The Widow’s Oil: Christian Stewardship
Text: 2 Kings 4:1-7
Question: What would it look like if we tithed our life?
Background: "Sons of Prophets" were persecuted by Ahab & Jezebel; hidden in caves by Obadiah; they gave their all to the Lord's ministry; many died martyrs and left widows and orphans.
I.
We must confess our Inability to Meet our own
Needs (vs. 1-3)
EXP. “certain woman” “wives of prophet’s son” “servant dead” “creditor”
“slaves”
“nothing in the house except a jar of oil”
Heb. vs. 2- asuk “flask; anointing flask for anointing the sick”
A.
Needs vs. Wants
B.
Bondage to Debt
C.
Living beyond Means vs. Giving beyond Ability
(cf. 2 Cor 8:3)
a. For I testify that according to their
ability, and beyond their ability, they
gave of their own accord,
D.
Careful not to judge
II.
We must first Give Ourselves to God (vs. 2-3)
EXP. “my two children” “your maidservant”
A.
Humility to say we are humbled
B.
Total submission for ministry
C. Quote from ReFRESH Conference in Albany this week: "Jesus doesn't ask you to give because He needs something; He asks you to give because you need something."
D.
Cf. 2 Tim 2:20-21
a. Now in a large house there are not only gold
and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some
to honor and some to dishonor.21 Therefore, if anyone
cleanses himself from these things,
he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared
for every good work.
III.
We must Act Upon God’s Word by Faith (vs. 3)
EXP. “go” “borrow vessels at large” “empty” “not a few”
Heb. vs. 3- kelim vessels “prepared vessels, large general purpose containers”
A.
Faith without Works is Dead Faith – James
2:14-18
a. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone
says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother
or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them,
“Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things
which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by
itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have
faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[a] works, and I will
show you my faith by my[b] works.
B.
Action based on Faith
C.
Reception based on Faith
APP. One tiny insignificant ministry vessel of special purpose could fill
so many common vessels. A physical impossibility becomes a spiritual ministry
of supernatural proportions.
IV.
We must Receive each blessing as a miracle
(vs. 4)
EXP “go in” “shut the door” “pour out into all” “set aside”
A.
The way we reap salvation
B.
The way we reap deliverance
C.
The way we reap the Kingdom
D.
Warning against perversion of biblical truth by
con-artists (not a magic trick or mystical formula for getting God to bless)
Cf. Acts 8:20
a. But Peter said to him, "May your silver
perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with
money!
V.
We must Prepare for what God might want to do
(vs. 5-7)
EXP “bring me another vessel” “not
one vessel more” “oil stopped” “sell, pay, live”
A.
WARNING: The provision is directly proportional
to the preparation. The provision will go as far as the need, or only as far as
your preparation to receive the blessing!
ILL. Bryansk – Jesus Film – 8 movie theaters: 40K watched; 14K received;
4K into churches; lost all but a few dozen due to lack of belief &
preparation.
B.
What if God granted a 200% increase in ministry
opportunity next year? Are we preparing to receive what we’re asking for? Are
we prepared to minister to what we might receive?
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