Its' In The House

YOU ARE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK – IT'S IN THE HOUSE

Main Text: 2 Kings 4:1-7 (AMP)

GOD IS NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO WHAT HE HAS NOT EQUIPPED YOU FOR

GOD IS NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM

GOD WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT HE HAS EMPOWERED YOU TO DO

GOD WILL NOT ASK YOU TO DO WHAT HE DOESN'T ALREADY KNOW THE END OF IT

• What God Has Called He Has Equipped FOR
• Remind Yourself That You're Just A Vessel Being Used by God

Let's Review who you are in Christ:

Genesis 1:26 (AMP) Then God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority

Psalms 139:14 (AMP) I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 82:6 (AMP) I said, "You are gods; Indeed, all of you are sons of the Most High

John 10:34 (AMP) Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods [human judges representing God, not divine beings]'?

I have news church we have the money we need to finish the project, we just have to get it out of your pockets

The Widow's Cry for Help

2 Kings 4:1 (AMP) Now one of the wives of a man of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha [for help], saying "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant [reverently] feared the Lord; but the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves [in payment for a loan]."

• She knew where to go
• Don't let pride get in your way
• And she knew here rights

Deuteronomy 24:17-19 (AMP) "You shall not pervert the justice due a stranger or an orphan, nor seize (impound) a widow's garment as security [for a loan]. 'Cursed is he who distorts (perverts) the justice due to a stranger, an orphan, and a widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

What Do You Have in the House?

2 Kings 4:2 (AMP) Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have [of value] in the house?" She said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a [small] jar of [olive] oil."

• Elisha knows full well the question he is asking because he asked a similar questions to Elijah
• Tell me, what do you have in your house? | What have you received already?' | What gifts do you have? | What talents do you have?
• Identified, Maximize, and Monetize
• She knew the value of oil
• literally, save an anointing of oil; i.e. so much oil as will suffice for one anointing of my person.
• We often have a tendency to minimize what we have

Borrow Empty Containers

2 Kings 4:3 (AMP) Then he said, "Go, borrow containers (vessels) from all your neighbors, empty containers—and not just a few.

• Faith moves, say it again, faith moves
• Again we see she had to open here mouth to ask
• Remember you have not, because you ask not
• Key word empty containers
• Imagine the shapes, colours and sizes that have come in from the neighborhood.
• In like manner God pours His Spirit into all types of people. Even some odd ones! You might be one of those! : ) Never be surprised at who God will fill and use.
• The widow used all types of jars and so does God - as long as they are empty!
• Have a container that is full, and I must empty the container to be filled

Shut the Door and Pour

2 Kings 4:4 (AMP) Then you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out [the oil you have] into all these containers, and you shall set aside each one when it is full."

Matthew 18:19-20 (AMP) "Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them."

• Not everyone is supposed to see what God is doing for you
• We are a pitcher and not supposed to have a lid
• God has no limit on replenishing what we are willing to pour out
• The spiritual principle is this - God pours in as we pour out!
• In other words, we may not think we have much oil or anything to offer but as we use what God has given us to bless others, God keeps pouring in, and through, our life.
• "We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing." BILLY GRAHAM

The Oil Multiplies

2 Kings 4:5-6 (AMP) So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing her the containers as she poured [the oil]. When the containers were all full, she said to her son, "Bring me another container." And he said to her, "There is not a one left." Then the oil stopped [multiplying].

• The modus operandi had been left to the woman and her sons, and was thus arranged and ordered, so that there was no confusion nor hurry.
• God will not have waste.
• As they filled the jars with oil, so God desires to fill vessels today with His Spirit.
• In the meantime, form a personal point of view, we don't want the oil to stop flowing! To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not a one off. It is not being a stagnant pool. It is running, living water. Fresh water. Moving water. And as long as we are willing to give out what He has given us, the oil will continue to flow.

Sell the Oil and Pay Your Debt

2 Kings 4:7 (AMP) Then she came and told the man of God. He said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest."

• She did not feel entitled to make use of the oil which she had got by his instrumentality without first telling him and receiving his directions respecting it.
• The oil in the vessels was more than sufficient for the discharge of the debt.
• The prophet directs the woman to sell the whole, and, after satisfying the claim of her creditor with part of the money, to support herself and her children on the remainder.

2 Corinthians 9:10-15 (AMP) Now He who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing [that is, your resources] and increase the harvest of your righteousness [which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love]. You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous, and this [generosity, administered] through us is producing thanksgiving to God [from those who benefit]. For the ministry of this service (offering) is not only supplying the needs of the saints (God's people), but is also overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God. Because of this act of ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to the gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous participation [in this gift] for them and for all [the other believers in need], and they also long for you while they pray on your behalf, because of the surpassing measure of God's grace [His undeserved favor, mercy, and blessing which is revealed] in you. Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]!

Luke 6:38 (AMP) Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return."

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

#1 Come to the Lord, not as someone full of themselves, their own ability or agenda, but as an empty jar of clay needing to be filled by Him

#2 Thank Him that He has given you Himself, through His Holy Spirit, and that He is enough for all situations you find yourself in.

#3 And give out to others from what God has given to you and the oil of His Spirit will continue to flow.

Discussion Questions

1. The widow knew where to go for help and didn't let pride get in her way. When facing a crisis, do you turn to God first, or do you try to handle everything yourself?
2. Elisha asked, "What do you have in the house?" What resources, talents, or gifts are already in your "house" that God might want to multiply?
3. The passage emphasizes "Identified, Maximize, and Monetize." How can you better identify what God has given you, maximize its use, and potentially monetize it for kingdom purposes?
4. The widow was told to borrow "empty containers—and not just a few." What does it mean to be an "empty container" before God, and why is emptiness necessary for God to fill us?
5. The instruction was to "shut the door" before pouring the oil. Why do you think God sometimes works in private before revealing His provision publicly?
6. Billy Graham said, "We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing." How does this challenge the way you view your blessings and resources?
7. The oil stopped multiplying when there were no more containers. What does this teach us about the limits we place on God's provision through our own preparation and faith?
8. The spiritual principle is "God pours in as we pour out." How have you experienced this principle in your own life when giving to others?
9. The widow had to ask her neighbors for containers, demonstrating that "you have not because you ask not." What needs to happen in your life that requires you to humble yourself and ask for help?
10. After the miracle, the widow was able to pay her debt and live on the rest. How does this story challenge you to trust God not just for survival, but for abundance?

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