What Do You Have in Your House 9.10.23

What Do You Have In Your House? September 10, 2023 2 Kings 4:1-7 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. 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. And Elisha said, Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 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. So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 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. 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: During the days in the Old Testament, there must have been a school of sorts for prophets to learn the skills of ministry in Israel (think Bible college). Both the prophet Samuel and later Elisha seem to be very engaged with these young men who studied under them. Think of a mentoring relationship in which young ministers in training were guided by a more seasoned and experience prophet. It is the same way we train elders at LEC-the influence of the older, more experienced teach the younger. This seems to the case here. A woman approaching Elisha had a husband who was among those who trained in the school and he has died unexpectedly. According to her testimony he was a good man of faith, trusting in the Lord. It is important to remember that EVERYTHING WE VALUE WE LEARN IN THE HARDEST OF PLACES OF LIFE. The Holmes/Rahe Stress Scale charts the most stress-filled experiences in life and are predictors for future illness. In their scale... The loss of a spouse is considered the most impacting and stressful moment in life. The next 4... #2-Divorce #3-Marital separation #4-Imprisonment #5-Death of a family member or close friend Your stress situations may be different but they are just as real. • What do you do when you are facing problems with your children that you cannot solve? • What do you do when your marriage is on the rocks and the crashing waves of hopelessness are unrelenting? • What do you do when there are problems at work and it seems that there is no way out? • What do you do when you have too much month left at the end of your money? • What do you do when you have followed a loved one's body to the graveyard and you cannot escape the loneliness, the grief and the pain? • What do you do when your heart is broken, your dreams are shattered and your hopes have been dashed to bits on the cruel rocks of reality? • What do you do when you are walking through a spiritual wasteland and there seems to be no way out? What is your response to crisis? Counselors call this "Fight or flight"... Let me suggest a third alternative... Learn to anticipate trouble (Job 14:1) Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. (Psalms 34:19) The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. (John 16:33) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. This woman is in a very desperate situation. * Her husband has died and apparently not left provisions to care for his family **(if you don't have a life insurance policy-make that call today) * now the creditors are threatening to take her sons as payment. You thought you were having a bad day because you couldn't find your favorite shirt or dress... A Question She Was Not Expecting * When she came to the prophet, I'm confident she expected him to do something... * She never considered that the miracle she needed was right in her own house! * Sometimes we are waiting on God * But sometimes God is waiting on us An Obedience That Mattered • There is little that God values more than obedience. (Isaiah 1:19) If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. (Exodus 19:5) Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. (1 Samuel 15:22) What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. * How much can you believe God for? * The magnitude of her blessing depended on how many vessels she borrowed. * Sometimes obedience feels foolish... (Naaman, dipping in the muddy Jordan River) * What is God calling you to do that opens up the possibilities of miracles in your life? o Do you need to forgive someone? o Do you need to have a conversation? o Do you need to get the sin out of your life! * You're asking God for healing but you are still gossiping and telling lies about other people. * You're needing God to show up in your marriage but you are still secretly watching pornography. * You're believing God to help you with your kids but you're not walking with God faithfully in your own life. * These 5 words were the key to her miracle... "She did what he said" A Blessing That Surprised Her * As long as she had containers, there was enough oil. * What does that mean to you and me? o As long as we do what God says, He will continue to bless us o There is no oil shortage in heaven o There is no financial shortage in God's bank o There is no lack with God (v. 7)...Pay your debts, then "live on the rest" * How much was left over? * God not only blessed her at the point of her need but there was an overflow of blessing * God blesses beyond the point of our need * There was enough meal in the barrel and oil to take care of the widow and her son and Elijah * Jesus fed 5,000 and the disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftovers * When you put your trust in the God who owns everything, has everything at his disposal-you get more than enough Conclusion: God, I am a sinner I'm sorry for my sins I believe Jesus died for my sins I believe Jesus will forgive my sins I choose Jesus