Title: Lend me the vessel of faith
Contents
Being a disciple of the Lord is indeed not an easy and narrow road. The most difficult path seems to be the issue of food, clothing and shelter. In times when the economy is not as good as these days, it is difficult for the saints and churches as well. Students going to college will also be bored. This is because even after graduating from college, not only is it difficult for debtors to pay off their debts with student loans, but it is also not easy to find a job.
In today's text, the good news is that the wife of the Prophet's student overcomes hardships with an opportunity to turn around during a time of great hardship. I wish you all the blessings of reversal in this difficult family environment. Then what kind of reversal blessing is appearing in this family?
1. The home environment of the poorest
The cadets of the prophets these days refer to evangelists who are students in seminaries. After receiving a call from God and attending seminary, for some reason this seminary student went to heaven first. My husband, who went to heaven, died while fulfilling his mission. Unfortunately, the problem is the family he left behind. It is a shocking story of Chae-ju (creditor) who comes to her husband after her husband leaves and tells her to take the two remaining children and make them her servants.
This is the scene where the wife calls out to Elisha and complains about what to do.
Elisha then asks how can I help you and tell me what you have in your house. This wife says that the housemaid's house has nothing but a bottle of oil. Then go out and borrow a bowl from all your neighbors. Borrow an empty vessel, but borrow a lot, not a little. Then, like the two sons, close the door, move the oil into the bowl as soon as it is full, sell the oil, pay off the debt, and live with the two sons with what is left over.
2. Wrestling with Faith
To become a servant of the Lord, it must have taken a lot of determination and a struggle of faith. Should I go this route? shouldn't As I walked along the Lord's way, my husband fell ill and died early, leaving only a bottle of oil left. Should I also ask Elisha to borrow a vessel? shouldn't it? part of the conflict. If you ask me to borrow a bowl, how many do I have to borrow? There are bowls and large bowls such as basins, which one should I borrow?
My trust in borrowing a bowl is shaken. Where should I put the concept?
3. The Miracle of the Five Byeong-Eye
There was an incident where a boy offered five barley loaves and two fish to Jesus, and even after 5,000 people ate, there were 12 loaves left. Anyway, this woman went into the room and poured oil into the bowl, and strangely, oil came out again. When a bowl is full after pouring oil, it is poured into another bowl and the borrowed bowl is full. The smell of fragrant oil vibrates throughout the room.
The borrowed bowl is full of oil. “Hey! Had I known this would be the case, I would have prepared a bigger bowl... … .” is the regret. To be honest, I would have had doubts when I went to borrow a bowl. But now things have changed. This is the limit of our faith.
4. Borrow the vessel of faith
Many years have passed since planting a church, but there is hardly any growth. As a result, my faith is not as intense as when I was first called. I worry about my children as they grow up. School education problems, marriage problems, church and company housing problems, food and living problems… … .
I am concerned about the issue of food, clothing and shelter. That worry turns into anxiety. How long do I have to live in poverty?
How long do we have to live in extreme poverty? How long can we get out of this stinky basement?
(2 Corinthians 4:7) We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that it may be known that the exceeding greatness of power belongs to God and not to us.
2 Timothy 2:20 In large houses there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also vessels of wood and earthenware, some of noble use and others of lowly use.
2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will become a vessel for honor, sanctified, fit for the master's use, and prepared for every good work.
Paul likens ourselves to vessels. “Whoever” is important. If anyone cleanses himself, he becomes a vessel for honor and becomes holy and worthy of the master's use. It also promises to be prepared for every good work.
The problem is the vessel of faith. Faith in God is drowsy by circumstances.
At first, I had big dreams and great faith, but my beliefs were diminished by the environment and material things.
When the Israelites, who had been saved from Egypt, defeated the Egyptians with the 10 plagues, parted the Red Sea, and made living water from the rock, they praised God and suffered hardships in the wilderness.
Do you really believe that God is all-powerful God? So why worry? Why are you concerned? Worrying and worrying leads to less trust, depression, and disease.
Grow the vessel of faith! Borrow many vessels of faith! Increase your vessel of faith a lot!
The infinite God will fill the empty vessel with oil to the Almighty God.
(James 2:5) Hear, my dear brethren. Has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?
The greater the faith, the more vessels will be borrowed; conversely, the less faith, the less the vessel will be borrowed. Jesus also said, 'According to your faith, be done' (Matthew 8:13; 9:29).
If you borrowed 10 bowls, 10 would have been filled, and if you borrowed 100, then 100 would have been filled. We believe that our faith limits God's omnipotence. this is disbelief
5. Don't worry.
Matthew 6:25-34 Why are you concerned about food, clothing, and shelter?
Matthew 6:33 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow;
6. Jesus is Treasure
Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; when a man finds it, he hides it, and rejoices, he goes back and sold all that he had and bought the field.
Matthew 13:45 And the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
Matthew 13:46 When he found a pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
We sold all our possessions and bought the hidden treasure. He sold all his fortune and time to buy the Pearl of Great Price. He sold all his possessions and bought Jesus, and he bought the kingdom of heaven. We sold all our cattle and bought the most precious Jesus. That is why he is the richest person in the world.
<Conclusion>
It is not easy to follow the Lord's way. The greatest test is the test of faith.
It is trust in God. Even if the things we hoped for on this earth do not come true, we will not be disappointed or discouraged.
Heb 10:36 You need patience, so that after you have done the will of God you may receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 After a little while, he who is coming will come, and he will not delay.
Heb 10:38 But my righteous one shall live by faith; and if he turns back, my heart has no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 We are not those who retreat back and fall into destruction, but those who have faith to the saving of souls.
Hebrews 11:38 (The world is not worthy of such a man.) They wandered in the wilderness and in the mountains, in the dark caves and in the caves.
Hebrews 11:39 All these received the testimony through faith, but did not receive the promise.
Hebrews 11:40 For God has prepared a better thing for us, so that, except for us, they should not be made perfect.
If you give me blessings on this earth, I am thankful and even if I die without receiving the blessings, I am only thankful that I have the most precious treasure of heaven. Be a person of that kind of faith.
Also, if the vessel of faith is cultivated, if the vessel of faith is borrowed, if the vessel of faith is cleansed, it will surely become a vessel for honor and use, holy and suitable for the master's use, and prepared for every good work.
By believing in this and relying on it, I pray that you will have a great blessing that will turn it into a blessing in a recession.
I pray that all hardships will become an opportunity to turn blessings into reversal. I wish you the blessing of faith with 12 more Gwangjuri left even after paying off all your debts.(*)