Untitled Sermon (3)

Two different narratives, but the same God

We are always encountering situations and no two situations are the same.

But God is the same; yesterday, today, tomorrow.

The text.

The servant is asked to put the large pot over the fire and make stew.

the narrator already said there’s a famine in the land

.Elisha speaks as one who just believes that between that moment and supper time something is going to happen.

between now and then there’s something.

As ministry leaders and pastors we are not called to lead people out of an overflow, but many times we are leading people with limited resources.

Not only are we ministering and leading with limited resources, we minister to people who have been affected by the same issues as everyone else in our communities.

When the economy is bad it doesn’t just affect those who don’t know him, but it affects those who know him as well.

When the economy is bad it doesn’t just affect those who don’t know him, but it affects those who know him as well.our limited resources is an opportunity for us to lead from a place of confidence in God.The situation was bad, however,Elisha still made use of something that was bad.Looking at the students there is some doubt in their minds, Elisha is calm.As ministry leaders we must be careful not to become influenced by the conditions of the times.

our limited resources is an opportunity for us to lead from a place of confidence in God.

The situation was bad, however,Elisha still made use of something that was bad.

Looking at the students there is some doubt in their minds, Elisha is calm.As ministry leaders we must be careful not to become influenced by the conditions of the times.

Object lessons:

this is not about the problem.

Problems always exist.

the students need to see God.

1. The poison was neutralized.

2. The food was made good to eat.

3. The students were all cared for.

Consistent obedience is what gets us through.

They were in a season of famine.

What God did with the stew was a temporary fix. If the the students were to be spared during this season it required walking and listening continuesly.

Their problem didn’t cease just because the poisonous stew was neutralized.

The things in the pot did not change, but, the effects of the things in the pot were neutralized.

Sometimes we have to work with some stuff that’s not the best stuff to work with.

God can still make something good leaving bad stuff in the pot.

often we don't run like we need to run because we think we need the proper running conditions for things to go well.

Elisha is not phased by death being in the pot.

Second narrative

God multiplies, nurishes, and sustains.

A few days later the men were still in need of food.

Often we struggling to stay focused in our walk because God doesn't do everything all at once

In the first narrative they had nothing; and in the second narrative they didn't have enough.

In both narratives God is the same God.

Elisha demonstrates the same level of trust in God.

Both narratives are short narratives not a whole lot of details.

There's a need and then there's a divine interaction.

There's not a lot of talking.

God is being God and Elisha is just waiting on God to do what he do.

In both narratives there's Elisha and then there is God working through Elisha.

If God is not doing a work through us; it is not because he stop working; a lot of times it is because of us.

We think it is easier to fix our own problems, because we don't have to be in step with God.

In the first narrative there's nothing; In the second narrative there's not enough.

In both narratives Elisha used the availlable resoureces.

In both narratives Elisha is presented as being alright; it is the people who need help.

In this day there was a lot of people worshipping Baal.

a god of fertility known as the lord of the earth.

But his power was not like God's power.

The students famine was not like everybody else's.

When they didn't have anything God knew how to make some.

When they didn't have enough God knew how to make some more.

God knows how to make some; God knows how to make some more.

The Lord knows for the most part in the church we are often with some stuff that has some issues or is not enough.

Conclusion

In both narratives although in different form the same ingredients are used.

Flour which is needed to make bread

Then he sends them some bread.

Bread symbolizes a gift from above.

Israel in wilderness- manna.

Raven fed Elijah.

Widow woman at Zaraphath.

What got us from our childhood to where we are right now, God supplied our parents with some extra bread from above to sustain us.

bread symbolizes is Word of God.

His word keeps when we are in some bad places.Jesus is the bread of life.

He’s got the whole world in one hand.

Calvary.

Dr. Mitchell's story

The woman who thanked God in advance.