Saturday, July 29, 2017

Brain Washing


ss073017

Have you ever noticed how powerful music is? Music sells! Music can sell us on the idea of romance; drama; impending doom; happy go lucky feelings; make us want to dance; make us cry; encourage us to run faster; to sit and meditate; music can calm us down or stir us up; music can frighten us or put us to sleep; music can lift us up or make us want to hide our eyes … music sells! The problem is, music doesn’t care what it sells … it tries its best to open our minds and make us willing to believe. Once the music opens our hearts and minds, watch out … here come the words!

Words have power. Words just want to paint a picture and give it life. Words don’t even care if the picture is right or wrong, the truth or a lie. Once the music opens the mind, the words of a song are often deeply embedded. These words heard, remembered and repeated often can shape our thoughts and control our emotions. Have you ever heard someone attempt to describe a feeling or the reason for their actions by saying, “it’s just like it says in that song …”, and then they repeat a portion of their programming as though it explained and excused everything?

One of the reasons why we sing the school songs, the National Anthem or jingles for our favorite products is because of the way it makes us feel. We even sing songs in Church directly aimed at programming the soul with the Word of God. In fact, the Bible encourages us to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord. Music sells … it doesn’t care what it sells, it just sells. God has ordained this to be so – problems is … it works in both forward and reverse. Songs can be our best friends or our worst enemies.

In the same way, words create … they don’t care what they create. Words just want to paint a picture and give it life. People believe words.

For our Family Sunday message this morning, separate and apart from music and its ability to set the stage, open the mind and program the soul, we are going to focus on the power of the words we speak and the words we hear. Today’s message will encourage us to pay greater attention to the things we say … even the things we say to ourselves.

Our Key Scripture today comes from the writings of King Solomon in the Book of:
Proverbs 4:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

In order to confirm and more fully explain this truth, we will take a brief historical look at two Bible Stories. The first account took place during the exodus of the Children of Israel about 1500 years before Christ. I’ll catch us up on the story before reading from the Book of Numbers, chapter 14.
(Commentary on the 12 spies and the negative affect of the majority report on the nation when they heard their words.)

Numbers 14:28  “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:”

Those 10 spies who said they were not able to defeat their enemies died without victory. The 2 spies who said they were well able to defeat their enemies did. There is nothing in the story to suggest any difference in what these two groups of people saw only in what they said. One group believed God would help them and the other group believed God would not help them. One group told the people they were not able and the other group told the people they were well able. The majority opinion prevailed and the people did not trust God and as a result they all died without receiving the promise of God. The minority believed God and received His promise. What they said made the difference not only in their individual lives but also in the lives of those who heard and believed them.

People tend to believe either the loudest and most repetitive voice or the majority opinion. However, Truth is not determined by a show of hands. Truth is determined by the Word of God!

The second account we are going to briefly survey this morning comes from the very first verses of the Bible in Genesis, chapter 1. Let’s just read them and attempt to understand the very first thing God reveals to us.

Genesis 1
1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3  Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.


The first lesson of the Bible is a lesson on the creative power of words!

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Miracles – Part IV


ws072617

Part 1 taught us that miracles are made from the things we offer to God.
·        Miracles are most often the result of a partnership between God and man.
o   What do you have?

Part 2 reminded us that God demands we participate in our miracle.
·        Most miracles take time, energy and effort.
o   Naaman the leper
o   Crossing the Red Sea
o   Manna from heaven
o   Peter walking on the water
o   Feeding the 5000
·        Go and Do are the two cornerstones of a miracle

Part 3 encouraged us to not limit God.
·        There is such potential in an empty vessel.
·        When we find ourselves in great need, think bigger not smaller!
·        My dad told me that if something wasn’t selling, go up on it and many times people will think more of it and subsequently want it more.

A miracle is anything God does that would not have gotten done without Him. If you can get God involved in anything you are doing, you are going to experience a miracle. Every time heaven gets involved in the affairs of man it constitutes Divine Intervention. God working with man is a miracle.

Miracles create supernatural results where natural results would not have been enough. God works in our lives, families, businesses, Churches, communities and nation to accomplish His will especially when we ask Him.

Miracles happen in relationships, finances, food, travel, health, weather, war and witnessing. God opens doors that no man can shut and shuts doors which no man can open. Miracles often happen without our knowledge or request. God intervenes as He sees fit and He is also often moved to participate with us to meet a felt need we offer to Him.

We haven’t tried everything until we try God. Unfortunately, many people try everything but God and others try everything before they try God. God wants to be involved in our lives and He will be if we will invite and include Him. God does not always work according to our will but according to His. When we ask God for help, He will often ask us to work it out under His leadership. God requires us to provide what we should, even when all we can do is believe, then He does the rest … that’s how miracles are made.

2 Kings 4 NKJV
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.

Part 4 will conclude this month’s study on miracles by showing us that God has a greater purpose for your miracle than just meeting your immediate needs.

2 Kings 4
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.”


Commentary on concluding scriptures and conclusion for miracles …

Miracles – Part III


ws071917

Miracles are made from what we offer to God.
·        Naaman
·        The Boy with the Fish and Loaves
·        The Widow in 1 Kings 17
·        Isaac sowing seeds in the land of famine

While people are praying for a move of God, most often God is waiting for a move of people!
·        Go and Do are the two cornerstones of the Gospel Message
·        Miracles begin to happen when we go and do what we can

A miracle is something only God can do
·        If you can do it, it’s not a miracle
·        Moses parting the Red Sea … there was just no way
·        God makes a way where and when there is no way
·        God turns impossibilities into possibilities
·        All things are possible to him who believes

Everything God does is a miracle!

2 Kings 4 NKJV
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 …

* My brother once told me that the hardest position to fill is one with someone in it. I think this true as well with miracles. Perhaps many are not spiritually filled because they have not yet emptied themselves of the world. I am not talking about stuff. You can have stuff and stuff not have you. This was the barrier to the young rich ruler in Matthew 19:21 and Mark 10:21. The young rich ruler was just too full. The young rich ruler went away sad because his stuff had him. If this man would have emptied himself he would have been filled from heaven with true riches that would never fade, be stolen or corrupted. There is such potential in empty vessels.

* Full vessels are at their greatest day. You have to pour out at least a little before more can be poured in. Give and it will be given to you. Free up some unproductive and wasteful time so it can be filled with better and more profitable adventures. Life is the process of filling empty vessels.

* For more than three decades this concept of seeking empty vessels and lifting them to God to fill has been at the forefront of our church growth and kingdom expansion philosophy. Each time we have filled our Church we have looked for another empty vessel to fill. Full vessels get stagnate. Like Kendal Bevil, an elder in our church, once shared with me, “Even chickens die off to the size of the coup” Pastor Kendal Bevil. When what we are pouring into is not filled yet, there is a freedom to expect more to come from God. When all we have is satisfied then there is no greater expectancy.

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors — empty vessels; do not gather just a few.

* This is where many people limit themselves and limit the hand of God. The prophet knew that he should direct her to get a big vision of supply. A vision that would more than meet her immediate need. A vision that would supply her and her family for many days to come so that she would not soon fall prey to needing another miracle.

* If you are going to go for a miracle anyway, what is the use of wasting all that God can and will do on just barely meeting your desperate temporary need. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you could think or ask according to or limited by whatever is working on the inside of you. (Ephesians 3:20)

* Don’t limit God.
> Psalms 78:41 … they limited the Holy One of Israel

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.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Sober Up


Gtcotr/ss072317

Professor Boundswell … 88 years old … the legendary wild game hunter with stories of great adventures from the early 1900’s was being interviewed. As he recounted the story of a large African rogue lion he was hired to hunt down … (ROAR!!!!!! – I wet my pants …)

1 Samuel 17
33  And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”
34  But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,
35  I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.
36  “Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”
37  Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

David’s claim and confidence is simple: The same God who helped me defeat my past enemies will help me with this one too.

In an ever-changing world it is good to know that there is one thing that never changes.

Hebrews 8:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

There is only one thing we can depend on to never change --- The Word of God.

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

1.  Instead of telling God how big your problems are … Tell your problems how big your God is.
a.   Physical size is the smallest big there is.
                                         i.    In David’s case: It wasn’t the size of the man in the fight it was the size of the fight in the man.
b.   Goliath had great confidence; pride; skill; stature; and support.
c.   David had greater faith!
2.  Hold fast your profession of faith, nothing wavering.

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

3.  Advance and engage your biggest enemy.
a.   David ran towards Goliath …
b.   When you knock the biggest one down the others will all flee.
c.   The same God who helped you before will help you again.

·        We do not wrestle against flesh and blood.  (Ephesians 6:12)

1 Peter 5
8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

2 Corinthians 4
17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world! (1 John 4:4)

So, sober up and don’t wet your pants!

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Miracles – Part II

ws071217

While people are praying for a move of God, most often God is waiting for a move of people!

God demands we participate in our miracles.

2 Kings 4 NKJV
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.”

Oil is often used in the Bible to represent the presence of the Holy Spirit. Any attempt to spiritualize this verse would certainly include the fact that when we have the Holy Spirit in our home, we ultimately have everything we need. The Holy Spirit is makings for a miracle.

3 Then he said, Go …

* Two thirds of God is Go! Human action is most often a required element preceding divine intervention. What would have been the outcome for Naaman if he had not have went and dipped seven times in the Jordan River? (2 Kings 5) What would have been the end of the story if Noah had not have built the ark, (Genesis 7), or if Moses had not have gone down into Egypt, (Exodus 3) or if the widow of (1 Kings 17) had not have made the prophet Elijah a little meal cake first?

* One’s refusal to do their simple part is the single downfall of God’s great plan for mankind. Go, here, is not a suggestion nor an option, but a command. When speaking with the lawyer of Luke 10:25, Jesus concludes the parable of the good Samaritan and solves the question of who is neighbor in verse 37 by saying,
> Luke 10:37 “Go and do thou likewise.”
* Go and Do are the two cornerstones of the Christian’s gospel responsibility whether they are seeking salvation for themselves or for others.

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors …

* Sometimes when one does not possess what they need to get them from where they are to where they are going, borrowing is God’s provision for the interim. Deuteronomy 15:6 & 28:12 give us to understand that God’s aim is to bring us to the place where we will not need to borrow but shall rather be the lenders. In Exodus 3:22 & 11:2 the Israelites were instructed by God to go and borrow silver, gold, jewels and clothing from the Egyptians before leaving Egypt and thus spoil their captors. These borrowed riches of the sinners would later be used to make the instruments of worship for the wilderness tabernacle.
* God is not against borrowing.
* Borrow with a plan and plan not always to have to borrow.
* Borrowing can also be a test of humility. Will one obey God when they must first humble themselves in the sight of others? Will one admit that they need and then ask for that need to be contributed to? The humility of simply asking for help is and has always been one tenant of receiving the miraculous.

* There is an element of merging the natural with the supernatural to make a miracle. In 1 Kings 17 Elijah’s miracle comes from both the natural brook and the supernatural supply of raven’s food. When the brook dries up Elijah is not sustained only by the supernatural alone. God could have made water to flow from a rock or a jawbone of a donkey as He did for others in their hour of need. (Exodus 17; Numbers 20; Judges 15). Rather Elijah was instructed to proceed to his next miracle location which would require a natural supply from a widow’s meal bin plus the supernatural multiplied supply from God’s increasing hand.

* Where God is unable to motivate people to supply what they can and give what they have, He often does not perform miracles.

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors — empty vessels …

* My brother once told me that the hardest position to fill is one with someone in it. I think this true as well with miracles. Perhaps many are not spiritually filled because they have not yet emptied themselves of the world. I am not talking about stuff. You can have stuff and stuff not have you. This was the barrier to the young rich ruler in Matthew 19:21 and Mark 10:21. The young rich ruler was just too full. The young rich ruler went away sad because his stuff had him. If this man would have emptied himself he would have been filled from heaven with true riches that would never fade, be stolen or corrupted. There is such potential in empty vessels.

* Full vessels are at their greatest day. You have to pour out at least a little before more can be poured in. Give and it will be given to you. Free up some unproductive and wasteful time so it can be filled with better and more profitable adventures. Life is the process of filling empty vessels.

* For more than three decades this concept of seeking empty vessels and lifting them to God to fill has been at the forefront of our church growth and kingdom expansion philosophy. Each time we have filled our Church we have looked for another empty vessel to fill. Full vessels get stagnate. Like Kendal Bevil, an elder in our church, once shared with me, “Even chickens die off to the size of the coup” Pastor Kendal Bevil. When what we are pouring into is not filled yet, there is a freedom to expect more to come from God. When all we have is satisfied then there is no greater expectancy.

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors — empty vessels; do not gather just a few.

* This is where many people limit themselves and limit the hand of God. The prophet knew that he should direct her to get a big vision of supply. A vision that would more than meet her immediate need. A vision that would supply her and her family for many days to come so that she would not soon fall prey to needing another miracle.

* If you are going to go for a miracle anyway, what is the use of wasting all that God can and will do on just barely meeting your desperate temporary need. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you could think or ask according to or limited by whatever is working on the inside of you. (Ephesians 3:20)

* Don’t limit God.
> Psalms 78:41 … they limited the Holy One of Israel
> 2 Kings 13:18-19 King Joash limited his future miraculous victories by his own limited actions. Elisha was angry with him for not getting more.
> About 20 years ago I was praying about the church purchasing our first church van and I took a drive to get away and pray. As I sat at a red light on Twin City Highway I began praying in the spirit. I was agonizing about spending the money. The need was evident and growing but I was wanting assurance from the Lord that He would provide. I knew and operated under the principle that God only pays for what He orders. I was not looking for a miracle I was looking for the divine guidance we need to order our normal daily lives in respect to need verses income. I really wanted to be wise. At that traffic light God’s voice invaded my moment and I heard Him clearly speak louder than my thoughts, interrupting my thinking and praying. He simply said, “When it is all over and done with, I would have been willing to give you more than you will get … (there was a pause for a second and then He said) … go for it.” This gave me a whole new point to consider when thinking about kingdom matters that stretch me beyond my current means and into the realm of the miraculous.

This evening I want to encourage us all to take the limits off God! Your next miracle or the miracle someone else needs may only be waiting for you to “Go and Do!”

Remember:
> John 10:10 Jesus came to give you abundant life
> 2 Peter 1:3 and all things that pertain to life and Godliness
> 2 Peter 1:4 … exceeding great and precious promises

> Ephesians 3:20 God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above …

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Uncommon Sense


Gtcotr/ss070917

Being right isn’t as important as doing right. The Book of James says that to know what to do and then to not do it is the epitome of sin.

This morning we are going to take a brief look at the life of King Solomon.

1 Kings 3 NKJV
11  Then God said to Solomon: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,
12  “behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
13  “And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.

1 Kings 4 NKJV
29 ¶  And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.
30  Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31  For he was wiser than all men — than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.
32  He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.
33  Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.
34  And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

1 Kings 11 NKJV
1 ¶  But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites — 
2  from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.
3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
4  For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.
5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6  Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David.
7  Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon.
8  And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

Knowing what God wants is only half the equation. Even the devil and all his demons know what God wants. The Bible says that they are afraid of God but yet they still don’t obey Him.

There are only two things we need to pass every test in life
1.   We need to know the right answer
2.   We need to apply that answer

Only two things stand between you and your success in every arena of life
1.   Knowing the right thing to do - which is often evident
2.   Doing the right thing – which is the hard part

God can’t help us if we are unwilling to do the right thing. We can’t blame our problems on others … even if it’s true, blame won’t fix it. God is committed to giving us the right answers … the rest is up to us!


Life is a test … but thanks be to God that it is an open book test … The questions may change but the answers never do. Open the Book and apply the answers. There’s still time … You know what to do … Just do it!

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Miracles


gtcotr/ws070517
Lesson One
        We do not choose the situations we face … We only choose how we shall face them.
2 Kings 4 KJV
1 ¶ Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, …
*  This account happened around 850 years Before Christ in a familiar region of Israel north of Jerusalem known as Samaria. The prophet Elisha was a disciple/servant of the old prophet Elijah and had become the senior prophet in Israel after God took Elijah to heaven.
*  This woman we read about in 2 Kings 4 is the wife of a man who had been a student in the school of the prophets under Elijah’s ministry. This family most likely from Bethel. (2 Kings 2:3) Men in these schools were for the most part non-Levitical, non-priestly men who felt called and compelled to learn the ways of the Lord and dedicate their lives to His service.
*  Since the days of Samuel and continuing throughout the Old Testament period, men who entered the school of the prophets were prepared to stand beside monarchy and the priest, to guard the nation and to proclaim and protect the God ordered rules of life and reward. Schools were established at Ramah, Bethel, Gibeah, Gilgal and Jericho. Before Elijah’s final departure he found it desirous to visit these schools and give parting instruction to the young prophets.
*  In answer to the call of God, this woman and her husband had relegated their lives and futures to a meager existence. In these times of spiritual drought for the masses, without a secure job and secular occupation, those who had dedicated their lives to serving God could not expect income as it was almost non-existent and certainly undependable.
*  Perhaps it is because she had learned the value of a Godly man’s counsel from having a husband so committed to God that now in her desperate moment she seeks out the advice of one she trusts as a true servant of the Lord.
saying, Thy servant my husband is dead;
*  This evidently was a sudden and unexpected death that had not been prepared for. As often does, sudden departures, even of servants of the Lord, can cause great and continuing hardship on those left behind to manage the affairs of life.
*  Since Elisha is Elijah’s recognized successor and chosen replacement, (2 Kings 2:15), it seems reasonable that this widow would go to Elisha for assistance in solving her problem. Thus she continues:
and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD:
*  The widow establishes that her late husband was not a careless nor reckless man who did not pay attention to his affairs but rather this statement lends credibility to the thought that he died suddenly and without fair notice or opportunity to make arrangements himself for the payment of his debt and provision for his family after his death.
*  The widow reminded Elisha that he was personally familiar with her husband’s service to God and his spiritual credibility.
and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
*  The husband has left family debt that the widow and surviving sons cannot pay.
*  Even though they have faithfully and fearfully served the Lord and been employed by choice and at personal cost in the spiritual service of God’s Kingdom, nonetheless, the current laws of the land apply to them. One cannot claim to be exempt nor excused from the laws governing others just because they have given their all in service to God. Even Jesus paid taxes, rendering custom to whom custom is due. (Luke 20:25) The Apostle Peter encourages saints to obey every ordinance of man while the Apostle Paul encourages us to submit to the magistrates who are in place. (1 Peter 2:13 & Romans 13)
*  The two sons, regardless of age, must by law fulfill the contract of payment either by monetarily satisfying their father’s debt or by serving out the debt as slaves until the year of Jubilee sets them free again.
*  This woman’s cry was for the immediate freedom of her sons. She is no doubt also grieving for her own recent loss. The added loss of her only two sons seems an unbearable eventuality unless someone intervenes.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee?
*  It is unclear from which frame of mind Elisha ask this question. Whether he is truly wondering or from an attitude of despair as to what to do. Even seasoned men of God can and do feel both when faced with solving others’ problems in the visible place of God. The Apostle Paul rehearsed that daily there came upon him the care of all of the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28) and he wondered at times if he had actually run and sown and labored in vain. (Galatians 4:11) No matter, genuine care and dedication was present in the prophet’s life and actions. His counsel will give this woman a chance to change things.
A Chance is only a Chance …
*  It is perhaps certain that Elisha knew that there was nothing which he, of himself, could do. This would require a miracle and thus he needed to move this woman into a position to receive from God. In order for a person such as this to receive a miracle they must:
1. Be motivated to depend on God and not the arm of man;
2. Offer what they have to God for His touch;
3. Obediently follow the prescribed course of action required for God’s intervention
* This can be anything from dipping in the river Jordan seven times, to walking the isle at a church and humbly submitting to the laying on of hands for help); and
4. Must use the blessings and benefits received for that which God intended when He thus blessed them.
*  Perhaps Elisha is using this interim time to think of a way to move this woman into faith filled action or maybe he is waiting to receive divine direction from God. At any rate there seems appropriate to the moment a certain pause after this question and before the next one. 2 Kings 4:2 continues:
tell me, what hast thou in the house?
*  It might seem to some that a true prophet of the stature of Elisha could have already discerned what it was that the woman had in her house. This brings to mind two possibilities of which both are, at times, true.
> First: Even true and gifted men of God do not always know what to do, but they do know Who does! Sometimes leaders don’t even know what to do about the works and miracles they themselves are involved in. But given time, God gets through and direction for the day comes to life. (such as the Prophet Nathan: 2 Samuel 7)
> Next: Often men of God, though they know, they await others to come to the knowledge as though arriving at it by themselves. People guided to truth who uncover it often feel more joined to it since they feel they discovered it. Counsel is in the heart of man and a man of wisdom draws it out. God is always speaking to those in need encouraging them what they can do … counsel hopes to awaken the sleep soul to the voice of God and hear a hearty Amen from the one who needs.
*  Note the prophet is going to identify something personal and costly to the widow … something in her house. Even though she has recently lost much, still the road to her salvation is to offer yet more of what she has. Much like the widow of 1 Kings 17, this woman must act in faith for her miracle. Trusting God is often easier when it is out of one’s abundance, however, seldom does that type of action produce miracles for the ones who supply even though it often is a miracle for those who receive.
And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house,
*  She evidently did not go immediately running to Elisha on the first day her husband died, but rather she waited, most likely trying every other natural means to supply. Now, only when she possesses nothing, do her creditors come as vultures, in their right advance, to lay claim to her most prized possessions. It can seem like when all else fails and there is no ability in reserve, that the problems of life unfairly pile onto the shoulders of God’s people. Through necessity many finally despair of any other way and turn to The Way, Jesus.
save a pot of oil.
*  The things we so lightly esteem are often raised to become our salvation. God chooses the simple things of this world and the things which are nothing to bring about great things. (1 Corinthians 1:28) Little David, from the backside of the desert, tending a few sheep, was brought from obscurity to greatness in the hand of the Lord. (1 Samuel 16:11 & 17:28) God has decided to place more of His honor on the unseemly. (1 Corinthians 12:23) In our humility we are exalted and in His gentleness are we made great. (1 Peter 5:6 & Psalms 18:35) It is in the weak of this world that God chose to place His greatest treasure. (2 Corinthians 12:10) These ignorant and unlearned men, earthen vessels of clay, just because they had been with Jesus were elevated to eternal recognition as their names are written on foundation stones of our New Jerusalem, the holy city ascending down from God. (Acts 4:13; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Revelation 21:14) As then, so now, the stone that the builders rejected becomes the head of the corner. (Matthew 21:42)
*  How appropriate it is to have only a little oil become much more than enough. Oil is representation of the Holy Spirit in the house. At one time there was most likely oil in abundance and in reserve. Probably there was a plentiful supply for the daily needs of the home and family, any unexpected visitors and even enough to share with others in need. Now, with the loss of the spiritual head of the house, the oil had dwindled. However, the great truth is seen in that only a little oil of the Spirit of God is more than enough when it is:
1. Dedicated to God
2. Mixed with faith
3. Given opportunity
It is enough to meet any need, solve any problem and last for the whatever season is to come.
Thank God for the bountiful and abundant grace which pours from and earthen vessel containing oil in the hand of God.
Is there some small thing in your life which you can offer to God for the miracle you desire?

·        What do you need?
·        What do you have?

·        What are you willing to do?