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As we are in a season of remembering women who love us and have poured into us... and celebrating the joy and privilege of being a mother ... I thought we'd look at two women this morning. Both were great women of faith.
Let's look at 2 Kings 4... we've all read and reread this passage....we've heard messages and so this is a familiar topic. A few weeks ago our pastor spoke on this very passage. It stuck with me and it kept stirring in me.
Woman of faith 1... The widow
We read she was a wife of a prophet. He was a scholar who taught at a learning centre or bible college of that time. So she was a godly woman..she followed the precepts of god. She was a woman who loved God and all the things that came with being a woman of God. She served along side her husband. Today are you and me too women who love God and we are serving God like we should be?
She was a woman who spoke Highly of her husband... "you know he revered God". How are we honoring our spouses? We need to portray them with honour and respect. They are the head of our houses and priests of our home.
She was a mother....of 2 boys.... both old enough to be put to work. She had poured her life into making these babies into men of God. She nurtured them and loved on them. She's given her all to her husband and her boys...then her husband passes away....very untimely. They both lived a honest godly life...leaving them in debt... ..shes running on empty.... Are we pouring everything into raising our family.... motherhood is a full time calling... it's a calling of heavenly proportions....its not just one person we're impacting...its generations after us.... are we feeling empty? Are we running on empty? I feel most often I'm unappreciated... I'm giving giving giving...im repaid with a hug, a sloppy kiss and messy but beautiful smile. I'm empty...I don't how long I can carry till I blow my gasket. Anyone relate to it?
she has sold every possession to pay off the debt...she sold her valuables...her household stuff... her nic nax.... still she finds herself in debt...her efforts were just not enough to save her boys.. her boys are to be taken as slaves to pay off the debt.
Do we feel at times we're doing everything possible yet our outcome is quite the opposite?
It's easy as mothers to feel dry...exhausted...feel like I'm not doing enough or I'm running on dry not getting any return.... hang in there my sister....this message is for you....
We see in 2 Kings 4 that the prophet hears her plea.... same way when we run to our heavenly father He hears us and he sees our desperation, our fears, our inadequacy and our need....
The prophet asked her what do you have... instead of what can I do for you.... God will always use the resources you already have to use you. She looked around and said just a jar of oil.... you may think.. I'm just a stay at home mom, I'm just an average mom, i just this and I'm just that.... He sees something you oversee. He sees potential, catalyst for change... don't sell yourselves short...
The prophet asked her to get jars from neighbors....... they acted in faith she didn't fight or question she did it with implicit obedience. When God asks us to do something are we meandering or are we acting in faith and obedience?
She and her boys fetched jars... then they were instructed to shut the door.... why do you think they were instructed that...because those nosey neighbors were doubters... they knew this family's situation...she probably borrowed from them and was debated to them too...they probably were mocking at her audacity to hope. Today you and I are faced with the same kind of people. They could be family members, friends, our church peeps.... when God calls you and gives you an assignment you shut yourself behind the doors. Your job is to be in tune with your master...shut that closet door...cause when you shut the noise of the world out...you are in tune and on the same frequency as The Miracle worker. The miracles start flowing... He will start to fill you, even those places nobody knows about...the anointing and blessing will fill you and start to overflow. He meets your need and some more... it's enough for you and your family and enough to pay off every negative thought you were debted to!
Sometimes as mothers we need to remember that Hes working on us... Hes fashioning you to be a masterpiece.... sometimes the Lord empties us out before He can fill us again.... He needs your emptiness, your nothingness, your licking dry gas tank to show off His awesomeness.
If we are not emptied out...His doing in us is adultrated, it's not perfect..He needs an empty jar to fill you up again.
That's why Paul says " in my weakness his strength was was made strong".
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Woman of faith 2 Shunnamite woman.
2 kings 4
There was a notable shunnamite woman. This woman was quite the opposite of the widow we saw earlier. She was a woman from a wealthy means. She was married and she had everything she could possibly need. Unlike the widow she offered the prophet food and rest. She needed nothing from him.
She honoured God and the men of God. She asked her husband to build a guest room upstairs for the prophet. Here we see again a contrast to the previous story. There she was emptied out before she recieved her blessing. Here in this passage we see the shunnamite woman...was creating or making additional room for her blessing. After she built the room she invited the prophet to stay, eat and rest. Elisha instructed Gehazi to call her and asks her what do you want me to do for you.... opposite to the widow who hunted him down and put her petition...here the prophet is asking her what can I do for you?
When we make room to honour God and servants of God... you don't have to run helter skelter to make your petition known...God will send someone to enquire after you. God will provide even before you know theres a need.
He asks if I should speak to the king for you? Jesus has already become the mediator for us...he speaks to His father the King of Kings. Talk about Influence.... when we honour God... influence comes looking for us.
Or should I talk to the commander in chief? Protection.... when we honour God...He becomes our commander in chief. Ps 91:11 says" For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;" isn't that something.
Isaiah 54:17 says
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of theLord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.
She did it not expecting anything in return...no ulterior motives. She did it because she loved God. It was Gehazi who told Elisha she had no children. She made no request of the prophet. Are we content with our circumstances like this shunnamite woman. Can we say it is well with my soul? Or are we bickering I don't have this, I want that, can you and I say I have not one petition just praise and adoration for the Adonai?
The prophet called her and blessed her saying next year you will be with child. God knows your deepest and most pressing need. He knows your anguish and aching. He is Elrohi! He is a God who sees! He is Jehovah Jireh! He provides. Did he not provide for Abraham? Did He not come through for Hannah? He will come through for you and me.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Ps. 84:11)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mt. 6:33)
We read the woman had a child and hes a young boy...the child suddenly takes I'll. He dies in his mothers arms. What would you and I do? Go beserk...that's what! Go off on a mad rant about did I ask God for a child? did I ask he be taken prematurely? etc ladi da! She didn't even tell her husband....she laid the boy on the prophets bed, shut the door and went in haste to the prophet. Even when Gehazi asked she said everything was well. It's only when she found the prophet and fell at his feet.... are you and I discerning about who we share our secrets, burdens, dreams, calling with? Don't share with everyone... everyone does not understand your calling and gifting.
When your are in the centre of Gods plan... He raises people to stand in the gap for you...Elisha knew she was in distress...even before she said cause he says the Lord didnt reveal the reason just her bitterness was know.
She clung on to the prophet saying I wont leave you.... are you and I clinging on to God? I'm not leaving you until you act Lord. Persistence is key in our faith walk.
When you and I make room for God, the supernatural starts to manifest...we start to move from natural to supernatural.... though Gehazi went with the rod to the boy...it was not until Elisha shut himself in and prayed and lay down on him a second time that a dead situation came back to life. Today there maybe situations, people, dreams, Hope's, calling etc that you have shoved somewhere in the back.... today God is asking you to lay that dead thing at the altar... shut the door and pray and God will bring that back to life in Jesus name!
Today we saw 2 women ... 2 different situations.... 2 mothers pleading for the saving of their sons. One was emptied in order to receive her blessing another made room to receive her blessing. As mothers let's examine our lives...what needs to be emptied out so new blessings can start to flow in and let's search and make room for the God of Supernatural to work in and through us. Amen
Let's look at 2 Kings 4... we've all read and reread this passage....we've heard messages and so this is a familiar topic. A few weeks ago our pastor spoke on this very passage. It stuck with me and it kept stirring in me.
Woman of faith 1... The widow
We read she was a wife of a prophet. He was a scholar who taught at a learning centre or bible college of that time. So she was a godly woman..she followed the precepts of god. She was a woman who loved God and all the things that came with being a woman of God. She served along side her husband. Today are you and me too women who love God and we are serving God like we should be?
She was a woman who spoke Highly of her husband... "you know he revered God". How are we honoring our spouses? We need to portray them with honour and respect. They are the head of our houses and priests of our home.
She was a mother....of 2 boys.... both old enough to be put to work. She had poured her life into making these babies into men of God. She nurtured them and loved on them. She's given her all to her husband and her boys...then her husband passes away....very untimely. They both lived a honest godly life...leaving them in debt... ..shes running on empty.... Are we pouring everything into raising our family.... motherhood is a full time calling... it's a calling of heavenly proportions....its not just one person we're impacting...its generations after us.... are we feeling empty? Are we running on empty? I feel most often I'm unappreciated... I'm giving giving giving...im repaid with a hug, a sloppy kiss and messy but beautiful smile. I'm empty...I don't how long I can carry till I blow my gasket. Anyone relate to it?
she has sold every possession to pay off the debt...she sold her valuables...her household stuff... her nic nax.... still she finds herself in debt...her efforts were just not enough to save her boys.. her boys are to be taken as slaves to pay off the debt.
Do we feel at times we're doing everything possible yet our outcome is quite the opposite?
It's easy as mothers to feel dry...exhausted...feel like I'm not doing enough or I'm running on dry not getting any return.... hang in there my sister....this message is for you....
We see in 2 Kings 4 that the prophet hears her plea.... same way when we run to our heavenly father He hears us and he sees our desperation, our fears, our inadequacy and our need....
The prophet asked her what do you have... instead of what can I do for you.... God will always use the resources you already have to use you. She looked around and said just a jar of oil.... you may think.. I'm just a stay at home mom, I'm just an average mom, i just this and I'm just that.... He sees something you oversee. He sees potential, catalyst for change... don't sell yourselves short...
The prophet asked her to get jars from neighbors....... they acted in faith she didn't fight or question she did it with implicit obedience. When God asks us to do something are we meandering or are we acting in faith and obedience?
She and her boys fetched jars... then they were instructed to shut the door.... why do you think they were instructed that...because those nosey neighbors were doubters... they knew this family's situation...she probably borrowed from them and was debated to them too...they probably were mocking at her audacity to hope. Today you and I are faced with the same kind of people. They could be family members, friends, our church peeps.... when God calls you and gives you an assignment you shut yourself behind the doors. Your job is to be in tune with your master...shut that closet door...cause when you shut the noise of the world out...you are in tune and on the same frequency as The Miracle worker. The miracles start flowing... He will start to fill you, even those places nobody knows about...the anointing and blessing will fill you and start to overflow. He meets your need and some more... it's enough for you and your family and enough to pay off every negative thought you were debted to!
Sometimes as mothers we need to remember that Hes working on us... Hes fashioning you to be a masterpiece.... sometimes the Lord empties us out before He can fill us again.... He needs your emptiness, your nothingness, your licking dry gas tank to show off His awesomeness.
If we are not emptied out...His doing in us is adultrated, it's not perfect..He needs an empty jar to fill you up again.
That's why Paul says " in my weakness his strength was was made strong".
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Woman of faith 2 Shunnamite woman.
2 kings 4
There was a notable shunnamite woman. This woman was quite the opposite of the widow we saw earlier. She was a woman from a wealthy means. She was married and she had everything she could possibly need. Unlike the widow she offered the prophet food and rest. She needed nothing from him.
She honoured God and the men of God. She asked her husband to build a guest room upstairs for the prophet. Here we see again a contrast to the previous story. There she was emptied out before she recieved her blessing. Here in this passage we see the shunnamite woman...was creating or making additional room for her blessing. After she built the room she invited the prophet to stay, eat and rest. Elisha instructed Gehazi to call her and asks her what do you want me to do for you.... opposite to the widow who hunted him down and put her petition...here the prophet is asking her what can I do for you?
When we make room to honour God and servants of God... you don't have to run helter skelter to make your petition known...God will send someone to enquire after you. God will provide even before you know theres a need.
He asks if I should speak to the king for you? Jesus has already become the mediator for us...he speaks to His father the King of Kings. Talk about Influence.... when we honour God... influence comes looking for us.
Or should I talk to the commander in chief? Protection.... when we honour God...He becomes our commander in chief. Ps 91:11 says" For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;" isn't that something.
Isaiah 54:17 says
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of theLord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.
She did it not expecting anything in return...no ulterior motives. She did it because she loved God. It was Gehazi who told Elisha she had no children. She made no request of the prophet. Are we content with our circumstances like this shunnamite woman. Can we say it is well with my soul? Or are we bickering I don't have this, I want that, can you and I say I have not one petition just praise and adoration for the Adonai?
The prophet called her and blessed her saying next year you will be with child. God knows your deepest and most pressing need. He knows your anguish and aching. He is Elrohi! He is a God who sees! He is Jehovah Jireh! He provides. Did he not provide for Abraham? Did He not come through for Hannah? He will come through for you and me.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Ps. 84:11)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mt. 6:33)
We read the woman had a child and hes a young boy...the child suddenly takes I'll. He dies in his mothers arms. What would you and I do? Go beserk...that's what! Go off on a mad rant about did I ask God for a child? did I ask he be taken prematurely? etc ladi da! She didn't even tell her husband....she laid the boy on the prophets bed, shut the door and went in haste to the prophet. Even when Gehazi asked she said everything was well. It's only when she found the prophet and fell at his feet.... are you and I discerning about who we share our secrets, burdens, dreams, calling with? Don't share with everyone... everyone does not understand your calling and gifting.
When your are in the centre of Gods plan... He raises people to stand in the gap for you...Elisha knew she was in distress...even before she said cause he says the Lord didnt reveal the reason just her bitterness was know.
She clung on to the prophet saying I wont leave you.... are you and I clinging on to God? I'm not leaving you until you act Lord. Persistence is key in our faith walk.
When you and I make room for God, the supernatural starts to manifest...we start to move from natural to supernatural.... though Gehazi went with the rod to the boy...it was not until Elisha shut himself in and prayed and lay down on him a second time that a dead situation came back to life. Today there maybe situations, people, dreams, Hope's, calling etc that you have shoved somewhere in the back.... today God is asking you to lay that dead thing at the altar... shut the door and pray and God will bring that back to life in Jesus name!
Today we saw 2 women ... 2 different situations.... 2 mothers pleading for the saving of their sons. One was emptied in order to receive her blessing another made room to receive her blessing. As mothers let's examine our lives...what needs to be emptied out so new blessings can start to flow in and let's search and make room for the God of Supernatural to work in and through us. Amen
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