HOW BIG IS YOUR VISION?
II KINGS 4:1-7
The greatest achievements in life are usually accomplished by people who have a singular desire or a vision that becomes the ruling passion of their lives
--------for example—Bob Feller was a child who loved to throw a ball and by the age of 5 he spent hours every day pitching through a hole in the barn wall--------at the age of 10 his father bought him all the necessary equipment and provided him with a playing field on the family farm
------at the age of 13 he pitched for a local team and averaged 20 strikeouts a game------------at the age of 17 he began playing for the Cleveland Indians
----------as a major leaguer he had 6 seasons as a 20 game winner and 3 no hit games------11 1 hitters------and 266 wins-----and he set a record of 348 strikeouts in 1 season
You see it was because of his desire and vision------that he lived consistent with that vision----and he excelled
Churches need to understand that today-------God has a purpose and plan for each Church------and they need to be devoted to accomplishing it
The average Church today though is like a football game-----you have 22 players in desperate need of rest being watched by 50,000 people in desperate need to exercise
as we look at the verses today we see several truths that the Church today needs to understand if it is going to accomplish great things for God
Now lets understand what is going on in these verses to start with
--------Elisha was apparently the chief prophet in Israel at this time--------now we understand that Elisha was Elijah’s protege and constant companion and had received the prophetic mantle from Elijah
Now there were schools of training for those who would aspire to be prophets-----they were the Bible schools of that day
Now one of the widows of one of the sons of the prophets came to Elisha ------Here husband had died and he was here source of support--------now she was bankrupt and creditors were coming to take her sons as bondmen or slaves until the debt was paid
--------the problem was that with her two sons gone, there was no way she could pay the debt-----she would only sink further into debt
Now I want you to understand something here------when a Church is trying to do everything on their own and in their own strength-------------------they are in the same shape as the women------they are spiritually bankrupt------- They have tried in their own effort to be successful-----they have made their plans to serve God and have met with nothing but disappointment
----------You see if we are going to accomplish God’s purpose and plan--------we must be filled with the Holy Spirit------allowing Him to be in complete control-------not us
Now understanding the setting-----let’s move on and see the truths found in these verses-----------These truths shows forth this woman’s vision and trust in God--------------if we are going to understand God’s vision for us and fulfill it----we must practice these same truths
I)----She trusted God for her answer----v. 1
Notice ----she did not go to every other source and then come to God--------she went straight to God--------we must understand this truth
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Jeremiah 33:3
We have great promises in God’s word about Him meeting our every need------don’t understand why we don’t live like we believe it-------we say we believe the Bible is God’s inerrant Word of God-----we argue over it and fight for it------but do we live like we believe it
Philippians 4:19
Mark 9:23
Folks------- as God envisions us-----we must trust Him completely------God never gives us a vision that He does not empower us and give us the spiritual gifts to accomplish it------(PLACE)
Acts 1:8-----------------Sometimes he has to put the heat to us for us to accomplish what He would have us to--------Acts 8:1
I remember when we trusted God for new ministries and a bigger place of worship-----God provided--------but folks the vision has not ended------it has only began------and we must still trust God and continue to march forward accomplishing what He would have us to
II)—She followed God’s plan—v. 2-5
Notice—Elisha’s question------really he was asking “what is your resources?”-----what is available for God to multiply
------remember the story of the feeding of the 5,000—(John 6:1-14)
Notice v. 2----nothing but a jar of oil------------but I want you to understand that she had her faith
Notice v. 3----expound
Notice v. 4-5----expound----(what do you suppose that she expected to happen)
This woman was able to receive her blessing because she was like Joshua and Caleb-------not like the other 10 spies
Numbers 13:25-33--------14:6-10
So often Churches are like the ten spies------all the excuses
We need to be the power source in the midst of this world that God intended for us to be-----------we need to be like Joshua and the new generation of the nation of Israel as the marched into the promised land-----------Joshua 1:5-8
III)—Her blessing came in proportion to her expectations
v. 6-7
Notice v. 6----expound
Notice v. 7----expound
Mark 6:4-6
Now notice an important truth here-----The woman had lost her husband (which was her source of living)------she had lost her earthly possessions------and she was about to lose her children------she was reduced to a jar of oil----that is all she had left-----but God used that one thing (along with her faith)—and made it the source of tremendous blessing
God delights to take the little we bring, and make it much
Folks sometimes our lives are so filled with things that distract us and God has to remove them before we can see clearly enough to see Him
-----------so often what He has blessed us with can be our worst obstacle
When we can’t see how the vision is possible----God can then use us
so often God has to remove those things in our lives that makes us comfortable
folks—God could do it way better by Himself----but He chooses to use us in the outworking of His purpose-------what an awesome opportunity -----are you willing to step out in faith and trust Him for the vision He has given us
You see we must be like the widow----the first step in being used of God is to see that you have nothing to offer-------then the Holy Spirit will show you something you can offer------then God can take that and reach the world
Revelation 3:20----------Jesus talking to a cold, self sufficient Church
the point is that we can have as much of God as we want-------you see God’s chief desire is that we simply know Him fully and enjoy His love and fellowship---------------and as we do-----we will want to be used by Him fully
There is a tale of a young man who was seeking God—he went to a well know and wise sage for help------He asked him how he could find God?-----the old sage took him to a nearby river and they waded out into the deep water----when the water got up to their chins the old man took the young man by then neck and pushed him under water
---------he held the young man down until the young man was flailing the water in desperation----another minute and the young man would have drowned
-------He finally let the young man up-------and they found their way back to the bank-------the young man asked----what did this have to do with finding God----
----the old man asked him—“while you were under the water, what did you want more than anything else-------the young man said—air
-------the old man replied—“when you want God as much as you wanted air, you will find Him”
Song—God will make a way----pray silently as you listen
