Elisha and the Widow’s Oil (2)

INTRODUCTION.

2 Kings 4:1–7 NASB95

1 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. 4 “And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

MESSAGE.

I. Ask in CONFESSION.

1. Turns to God.

2 Kings 4:1 NASB95

1 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”

2. Confession of need to God.

A. Debt She cannot pay.

3. Confession of Dependence on God.

A. Humility. (Allen Carr - “Humility is often described as the opposite of pride, involving a deep sense one’s littleness and a recognition fo the truth about oneself. - Allen Carr - Logos fact book).

2 Kings 4:2 NASB95

2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”

B. I have nothing.

II. Seek in FAITH.

1. Believe.

2 Kings 4:3 NASB95

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.

A. Borrow Vessels. (only had a jar of oil).

B. Faith even when it does not make sense.

1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB95

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

2. Only God working.

2 Kings 4:4 NASB95

4 “And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.”

A. Went in side on closed the door away from Elisha and everyone else.

III. Knock in OBEDIENCE.

1. Puts faith into action of obedience.

2 Kings 4:5 NASB95

5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured.

A. She had to put her faith into action to collect vessels

2. Total Surrender.

2 Kings 4:5 NASB95

5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured.

IV. God meets needs.

1. When the vessels where FULL the oil stoped.

2 Kings 4:6 NASB95

6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped.

A. The overflow of oil lasted till the last vessel was filled.

Philippians 4:19 NASB95

19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

B. God supplied according to her faith, “go and collect vessels.”

Matthew 9:29 “29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.””

C. God supplied the answer to her need.

D. God suppled the payment for her debt.

2. She received God’s provision in faith and applied it.

2 Kings 4:7 NASB95

7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

3. God blessed beyond her asking or thinking.

2 Kings 4:7 NASB95

7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

A. “You can live on the rest”

Ephesians 3:20–21 NASB95

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

B. She asked for her help with her debt. God gave her the answer to her debt and more.

CONCLUSION.