Gtoctr/ws102208
2 Kings 4 KJV
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 thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
In Part One of this series on the Miraculous, we learned the truth that:
* God demands we participate in our miracles
In Part Two we heard the Prophet Elisha say:
* Don’t limit God
Part Three is entitled:
* Time, Place & People
Timing is a critical component of a miracle.
Everyday we enjoy the benefits of miracles all around us. Most of the time we pay no attention to these miracles and simply pass them by as though they were ordinary everyday events of life and not miracles at all
For example, one can imagine the miracle it truly is for God to imprint a tiny acorn with the schematics necessary to produce a mighty oak tree and eventually a whole forest. All of heaven and earth stand behind those pre-programmed forces of nature to give this acorn its rightful chance at becoming all God designed it to be. However, many acorns fail to achieve their potential.
One reason why acorns and people fail to reach their potential, fail to be successful in their calling, is timing.
2 Kings 4
4 And when thou art come in,
* As I said, timing is a critical factor in receiving from God. It is like the acorn which contains a prerecorded message of success. Given the chance, an acorn will accomplish its highest calling and become a whole forest. For this potential to be capitalized on however, the acorn must abide its season of waiting so that when the timing is right, it breaks open in the right time and in the right place to press toward destiny. If it opens too early or too late or in the wrong place, it will die never having fulfilled its call. But given the chance, all of the powers of creation are released to aid it and carry it to its greatest day.
Location is another critical factor. When Abraham was told by God to go to a place God would choose and sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham started the journey. He walked three days northward until hearing from God to climb a mountain and build an altar. Abraham obeyed! The conclusion of that story finds that God had supplied a ram to take the place of Isaac and that the ram was being held captive and ready on that very mountain top where He directed Abraham to build the altar.
* What do you think would have happened if Abraham had have tired early on his journey and had climbed a mountain one day early or one mile short of his intended location? He would have been one day too early or one mile short of his miracle.
* Abraham called the name of that place, “Jehovah Jireh”. We say that Jehovah Jireh means ‘the Lord will supply’. However the correct meaning is:
Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
* Miracle provision is found in the right place at the right time.
* Many fail because they strike out prematurely. Having received a calling from God they immediately run out and ultimately do damage not having properly prepared. A calling is an invitation to come and be prepared. Many are willing to be used by God but are unwilling to be fully prepared for use.
Matthew 22:14 “Many are called but few are chosen.”
* Once prepared, servants are chosen to be sent … and sent to the right place. The right place is determined by God.
Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
* In Acts 9:31 the churches are reported to finally have rest from their enemies and comfort of the Holy Ghost and multiplied increase after that the newly converted Saul of Tarsus was pressed out of the city. The young convert was continually stirring up opposition and in his zeal was perhaps out of time with the desire of God for the Jerusalem church. Anyway, his leaving was best and necessary.
* Sometimes we think we are ready when we are really not! While at other times we may choose our place of service instead of going with God’s choice.
* Believe me … Ecclesiastes is right:
There is a time and place for everything.
2 Kings 4
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons,
The people you work with will make the difference. There is a marked difference between secret and exclusive, between things public and things private. Some things require a high level of sensitivity and expectancy without the common distractions of nay-sayers and the critical minded skeptics. God sets us in the body as it pleases Him!
* God does not want us burdened down with the weight of doubtful darts and probing questions when we are engaging in such critical moments of the miraculous. He even shut the mouth of Zacharias the priest in Luke 1, so that he could not sow seeds of doubt and disbelief. The 10 doubtful spies of Numbers 13 & 14 weighed heavily on those candidates for miracles and pushed them completely out of miracle territory.
* Who you include in your inner circle can affect your outcome.
Mark 5:37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
* Jesus did not include all twelve of the disciples in every miracle He did. He took only His closest 3, Peter, James and John to the mount of transfiguration and to raise the little girl from the dead.
* You, along with those closest to you … sons and daughters born in your house. These are the ones you can depend on in times of great need. These will fight with you, not against you, but with you against the odds. (Genesis 14:14)
* It is important to know those who labor with you in the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 5:12) As well we are admonished to mark them which cause divisions among us and avoid them. (Romans 16:17)
Remember: When you are in pursuit of a miracle … Time, Place & the People you are connected to, are all important elements of success. Time, Place & People!
