2 Kings 4:1–6 NKJV

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” So 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 but a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.

2 kings 4:1-6

What’s in your house?

The widow and the oil

I want to begin tonight by addressing the family. While I don’t know whats going on in your house, I am aware that in our nation and in our world our families are in trouble!

At some point, most families are faced with a crisis -- be it a death, a crime, unemployment or addiction. In order to work through a crisis, a family must be willing to pull together, while still recognizing the individual needs of each family member.

Identify your support network. Friends, extended family, neighbors, colleagues and members of local support groups may be able to provide comfort and support. Resist the temptation to withdraw from others, even if your crisis is one that has you feeling ashamed. Remember that everyone goes through difficult times. Seek out people who are compassionate, loyal and nonjudgmental.

Familiarize yourself with the ways a crisis can affect a family. A family in crisis may lack cohesiveness and closeness, with individual members experiencing symptoms of stress such as sleeplessness, loss of appetite, depression and anxiety. A couple may experience a lack of quality time. Siblings may take their frustrations out on each other. Try to work together as a family to cope with the crisis, rather than placing blame advises psychologist Philip "Dr. Phil" McGraw in his website article "How Families Can Overcome Difficult Times." Give every family member the opportunity to talk out feelings. Praise the good in each other to boost self-esteem, while encouraging each other to stay optimistic and make new goals.

Be aware of how your children are feeling. Kids react to a crisis with feelings similar to those of adults, but are more likely to show them with actions, rather than words.

Our Kids are in crisis too!

In the text tonight, we find a woman who is in what we call a predicament. This is a situation that many individuals and many families find themselves in from time to time.

In other words she In a “Rut.” Is there anybody out there who knows what its like to be in a “rut”? A rut is place where you feel “stuck, helpless and hopeless.” It’s a terrible and frustrating place to be in because many times you feel like you haven’t done anything to deserve being in a such a place.

Being in a rut will cause you to lose sleep at night. Being in a rut will cause you to have to take nerve medicine. Being in a rut will cause you to be irritable and hard to get along with. But the worst thing about being in a rut is that if you don’t find a way to get out of it, a rut will turn into a rot! In order words, a rut… unless you find an escape from it, will rob you of joy and life, and leave you in a dead and rotting place.

It is this kind of place that the Widow woman of Zerapheth found herself in. Here in the scripture we find this poor widow in a desperate situation. She is trying to raise her family alone. Her husband died leaving her with a mountain of debt. How many of you know that bills will mess with your mind and put you in a mental rut?

As when she follows the instructions of the man of God, God indeed does a wonderful miracle. He multiplies it somehow so that once she starts to pour, the oil doesn’t stop flowing until every vessel is filled.

That’s what I pray will happen to our families… that we make up our mind that we’re not going to stop seeking the Lord unless every member of our families are saved!

Revival -- If?

If all the sleeping folk will wake up,

If all the lukewarm folk will fire up,

If all the dishonest folk will confess up,

If all the disgruntled folk will cheer up,

If all the depressed folk will cheer up,

If all the estranged folk will make up,

If all the gossipers will shut up,

If all true soldiers will stand up,

If all the dry bones will shake up,

If all the church members will pray up...

Say to your neighbor then we will have true revival!

When fathers get saved, young boys get off street corners!

When fathers get saved, young boys get off street corners!

When mothers get saved, young girls grow up to be fine young women!

When fathers get saved, young boys get off street corners! --When mothers get saved, young girls grow up to be fine young women! --When brothers get saved, they become mentors to other brothers! --When sisters get saved, they become mentors to other sisters!

When brothers get saved, they become mentors to other brothers!

When sisters get saved, they become mentors to other sisters!

Transition statement....

What do you want?

2 Kings 4:1 NKJV

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

God remember’s a family in crisis

The record says that she found herself in such financial trouble that the sheriff/bill collectors has threatened to come and take her sons as slaves.

It was not unusual, during bible times that if a person got behind in their bills members of their family were sold into slavery until the bills were paid off. Thank God they don’t do that today. If they did… there might not be many of us in church this morning.

And so, this woman widow does what many of us have learned to do when we find ourselves in a rut. In her despair she cries out to the man of God. It’s good to have a preacher in your corner!

Look at what this woman done… she got in touch with somebody who knew how to get in touch with heaven. Even if know how to pray for yourself, it’s good to be able to get in agreement with someone who has a right relationship with God. That way, you can touch on a thing and get a good result as you petition God together.

The bible says that this widow woman called on Elisha and asks him to help her find a way out of this seemingly impossible situation. She is looking for a miracle.

There’s coming after the children

Transition

What do you have left?

2 Kings 4:2 NKJV

So 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 but a jar of oil.”

2 kings 4 2

Only a little oil left!

2 Kings 4:2 NKJV

So 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 but a jar of oil.”

Getting by on left overs!

2 Kings 4:3 NKJV

Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.

follow through...

follow through...

Lock in...

2 Kings 4:4 NKJV

And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”

Do the work!

2 Kings 4:5 NKJV

So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.

2 kings 4

Bring me another vessel

2 Kings 4:6 NKJV

Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.

2 kings 4 6

She went back...

2 Kings 4:7 NKJV

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 live on the rest.”

2 kings 4

Sell your oil

2 Kings 4:7 NKJV

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 live on the rest.”

Conclusion

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

As it go to my seat, there are a few things I want you to know always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able with God’s help to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside. And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties. Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish. . . . And when that happens… Ruts and Rots, Turn into Revivals!

I don’t know what you are going to choose tonight but I choose revival!

I want to begin tonight by addressing the family. While I don’t know whats going on in your house, I am aware that in our nation and in our world our families are in trouble!

Get the right help in times of crisis

I want to begin tonight by addressing the family. While I don’t know whats going on in your house, I am aware that in our nation and in our world our families are in trouble!

At some point, most families are faced with a crisis -- be it a death, a crime, unemployment or addiction. In order to work through a crisis, a family must be willing to pull together, while still recognizing the individual needs of each family member.

Identify your support network. Friends, extended family, neighbors, colleagues and members of local support groups may be able to provide comfort and support. Resist the temptation to withdraw from others, even if your crisis is one that has you feeling ashamed. Remember that everyone goes through difficult times. Seek out people who are compassionate, loyal and nonjudgmental.

Familiarize yourself with the ways a crisis can affect a family. A family in crisis may lack cohesiveness and closeness, with individual members experiencing symptoms of stress such as sleeplessness, loss of appetite, depression and anxiety. A couple may experience a lack of quality time. Siblings may take their frustrations out on each other. Try to work together as a family to cope with the crisis, rather than placing blame advises psychologist Philip "Dr. Phil" McGraw in his website article "How Families Can Overcome Difficult Times." Give every family member the opportunity to talk out feelings. Praise the good in each other to boost self-esteem, while encouraging each other to stay optimistic and make new goals.

Be aware of how your children are feeling. Kids react to a crisis with feelings similar to those of adults, but are more likely to show them with actions, rather than words.

In the text tonight, we find a woman who is in what we call a predicament. This is a situation that many individuals and many families find themselves in from time to time.

At some point, most families are faced with a crisis -- be it a death, a crime, unemployment or addiction. In order to work through a crisis, a family must be willing to pull together, while still recognizing the individual needs of each family member.

In other words she In a “Rut.” Is there anybody out there who knows what its like to be in a “rut”? A rut is place where you feel “stuck, helpless and hopeless.” It’s a terrible and frustrating place to be in because many times you feel like you haven’t done anything to deserve being in a such a place.

Identify your support network. Friends, extended family, neighbors, colleagues and members of local support groups may be able to provide comfort and support. Resist the temptation to withdraw from others, even if your crisis is one that has you feeling ashamed. Remember that everyone goes through difficult times. Seek out people who are compassionate, loyal and nonjudgmental.

Being in a rut will cause you to lose sleep at night. Being in a rut will cause you to have to take nerve medicine. Being in a rut will cause you to be irritable and hard to get along with. But the worst thing about being in a rut is that if you don’t find a way to get out of it, a rut will turn into a rot! In order words, a rut… unless you find an escape from it, will rob you of joy and life, and leave you in a dead and rotting place.

Familiarize yourself with the ways a crisis can affect a family. A family in crisis may lack cohesiveness and closeness, with individual members experiencing symptoms of stress such as sleeplessness, loss of appetite, depression and anxiety. A couple may experience a lack of quality time. Siblings may take their frustrations out on each other. Try to work together as a family to cope with the crisis, rather than placing blame advises psychologist Philip "Dr. Phil" McGraw in his website article "How Families Can Overcome Difficult Times." Give every family member the opportunity to talk out feelings. Praise the good in each other to boost self-esteem, while encouraging each other to stay optimistic and make new goals.

It is this kind of place that the Widow woman of Zerapheth found herself in. Here in the scripture we find this poor widow in a desperate situation. She is trying to raise her family alone. Her husband died leaving her with a mountain of debt. How many of you know that bills will mess with your mind and put you in a mental rut?

Be aware of how your children are feeling. Kids react to a crisis with feelings similar to those of adults, but are more likely to show them with actions, rather than words.

In the text tonight, we find a woman who is in what we call a predicament. This is a situation that many individuals and many families find themselves in from time to time.

2 kings 4 1

2 Kings 4:1 NKJV

1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

In other words she In a “Rut.” Is there anybody out there who knows what its like to be in a “rut”? A rut is place where you feel “stuck, helpless and hopeless.” It’s a terrible and frustrating place to be in because many times you feel like you haven’t done anything to deserve being in a such a place.

Being in a rut will cause you to lose sleep at night. Being in a rut will cause you to have to take nerve medicine. Being in a rut will cause you to be irritable and hard to get along with. But the worst thing about being in a rut is that if you don’t find a way to get out of it, a rut will turn into a rot! In order words, a rut… unless you find an escape from it, will rob you of joy and life, and leave you in a dead and rotting place.

Get the right help in times of crisis

Whats in your house!

It is this kind of place that the Widow woman of Zerapheth found herself in. Here in the scripture we find this poor widow in a desperate situation. She is trying to raise her family alone. Her husband died leaving her with a mountain of debt. How many of you know that bills will mess with your mind and put you in a mental rut?

The record says that she found herself in such financial trouble that the sheriff/bill collectors has threatened to come and take her sons as slaves.

It was not unusual, during bible times that if a person got behind in their bills members of their family were sold into slavery until the bills were paid off. Thank God they don’t do that today. If they did… there might not be many of us in church this morning.

And so, this woman widow does what many of us have learned to do when we find ourselves in a rut. In her despair she cries out to the man of God. It’s good to have a preacher in your corner!

Look at what this woman done… she got in touch with somebody who knew how to get in touch with heaven. Even if know how to pray for yourself, it’s good to be able to get in agreement with someone who has a right relationship with God. That way, you can touch on a thing and get a good result as you petition God together.

The bible says that this widow woman called on Elisha and asks him to help her find a way out of this seemingly impossible situation. She is looking for a miracle.

2 So 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 but a jar of oil.”

Now Note: the first thing Elisha does is to ask her a rather strange question. Although she has already explained that she is broke, he asks her what she has in her house in other words do you have anything left?

She responds by saying: "Well, nothing at all" but then she remembers, "Well actually we do have something... there is just a little bit of oil"

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.

I wonder is there anyone here that can relate to having just a little bit…

I like the Old Testament stories because they are so rich in meaning. You know that as the widow gathers up empty jars from her neighbors, God does what only God can do; He does something wonderful, miraculous, and divine with her little bit of oil…

Somehow He multiplies it somehow so that once she starts to pour, the oil doesn’t stop flowing until every vessel is filled. Then she takes the oil and sells it to pay off her debts.

Oil is the symbol of the anointing and the symbol of the Holy Spirit; God use her little anointing to fill other vessels and what was left to pay off her debt!

Of course, the only thing that caused the oil to stop flowing was the fact that they ran out of jars to contain it.

But God was able to fill every vessel that she was able to produce.

Its a marvelous account about making room for God’s blessing! But if you would be patient with me for just a little while longer; I want you to know that there is a deeper layer of meaning. There’s another message here just beneath the surface of the message.

Its a message that is found as we analyze the symbols in the story. Students of typology would quickly recognize two standard types here: of course, Elisha typically always represents Christ and oil represents the Holy Spirit.

The house represents the modern Church and the widow represents this present generation of believers.

Notice, she is in danger of losing her children, the next generation, To the creditor, who is the World. Again, she is in danger of losing her children because there is nothing left in her house.

Now let’s follow this line of application through for a moment. If there is a deeper message coming out of this passage, could it be that the world is indeed lurking at the door ready to snatch away the next generation into a life of sin and slavery?

Could it be that when one generation allows God’s house to become empty the next generation pays the price? Could it be that we are in danger of losing our children to the world because we have neglected to show them the power of God at work in and through the Church?

I don’t mean to come on too strong this evening, but let us take a good solid look at ourselves.

The thing is most of us are now into the third generation as Christians. Most of us, can remember our great-grandparents, our grandparents, and our parents. If you are saved and in the church now, it is probably because you had some strong Christian roots that were handed down from your great-grandparents to your grand-parents, to your parents. In other words, you have a background of folk who knew the Lord as their savior!

They were people of sacrifice and prayer. They cherished the Touch of God. Many of them blazed the trails. They laid the groundwork for our modern movement. In that sense we owe a great debt to those old soldiers, but the question for us is:

“What’s happened to the fire and the sacrifice, and the prayer in us? What will we be leaving for the generation of young men and young women who are coming after us, who are watching what we do and how we act, and what we say, and how we treat one another?

The question tonight is: Are we leaving them a legacy of Christianity or are we simply preparing for them a Rut, that can lead to a Rot, unless we lead them now to a Revival? That’s why the word tells us: “Train up a child when it’s young and when it gets old it won’t depart from it.” My sisters and my brothers, it’s sad but it’s true… in some places in the U-S the game is already over.

Due to declining numbers churches have made the decision to just close the doors….

But I think that’s a sad thing. We say: "Oh, its hard with the kids." Well, of course it is! It’s always been hard to bundle up the kids and get them out to Sunday School and Evening services and revival services. It was hard when my grandparents had to get my parents ready. It was hard when my parents had to get my brother and I ready. The issue is: Is there anything left in the house worth preserving or fighting for?

I can remember how week in and week out my parents dragged me to church and I slept on the pew, or on the floor. I fell asleep to the sound of people praising God and I woke up to the sound of people crying out to God at the altar.

Parents, let me challenge you to bring your children to Church on Sundays and to revival meetings at night and let them learn what the presence of God feels like! Let it sink in from an early age. That’s what’s going to keep them in the years ahead.

Like Samuel who grew up in the temple and developed a taste for the Spirit of God from an early age, our children need a first hand knowledge of the anointing.

I’m about finished, but notice what the Prophet told the woman to do here:

then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."

The Prophet commanded the woman to close the door behind her and her sons. Jesus used the same language when he referred to going into the prayer closet didn’t He? He said to "shut the door behind you."

There are some things that in order to get in the presence of God you have got to shut the doors on….

Parents need to bring their children along with them to the place of prayer. We need to bring them into the presence of God with us. We need to shut the door behind us and pour out our hearts to God until the oil of His spirit starts to flow. And then, when the World starts banging on the door for our children, we need to cry out to God like this widow of old.

The prophet asked her "What do you have in your house?" And some of us, like that widow woman answered at first: "Nothing... Nothing at all..”

Elisha challenged the Widow of Zerapheth to prepare for the blessing of God by borrowing vessels from her neighbors.

Churches need to get together in order to have revivals…

6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. 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 live on the rest.”

That’s what I pray will happen to our families… that we make up our mind that we’re not going to stop seeking the Lord unless every member of our families are saved!

Revival -- If?

If all the sleeping folk will wake up,

If all the lukewarm folk will fire up,

If all the dishonest folk will confess up,

If all the disgruntled folk will cheer up,

If all the depressed folk will cheer up,

If all the estranged folk will make up,

If all the gossipers will shut up,

If all true soldiers will stand up,

If all the dry bones will shake up,

If all the church members will pray up...

Then we can have a revival! And when we have true revival -- R.G. Lee

--When fathers get saved, young boys get off street corners! --When mothers get saved, young girls grow up to be fine young women! --When brothers get saved, they become mentors to other brothers! --When sisters get saved, they become mentors to other sisters!

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

As it go to my seat, there are a few things I want you to know always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able with God’s help to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside. And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties. Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish. . . . And when that happens… Ruts and Rots, Turn into Revivals!

I don’t know what you are going to choose tonight but I choose revival!