THE RESCUE #2: FRESH OIL
REVIEW LAST WEEK:
We started our series looking at Elijah’s call of Elisha to replace him as prophet in Israel.
Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, and did twice as many miracles.
God is calling us to do whatever it takes to reach the lost, hurting and broken people in our lives.
THE STORY OF ELISHA AND THE WIDOW:
“1 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 Kings 4:1-7).
THE NATURAL INTERPRETATION:
• Here Elisha helps the widow of one of the prophets. “What do you have in the house?”
• All she had was a jar of oil. God can use whatever you have!
• Elisha couldn’t help the widow, but God could. Here we learn that God is our Provider.
• Notice the widow said her husband “feared the Lord.” God blesses those who fear Him!
THE SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION:
• Many passages of Scripture have spiritual, prophetic or allegorical interpretations too.
• For example, in the Old Testament, when Moses lifted up a serpent on a pole, that represented Jesus dying on the Cross (John 3:14-15).
• What spiritual or prophetic lesson can we learn from this story?
• Oil: in the Bible symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
• “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” (1 Sam. 16:13).
• Elisha told the widow to go to her neighbours to gather empty vessels.
• Empty Vessels: represent lost, hurting or broken people who are far away from God.
• “The Lord said, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name.” (Acts 9:15).
• “But we have this treasure (the Holy Spirit) in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Cor. 4:7). (NIV = jars of clay)
• When God gives us the oil of the Spirit, He wants us to pour it out into people’s lives.
THE BIG IDEA: Before we can pour out the oil of the Holy Spirit into other people’s lives, we need to get filled up to overflowing first.
JESUS WANTS US TO BE ANOINTED WITH FRESH OIL:
“But my horn (strength) You have exalted like a wild ox; I shall be anointed with fresh oil.” (Psalm 92:10).
• God’s Command: “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18b).
• It’s so important for us to spend time with Jesus in His presence daily!
DISTRACTED BY MANY THINGS:
“38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42).
• I’ll be the first to admit I am easily distracted. Look at this past week:
o Monday (helping my sister Jodi in Winnipeg, Hannah dance in Oakbank)
o Tuesday (council meeting), Wednesday (My Hope training),
o Thursday (elders meeting and worship practice),
o Friday (double booked for lunch), evening (parents drama meeting with kids),
o Saturday (laundry, football, getting ready for Thanksgiving)
• Totally stressed out and overwhelmed and I lost it. Did not enjoy football game.
• We need to have down times of rest – in the presence of the Lord.
• “Jesus said, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” (Mark 6:31).
• We live in a very busy, fast-paced society, and the internet doesn’t help!
• Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Skype, Facetime, Snapchat, Kik, Google +, Blogging!
• What amazes me is how Martha could get distracted in the first century.
• But she was also worried and troubled by many things: relationships, finances, health?
• Jesus said, “You’re distracted by many things, I want you to learn the one thing.”
• These distractions can keep us from enjoying God… and other people.
• We need to exit the busyness of the ‘many things’ syndrome to enjoy other people too.
• Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27).
• We need to get filled us with God’s Spirit, joy and peace before we can fill others…
CHALLENGE: Let’s get filled up to overflowing, and minister to the lost and hurting around us.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
