Sermon Title: Make Your Faith Work! Pt 2
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16)
2 Kings 4:1-7 - The Widow’s Olive Oil
4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.
4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Though she knew that her husband - and thus, her family - had sinned against God by taking on a debt so dear that her sons were threatened with slavery, the widow still came before the Lord in utter need of His pardon, protection and providence – just as she was.
The widow’s utter surrender to the Lord, in spite of her family’s guilt and desperation, is the very substance of her faith that prompted her to absolutely:
(1) Trust the Lord’s love; and
(2) Obey His divine instructions through the Prophet Elisha.
The Prophet Elisha – prompted by the Spirit of God – gave the widow three instructions that continue to inform us of how we must work our faith.
1st instruction:
“Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.” (2 Kings 4:3)
God will use people and resources around us to fulfill His Will for us.
Be open and willing to engage people, and use the things that God makes available to you.
However, before doing anything; in faith and thankfulness, first look at what God has already placed in your hands.
The widow may have been quick to report to Elisha that she had nothing of worth; but she was also quick to remember that she did, in fact, have a small jar of olive oil.
God used that little oil of worth, multiplied it into her neighbour’s jars that was worth far less; and revealed to her that she was still precious in His sight.
2nd instruction:
“Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.” (2 Kings 4:4a)
Your faith can be affected by external circumstances.
It is critical that you protect God’s revelation to you; and share them only with those whom you know will encourage and edify you.
We must consciously surround ourselves with people who are faithful to God.
Elisha’s strange request to shut the door is recognition that our faith is easily affected by external circumstances; which, in the widow’s case, would have been faithless and doubtful neighbours who would follow her back - look in, or even walk in, and cast doubts that question the viability of this act.
There is nothing natural about a supernatural act of faith.
An act of faith must astound the human mind.
Every act, and result, of faith is always supernatural; reserved only for those who are truly seeking God; and necessarily excludes those who have no interest in the Lord’s Salvific Presence, Power and Love.
If you truly treasure God’s relationship with you, you will consciously come before Him in every circumstance, and protect your faith in Him at all cost – including shutting the world out, and keeping only His faithful children close to your heart.
3rd instruction:
“Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” (2 Kings 4:4b)
The size of your faith is determined by your obedience; rather than your resourcefulness.
The size of your faith is determined by the depth of your obedience; rather than the extend of your resourcefulness.
The widow’s act of faith was not based on how many jars she could collect - for God already predetermined the number of neighbours who would help her, and how big her house was; instead, it was manifested in her absolute willingness and obedience to come to Him in utter compliance.
Her obedience to God transcended heeding Elisha’s every word; but was established in her forgiveness of her husband whose actions resulted in this terrible predicament.
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us in Mark 11:25:
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Our faith is activated when we come before our Heavenly Father with a heart that is completely aligned to His heart of Grace, Mercy and Love.
In coming before the Lord in utter surrender of all that we know, and all that we have; we are certain to fulfill God’s Will in our lives - which is, to bring glory to His Name.
Indeed, all of life’s problems - great and small - point to humanities’ greatest problem of eternal death – “the wages of sin” (Romans 3:23).
Only God can truly forgive, and give you life; if only you would come just as you are – in the utter faith that He most certainly will.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God I come! I come!
I come broken to be mended
I come wounded to be healed
I come desperate to be rescued
I come empty to be filled
I come guilty to be pardoned
By the blood of Christ the Lamb
And I'm welcomed with open arms
Praise God, just as I am
Just as I am, I would be lost
But mercy and grace my freedom bought
And now to glory in Your cross
O Lamb of God I come! I come!
I come broken to be mended
I come wounded to be healed
I come desperate to be rescued
I come empty to be filled
I come guilty to be pardoned
By the blood of Christ the Lamb
And I'm welcomed with open arms
Praise God, just as I am+
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
+ Hymn by Charlotte Elliott; Bridge by Travis Cottrell
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16)
2 Kings 4:1-7 - The Widow’s Olive Oil
4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.
4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Though she knew that her husband - and thus, her family - had sinned against God by taking on a debt so dear that her sons were threatened with slavery, the widow still came before the Lord in utter need of His pardon, protection and providence – just as she was.
The widow’s utter surrender to the Lord, in spite of her family’s guilt and desperation, is the very substance of her faith that prompted her to absolutely:
(1) Trust the Lord’s love; and
(2) Obey His divine instructions through the Prophet Elisha.
The Prophet Elisha – prompted by the Spirit of God – gave the widow three instructions that continue to inform us of how we must work our faith.
1st instruction:
“Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.” (2 Kings 4:3)
God will use people and resources around us to fulfill His Will for us.
Be open and willing to engage people, and use the things that God makes available to you.
However, before doing anything; in faith and thankfulness, first look at what God has already placed in your hands.
The widow may have been quick to report to Elisha that she had nothing of worth; but she was also quick to remember that she did, in fact, have a small jar of olive oil.
God used that little oil of worth, multiplied it into her neighbour’s jars that was worth far less; and revealed to her that she was still precious in His sight.
2nd instruction:
“Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.” (2 Kings 4:4a)
Your faith can be affected by external circumstances.
It is critical that you protect God’s revelation to you; and share them only with those whom you know will encourage and edify you.
We must consciously surround ourselves with people who are faithful to God.
Elisha’s strange request to shut the door is recognition that our faith is easily affected by external circumstances; which, in the widow’s case, would have been faithless and doubtful neighbours who would follow her back - look in, or even walk in, and cast doubts that question the viability of this act.
There is nothing natural about a supernatural act of faith.
An act of faith must astound the human mind.
Every act, and result, of faith is always supernatural; reserved only for those who are truly seeking God; and necessarily excludes those who have no interest in the Lord’s Salvific Presence, Power and Love.
If you truly treasure God’s relationship with you, you will consciously come before Him in every circumstance, and protect your faith in Him at all cost – including shutting the world out, and keeping only His faithful children close to your heart.
3rd instruction:
“Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” (2 Kings 4:4b)
The size of your faith is determined by your obedience; rather than your resourcefulness.
The size of your faith is determined by the depth of your obedience; rather than the extend of your resourcefulness.
The widow’s act of faith was not based on how many jars she could collect - for God already predetermined the number of neighbours who would help her, and how big her house was; instead, it was manifested in her absolute willingness and obedience to come to Him in utter compliance.
Her obedience to God transcended heeding Elisha’s every word; but was established in her forgiveness of her husband whose actions resulted in this terrible predicament.
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us in Mark 11:25:
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Our faith is activated when we come before our Heavenly Father with a heart that is completely aligned to His heart of Grace, Mercy and Love.
In coming before the Lord in utter surrender of all that we know, and all that we have; we are certain to fulfill God’s Will in our lives - which is, to bring glory to His Name.
Indeed, all of life’s problems - great and small - point to humanities’ greatest problem of eternal death – “the wages of sin” (Romans 3:23).
Only God can truly forgive, and give you life; if only you would come just as you are – in the utter faith that He most certainly will.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God I come! I come!
I come broken to be mended
I come wounded to be healed
I come desperate to be rescued
I come empty to be filled
I come guilty to be pardoned
By the blood of Christ the Lamb
And I'm welcomed with open arms
Praise God, just as I am
Just as I am, I would be lost
But mercy and grace my freedom bought
And now to glory in Your cross
O Lamb of God I come! I come!
I come broken to be mended
I come wounded to be healed
I come desperate to be rescued
I come empty to be filled
I come guilty to be pardoned
By the blood of Christ the Lamb
And I'm welcomed with open arms
Praise God, just as I am+
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
+ Hymn by Charlotte Elliott; Bridge by Travis Cottrell