A Room - A Chair - A Table - A Lamp - A Cot - (1 A Room)
“A Room, A Chair, A Table, A Lamp, A Cot”
A Room
The story of the Shunammite woman
2 Kings 4:8-17 (NKJV)
Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9And she said to her husband, "Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there." 11And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite woman." When he had called her, she stood before him. 13And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?' "She answered, "I dwell among my own people." 14So he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old." 15So he said, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!" 17But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
In this series of sermons there are three things that will stand out in regards to this Shunammite woman. Three things that are also applicable to us in regards to accommodating God’s move in our life. They are: Perception; Reception: and Restoration.
1. This Sermon Series is about PERCEPTION, RECEPTION, and RESTORATION.
She perceived that Elisha was a man of God.
For her day Elisha was the move of God and she decided to make preparation for that move.
What is your perception of what God is doing today?
Do you perceive that we are in the midst of probably the greatest move of God the world has ever seen? I know that sin is rampant everywhere and it seems that evil is waxing worse, yet today more people are coming to Jesus than at anytime in all of history. Truly where sin abounds grace does much more abound. Our vision remains “More People won to Christ; More like Jesus one at a time.”
2. Our church’s vision is: “MORE PEOPLE WON TO CHRIST; MORE LIKE JESUS ONE AT A TIME.”
So if we perceive that God is moving what preparations are you making in your life to receive and maintain it.
Elisha passed by once, she wanted it to continue so she prepared a little guest room whereby the visitor might occupy when passing by.
“Reach out and touch the Lord while He’s passing by. You’ll find He’s not to busy to hear your hearts cry. He’s passing by this moment your needs He’ll supply. Reach out and touch the Lord as He passes by.”
Shunem was nothing it was a very insignificant place, sort of like Kingman
But she was not going to let this opportunity pass her by. As Leonard Ravenhill has said, “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.” Seize the Day seize the moment. It may never pass this way again.
So we need to ask ourselves, are we making preparations of this move of God? We need to recognize that it’s not just a one time move but on going – therefore adjustments must be made in our life to receive and maintain it.
3. The Shunammite woman PERCEIVED the move of GOD and made PREPARATION to RECEIVE and MAINTAIN it.
The Shunammite woman perceived this move of God and made preparation to receive and maintain it. She made a Room. She furnished it with a Cot; a Table; a Chair; and a Lamp. Each of these items are significant for us to keep what God wants to do. The Cot is symbolic of our Rest in God for all that He has prepared for us. The Table is the place of fellowship prepared for divine visitation. The Chair represents the authority of God in your life. And the Lamp signifies the illumination of God’s revelation of Himself to us.
Today we want to share about the Room.
2 Kings 4:9-10 (NKJV)
And she said to her husband, "Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there."
The KJV says “she made a little chamber”
`aliyah, something lofty, i.e. a stair-way; also a second-story room (or even one on the roof); figurative the sky :- ascent, (upper) chamber, going up, loft, parlour.
Webster defines: chamber
1: room; especially : bedroom 3 a: a hall for the meetings of a deliberative, legislative, or judicial body b: a room where a judge transacts business —usually used in plural c: the reception room of a person of rank or authority
It’s the same word that is used referring to the Jewish people immigrating or returning back to Israel.
v. 10, “Let us.”
1. She wanted agreement with her husband. She wasn’t venturing out
on her own or usurping the headship of her husband.
There are people that want a move of God but they want it their way. If we are to see God move then we must do it His way and come under His authority.
4. God’s MOVE is UNDER His AUTHORITY.
2. Put it upon the wall – this demonstrates the preeminence of God in
her life – not hidden away but in full view of all who may pass by.
Again there are people who want God to move in their life but they want it hidden from view.
5. God’s MOVE is OPEN not SECRET.
3. A “little” room – this is very significant that God isn’t demanding.
He’s not a big ogre.
People make the mistaken notion that if they come to God; God is going to take their life away. Whereas in fact, when we give our life to God, He gives it back and “more abundantly.” Jim Eliot, martyred missionary to the Auca Indians, said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Out “little” insignificant life is nothing in compassion to what God wants to give to us.
Take for example our finances – He asks that we set aside a tenth of our finances set aside for His work – we get legalistic and debate whether it’s net or gross. We’d go on strike if our bosses did us that way – we brag we make $20 or $25 per hour but when it comes to God all of a sudden it’s shrunk to $7 or $10 an hour.
He asks us to set aside one day for worship and some struggle that they can’t put aside an hour a week to worship Him. That’s why Jesus asked His disciples, “Couldn’t you pray with me for just one hour?”
Yet satan demands all – take for example someone addicted to drugs – it’ll take your job, your money, your family, your health and leave you with nothing. Anything that will take the place of God will demand your all and eventually will demand your eternity.
Have you prepared a chamber for the move of God? Where is it? Is it hidden away or do you make Him the most important part of your life?
Jesus is making preparation for us.
John 14:1-4 (NKJV)
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you know."
John 14:2 (NIV)
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
mone, a staying, i.e. residence (the act or the place) :- abode, mansion.
6. JESUS has PREPARED a ROOM for us.
Jesus is preparing us to abide with Him. Have we made room for Him to abide with us?
John’s Discourse of the abiding of Jesus
John 14:2,10,16,17,23 - 15:4,5,6,7,9,10,16 (NKJV)
2In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. here you may be also. 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 23Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
15:4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
9"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 16You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
God doesn’t want us just to visit but to occupy, to dwell and abide.
He wants to be a permanent resident of your life. And He wants you to be a permanent resident to all that He has prepared for you and me.
Conclusion:
The woman allowed the prophet to abide with her – the result God gave her a miracle.
2 Kings 4:17 (NKJV)
But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
If we abide in Christ then He is going to be with us and help us through all the difficulties of this life.
Have you prepared a room for Him?
7. HAVE you PREPARED a ROOM for HIM?
“A ROOM”
2 Kings 4:8-37
1. This Sermon Series is about PERCEPTION, RECEPTION, and RESTORATION.
2. Our church’s vision is ”MORE PEOPLE WON TO CHRIST; MORE LIKE JESUS ONE AT A TIME.”
3. The Shunammite woman PERCEIVED the move of GOD and made PREPARATION to RECEIVE and MAINTAIN it.
4. God’s MOVE is UNDER His AUTHORITY.
5. God’s MOVE is OPEN not SECRET.
6. JESUS has PREPARED a ROOM for us.
7. HAVE you PREPARED a ROOM for HIM?
“A ROOM”
2 Kings 4:8-37
1. This Sermon Series is about ____________________,
_____________________, and _____________________.
2. Our church’s vision is ”______________ PEOPLE WON
TO _______________; MORE LIKE ________________
ONE AT A __________________.”
3. The Shunammite woman ________________ the move of
_____________ and made _______________________ to
_____________________ and ____________________ it.
4. God’s _________ is __________ His ________________.
5. God’s ___________ is __________ not ______________.
6. _________________ has _________________________ a
_____________ for us.
7. ________________ you _________________________ a
___________________ for _________________?