God Majors In Multiplying Minimal Resources
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· 7 viewsGod can take our minimal resources and make them more than enough.
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What happens when life happens? No matter who you are or what your social, economical, political or religious status might be, life will happen. You might find yourself in a very uncomfortable situation, in a place where you are both desperate and destitute. Very few things can put you here like death and debt. The death of a love one and the accumulation of debt can overwhelm anyone and the strongest of us can find ourselves in a desperate situation, where you’re down to your very last.
That is the case in our text. We have a woman who life has happened to her and she has found herself in a desperate and difficult situation. The writer here lets us in on the first of four miracles in this chapter, that God performs at the hands of Elisha who has succeeded Elijah. He raises a Shunnamite’s son from the dead in verses (32-37). He purifies a poisonous stew in verses (38-41). And he provides food for 100 men in verses (42-44). But in our text tonight, he makes monetary provisions for a broke woman.
How does God make provision for those in desperate and difficult situations?
There are three actions I want you to take away from this story tonight, that I believe will convince you that God Majors in Multiplying Minimal Resources.
God can take our minimal resources and make them more than enough.
Cry For Help (Know Who To Call On In The Time of Need)
Cry For Help (Know Who To Call On In The Time of Need)
This woman knew who call on in the Time of Need (v. 1)
The woman cried out with an appeal for something or some action; often done in desperation or difficulty.
About this womanAbout her dead husbandMust have been a man of faith. Served under ElishaHe feared the Lord. Must have been hard working. He died young because he has children.He doesn’t have an insurance policy in place.About the sonsThey had to be old enough to help their mom.But too young to take care of her.This woman found herself face with two of life’s most difficult dilemmas. Death and Debt. The two great burdens of lifeShe is faced with the burden of losing her boys to be creditor. Biblical regulates the seizure of wives and children as payment for debt. Owners were to free slaves in the Year of Jubilee or upon special decree.The widow went quickly to seek the wisdom and help of God. And Jehoshaphat said, Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord.4. Blessed is the mother who knows who to call on when her family is in need, when dealing with life’s difficult dilemmas.If you can’t get to God, you need find somebody who can.
About her dead husband
Was a man of faith. Served under Elisha
He feared the Lord.
Must have been hard working.
He died young because.
He doesn’t have an insurance policy in place. Dr. Foster, he didn’t have MMBB to payout any death benefits.
About the sons
They had to be old enough to help their mom.
But too young to take care of her.
About the woman
She was a preacher’s wife
She was widow
She was
This woman found herself faced with two of life’s most difficult dilemmas.
Death and Debt two great burdens of life.
Death at the loss of the sole provider
An over abundance of debt.
She is faced with the burden of losing her boys to the creditor. If a person could not pay his debt, the Mosaic law gave his creditor the right to claim his services and that of his children until the year of Jubilee ().
If a person could not pay his debt, the Mosaic law gave his creditor the right to claim his services and that of his children until the year of Jubilee ().
The widow went quickly to seek the wisdom and help of God.
James M. Freeman and Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & Customs of the Bible (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998), 258.
The widow went quickly to seek the wisdom and help of God.
The widow went quickly to seek the wisdom and help of God.
And Jehoshaphat said, Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord.
When dealing with life’s difficult dilemmas, you need to know who to call on. If you can’t get to God on your own, you need find somebody who can.
Personal Inventory (Discover What You Need Is Closer Than You Think)
Personal Inventory (Discover What You Need Is Closer Than You Think)
This woman found the answer to her need was in her house (vv. 3)
Elisha’s willingness to help: “What shall I do for you?”
Elisha’s inquiry about personal resources: “What do you have in the house?”
A good question for anyone who is desperate and dealing with difficulty today.
A loving and understanding spouse?
A better ministry?
A bigger budget?
This woman had none of these things.
The negative answer: “Your servant has nothing ”
People with this attitude are miserable “
Everybody got something but me attitude”
Her surprising Discovery: “Except a (small) jar of Oil.”
Literally “an anointing of oil”
It was probably olive oil used for cooking, lamps and fuel.
This is where things turn around
How long has it been since you counted your blessings?
Rediscovering the house, the family, the furniture, love
The answer for lifting your burden may be right at home.
An Act of Faith (Discover A Little Becomes A Lot When You Put It In God’s Hands)
An Act of Faith (Discover A Little Becomes A Lot When You Put It In God’s Hands)
This woman discovered that nothing is impossible when you put it in God’s hands (vv. 3–7)
Elisha’s commands
She was commanded to think outside of the box and not to put limitations on God’s blessings.
The closed doors.
Some blessings are meant for a private provision and not public demonstration.
She put her faith in the message of Elisha.
She didn’t call a prayer meeting
She didn’t wait to see if the Lord would confirm it with her.
She acted in faith.
She made her act of faith a family affair
She wanted her children to witness how God comes through in desperate and difficult times.
She sent her sons to borrow the vessels, to ask a favor of her neighbors.
Israel during the exodus, just before God was about to free them, He had them borrow from their captives.
She was commanded to think outside the box. “Borrow not a few” Don’t put limitations on God’s blessings
She expected God to come through
The closed doors.
Some blessing are meant for private provision and not public demonstration.
Moment of excitement
God took what she had and multiplied it
Filling all the borrowed vessels
The oil was a continuous pouring
The oil didn’t stop until there was no more vessels to hold it.
God is able to bless you until you have no more need.
She share her joy with the prophet. But this is two fold.
It confirms that God will hear your cry
It confirms with Elisha that the same God who was with Elijah is also with him.
God turns this woman’s poverty into prosperity.
When you know who to call on in the time of need.
When you discover that what you need is closer than you think.
When you discover a little becomes more than enough in God’s hands.
He’s able to turn your poverty into prosperity.
What can God do with minimal resources?
God can take our minimal resources and make them more than enough.
Jesus feeds 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish
Jesus feeds 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish
Samson and the jawbone
David’s sling
He can take twelve men and one message and transformed the world.
He
But like this woman, we had a debt that we could not pay.
But thank God one Friday afternoon, our debt was paid in full
But thank God one Friday afternoon, our debt was paid in full.
What do you have in the House?
What do you have in your pocket?
What do you have in your hand?
God is able to do exceeding and abundantly more than we can think or ask.