Mom's Little Oil Investment (May 9th, 2021)
Well, happy Mother's Day and it's a wonderful day. You know, the French have a saying vivre difference, which means we celebrate our differences. And today, we just focus on the fact that men and women are created to be different as matter. Fact, this room is not about Genesis to, but let me just throw in this. Tidbit in Genesis, to God says, before he creates he that he's going to make a helper fit for Adam that Hebrew word fit means corresponding to Things don't correspond to one another if they're identical. Things correspond to one another when they fit together. You know, when you're building a puzzle, if two pieces are identical, they do not correspond to one another there, different than one another, but they're made to be together. And today we celebrate the differences between men and women and today we acknowledge our need for mothers mothers, we need you. as fathers, we need you as children, we need you as a society, we need you in today mom's we appreciate love and honor you And and not just mother's. By the way. Today, we honor women. Some women listening to me right now or mother's some or not, Mother's some by choice, somebody circumstance, whatever your circumstances women, we honor you we appreciate and love you. You know what I was saying about Genesis to help her fit corresponding to the primary context of that is marriage. That's true. But there's a broader context. Not only do mothers need fathers but men need women Society needs women. Children needs women.
Incredibly, our society is losing sight of that fact.
Genders are now being rebranded. What we used to call masculine. We now called toxic and what we used to call feminine, We Now call week I'm not sure what the goal of this rebranding is but I know where we're headed. We're headed to some sort of androgynous gelatin where there are no differences to celebrate. What's today? We don't erase distinctions. We don't blur distinctions. We celebrate distinctions women, we love you. Today, we honor women mothers, non mothers and mothers-to-be, we honor women of all shapes and sizes, all passions and interests, all skills and talents all backgrounds. In ages. We honor women, beautiful. Wonderful, wife. Kissing women. You make life so good. We don't deserve you but we celebrate you today.
And today, we're going to celebrate a mother from long ago. We're going to join her this morning in a little family episode. That is not a happy episode. It looks like a helpless episode, but in this opposite episode there's a mama bear and she Rises up and she does everything that she can do. And perhaps more importantly, she realizes what she cannot do and gives that to God and the results are remarkable. We're going to go through the story, in three phases, nekid. This is in your sermon notes are going to save these three phrases, but if you don't write fast enough, don't worry. They all appear on slides later on Episode. We're going to look at the problem. We're going to take a look at the problem and then we're going to see the unexpected, answer, the unexpected answer, and then the solution. And then at the end of a sermon, I just tagged on a little 5 minutes. So what? So we learn this story. What is this mean? So first the problem, And as we begin to read the problem, it doesn't take long for it to arise. Another wife of one of the sons of the prophets. Tried to Elijah. I your servant. My husband is dead. And you know that your servant fear the lord, but the Creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves. Weesee weesee hear a Godly Heritage noticed the wife of one of the sons of the prophets. Elijah Elijah was working up with prophets, one of those prophets. Had a son and this wife is the zit. This wife is one of the the wife to one of the sons of the prophets of Elijah. This is a woman with a Godly heritage. And apparently, I can't prove this from scripture but apparently she has no kinsman-redeemer. If you're familiar with the Old Testament, there's this concept of the kinsman-redeemer. She doesn't run to the relative. She runs to Elijah. A man of God.
Notice it when she's in trouble. She turns to the people of God. I wanted to mention that that's a wise thing for a mother to do. When you're, in trouble, turn to the people of God. And I also wanted to mention that that has happened in our church this morning. I just half an hour before the service started. I can't use last names here but Marlene are contacted me. And she let me know that her 25 year old daughter. Rhian is in ICU right now suffering from covid. Here's a mom in the situation. And her first instinct was to the turn to the people of God, and the people of God are going to raise her up right now. I would ask you just not that. It's a posture is important to God, but let's send send our bodies a signal that we're doing something special. Could I ask you here in the church at home wherever you are, please stand right now and we're going to take a moment to pray for Marlene are and her family, remembered her husband Rodney R. Randall are their son, Andrea nor who is in ICU suffering from significant effects of covid-19 are here and hundreds of people right now or going to pray for the our family, and then I'll close in prayer in just a moment. Let's raise these people up.
Heavenly Father, we bring this family before you.
We asked for you to demonstrate.
Your power and your love with a full recovery for Rhian. And when we're waiting for that full recovery, we ask that you will use us as your hands and feet to bless care for and protect this family.
And we ask it in The Only Name we can ask it in. Of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. You may be seated.
So here's a mom who doesn't have a kinsman redeemer to reach out to. So she reaches out to the people of God. And notice that she comes from a Godly Heritage. When she describes her husband, she says your servant, my husband is dead. It just a little bit of careful Bible reading here. This phrase, your servant right here is called a topical. Frame.
What we mean by that is this sentence, read perfectly fine without the words, your servant, it could read. Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets, tried to Elijah. My husband is dead. The words, your servant are completely unnecessary but there left in there, why? Because they frame, they describe the husband's character. This is a woman who married a godly man, he was the servant of Elisha. And by the way, she was confident in that she says and you know that your servant fear the lord don't take my word for it. You know this man. It's not just me saying he was a servant. This is a woman who married into a Godly Heritage. She married a man who loves the Lord and fears him. She married a man who can claim. Psalm 103 verse 11 for as high, as the heavens are above the Earth. So great is his steadfast. Love toward those who fear Him.
But if you were in this part of the story, you could be forgiven for asking. Where's that love now? My husband, feared you and he is he is a Hawaii. Remember dead? And here I am in a patriarchal society, completely unprotected. No, kinsman-redeemer rushing to my Aid, my husband, feared you, and I don't feel your love right now. We'll just hold on. Mom, just hold on. God is about to act and she's turning to God's people.
She is in financial trouble. Now, if you get into too much debt, they take your house, then they took your children to work for them. That was a very common thing about the one thing I had appointed about the situation is that it looks hopeless, it looks hopeless. But there is an unexpected answer coming. Brewstew. And Elijah said to her, what shall I do for you? That? You could read this question. Two ways. Hey, what should I do for you? Just order order? What do you want? I got lots of Miracles or do you want but notice that the question isn't in that tone because he doesn't even ask. Let her answer. He says, what shall I do for you? Tell me. What do you have in the house? The tone of the question is, what do you want me to do? I can't bring your husband back to life. I'm not a rich, man. What do you want me to do? Because he instantly to redirect her. Don't don't be coming to me. God is the ultimate solution here. What do you have that? You can apply to the situation. And she says, nothing. She says nothing. She says my husband is died. Help me. He says, what do you want me to do? What do you have that? You can apply towards this. And she looks at our inventory. She checks the pantry and she basically says nothing By the way, I noticed she says your servant has nothing. This is the same phrase that she described her husband with She didn't just marry into a Godly line. She is part of a Godly line, she's not sitting on the sidelines. She is contributing to this Godly Heritage, but I have nothing. I have nothing cuz I don't have anything to apply to this. There's that little thing of oil.
This problem is so big. I've got nothing. Except if you kept those little Journal oil which is not really even worth talking about, What what Elijah saying with these questions? What shall I do? What do you have in the house? Is don't look to me. Look to God and look to God first by giving him what you have. It may seem small. It may seem insignificant but give him what you have. God begins to work a solution, this requires a miracle and God's going to provide it. But noticed key starts working from what she has out. The oil is not insignificant here. Knows he has to do a miracle but it's not going to be some random Miracle. It's going to be a miracle that starts with what she offers him and works out. Then he said go outside. Bora vessels from all your neighbors. Empty vessels. And not just a few notice. Notice here that in her obedience she has to go to the believing community.
She has to borrow those vessels from someplace.
Think about this friends. That Community had those vessels so that she could borrow them so that God could do a miracle.
God filled their vessels for her family.
I wonder what that sells do you have? But God would have you invest in other people's needs?
God is about to do, what only God can do, but he starts where she is with what she has and then uses the believing Community around her. That's the way he does.
I think I missed a lot of us may cuz we just wait around waiting for the lightning bolts doesn't work that way. Doesn't work that way. God can and will work miracles, but he starts with what you offered him and then he folds the believing community in Bordeaux vessels from We're from their neighbors from their fellow worshippers of Yahweh.
First four, then go in and shut the door.
And who's behind the door yourself and your son's. I'm going to do a miracle and I just want you three to see it.
No spotlights. Nove AV Equipment. Do FM transmitter. No, live broadcast. Private showing. Because I am going to honor The Godly Heritage that you and your husband have set up and I'm going to demonstrate my love for your family and your sons are going to watch. And this has been a build a Heritage after you're in a box. They'll remember this. This is going to be our private little meeting, and your sons are going to see what happens when Mom offers what she has to the Lord God Almighty.
Parents. just a word of encouragement. Life is messy. Life is hard. There are so many people suffering right now, honestly. Feeling disconnected and other issues. But parents, let me just offer a suggestion. Is it possible that your present situation might be for your future to your children's future struggles?
Let me say that again. Is it possible? I'm not saying it's true. I'm just asking you to consider. Is it possible? Is it possible that your present situation is really for your children's future struggles?
Is it possible that you're in the situation that you're in? So that you can give whatever you have to God? And he will use the community to bless you and your children will see that because in 20 years, they're going to lose a loved one. In twenty years, they're going to lose a job in twenty years. They're going to get cancer in 20 years, their life is going to shatter. And they're going to say this happened to Mom and Dad and when their life shatter, what did they do? Oh, I remember they turn to the Lord and they gave him everything they had. Is it possible? Parents, is it possible mothers? That you're at, your current situation is really aimed at the future struggles of your pair of your children. Invest be faithful. Do do what this mother did do what you can do. And offer the rest to the Lord. So she went from him and shut the door. Notice how she's obedient. And notice how she Trust. Ali. Trust a prophet.
Her husband. This is she's not just starting her relationship. With Elijah.
She knows Elijah. She knows him to be a faithful man. I just love the mom. I love the husband, he's dead before. The story, even starts, he doesn't speak a word, but I just want this guy. It's obvious to me that he has surrounded his family with Mighty Men. And his family have gotten to know these Mighty Men. And when disaster strikes, they reach out to these Godly Mighty Men. And these Mighty Men, start taking care of the family and there's already or I want you to do something. Crazy, you go, get some vessels. You go get that little jar of oil and then shut the door. So, and she says, okay, she just told me she has a trust of these Mighty Men. The husband is associated his family with
And God is working in a mighty way.
And God is using the only thing that she has. A little bit of oil. And so, the solution. Turns out to be a partnership between the mom and God, where the mom gives us any bitty little thing of oil. And then God takes a little bit of thing of oil involves the believe in community, and he makes it into an oil investment. Mom's little invoice, oil investment. So, when the vessels were full lace a to her, son's, bring me some more. They say, hey, there isn't anymore and the problem is solved.
Until the next one comes along. And there's always the next one. You know, sometimes I think we do, we get ourselves, some situation, God miraculously works, and he delivers us from that situation. And somehow we get the idea that we're done and God has really does from the normal stresses of life. No, no, no. This problem is over for this family and tell another one comes along. You know, there's a very interesting we talked about Elijah. Elijah is the prophet here. But if you know your Bible History, the mentor of Elijah is Elijah. okay, so now I just gone and Elijah is taking over the ministry, but I lied ja had a very similar situation and first king 17, Different Widow, but that she is short of money. She's short of food. God works another miracle. With very scant supplies, he makes a ton of food and then do you know what happens, the very next paragraph. Does this miracle the very next paragraph? I think some years of elapsed, but in the Bible is the very next paragraph, you know, what happens?
Her son dies.
Every son that was saved by the food. The woman, the mom was down to the last little bit. She was actually going to go make one more meal. She had the makings for one more meal. She's going to make it, eat it with her son, and then they would both die from starvation. The very son Saved By The Miracle is the one who dies next year. When God delivers is just until the next program comes along. There is a full Deliverance coming. It is coming, but it happens in the new heavens and a new Earth until we get their friends, even when we are victorious. Over problems, that just set your watch because another one's headed your way don't be discouraged. Don't give up, God will provide and the problem will be solved. Until the next one comes along. That's the way of life.
And then notice what the advice is, she came and told the man of God. Hey, it worked for me. As I said at the beginning of this conversation, what do you expect me to do? Pape, what the little thing you have and give it to the Lord. And so she came and told the man if it was man of God is good and what is he say?
Go sell the oil and pay your debts. And then you will have enough to live on it. This isn't the point of the passage. Therefore it can't be the point of the sermon. The point of the sermon is always the point of the passage, and the point of the passage is not finishing advice but it is touched on here. So I'm not making this. What about this? But I wanted to touch on this is very wise, advice to pay your debts and live on what's left.
That's very wise Godly advice. I lived a good portion of my high in coming years. Not knowing this. And I made a ton of money and never had enough. And then I met a brother. You may know this brother, his name is Tom, Copeland 15 years ago, he took me aside and gave you some good Godly advice. And I have been living by that advice for the past 15 years. My children have been living by this advice for the past 15 years, and it has been an enormous blessing. And Tom has not only been a blessing to me, but many individuals and not only individual, he has given the same, good Godly advice to pay off your debts and live on the rest to the church itself.
It's not time to recount the entire history of Western Heights, but let me just tell you. This land was gifted to us, but this building was expensive. We saved we were a ragtag band of nobodies started like 30 people that we never have been very Thrifty. We raised a million box took us ten years to do it but we waste a million dollars and put it towards this building and at the end of that, we still had a million-dollar mortgage. We paid that off 12 years early. Our mortgage payment was $10,000 a month. We don't make that payment anymore. We haven't made that payment. I think, since November 2015, why would that be We'll just know Tom, there's good Godly leaders. We are on this path but he was encouraging and he was guiding reason I mention that is. You may need, just like I needed him. I don't want to remind you that he runs an organization and the organization has a website. Bible, Finance. Org, I use this in counseling, all the time when the core issue is financial and I'm guiding a couple of a person to build a budget, you'll find that there's excellent free resources, they're even reach out to Tom. He's a busy guy, but he loves the people of God. If you could benefit from Financial wisdom, from God's point of view, I encourage you to reach out to Tom. Well that's our sermon but I wanted to talk on this little V, the intersection at the end to say, so what like okay so we learned a story like what should we take away from this while? I think, I would encourage you to take away four key observations. One, she knew where to ask.
The wife and the husband had already built a Godly Heritage. They already had mighty men around their family. They were already absorbed into the community of God. So when disasters strike, they didn't have to start the relationships, they knew where to turn immediately. Marlene are this morning at 9:30 knew where to turn immediately. To you. To the people of God, that loved her.
She knew where to ask.
The second thing that I would encourage us to observe is when she went to these Mighty Men, they didn't say all. Well, we'll just fix all this up right away. They knew their place and their place was not to solve the problem, but direct the person to God don't be looking for answers in me. The answer is in God and where we start is with whatever you have. Well, I have $1000000 will start with that. Actually $100 will start with that. Actually, a little bigger boil.
He's going to make up the difference. What is it? She got good, Godly advice third. Is she a babe? She did what she could? She didn't say, what was my last jar of was Shirley? I mean, if you're going to do a miracle, what would you need with this little head? Right? She didn't do any of that. She said, okay. I will give whatever I have. And I will ask my neighbors. She was obedient.
And when she had done, what she could God did what she couldn't?
You may be sensing. I don't think I've ever read 2nd Kings 4:1 to 7 before but this is sure sounding familiar. Why is that?
These are not the same stories but their stories that rhyme. Five Loaves and the two, fishes. What is that about among so many? We're not debating that right now give me what you have and I will bless it and God will make it.
The wedding at Cana. John chapter 2. When I have wine. How much wine? None, zero. We're out. What do you have water? What would you do with a jug of water? Watch.
The winner. Was there a Pfaff? This is the first king, 17 story that I mentioned. I would encourage you to read that if you got some time, this afternoon, look up first, king 17, but there's another story, another mom in Desperate Straits and money floats down from heaven. No, it doesn't. It doesn't She's got one little bit of food left. What do you supposed to ask for?
Everything she had, you know, in a sentence in, in the path of discipleship. The price is always the same. What is it? A million dollars is not a million dollars. What is? It says, it's not in the path of discipleship. That price is always the same. It never changes. The price is was and always will be everything you have. I have a house with Anna includes the house. I don't have a house then it doesn't include. I have a car, I have these talents, I have this money. I have these relationships includes all those things. I don't have any of those things that it does not include those things. The price of discipleship is always the same. It never trades on the NASDAQ at never goes up. There's never a run on it, the price never goes down. The price is was and always will be everything that you have all the time.
If I were to send boil the sermon down into one sentence, this with the sentence, this is what the sentence would be. Moms and dads. Do what you can. Do what you can. And pray for what you can't do.