Sermon notes from Sunday evening 26 February 2017
2 Kings 4 verses 1 - 7
In 2 Kings 4 we meet a woman who has been bereaved of her husband. The situation in her own home is given right away. We see in these verses the pathway to the man of God`s door. That is where this woman came to. Only one place where she might find help - at the door of the man of God. There is a greater door to consider - the pathway to heaven`s door. Maybe you have never made your way to that pathway to heaven. The gate is still narrow. There are few that find it. There are many on the way to heaven yes but compared to those making their way on the downward path there are few heading for heaven tonight. This was not an easy pathway for this woman. The gate to the pathway to heaven is not easy to find. What this woman needed was supernatural help. As we come into this meeting there is one source of help for you tonight. Supernatural help, not in any one else, found in Jesus Christ. Have you come to the road to seek him as Saviour and Lord? This might be a great night for you. This might be the night you leave behind your life of sin and make your way to the pathway of heaven. Nothing short of a miracle would help this woman. What you need tonight is a miracle of grace. She found a miracle in her lap. You need a miracle to lift you from where you are to be set on the pathway to heaven and home. We are not talking about turning over a new leaf, a little more churchianity, doing the best you can. We are talking of a miracle of grace. You coming to the foot of the cross, taking at the hands of the Saviour eternal life. A miracle takes place at the foot of the cross. You might have all the religiousity but it will never take you across the bridge tonight. Not an easy pathway for this woman. She had a debt to pay and nothing to pay it with. You have come in in the same situation. You owe a great debt and nothing that will take you into the glories of heaven tonight.
Notice first the complaint that brought her to this door. Her search began with a heavy heart and sorrowful soul. If you haven`t come to search for the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind you will not find him. It is only the Lord that can make the heart sorrowful. He is the only one who can show you the situation of your heart, make you sorrowful. Only then will you search for Christ truly with all your heart. Her search began with a heavy heart. Her pain is described here "my husband is dead". With his passing he had left a debt she could not pay. Here was a woman who came to the door of this man of God. She had a complaint and that brought her to his door. If affected her and her family. The creditor could come and take her sons away, make them his servants and she would never see them again for 7 years. Where has sin brought you tonight? Your heart is heavy and sorrowful, burdened down with your sin. You are a candidate for God`s salvation. Maybe you have a complaint in your heart but feel you cannot bring it to the Lord. The Lord has placed this complaint on your heart just so that you would acknowledge God himself. Sin can influence your home, can keep your family away from the cross because they are following your example. This woman realised her sadness and sorrow was not over. She realised now she would lose her 2 boys, the great loss she would have. If I only could paint the picture of a lost and Christless hell that will be your destination if you do not come to the cross. Your here today. Some say there is more than one way to heaven. Every bit of that religion is good, apply it until one day we get to heaven. Wouldn`t it be awful to close your eyes in death to a lost eternity. This woman began to realise the great loss she encountered. Isn`t that what brought Jairus to Jesus. He realised that the person he needed was Jesus. If you were to come into my home then I know my daughter would be better. The pain of loss. His daughter brought him to Jesus. Whatever it is that will bring you to Christ don`t turn it away.
The compassion she was met with. Maybe you have never come to Christ, prayed a simple prayer of faith "Lord come into my life." Maybe you think your sin is too vile tonight. The Lord will never accept me. Saul of Tarsus had blood on his hands yet he found mercy on the road to Damascus. Elisha had time to stop with her, to talk with her. Many find that same compassion in the Saviour. "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Isn`t that the same compassion here. The woman caught in adultery was found and pushed in front of the religious leaders. She was arrested and brought her to Christ, they wanted to trick him, wanted to hear what he would have to say. They had no answer to her sin. When she stood in the presence of Christ she found one full of compassion - "let him that is without sin cast the first stone." When he looked up again no-one else was there. Jesus asked the woman "where are thy accusers?" "There are none" she said. "Neither do I go and sin no more." What a compassionate Saviour. Christ knows your sin and he is willing for you to come. The compassion in the Saviour. The old thief found life to his dying breath. The old thief looked at the Saviour and said "Lord remember me" and Jesus said "today thou shalt be with me in paradise." The Lord didn`t turn him away nor is he going to make a mockery or fool of you. If you come tonight you will be saved. He came to find you - he came to "seek and to save that which is lost." He came to give his life as a ransom for me. He is not willing that any should perish. Remember the lepers who came to Jesus. They were total outcasts and not allowed in the city. They came to the feet of Jesus. The Lord touched them. Not another person would touch them. They found in him one full of compassion.
There was the challenge that faced her. Elisha was compassionate. The answer he gave was by way of challenge. It was all on condition that she believed the Lord. Elisha told her to take her cruise of oil, close the door behind her, borrow all the vessels she could get then begin to fill them. She would have to prove Christ. She ony had a little cruise of oil but she began to pour it into the first vessel. She continued to the last vessel and her son told her there were no more vessels. It must have seemed foolishness to lift down that cruise of oil. If you want to be saved isn`t it foolishness. The Greeks and the Romans just thought that too. That a man or woman steeped in their sin would come to the foot of the cross and get down on their knees. Look at the great sin barrier being delivered. By faith invite Christ into your life. That is what it is to trust Christ as your own and personal Saviour. 1 Kings 17 Elijah came to the very gate of the widow woman. As he came this woman was out gathering a few sticks. She only had a handful of meal and a cupful of oil. She had enough to make one cake and then she would die. Elijah told her to make his cake first for thus saith the Lord God of Israel the meal shall not waste and the oil shall not fail. That is what makes the difference. "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" Paul told the Philippian jailer. Will you come tonight. Tonight that is the challenge - will you leave your religion tonight. That is the challenge. Will you turn from the self righteous life tonight? That is the challenge - will you come and acknowledge Christ as your Saviour?
There is the commandment that followed - verse 5. She took all the vessels. The oil still remained. She came and told Elisha. He told her to sell the oil and pay the debt and live thou and thy children on the rest. God has paid the debt for your sin and he will give you the grace to live day by day. A young ruler came to Jesus wasn`t prepared to leave all to follow Christ - are you prepared to leave all and follow Christ tonight?
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