLY NEW CAR,
BECAUSE THE INITIAL NEW CAR PRICE HAS DISSIPATED
AND NOW YOU'RE GETTING REAL VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY.
WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE THINGS THIS WIDOW WAS FACING.
1. SHE HAD JUST LOST HER HUSBAND.
IT'S A HARD THING TO HAVE HALF OF YOUR SELF TORN AWAY AND TO BE LEFT ALL ALONE.
IT'S HARD TO HAVE TO BEGIN DOING ALL THE THINGS YOUR MATE USED TO DO.
THE BILLS, THE TRASH, THE DISHES, THE LAUNDRY, BUYING THE GROCERIES.
2. SHE HAS TWO SONS TO RAISE ALL BY HERSELF.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SINGLE MOMS TODAY THAT NEED HELP.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING WE AS A CHURCH CAN DO FOR THEM.
3. SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS CREDITOR WHO IS THREATENING
TO TAKE HER SONS AND SELL THEM INTO SLAVERY.
THIS WIDOW HAD A REAL PROBLEM.
IN THE CULTURE OF HER DAY,
A CREDITOR WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE THE MEMBERS OF A DEBTORS FAMILY AND SELL THEM, TO GET THE MONEY
FOR THE DEBT THAT WAS OWED.
REMEMBER THE STORY IN MATTHEW 18:--
ABOUT THE STEWARD THAT OWED HIS MASTER 10,000 TALENTS.
MATTHEW 18:25 (NIV)
25 SINCE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PAY, THE MASTER ORDERED THAT HE AND HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN AND ALL THAT HE HAD BE SOLD TO REPAY THE DEBT.
THE WIDOWS OF THAT DAY WEREN'T ABLE TO JUST GO OUT AND GET A JOB TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES.
SHE COULDN'T JUST GO GET A JOB AND PAY OFF THE DEBT WITH HER WAGES.
WIDOWS IN THAT DAY HAD TO DEPEND ON THE CHARITY OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
OTHERWISE THEY WERE JUST PLANE DESTITUTE.
THIS WIDOW WAS VERY CLOSE TO LOSING HER TWO SONS.
4. SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN, SO SHE GOES TO ELISHA, TO ASK FOR GOD'S HELP.
2 ELISHA REPLIED TO HER, “HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
ELISHA IS ASKING HER TO TELL HIM EXACTLY WHAT HER NEEDS ARE.
THIS SOUNDS JUST LIKE SOMETHING THAT JESUS WOULD HAVE SAID.
WHEN THE BLIND MAN CAME TO JESUS IN MATTHEW 20:32 JESUS ASKED HIM WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU
MATTHEW 20:32-33 (NIV)
32 JESUS STOPPED AND CALLED THEM. “WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?” HE ASKED. 33 “LORD,” THEY ANSWERED, “WE WANT OUR SIGHT.”
WHEN WE GO TO GOD IN PRAYER, WE NEED TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT IT IS, WE'RE PRAYING FOR.
FIND AN EXAMPLE OF PRAYING
ELISHA CONTINUES IN VERSE 2,
TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE?”
ELIJAH IS ASKING HER WHAT SHE HAS AVAILABLE.
THIS ALSO, SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT JESUS WOULD DO.
MUD ON THE BLIND MAN'S EYES.
JOHN 9:6-7 (NIV)
6 HAVING SAID THIS, HE SPIT ON THE GROUND, MADE SOME MUD WITH THE SALIVA, AND PUT IT ON THE MAN’S EYES.
7 “GO,” HE TOLD HIM, “WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM” (THIS WORD MEANS SENT). SO THE MAN WENT AND WASHED, AND CAME HOME SEEING.
THE 5 LOAVES AND 2 FISHES.
MARK 6:35-38 (NIV)
35 BY THIS TIME IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY, SO HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM. “THIS IS A REMOTE PLACE,” THEY SAID, “AND IT’S ALREADY VERY LATE. 36 SEND THE PEOPLE AWAY SO THEY CAN GO TO THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE AND VILLAGES AND BUY THEMSELVES SOMETHING TO EAT.”
37 BUT HE ANSWERED, “YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.”
THEY SAID TO HIM, “THAT WOULD TAKE EIGHT MONTHS OF A MAN’S WAGESA! ARE WE TO GO AND SPEND THAT MUCH ON BREAD AND GIVE IT TO THEM TO EAT?”
38 “HOW MANY LOAVES DO YOU HAVE?” HE ASKED. “GO AND SEE.”
WHEN THEY FOUND OUT, THEY SAID, “FIVE—AND TWO FISH.”
JESUS USED WHATEVER WAS AVAILABLE.
“YOUR SERVANT HAS NOTHING THERE AT ALL,” SHE SAID, “EXCEPT A LITTLE OIL.”
ISN’T THAT JUST LIKE US?
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR RESOURCES
WE DON’T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER
WE DON’T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING TO GIVE
WE SIT STILL IN OUR PEWS YEAR AFTER YEAR
THINKING WE'VE GOT NOTHING TO CONTRIBUTE
BUT SHE DID HAVE SOMETHING.
IT WASN'T MUCH, BUT IS WAS SOMETHING.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT
GOD WANTS US TO DO WHAT WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
WE NEED TO BEGIN TO DO SOMETHING WITH WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
IT'S LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, WITH THE MUSIC.
WE'RE USING OLD TECHNOLOGY,
WE'RE USING A SCREEN AND AN OVERHEAD PROJECTOR.
OVERHEADS DO WORK. YOU CAN SEE THE WORDS, EVEN IF IT DOES LOOK KLUNKY AND OLD.
BUT NOW, GOD IS BLESSING US WITH A VIDEO PROJECTOR.
SOON WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS PROJECTOR
TO DISPLAY WORDS, BACKGROUNDS AND VIDEOS
FOR ALL TO SEE.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO DISPLAY EXTRA INFORMATION
DURING THE SERMONS.
WE DID WHAT WE COULD WITH WHAT WE HAD AVAILABLE, AND NOW GOD IS MOVING US FORWARD.
3 ELISHA SAID, “GO AROUND AND ASK ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS FOR EMPTY JARS. DON’T ASK FOR JUST A FEW.
NOW HERE'S A CASE WHERE SHE IS TOLD TO ACTUALLY GO AND BORROW SOMETHING.
THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER BORROW ANYTHING.
IT ONLY SAYS THAT WHEN YOU DO, YOU BECOME OBLIGATED TO THE PERSON YOU BORROWED FROM.
ELISHA GAVE HER TWO THINGS TO DO.
NOW THAT HE HAD TOLD HER WHAT TO DO,
THE RESPONSIBILITY SHIFTS ONTO HER SHOULDERS.
NOW SHE HAS TO ACTUALLY GO DO WHAT SHE'S BEEN TOLD TO DO.
IF SHE HAD NOT GONE AND BORROWED THOSE JARS,
OR IF SHE HAD ONLY BORROWED A FEW JARS,
THEN SHE WOULD HAVE LIMITED THE MIRACLE.
SHE COULD HAVE THOUGHT WHY DO I NEED TO GO BORROW ALL THESE JARS ANYWAY?
IT DOSEN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
WHAT GOOD ARE A BUNCH OF BORROWED JARS
GOING TO DO HER.
IT MUST HAVE SEEMED LIKE A WASTE OF TIME
FOR HER TO GO AND BOTHER ALL HER FRIENDS,
AND NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES.
NOT ONLY WAS SHE WASTING HER OWN TIME
BUT SHE WAS WASTING THEIR TIME TOO.
SHE COULD HAVE SAID,
I HEARD YOUR INSTRUCTIONS ELISHA,
BUT LET ME GO HOME AND PRAY ABOUT IT FIRST.
SHE COULD HAVE SAID,
LET ME GO FIND SOMEONE TO AGREE WITH ME ON THIS.
SHE COULD HAVE THOUGHT, I'LL GO BORROW THE JARS, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYTHING WILL COME OF IT.
SHE COULD HAVE SAID,
WELL ELISHA, I'LL THINK ABOUT IT --
AND I'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THIS.
SHE COULD HAVE SAID, IF THIS DOESN'T WORK ELISHA,
DO YOU THINK THE CHURCH COULD LOAN ME SOME MONEY?
BUT NO!!!
SHE HAD FAITH IN GOD AND FAITH IN ELISHA.
SHE HAD THE FAITH TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE WAS A VALID REASON FOR DOING
WHAT SHE WAS TOLD TO DO.
AND SO SHE DID IT WITH ALL HER HEART.
• SHE DIDN'T QUESTION
• SHE DIDN'T ASK HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE
• SHE DIDN'T ANALYZE THE POSSIBILITIES
• SHE WALKED BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT
• SHE COULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE HEBREWS 11 HALL OF FAITH
YOU REMEMBER THOSE PEOPLE.
THEY WERE THE ONES WHO SHOWED EXCEPTIONAL FAITH.
• BY FAITH ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD AND WAS NO MORE
• BY FAITH NOAH BUILT AN ARK BEFORE IT RAINED
• BY FAITH ABRAHAM WALKED INTO HIS INHERITANCE
• BY FAITH MOSES LOOKED OVER AND SAW THE PROMISED LAND
• BY FAITH THE WALL OF JERICHO FELL DOWN FLAT
• BY FAITH DAVID SLEW GOLIATH
• IT'S BY FAITH THAT OUR MIRACLE IS COMING TOO.
SHE CHOSE TO FULLY OBEY THE INSTRUCTIONS OF GOD
SO SHE WENT TO EVERY ONE SHE COULD FIND
AND BORROWED EVERY JAR SHE COULD GET HER HANDS ON.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE WAY WE SHOULD BE SERVING GOD.
WE SHOULD GO THE EXTRA MILE,
GIVE THE EXTRA DOLLAR,
HELP THOSE THAT NEED OUR HELP.
4 THEN GO INSIDE AND SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND YOU AND YOUR SONS.
POUR OIL INTO ALL THE JARS, AND AS EACH IS FILLED, PUT IT TO ONE SIDE.”
ELIJAH'S SECOND DIRECTION WAS TO GO INSIDE AND SHUT THE DOOR.
WHY SHUT THE DOOR?
WHAT DOES SHUTTING THE DOOR HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?
I THINK THERE IS A LOT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS
SHUT THE DOOR PRINCIPLE.
1. THE MOST OBVIOUS REASON FOR SHUTTING THE DOOR WAS TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM COMING IN AND INTERRUPTING THE FILLING PROCESS.
2. THE NEXT REASON IS ALSO OBVIOUS.
IT WAS SO IT WOULD BE PLAINLY SEEN THAT THIS WAS A MIRACLE FROM GOD.
NO ONE COULD COME IN THE OPEN DOOR AND BRING IN SOME OIL.
3. I THINK THAT MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO SHUT THE DOOR WAS TO KEEP THE NEGATIVISM OUT.
OTHER PEOPLE CAN ROB US OF OUR MIRACLE WITH THEIR NEGATIVISM.
OTHER PEOPLE CAN TALK US OUT OF OUR BLESSING.
PEOPLE SAY THINGS LIKE:
n I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT FOR
n THAT JUST DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE
n WHAT YOU GOING TO LISTEN TO THE PASTOR FOR?
n YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING
n IT DOES NOT TAKE ALL OF THAT
n DON’T EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME FILLING OUT THAT
APPLICATION YOUR NOT GOING TO GET THE JOB ANYWAY
CAN’T YOU JUST HEAR THE WIDOWS NEIGHBORS TALKING,
IF SHE HADN'T SHUT THE DOOR:
• WHAT YOU TAKING ALL THOSE EMPTY POTS HOME FOR? – RIDICULE HER
• YOU DON’T HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR HOUSE
-- SHAME HER
• LOST HER HUSBAND,
AND NOW SHE'S DONE LOST HER MIND TOO
-- INSULT HER
• WHAT’S SHE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THOSE EMPTY JARS – QUESTION HER
• THE ONLY THING SHE HAS LEFT IN HER HOUSE IS AIR –
SHE GOING TO BOTTLE AND SELL THAT TOO?
-- LAUGH AT HER
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO JUST CLOSE THE DOOR.
AND STOP LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE'S NEGATIVISM.
THERE'S ALREADY TOO MANY CHURCHS IN ALBION.
YOU'RE SO SMALL THAT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
ALL THE OTHER CHURCHS ARE ALREADY DOING ALL THE PROGRAMS. YOU'RE ALL SHUT OUT.
WHY BOTHER DOING ANYTHING,
YOUR CHURCH IS LOCATED IN THE WRONG ZONE.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO THAT YOU'LL NEVER GET IT DONE ANYWAY.
AND HOW MANY HUNDRED OTHER NEGATIVE THINGS
CAN PEOPLE THINK UP TO SAY TO YOU.
WE NEED TO CLOSE THE DOOR.
WE NEED TO DO A MATTHEW 6:6 AND
Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. [1]
GO INTO OUR CLOSET, SHUT THE DOOR AND PRAY TO OUR FATHER WHO SEES WHAT'S DONE IN SECRET
AND THEN LET HIM REWARD US.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH --
GOD IS NEVER CAUGHT WITHOUT A CLUE,
HE'S JUST WAITING FOR US TO SHUT THE DOOR.
- IF YOU'RE WAITING ON A MIRACLE – SHUT THE DOOR
- IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BLESSING – SHUT THE DOOR
- IF YOU'RE WAITING FOR A WORD FROM GOD –
SHUT THE DOOR
- TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR I LOVE YOU BUT
I NEED TO SHUT THE DOOR
- DO YOU HAVE A SITUATION THAT ONLY GOD CAN FIX
– SHUT THE DOOR
- DO YOU NEED GOD TO SHOW UP
– SHUT THE DOOR
- DO YOU NEED REST AND PEACE OF MIND
- SHUT THE DOOR
5 SHE LEFT HIM AND AFTERWARD SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND HER AND HER SONS. THEY BROUGHT THE JARS TO HER
ONCE AGAIN SHE AND HER SONS WERE TOTALLY OBEDIENT. THEY DID EXACTLY WHAT ELISHA HAD TOLD THEM TO DO.
AND SHE KEPT POURING.
WHEN THE MIRACLE IS HAPPENING,
WHEN THE CHURCH IS GROWING AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING SAVED,
WE NEED TO KEEP POURING.
WE NEED TO KEEP ON PRAYING.
WE NEED TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED TO THOSE NEGATIVE COMMENTS.
WE NEED TO KEEP ON OBEYING GOD.
6 WHEN ALL THE JARS WERE FULL, SHE SAID TO HER SON, “BRING ME ANOTHER ONE.”
BUT HE REPLIED, “THERE IS NOT A JAR LEFT.” THEN THE OIL STOPPED FLOWING.
OH MY FRIEND, I DON'T EVER WANT THE OIL TO STOP FLOWING.
I REALIZE THAT THIS WAS THE END OF THE MIRACLE,
AND HER NEEDS WERE NOW MET.
BUT...
I WANT THE OIL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE AN EVER FLOWING FOUNTAIN BUBBLING UP INSIDE OF ME
UNTIL THE DAY I LEAVE THIS WORLD
AND ENTER INTO HIS ETERNAL PRESENCE.
I WANT GOD'S FULL MEASURE.
7 SHE WENT AND TOLD THE MAN OF GOD,
AND HE SAID, “GO, SELL THE OIL AND PAY YOUR DEBTS.
YOU AND YOUR SONS CAN LIVE ON WHAT IS LEFT.”
SHE WAS NOT ONLY ABLE TO PAY HER DEBTS, BUT GOD GAVE HER ENOUGH TO LIVE ON TOO.
THAT'S THE WAY GOD IS WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO HIM.
WE HAVE THIS PROMISE IN PHILIPPIANS 4:19 (NIV) THAT SAYS
19 AND MY GOD WILL MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS RICHES IN CHRIST JESUS.
OUR GOD WILL MEET ALL OUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY.
WE CAN TRUST HIM TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
WE CAN TRUST HIM TO TELL US TO GO
AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE AROUND US, TOO.
THAT'S HOW GOD WORKS.
++++FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.
JESUS CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR YOU,
IF YOU’RE NOT WILLING TO DO WHAT JESUS TELLS YOU TO DO.
• YOU CAN’T PRAY FOR GOOD RESULTS ON YOUR EXAM WITHOUT STUDYING.
• YOU CAN’T PRAY FOR GOOD HEALTH
AND NOT EAT WELL AND SLEEP WELL AND EXERCISE WELL.
BUT FAITH WITH WORKS WILL ACCOMPLISH AMAZING THINGS.
GOD DID A MIRACLE FOR THE WIDOW WOMAN AND I BELIEVE HE WILL DO A MIRACLE FOR US HERE IN ALBION TOO.
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[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.