Intro:
1. Until we are bothered by our Barrenness, we will not seek revival. (Sun am)
2. Until we fall in Love with Jesus, we will not have revival. (Sun pm)
3. We must take one step toward God from our indifferent state, (Monday)
4. Until we remove Bitterness, we will not have revival (Tuesday)
“Bitterness is a poison we feed to ourselves hoping it will kill our enemies.”
5. Until we want Revival, we will not seek it (Wednesday)
6. Until we truly live in Faith, we will not seek Revival (Thursday)
7. Until we realize that God has been GOOD to us, we will not seek Revival. (Friday)
That is a recap of the week! And God has been good to us, but are we any differerent? This morning I want to go to another that in reality was seeking revival.
At no time in all the horrible years of idolatry did God leave his people without a prophet. In fact, he sent thirty different prophets to his people with the hope that they would come back into a loving relationship with him. At this time, the prophet was Elisha. Our story begins with tragedy and desperation. We find a child of God that was bankrupt. She had no joy, her hope was dimmed.
I. She Experienced the Diminishing of Her Security - vs. 1
A. A Woman’s Pain - She was desolate immediately. Her entire dependence was on her husband. They were a team, but he took care of the provision and she took care of her home.
1. He was probably in the School of the Prophets, a student of Elisha.
2. He may have been a martyr at the hands of Ahab and Jezebel.
3. Her husband was faithful, and feared the Lord.
B. A Widows need - Some folks showed up at the funeral that wanted more!
It was bad enough that she had to bury her husband, but now she found she had:
1. The Debt - Not only had this woman lost the love, support, and comfort of her husband, but she discovered upon his death the horrible reality of this debt! The only way to pay the debt was to place her two beloved sons into a position of slavery. That was the remainder of her security!
- This Debt was Unexpected - Not of her own making - she inherited it
- This Debt was Unimaginable - there was no way she could pay!
2. The Danger - Her only chance of survival was her sons - but her thought of her young teenage sons’ becoming slaves or servants drove her to the prophet Elisha. The Law was clear what would happen, in Leviticus 25:39-43 it demanded that the widow’s sons were to be taken until they could work off the debt of their deceased father - so the woman would be without their presence or care.
3. The Distress - She had no answers and the creditor had come.
A. The Discernment by the Prophet - He had two questions:
1. Tell me what you need? - He knew, but wanted her to tell Him - That is just like our Lord - He wants to hear us cry to Him. Matthew 6:8 "Be not ye therefore like unto them (hypocrites) : for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."
2. What do you already have? - She had to be reminded that God had been good to her! God uses what we have, to bring Glory to Himself!
B. The Discovery of Her Resource!
Her Resources were revealed - She admitted she had nothing but oil.
YOU KNOW WHAT - THAT WAS ENOUGH! Oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit!
1. She felt helpless, but found she was not hopeless.
2. She felt fearful, but found she was not forsaken.
3. She felt her poverty, but found there was provision!
Oil is commonly seen as a picture of the Holy Spirit - and though it is not argued - it suffices to see that Jesus said of Himself - Lk 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"
III. She Expressed the Degree of her Confidence - vs. 5-6 (Time for Revival)
A. The Requirements
1. Her first step of Faith was her Collection - Gather vessels (not a few) -
Picture of OBEDIENCE Exercise the trust! - Not hard to understand.
1Jo 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
2. Her second step of Faith step was her Concealment - Take them inside and close the door. It was not a flamboyant show! It was ALL GOD!
She had been secluded in her trouble, now she was to be secluded in her faith!
Some of God’s greatest miracles will be done when no one else is watching!
3. Her third step of Faith was her Commitment - Pour the oil in them.
She knew it was all she had - but she committed her resources to obedience.
B. The Results - things became a lot better in the house!
1. The Strengthening of her Faith - Every vessel was full (I bet she wished she had gathered more) - Can you imagine how her faith grew as she poured.
2. The Supply of the Need - The need was met - “Pay thy debt”
(Can you imagine her testimony as she paid her creditors!)
3. The Spirit of Security - Her Future was brighter - “live thou AND thy children on the rest” When we seek the work of the Spirit of God by Faith in our lives, we will also effect others around us!
Concl. Now, here is what I want you to get - THEY HAD REVIVAL IN THAT HOUSE WHEN THEY REMEMBERED THE OIL!
We must surrender to the provision of the Oil! Eph 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"
