A Room - A Chair - A Table - A Lamp - A Cot - (3 A Table)
“A Room, A Chair, A Table, A Lamp, A Cot”
A Table
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 have a home here 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 Table.
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."
shulchan, shool-khawn'; from Hebrew 7971 (shalach); a table (as spread out); by implication a meal :- table.
Webster defines: table
3 a: a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs b (1): a supply or source of food (2): an act or instance of assembling to eat : meal <sit down to table> c (1): a group of people assembled at or as if at a table (2): a legislative or negotiating session <the bargaining table>
What is does the table represent? - It is a place of feeding, a place of fellowship, a place of communion.
4. A TABLE represents a place of FELLOWSHIP and COMMUNION.
Have you noticed that one of the best ways to get to know someone is over a meal? Somehow eating breaks down barriers and bonds are formed.
Today in our homes we are losing the intimacy of the dinner table. It is the place where the affairs of the day that took place are discussed. Even ads on TV are encouraging the dinner table.
It was at a table where a covenant which David made to Jonathon in regards to his son Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 9:7 (NKJV)
So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."
It can also be a place where truth is revealed as in the case of Saul’s true intentions towards David.
1 Samuel 20:34 (NKJV)
So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.
Also the disobedient prophet
1 Kings 13:20 (NKJV)
Now it happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had brought him back;
You can’t obey half-way – either you know thus saith the Lord or not.
The Shunammite prepared a table for the man of God.
Now,
5. GOD has PREPARED for us a TABLE.
Psalm 23:5 (NKJV)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
And some will not believe and say
Psalm 78:18-25 (NKJV)
And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. 19Yes, they spoke against God: They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?"
21Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, 22because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation. 23Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven. 25Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full.
The table of showbread – made out of gold. The showbread is the
bread of His presence – Jesus is the living bread which came
down from heaven. It is the Bread of Life which nourishes the
believer.
The bread brought God and man face to face. – Man partook of that which was dedicated to God. God and man enjoyed reconciliation and fellowship.
The twelve loaves in the Holy Place spoke of the twelve tribes embracing all people and the frankincense sprinkled on the loaves the sweet savor of Yeshua’s righteous life.
How are you preparing the table to serve the bread?
Look at the warning of
Malachi 1:6-14 (NKJV)
"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'
7"You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the Lord is contemptible.' 8And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" Says the Lord of hosts.
9"But now entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, will He accept you favorably?" Says the Lord of hosts. 10"Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," Says the Lord of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. 11For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," Says the Lord of hosts.
12"But you profane it, in that you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled; and its fruit, its food, is contemptible.' 13You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' And you sneer at it," Says the Lord of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" Says the Lord. 14"But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, and takes a vow, but sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished--for I am a great King," Says the Lord of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations.
How does your table look? Would you eat off of it?
Where is your table and how are you preparing it for the Lord?
Proverbs 3:1-6 (NKJV)
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; 2for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, 4and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 7:1-5 (NKJV)
My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. 2Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. 3Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet (table) of your heart. 4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your nearest kin, 5that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words.
Paul warned the Corinthian church:
1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
1 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV)
3all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
1 Corinthians 10:7-13, 16, 21, 31 (NKJV)
7And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.
31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
6. Your TABLE is your HEART; does it GLORIFY GOD.
Does your table glorify God – or is it a table prepared for a whore?
Revelation 17:16 (NKJV)
And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
Is your table a shambles – would you let your boyfriend, girlfriend, your best friend, your mom or dad, husband, or wife, children eat off of it.
What about someone very important – Guess who’s coming to dinner?
Jesus – yes the Master of the universe want to sit down at your table. Have you prepared it?
“A TABLE”
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. A ____________ represents a place of _______________
and _________________________.
5. ______________ has ___________________ for us a
____________________
6. Your ____________________ is your _______________;
does it __________________ ____________________.
“A TABLE”
2 Kings 4:8-37
7. This Sermon Series is about PERCEPTION, RECEPTION, and RESTORATION.
8. Our church’s vision is ”MORE PEOPLE WON TO CHRIST; MORE LIKE JESUS ONE AT A TIME.”
9. The Shunammite woman PERCEIVED the move of GOD and made PREPARATION to RECEIVE and MAINTAIN it.
10. A TABLE represents a place of FELLOWSHIP and COMMUNION.
11. GOD has PREPARED for us a TABLE.
12. Your TABLE is your HEART; does it GLORIFY GOD.