THE MIRACULOUS SUPPLY
II Kings 4:1 - 7
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." 2 Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil." 3 Elisha said, "Go round and ask all your neighbours for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." 5 She left him and afterwards shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."
I THE DESPERATE NEED
1. HER HUSBAND WAS DEAD
Your servant my husband is dead,
a. He Had Served The Lord
The wife of a man from the company of the prophets
Deuteronomy 10:12 what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
b. The Lord Is No Man’s Debtor
Luke 6:38 [NLT] Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
2. HER CHILDREN WOULD BECOME SLAVES
his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.
a. She Was In Debt
Psalm 116:12 [AMP] What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? [How can I repay Him for all His bountiful dealings?]
b. The Lord Sets Free
II Corinthians 3:17 [AMP] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).
3. SHE KNEW WHERE TO GO
The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha,
a. To The Man Of God
Psalm 50:15 [NIV] Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me."
b. The Lord Has The Answer
John 15:7 [NIV] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
II THE DIVINE SUPPLY
1. HER ONLY POSSESSION
"Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil."
Revelation 2:9 [NIV] “I know about your suffering and your poverty - but you are rich!
2. THE SIMPLE INSTRUCTION
"Go round and ask all your neighbours for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."
I Corinthians 2:4 [CEV] When I talked with you or preached, I didn’t try to prove anything by sounding wise. I simply let God’s Spirit show his power.
3. THE WONDERFUL RESULTS
When all the jars were full,
a. A Result Of Her Obedience
I Samuel 15:22 [NLT] “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
b. An Abundant Supply
The oil increased, not in the vessel, but as it was poured out!
Measure your life by loss, not by gain; how much is poured out? not, how much is poured in!
Ephesians 3:20 [NLT] Glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
c. All Debts Were Paid
sell the oil and pay your debts.
II Corinthians 8:9 [AMP] You are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favour and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
d. Adequate Provision For The Future
You and your sons can live on what is left.
Matthew 6:34 [Message] Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
The only thing that stops God giving - is our capacity to receive!
