From Empty to Overflow: The Power of Availability

2 Kings 4:1-7

In this passage, Elisha helps a widow who is in a desperate situation due to her debts. By instructing her to gather empty jars and pouring her small amount of olive oil into them, we see how faith combined with action can lead to miraculous provision. We are continuing with our teaching on prayer and fasting this morning, with particular attention to fasting. Our corporate fast as a church begins January 31st. What a perfect illustration this scripture is on how important it is to make ourselves available to God, especially through prayer and fasting. How desperate church are we for the move of God in our lives, our families, our church, community, and nation? When did the oil stop coming? We discussed this in last weeks message- as long as there were available and empty vessels the oil was flowing. Making ourselves available and empty, through prayer and fasting, pathways open for divine intervention and provision. God can multiply what little we have when we offer it to Him in faith. When we surrender and make ourselves available for God, we are not only blessed but others can and will be blessed through us.

1.Desperation Drives Availability

2 Ki 4:1-2 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.

The widow was in a desperate situation and needed Elisha to help her. She needed help in a big way and trusted Elisha. The widow had no other choice, it was either trust and obey or her sons would be taken into slavery. How desperate are we? Can we acknowledge our emptiness before God and be available for His purposes? Do we truly recognize our need for divine intervention? When we understand our need for God in our lives, and the need for divine intervention, then we will truly understand the WHY of fasting. We need to lay down the ways that seem right to a man and follow the ways of the Lord.. only through consecration. PROVISION: I want us to understand that provision is not just meeting our monetary needs but the needs of His people. Both physical sustenance and spiritual nourishment. 

2. Faith Fills the Void

2 Ki 4:3-4 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.”

We will see in the very next verse that the widow didn’t hesitate, she faithfully was obedient to the instructions. Our actions, when guided by the Holy Spirit, prepare the way for God's work in our lives. How many of us wait until we are comfortable with the plan before we move, or instead of faith and action, we tend to have more questions than faith? I want to know why? What am I suppose to tell my friends and neighbors why I am collecting all of these? What are you going to do with them? What am I going to fill them with? I just told you I only have a flask? Let us be people so desperate that we empty ourselves of our ways so that we may be empty vessels, moved into action by faith! When we pray and when we fast, it is like gathering jars—making space for God’s provision. Just as I spoke of last week for a brief moment, the Lord is looking for His children that He can lead and fill with His Holy Spirit, He is looking for those that will set down their ways and trust in His. Walk away from comfort-ability and follow the Father that we can trust, and watch Him do what only He can.

3. Miracles Move through Faith

2 Ki 4:5-6 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.

Gods miracle was able to happen because she was obedient. She did as she was told, and witnessed a miracle. The miraculous filling of the jars is a demonstration of God’s abundant provision. Our God is not limited! This reflects the overflowing grace that God offers when we, like the widow, fully commit to trusting Him with what we have. Christ’s miracles can and will fulfill our needs beyond human expectations. The Lord is calling us to be the vessels, He is calling us to be available and emptied of ourselves so that He can fill us with himself. He wants to do a work in us and through us, but we must be available vessels that truly have faith, then we get the blessing of watching God show up and show off!

4. Don’t stop at the Miracle

2 Ki 4:7 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.

The widow’s obedience not only met her immediate need but created a lasting solution. Don’t stop at the miracle, the follow through matters. The miracles are a blessing, but its what we do with the miracles that have the ability to glorify God! God’s provision has a ripple effect, extending blessings to others around us. In Christ, we see that His provision through the cross impacts generations. So not only are we blessed when we are empty available vessels, but through us the Lord is able to reach many! Our acts of faith and obedience can create space and opportunity to shine the light and not just reach one, but can make a difference in an entire community! Look what the Lord was able to do through Elisha’s faithfulness and obedience.

As we call each to fast and to pray and to set time aside seeking the Lord and emptying ourselves- making ourselves available, please know that this is an opportunity not only for God to flow in us, but also through us.

Fasting is the voluntary denial of a normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity.

Richard J. Foster

Cathy please share what your experience this time around in fasting was, that may encourage someone that may be on the fence about joining us in our 21 day fast.