Title: How to Solve Difficult Problems
2 Kings (8) The way to solving difficult problems
(2 Kings 4:1-7)
1. Seek God and Pray
One day, the wife of a Seonji student met the desperate problem of the death of her husband, who was attending Seonji School. Then she found Elisha, cried out, and told her of her plight (verse 1). The saying that he cried out in search of Elisha can be broadly interpreted as saying that he prayed in search of God. When such a difficult problem arises, above all else, seek God and pray. The success or failure of problem-solving depends on who you go to first in difficult times.
Every problem must have an answer. No test taker creates questions without answers. Even when God allows his children to have problems, he always allows them with the solution in mind. Therefore, even when you encounter difficult and difficult problems, do not be too disappointed and believe in the goodness and greatness of God who allowed them. Even difficult and difficult problems will be miraculously solved if God helps them.
2. Say what you have
When Elisha asked his seminary wife, “Tell me what is in your house!”, she said, “There is nothing in the house of the maidservant except a bowl of oil” (v. At that time, she focused on “there is nothing”, but Elisha focused on “there is a bowl of oil.” When you encounter a problem, the important thing is Elisha's focus. God miraculously overflowed with a lot of oil through a bowl of oil in her.
When you run into a big problem, it's easy to focus on what's not there, but try to focus on what's there. God often works through what he currently has. Even if it seems insignificant, when it is left in God's hands, it becomes a tool to accomplish great work. In particular, if he has hymns, prayers and thanksgiving, and has a heart to worship and a heart to listen to the Word, he is actually possessing a great deal. Through this, God will accomplish the miraculous work of solving problems.
3. Prepare a vessel to be blessed
When Elisha heard that there was a bowl of oil, he said to her (verses 3-4). “Lend as many empty bowls as you can to all your neighbors! Then go in with your two sons, close the door, pour oil into all the vessels, and move them away as they fill! When she did as Elisha said, the vessels overflowed with oil. As the oil continued to be filled, when the son said, “There is no more vessel,” the oil stopped immediately (v.
The amount of oil she got was limited by the number of empty bowls she borrowed. In the end, she was limiting the amount of blessings God gave her. As such, they often limit the amount of blessings God can give them. So open your mouth wide. If you open your mouth a little, God cannot fill you more. According to the measure of faith, if you prepare a lot of vessels of blessing, God will fill you with a lot, and if you prepare a little, He will fill you with a little.
4. Look only to God
While filling the borrowed vessel with oil, Elisha told her to enter the room with her two sons, shut the door and anoint the vessel (v. 4). Why did I tell you to close the door? It must have been so that the spirit of unbelief of unbelievers would not take advantage of it. Believers should be careful about saying wrong things, but also being careful about hearing wrong things. In Mark 4:24, Jesus said, “Take heed to what you hear.” Depending on what you hear, you get different things and different blessings.
Also be careful what you look at. When God tells you to close the door, it means to look only at God. When you pray to God, look to God and pray. Jesus also said, “When you pray, go into your closet, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6). The closet is also a secret place, and the fact that even the door is closed shows the importance of secret prayer. Secret prayers are best answered. Because God sees best when people don't see it best.
5. Do your own thing
When God meets the needs of the seminary student's family, God can directly provide finances or move the debtor's heart to have the debt be forgiven, but why did He give oil and sell the oil to make a living? Also, when He gave oil, God didn't just give the oil by God's infinite power, but why did he have to borrow a vessel and then gave the oil through the cumbersome process of pouring oil into the vessel? It is a hint to do what you have to do for yourself.
Miracles are not given when standing still, but usually with seed action. Peter experienced a miracle through the act of casting seeds on the right side of the boat. In the same way, do your best to do what you have to do. Saints should not be robots or mannequins or caged birds. You can't just expect God to do everything in the name of believing. When he does his best in what he has to do and can do on his own, God does what he can't do.