The Day Faith Revived

The Day Faith Revived WT 11/28/04

2 Kings 4:8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where [was] a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And [so] it was, [that] as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

• God is looking for great men, women, young people, children to do great exploits for the Lord.

• This woman perceives Elisha is a man of God… sets aside a room for him to stay in anytime he travels through Shunan.

• Elisha is touched by this kindness and asks her what they can do for her?

• Elisha’s servant informs Elisha that this couple has no children.

• He calls her in, and prophesies that she will have a son.

2 Kings 4:18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

This kind of news is devastating!

• It is that kind of thing that rocks our foundation.

• It can make or break our faith.

• It can turn us toward God or away from God.

No telling.. how many individuals over the years have received such horrific news….

-in wars: a visit from the War dept. (your son has died)or (he’s missing in action)

-when the stock market crashed

-a spouse telling their spouse they are leaving

for good

-a Dr’s report…. (you’re not going to live)

Throughout the Bible there have been stories of individuals who were in terrible situations and it seemed that faith had died…

2 Kings 6 Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the enemy…And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

In the NT… Luke 8:24

When Jesus was asleep in the boat and a great storm arose that even scared these seasoned fishermen….

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.

But the darkest day…the darkest hour came when they crucified the son of God….

It is finished.

It seemed that faith was finished.

Faith had died.

Faith had been destroyed.

Faith had been buried.

AND such could have been the case for the Sunammite woman, but there was something deep down in her that would not let faith stay dead in her soul.

She had something the world didn’t give her and the world couldn’t take away….

After all… we ended our scripture reading with this verse….

21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

The story could have stopped right there!

Faith could have died right there with that boy.

Faith could have been destroyed forever for that couple…..

22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

Preaching on ‘The Day Faith Revived!”

Man of God came… laid his eyes on the child’s eyes… hands on his hands… mouth upon his mouth… then walked the house and did the same again….

Child sneezed 7 times and was alive!!!!

The story could have stopped with Jesus Last words… IT IS FINISHED…

As far as the disciples were concerned… it was over.

Faith had died.

Faith was gone.

Faith was destroyed.

BUT faith wasn’t finished!!! It had just begun!