MOVED BY GOD!

Bible Reading Week 19 (2nd Sunday)

This Week’s Theme: God’s Hand in Meeting Others’ Needs

Word for the Week is Immutability: God does not change. All of His attributes flow from Him. Men receive based His wrath or His mercy based on them. 

Memory verse: Psalm 111:7 The works of His hand is verity and justice. All His precepts are sure. 

Sermon Focus: God blesses as we serve others. 

Sermon Text: 2 Kings 4:8-15, 32-37

2 Kings 4:8–15 NKJV

8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.” 11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.

2 Kings 4:32–37 NKJV

32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

What Is Your Motivation?

Introduction: What is going on when a judge enters a courtroom, and those physically able, stand to their feet? When a person of takes a seat in the back, although he or she may deserve a seat up front. What moves someone to bless those who curse him or her or to bless a person who persecute him? What drives individuals to pray for those who spitefully use them? What moves the people to respond in these ways? I would submit to you that these types of actions happens when God is at work in their lives. He transforms their lives so that they will be MOVED…

I. Moved by Honor

2 Kings 4:8–10 NKJV

8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”

Elisha was a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. DURING THIS TIME, God empowered prophets to proclaim His Word to the nations which included present and future intentions to save and bring judgment.

Elisha went to Shunen, a city within the territory of the tribe of Issachar.

While in the city a wealthy woman persuaded him to come to her home and dine with her and her husband (v. 9).

After multiple visits she persuaded her husband to make a small room from him to stay in when the prophet came through (v. 10).

A commandment of hospitality may have prompted her invitation. The LORD commanded His people to show hospitality to strangers (Ex. 21:22). He also called them to show kindness to their enemies (23:4). What moved her to honor the man of God with provisions? She was moved by his position.

We are called to give honor to one honor was due (Rom. 13:7).

Romans 13:7 NKJV

7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Exodus 22:28 NKJV

28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

HEAR THE WORDS OF DAVID

1 Samuel 24:6 NKJV

6 And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”

We respect the position. Because God has the highest position, we honor Him above all others.  

1 Peter 2:17 NKJV

17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

ARE YOU MOVED BY GOD TO HONOR ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF

LOOKS, LINEAGE, OR LOOT

II. Moved by Humility

2 Kings 4:11–18 NKJV

11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!” 17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her. 18 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers.

While relaxing in the room provided, the prophet called the woman before him. He wanted to show his gratitude to her for all the care shown him (v. 13).

She had created an environment of appreciation that the people felt loved by this family.

Elisha asked her how he could bless the one who had been such a blessing to him. Her response was one of humility. She understood THE WORD WHEN IT SAID

Proverbs 16:19 NKJV

19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

that having a humble spirit with the lowly is better than dividing the spoil with proudful people

God had already blessed her, and she used what she had to bless the man of God.

Although she was childless, she chose to FOLLOW THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD

Philippians 2:14 NKJV

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

THIS woman exhibited humility.

Her humility moved the prophet to ask God to bless her with a child

What is YOUR mindset?

WHAT SHOULD BE OUR MINDSET

God calls His people to be content with what they have (He 13:5)

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

and to humble themselves in His sight so that He would exalt us in His timing (JAMES 4:10 ).

James 4:10 NKJV

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

We should remember that living godly and being content with it is a great gain (1 Tim 6:6). We know that God will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory (Phil 4:19).

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

III. Moved by Hope

2 Kings 4:32–37 NKJV

32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

After some time, the woman’s son becomes very ill and then dies (vs 20-21). We can imagine the pain she felt.

She lost the only son she had.

How did she respond to her aching heart?

She responded with hope. The expectation that God could bring a positive outcome.

Her hope moved her to put her dead son in the room of the man of God.

Hope in God moved her to go looking for Elisha (v 25).

Her belief that God could change this situation caused her to respond when asked about her state with “It is well” (v 26).

Hope looked to the prophet to intervene on her behalf without her having to ask (vs 28-29).

Hope against hope like David, who knew that God said the baby would die but he fasted and prayed thinking perhaps the LORD would be gracious (2 Sa 12:22).

Life does not always turn out the way we want it to but how we respond is what is important. When sickness comes, or death arrives at your door, do you still hope in God?

Conclusion: Money, pain, fame, material goods, guilt, and belonging often move people to do act either positively or negatively. These are short-term motivators that are horizontal in nature. Yet, as a Christian, we are called to a higher standard, a vertical motivator. God calls for us to be motivated by fear of Him (Pr 1:7; Ps 111:10), which in turn motivates us to honor, to be humble, and to hope.