Exercise Your Faith

Introduction:

Do you really trust God? Does God have your complete confidence? When we speak of faith this is what we are really talking about. Trust that is visible through our actions based on what God says.

DT: God supplies for the faithful

Aim: We will trust God regardless of the circumstance in our life

Transition: This passage demonstrates through the life of a widow how every Christian should live their lives faithfully.

The text teaches us to:

Petition God with Our Problems

2 Kings 4:1 (ESV)

1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”

The Widow’s Predicament

The Death of her husband

The Debt in her household

The Demand for her sons

she took her issue to the prophet

explain the prophet’s duties

he spoke for God

he spoke to God for the people

Illustration: Steve Harvey had a talk show and one of the segments is called, “Ask Steve” in this segment people line up and ask Steve for advice and solutions for their personal problems. The problem is, Steve really can’t fix their issue. He will not be there for them when they need him again and lastly his show is canceled.

Transition: Don’t take your problems to people that cannot be with you through the process.

Application: What do you do when life gets tough? Who do you go to when life gets tough. Do you go to God?

Transition: Secondly, we learn that we must be:

Respond to the Word of God Obediently

2 Kings 4:2–4 (ESV)

2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.”

explain the duties of the people of God to the prophet

The people must hear the Word of God

The people must heed (obey) the Word of God

She did what it took to be blessed.

- she obeyed God’s instructions

She collected the pots

she did not doubt God’s power

she did not blow the Word of God off

she acknowledged two things

God is big

and can do Big things

We cannot rely on God’s promises without obeying his commandments.

John Calvin

We must respond to God’s Word with obedience. . .

Illustration: When Jesus wanted to raise Lazarus from the dead, He told the people to roll away the stone. Anybody who can raise a Lazarus from the dead can roll away the stone. But God said, “You do that.”

When Jesus wanted to turn water into wine, He told the servants, “Fill the water pots with water.” Well, anybody who could turn water into wine could fill water pots with water. But He didn’t do it. It was their job.

When God wanted to save Noah from the flood, He said, “Noah, you build the ark.” Every time you look at a miracle—or most every time; or many times, at least—there is man’s part and then there’s God’s part.

So God says to this woman, “Go get some pots, and get some pans.” Now then, he said, “Pour out what you have.” (2 Kings 4:4) That’s an act of obedience. Had she not poured, there never would have been a miracle.

Transition: We are privileged to have The Word of God assessable to us daily. But do we obey his Word?

Application: God blessed her because she obeyed and she prepared herself for what God had.

She didn’t grumble and make excuses. She didn’t sit down and say God knows my heart. She did what it took to be blessed.

If you are going to get what God has in store for you, you are going to have to obey Him to get it.

I know you think it’s ok not to tithe but that is blatant disobedience.

I know you believe you’re exempt from having to pray, reading the word, and worshiping. But if you want to be blessed abundantly you have got to do what God says.

This woman was hurting but she obeyed God.

See your hurt is not an excuse for disobeying God and doing things your own way.

Is God’s Word important to you. Do you trust His word. Here’s what you ought to do to get better acquainted with God’s Word: Read it daily, make it a priority in your life. Respond to the Word of God obediently. . .

Transition: Our text advises us, lastly, to:

Trust and Wait on God

2 Kings 4:5 (ESV)

5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her.

If you can study the Bible, you’ll find out that when man believes God, gets a word from God, makes preparation, God does the rest of it. Now God is going to perform a miracle, but He doesn’t do it without this woman’s cooperation. Here was a faith that learned to function.

She believed God’s Word.

Even though it may have been strange she was willing to trust.

she was in debt, a widow, and a single parent but she did not allow that to keep her from being blessed. She trusted God!

Transition: What about you, can God get that from you?

Illustration: Young man was on his way to college. his mother gave him a new bible and told him when you get in a tight read it. After a couple semesters he found himself in a pinch and needed money so he called back home. His mama asked him have you read your Bible? . . . Philippians 4:19

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Application: Trust God further than you can see. Do you want to be blessed? Believe God beyond your circumstance. I hear you saying I trust God with my life, but do you?

How much of Your life is God allowed to take care of?

Conclusion

the oil overflowed

she was able to sustain her life

save her house

save her children

Illustration: What if this widow had decided after hearing the Word of God to do something different. What if she had decided that she would do it on her own.

Application: Exercise your faith. Keep doing what God has assigned you to do. Continue to trust the commands of God. When you obey God you will live in the overflow.

God will not only supply your needs but He will supply your future! God will take care of you!

Be not dismayed whatever betide God will take care of you Beneath His wings of love abide God will take care of you

God will take care of you Through everyday o'er all the way He will care for you God will take care of you

Through days of toil when heart doth fail God will take care of you When dangers fierce your path assail God will take care of you

God will take care of you Through everyday o'er all the way He will care for you God will take care of you

God will take care of you