The Shunammite Miracle

2 Kings 4:8–17 “And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.”

As I read this passage, I couldn't help but notice the similarities between the prophet Elisha's visit to the Shunammite woman's home and the Word of God entering our lives. See, a prophet symbolizes the Word and Power of God. Most of us remember the day the Word of God comes into our lives and we feel true conviction in our lives. Conviction power is born from the Holy Spirit. That moment when we are gripped with an awareness that touches our hearts, and a choice can give us life. The choice to choose the Word of God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Who was made flesh, and dwelt among us, he who knew no sin, became sin, so that we can find righteousness in God. He who bore the stripes, scourged and persecuted, and by his blood we are washed, healed, and made new as a new creature in Christ.

The Word of God births room in hearts that allows the Holy Spirit to bring conviction, power, and unction to repentance.

The Word of God reveals the power of God. The Word of God reveals God's promises, and through seeking God and desiring a greater intimacy with the Holy Spirit we see the power of the Comforter. Through our comforter, in the name of Jesus, we find promises of healing, promises of deliverance, promises of joy, promises of provision, promises of His anointing, and promises of Salvation. All of these promises are in the Word of God.

Everything begins with the Word!

John 1:1–3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Everything begins with the Word. It does not matter what you proclaim if it is not grounded in the Word of God. It does not matter your gifting if you are not grounded in the Word of God. It does not matter whether you have an anointing if you are not grounded in the Word of God. I feel that in this moment, it is crucial to emphasize that merely walking in the authority and power of God does not suffice if you are not grounded in the Word of God. Too many believers have an anointing on them, and because they are not grounded and they have no experience with God, they fizzle out. Too many believers have a gifting on them, but because they are not grounded in the Word of God, they do not understand their giftings. Even though Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” If you do not understand the authority you have, you are like a baby playing whack-a-mole. What is a blessing can confuse if not understood!

If you do not have God’s word engrafted on your heart -> any struggle that comes against you will feel overwhelming. A frustration turns into bitterness. A compromise turns into backsliding. A ministry turns into exasperation.

It is not the seasons of God’s glory where the enemy comes against you, but it is that transition from one season to another season where the enemy comes against us. It is not where you used to be, but where you are not yet. It is the moment of the present that is when the grounding of the Word of God becomes critical in our spiritual walk. Without the Word of God washing you, renewing you, and refreshing your mind, any small struggle can bring everything out of alignment. What seems small feels big, and our response brings a greater struggle. The cycle continues, growing. Continues.

Without the Word of God, the world can derail you, but with the Word of God, the Lord thy God will propel you! Scripture says in Job 1:10; that Satan had to ask God to remove the hedge of protection around Job. In Luke 22:31 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”

There is a sobering reality where Satan walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour, but Jesus says Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Psalm 107:20 “He sent his word, and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.”

There is power in the Word of God. There is healing in the Word of God. There is deliverance in the Word of God. Jesus says to Peter, I have prayed that your faith will not fail, and when you are converted, you strengthen your brethren. In other words, after you have stumbled, Jesus says I pray that your faith brings you through the tribulation, and once through, you strengthen those around you. See, faith is the hand that reaches and takes hold of the blessings of God, but regardless of the necessity of faith, the Word of God quickens the hand of faith. IOWs, The Word of God reveals the blessings so that faith can take root. In Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Paul emphasizes the importance of hearing and remaining immersed in the Word to build faith.

Scripture says, Elisha passed to Shunem, where there was a great woman. This woman constrained him to eat bread. I love this passage; the word “constrain” means to lay a hold of — think of it as forcibly — this woman forcibly laid hold of the prophet as he passed by on his way. And, as much as he “oft” passed through, he turned into that place. See, this great woman did not just feed the prophet or lay hold of the Word of God passing by.

“She built a chamber for the prophet to dwell in!” Can I get an Amen?! The Shunammite woman wanted a chamber for the prophet to dwell in when the prophet was passing through. I find this to be a powerful biblical symbol. She saw the power and authority of this Holy Man of God, and she desired to have this Holy Man dwell with them. I can only imagine what discernment she had to see the power, authority, and anointing, double portion anointing on this Holy Man of God.

FIRST: The Shunammite woman perceived the prophet as a Holy Man of God. See, you have to recognize the Word as the very life force of God.

The Word of God is alive with healing. The Word of God is alive with salvation, deliverance, miracles, supernatural provision, guidance, correction, and instruction. Every promise of God is a miracle seed waiting to be planted in the soil of your heart. When you truly perceive the power, presence, and promises of God - you begin to fall in love with the Word. You start to devour it. Like a starving person, you yearn for real spiritual sustenance. You will drink from it like a man dying of thirst. Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

SECOND: The Shunammite woman received the word, she accepted it and made it personal. She placed a high value on the prophet in her life, in her home, and in her heart. It is one thing to acknowledge the validity of the Word of God, recognize the truth, and see the importance of the Word. BUT it is a completely different matter to personalize the Word of God, prioritize the Word of God, and make room for the Word of God so that you are transformed. The Shunammite woman accommodated the man of God by building a chamber in her house.

The issue today is there are far too many who change the WoGd to accommadate their lifestyle, to accomadate their beliefs and compromise the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Romans 12:1–2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The WoG transforms us, renews us, and the WoG must remain non-negotiable in our lives. Failure to accommodate the Word of God results in compromising ourselves and Matthew 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” IOWs, when we compromise our faith and the Word of God, scripture says there will be many walking with us on the wide road to damnation.

Psalm 119:89 “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.”

Psalm 89:34 “My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”

To truly receive the Word of God in our lives, it must become the final authority in our lives where the Holy Spirit is confirming “That we may prove what is good, and acceptable, and the perfect will of God!”

THIRD: Elisha passed by many houses, and scripture only specifies how the great woman of Shunem recognized the prophet as a Holy Man of God. How many times did he pass by someone or some house and they failed to recognize the presence of the anointing? How many times do we fail to recognize the anointing, presence, and power of God in our lives?

So many times we only look in the natural, when we should be seeing in the supernatural.

If you are looking in the natural only, you will miss the supernatural in your lives.

2 Corinthians 5:16 “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

This Shunammite woman said to her husband, “I perceive,” IOWs she senses something beyond what her physical eyes see. Many of us have had feelings about someone or a situation that gave us the heebie-jeebies or made us feel uneasy. The Shunammite woman said, “I perceive.” Often, the reason we don't see with the eyes of our spirit is because our natural eyes are in control. While our natural eyes focus on earthly matters, there is a reality where God might be passing us by.

I believe that miracles may be passing some of us by, but I also believe that miracles are coming to us. See, in between the passings of Elisha, this Shunammite woman got something that can only be described as a revelation; she recognized that Elisha was a holy man of God. How many can say the same about us? How often do others look at us and see the presence of God and his anointing in our lives? The Shunammite woman did not just recognize the presence of God on the prophet; she refused to let the anointing pass her by. She desired to make a place where he not just could dwell, but did dwell. How powerful is it when we desire the presence of God, the move of God, the Shekinah glory of the Holy Ghost over us and around us, and in us. She did not want the presence of the prophet to pass her by again. She laid hold of him. She made a chamber for him. She fed Elisha. I am just saying, the food must have been good because Elisha kept coming back.

And something happened because she made space for the presence of God, the Word, and the anointing in her life. A miracle occurred. I believe each of us needs a miracle in our lives. I want to point out something: she was not a great woman because a miracle was coming to her. She was a great woman because she made room in her life for God to work! Why do we make it so difficult for God to work miracles in our lives through self-wrought compromises in our faith, in ourselves, or in the promises of God? We change the word instead of changing ourselves. In Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

So many of us want a miracle in our lives. Still, we are not willing to do the work required to empty ourselves of our pride, of our will, of our thoughts and emotions, or our fleshly desires to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; to accept the Holy Spirit is going to transform us from image to image, and glory to glory!

SHE DID NOT REQUEST ANYTHING: The prophet said to her, "Is there anything I can do for you because you have been kind to me?" Elisha said, "I can talk to the captain of the host." Elisha also said, "I can talk to the king." Her response was, "I dwell among my own people." His servant said she has no child, and her husband is old. So, Elisha told her, “About this season, IOWs, this time next year, according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son.” See, a miracle was coming to her. Her faithfulness and desire to make room for the prophet—because she perceived the anointing, because she made room, because she fed him, and because she was careful with him and his servant—allowed God to provide her with the miracle. An unspoken request, a heart's desire, was answered.

This Shunammite woman said to Elisha, “do not lie to this handmaid, thou man of God.” And scripture says “that at the season , according to the time of life, she conceived and bore a son!

Conclusion

Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

I want to tell everyone here that a miracle is coming your way. Some of us are already on the verge of a miracle happening in our lives. We may face issues, struggles, obstacles, sickness, and frustrations, but the Word of God shows that God will give us the desires of our hearts if we simply delight in Him. If we just seek Him. If we make room in our lives for God to reign. I believe that, just as a seed demands nutrients and water from the soil to grow and thrive, the seeds we sow in the anointing place a supernatural demand on God in our lives! Sowing seeds in faith puts a demand on God’s power.

Are we prioritizing the appropriate work in our lives, in our walk with God? I cannot help but to consider in Luke 10:38-42 where Martha comes and begs Jesus to get Mary to help her with the chores, and Jesus says, in Luke 10:41–42 “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Jesus is saying there is a difference between being careful about things and being careful about the thing, which is being in presence of God.

The Shunammite woman offered a room for God in her life and was blessed. Scripture says Martha provided a room for Jesus but was not sitting at the feet of the Master. Jesus did not simply criticize Martha but emphasized the importance of Mary’s choice. Altar Call -> There is no greater gift or miracle than accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and receiving eternal salvation. Like the Shunammite woman and Martha, we are all called to make room for God in our lives.

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”