2 kings 4:1-8

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.

1.  INTRODUCTION.

The world in which we are living is full of serious challenges and we need to know where we take these challenges too. It is your choice, given by God to take your challenges wherever you want to take them. One thing that God has allowed is the power of decision making. God cannot decide for you, he gives you great and good options, and it is you who will finally take a decision either for good or for your own destruction. Choose life and you will live.

2.  The servant of God a Prophet at the Bible College died. The sorrow.

2.1.     The Bible is not specific what caused the death of a prophet.

2.2.     Servants of God are also dying, no one will live forever.

2.3.     The world in which we are living has some serious limitations, I am not held alive because of my medical aid, and I am still alive because God wants me to fulfil my assignment here on earth.

2.4.     You are still kept alive for a reason and may God help us all to fulfil the remaining assignments given to us since birth.

2.5.     The student prophet died while training and many pastors or servant of God are gone through many attacks of life.

2.6.     My still living doesn’t make me better than those who are gone, No! It is but God’s grace upon my life and the life of my wife and children.

2.7.     Those who have lost their love ones please know that it was not a mistake, but it was time, stay comforted, God still loves you and he is still in full control of the universe.

2.8.     The prophet left his wife and children.

2.8.1.       The loss was great and questions mounted, why God did you allow your prophet to die?

2.8.2.       What are we going to eat and how are we going to survive?

2.8.3.       What have we done or what has your prophet done deserving such a death while in training for your work?

2.8.4.       And many other questions might have clouded their minds.

3.  THE NEED WAS REAL

3.1.     The prophet left behind debts that he made with a hope of paying those debts as time goes on.

3.2.     There was no longer income and payments of the debts,

3.3.     The debts were not secret but family debts known by the wife and the children.

3.4.     The debtors came and demanded their money and they were turned away without getting anything.

3.5.     I just imagine this family in sorrow, getting calls that when are you going to pay us.

3.6.     The debtors knew that the servant of God was dead, but they were still merciless.

3.7.     They cared for nothing whether the family was godly and not, they wanted their money. What a heavy sorrow that came upon this family.

3.8.     Relatives were there, but couldn’t help the situation.

3.9.     Church members and the church was there but couldn’t help the situation.

3.10.The government was there, but couldn’t help the situation.

APPLICATION IN OUR OWN LIVES.

Is this not what is happening with all of us? Even people you so much trusted, they are no longer answering your calls.

Relatives are far away from you, they are saying may his God help him/her.

Friends are few, if you remember Job; he was left with only three friends in those dark hours of his life.

These dark hours’ falls upon each and every individual living in this world, the solution lies with you how you react in those dark hours of life.

a)  Some decide to take their lives that are called suicide.

b)  Some decide to abundant their homes seeking for better life somewhere else.

c)   Some turn into drugs.

d)  Some turn into crime

e)  Some decide to throw themselves alive under the speeding bus and thus killing themselves as if it was an accident.

f)    Some decide to kill the whole family and thereafter kill themselves as we see happening nowadays.

g)  The world is not a safe place to live without God, allows God in your life and he will fight for you in all these perils of life, pandemics, hatreds, bad friends, and witches in this world.

h)  Surely you are not going to make on your own, even saying “Best times are yet to come” the scientists and the futurists, will tell you that worse times are yet to come.

4.  THE PROVISION.

4.1.     This widow turned to the servant of God which basically he turned to God for her situation. When you consult God, through his servants, God will lay in the hearts of his servants’ right answers and solution or counsel which is more than advice in the mouth of his servant to utter towards your situation.

4.2.     This woman, approached Elisha the prophet about her serious problems, do not treat your problems light. Your problems are there to steal your faith in God. Therefore use the services of those people God has laid in your life and your life will be sorted out.

4.3.     The prophet asked what this widow has, nothing more and nothing less. What do you have,

4.4.      The answer was the last oil in my jar, and the prophet said, borrow as many jars as possible and pour out the oil in those jars and sell them, pay your debts and have enough to eat.

4.5.      That is exactly what this widow did, in the Bible I have never seen a widow forsaken by God. You too God has something special for your life, just remain faithful to him, he is more than faithful and he cannot be against his Word.

4.6.      The oil came out as long the barrels were there, the sooner the barrels, got finished, the oil stopped.

4.7.      Be open to your God 24/7 and he will fill you to the brim. The manner in which we open ourselves to God, counts enormously. Little opening will allow little blessings. Great opening to the things of God, will allow great out-pouring of God’s blessings and Spirit upon your life.

5.   CONCLUSION.

5.1.     Each and every problem has an expiry date.

5.2.     When you concentrate on problems, you will have more problems.

5.3.     Jesus says”Do not worry about tomorrow since tomorrow will take care of itself.

5.4.     Jesus says “Look at the birds, they do not plough work, but they have all what they need on the daily basis, your Father in heaven is taking care of them and what about you? You are more valuable than these birds”

5.5.     Therefore know your redeemer is alive and cares about you as he cared for this widow, he will care for you too, whether you are a widow or not.

5.6.     To God is the glory now and forever more.

Stay blessed forever.