Gtcotr/ws111908
Part One – ‘Participation’
Part Two – ‘Don’t Limit God’
Part Three – ‘Time, Place & People’
2 Kings 4 KJV
1 ¶ Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
Notice the specifics of this command in verse 4:
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
* It is understood that this woman was the one who was designated by God to do the pouring. This is confirmed later in verse 5 as we see that she indeed did the pouring herself. This gives support to the idea that who has their hand on the miracle can be important.
* I have seen time and again both natural and spiritual doors which would not open for one person open wide for another. I have watched adventures which for the most part were solid and were wisely approached but yet failed under the direction of one person and later flourished in the hands of another.
* Considering this phenomenon along with confirmations throughout the scriptures, I have concluded that at times it is critical that the person chosen and inspired by God with a vision be the person who handles the direction of that vision. It’s hard to hand off a pregnancy to someone else and many visions die for lack of that type of care. The hands of a nurse can never replace the womb of a mother. And the minds of followers cannot replace the hearts of a leader.
* There is a time to include others in the vision, for counsel and for care … but do it too early and the vision will be weakened and may die.
* We have a saying here at GTCOTR that “If it’s your baby, you raise it.” Why? Because no one naturally cares for a baby like its mother.
* There are usually ten good ways to do any one thing. However, the person who is going to be doing it is often the best person to get it up and running and also the best person to fix it if it begins to fail.
* Keep in mind that there is a difference between doing good stuff for God and then being directed by God to do God stuff. There is a difference between Good Stuff for God and God’s Stuff. Miracles fall into the category of God Stuff. Without the person God chooses doing it just like God said, miracles will not work. God gives miracle visions and miracle instructions to those whom He chooses.
* When someone comes to me with a great idea which I believe deserves to be implemented, I often enlist that person to manage the formation of that service or ministry. If they are unwilling to be that involved, the idea, even though good and profitable, may not get implemented. Why? Because it is not always easy to find someone one else impregnated with another person’s vision who will naturally care for its birth and development.
Philippians 2:20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
* There is a natural care which a mother has for a baby and a natural care in those to whom God gives His vision for churches, ministries and miracles. No one will care for a vision or ministry like the creator of it. Just like God Who made it His responsibility to take care of mankind, give His time and energy, come up with a plan to meet their need, pay for it and stick with it through good times and bad times to get the job done.
* God chooses birth mothers and handmaidens for His projects. He impregnates them with His Word, faith, wisdom, love, care and concern for the life and well being of those projects.
* Many have the gift of pointing out the blatantly obvious and cataloging all of the things that need to be done. However, there are fewer who are willing to give of their time, talent or treasury to make those same things happen. Believe me, there is no shortage of vision but rather there is more often a shortage of readily available resources such as time or money which others are willing to commit to a project to see it through … especially if it is not their own project.
* Almost any person who has gone through puberty can create a child, but that doesn’t mean that they have the wherewithal to parent and properly raise the child to stand on its own, care for itself and reproduce responsibly. Still, the person who envisions and gives birth is often still the best person to see the matter through and to create structure and enlist others to help. This is why that if it is your baby, most likely you would be the best person to raise it.
* So, what am I saying? You may need to: Keep your hand on your miracle! Especially for things which you believe in which are struggling or failing in the hands of those you have given them to.
* When continuing to do your best does not accomplish the job and the job still has to be done, you may not be the one to do it.
* When others continue to do their best to accomplish a task but continue to fail, they may need to be replaced.
* Sometimes they may need to be better trained or supervised more closely. However at times … it’s just the wrong person on the project. This takes nothing away from that person but may only mean that God wants you more closely involved in your vision.
2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
* You may have a great staff, good friends and family, loyal servants and employees who will do it exactly like you say but nonetheless fail. If this is so it may be that you are the only one anointed to make some things work. Why? I don’t know why … but I do know it’s true and the Bible confirms it.
* The other extreme can also be a problem. If a quarter back is afraid to hand the ball off to others on the team and always has to run it himself, you have a problem that needs to be fixed. However, at some critical and strategic moments when yardage is a must, he is the best one to run the ball. Some miracle moments are keepers. We have to realize that this is God’s call, not ours.
* Notice again in verse 4 that this woman was told to pour out into ‘all’ those vessels. Don’t get tempted by tiredness or ‘just get enough’ thinking and quit in the middle of your miracle. Each miracle is designed by God to furnish what He has determined we need and not what we may think we need. The widow only saw herself needing to satisfy the creditors. God wanted to bless her much more than just her need. He supplied her need according to His riches and He desired to do exceeding abundantly above what she thought or asked for. Let the miracle run its full course and you may be blessed beyond your wildest imaginations. Don’t quench the Holy Spirit of God. The miraculous can be hard work. Don’t get tired and quit.
* ‘Those vessels’ referred to in verse 4 are empty vessels. One reason for pouring into empty vessels is that God did not want to have a mixed batch miracle. There is a difference between anointed oil and oil that is not anointed. Sometimes people try to pour the anointing of God into containers to top them off and give them an appearance of Godliness … this is not God’s plan.
* Man as a vessel cannot be two thirds filled with the world’s goods and then just add a little of God on the top to smooth things over and make them appear filled with God. Jesus sees right through that and says that the whole container is corrupt. He said to the religious of His time that they should not cleanse the outside and leave the inside unclean or allow sweet and bitter to come forth from the same well.
* Present yourself to God s clean vessels, empty of the world’s wisdom and the world’s answers. Ask God to fill you up with His anointed life. And, when God gives you something to do, treat the task as though it was your baby, a vision from God over which He has given you the care. Keep your hand on your miracle and let no one take your crown.
* Sometimes things don’t work because they just won’t work for anyone else but you.
