Title: Elisha's Miracle/2 Kings 4:1-44
Content Title: Elisha's Miracle
Bible: 2 Kings 4:1-44
<Introduction>
In this chapter, Elisha's miracle stands out. Now his prophetic authority was recognized even before the king. Thus, Elisha went all over Israel and began to carry out prophetic works.
<Body>
1. Elisha helping the widow of a poor student of the prophets in trouble (1-7)
Knowing the plight of the poor widow's child being sold into slavery, he miraculously keeps the oil bottle flowing, repays the debt and solves all problems.
2. The miracle that took place in the Shunammite woman's home (8-41)
(2 Kings 4:8) “One day Elisha came to Shunem, and a noble woman there persuaded him to eat; and whenever Elisha passed by there, he went in there to eat.”
The miracle that occurred in the family of the Shunammite woman who treated God's prophet Elisha with great hospitality is in many ways similar to the story of the woman of Zarephath who treated Elijah. The fact that they lived in the upper room (1 Kings 17:19) and the event of raising a dead son to life (1 Kings 17:19-21) are very similar to the miracles performed by Elijah. This means that Elijah's inspiration came double. Elisha prophesied the conception of a son to the Shunammite woman who had no son, so that she gave birth to a son. When the son died, he performed a miracle by raising the son back to life. Elisha was a prophet endowed with sufficient power from God, and the Shunammite woman also had faith worthy of the miracle. God's miracles happen in these circumstances.
1) The Shunammite woman's family had faith to recognize the servant of the Lord.
2) It was a faith that served by force. -- Like Lydia, he compelled him to serve the Lord (Acts 16:15).
3) It was a faith that the couple worked hard together. -- In contrast to Nabal, a stingy husband (1 Samuel 25), they built a room for the weary servant of the Lord to rest. They even provided a desk and a chair bed so that I could read a book and meditate while resting.
Elisha's prayer for raising the dead;
1) I prayed that I completely entrusted myself to God. -- I fell on my face on the dead child and prayed earnestly.
2) I prayed without becoming discouraged. -- Work did not happen immediately after Elisha prayed. Nevertheless, he continued to pray and the child's body was warmed and his life was restored.
3. The miracle of detoxifying soup (38-41)
4. Miracles performed with barley bread (42-44)
When Elisha went to Gilgal, there was a severe famine in the land and there was nothing to eat. At this time, God performed miracles like the five diseases through Elisha. It was enough to feed 100 people with 20 barley loaves and vegetables. How did these miracles happen?
1) The first ripe ones were given.
You should always be a believer who knows how to give the most precious and valuable things to God. Like the Jews who lived in the time of Malachi, we must not be rebuked for being thieves who do not know how to give God's things. I must become a believer who knows how to give tithes first in the paycheck and also to give thanks.
2) It was a heart for others.
A man from Baal-Salisha brought barley bread and vegetables to Elisha. Elisha didn't want to eat it and wanted it to be the food of the cadets. The Apostle Paul said, “Look after one another and encourage good deeds.”
3) It was faith in the word of God.
In verse 43, “They will eat and have leftovers,” says the Lord. When the centurion also believed the words of Jesus, Jesus also blessed his faith and healed the servant. Let us also believe that the word of God is the living and active word of God and live with abundance in it at all times.