Do You Have Oil?

DO YOU HAVE OIL?

2 Kgs. 4:1-7

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: LIFE INSURANCE

1. A very nervous airline passenger began pacing the terminal when bad weather delayed his flight. During his walk he ran across one of those insurance machines.

2. It offered $100,000 in the event of an untimely death aboard his flight. The policy was just $3. He looked out the window at the threatening clouds and thought of his family at home. For that price it was foolish NOT to buy, so he took out the coverage.

3. He then looked for a place to eat. He settled on his favorite – Chinese food. It was a very relaxing and calming meal until he opened his fortune cookie. It read, “Your recent investment will pay big dividends! [#1112]

B. TEXT

“A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” 2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” 2 Kgs. 4:1-7.

C. THESIS

1. This is the account of a family in trouble. The curtains are pulled back and we look right into the home.

2. The woman’s husband was a better preacher than financier. He died and left his family in debt. The title of this message is, “Do You Have Oil?”

I. THE CREDITOR IS COME

A. GODLINESS MAY LEAD TO POVERTY

1. “Pastor, I thought that God causes the righteous to prosper.” Yes He does, but sometimes Christians end up in poverty. Don’t judge a person’s character based on how much money they have.

2. Christians often have suffering or die in poverty. In many places in the world there’s persecution of Christians. In many countries Christians aren’t allowed to get an education or a good job.

3. An example of this is Egypt where there are 1.5 million Coptic Christians who are terribly persecuted. Another is China where the government is enforcing communist party membership for many jobs and freedoms, which excludes Christians.

4. In 2 Kgs, this widow’s husband lived during a time of intense persecution under Jezebel. His property might’ve been confiscated. Just like riches aren’t a sign of God’s favor, neither is poverty a sign of God’s disfavor. Jesus said that few wealthy will be saved! James said that God has chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith (2:5).

5. This should be an encouragement to any here who are disadvantaged. God hasn’t forgotten you and in due time He will lift you up. However poor you are, your Master was poorer. You have God’s love and His promise of heaven’s riches!

B. THE CREDITOR & HIS INTENTION

1. The CREDITOR in this story is a type of SATAN. He doesn’t have any sympathy or mercy. He only cares about what’s owed him.

2. PROBLEM: WE’RE ALL DEBTORS! Our DEBTS are our SINS. The Lord’s Prayer tells us to pray “forgive us our debts.” That’s our sins. We all are debtors.

3. What is it that Satan wants? HE WANTS OUR SONS TO BE SLAVES! He wants to steal the inheritance of God’s people, our fruitfulness, our destiny. Sometimes it takes a miracle to save them

4. The culture of this country is so hostile to Christian beliefs that we’ve got to be very careful to bring our kids up with strong foundations in Christ. Don’t aim at minimum exposure, but maximum exposure!

5. Christianity is more ‘caught’ than taught. If it doesn’t “possess” you -- if Jesus doesn’t absolutely control our time and hearts -- then our kids will only be surface Christians who will easily abandon their faith when the going gets rough.