WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:04.540 If you have your Bibles, I'll open them with me to 2 Kings. Oh wait, I forgot. 00:00:05.620 --> 00:00:08.199 Never know whether to wear these things or not, do we? 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:15.400 I don't know if anybody else is like me. You're sick and tired of wearing a mask. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:17.839 Anybody with me? Or are y'all just still asleep? 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:22.500 We gave you a service off. It's 1030. Come on, wake up. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:25.100 It was a joke, by the way. 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:36.700 Anybody tired of wearing a mask? Looking forward to the day when we can just throw these things away and they'll be gone and we don't ever have to look at them again? 00:00:37.480 --> 00:00:38.100 Not yet. 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:44.980 They're getting my punchline ahead of me there. 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:50.560 Well, here we are, the last Sunday, last Sunday of a year. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:01:02.579 And I think most of us can certainly look forward to 2020 kind of slipping away into the history books and us moving forward. 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:12.500 You know, the last Sunday of any year, you know, brings a lot of emotions, a lot of different thoughts and processes in our minds. 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:23.379 We can look back upon the past year and we can think about all the things that we experienced, all the things that we went through, some good, some bad. 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:31.400 We can also look forward to a new year with great anticipation of the things that lie before us. 00:01:31.980 --> 00:01:39.420 Maybe there's some nervousness or fear of things that are in the new year that we're unaware of, but maybe there's some great excitement. 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:51.120 This year, we have the excitement that the coronavirus can maybe be put behind us, whether it be through a vaccine or whether the Lord would bring it to an end. 00:01:51.340 --> 00:01:56.980 But we can get back to some form of normalcy, whatever that might be. 00:01:57.060 --> 00:02:05.140 I don't know that we'll ever get back to the way life ever was before, but hopefully we're going to get back to some form of normalcy in our lives. 00:02:05.140 --> 00:02:19.420 But as we look forward in 2021, we can look forward with great anticipation of what the Lord will do and that we can walk into that future holding his hand and trusting him certainly to be with us. 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:32.340 But as we look back and we look at 2020 and we think of all that we've been through, do you realize a year ago, this Sunday, a year ago, we had never even heard coronavirus or COVID-19. 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:35.659 Most of us haven't, hadn't at that point in time. 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:37.560 And here we are a year later. 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:43.319 But we look back and I think Fred mentioned last Sunday, it wasn't all bad, was it? 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:47.740 There were some good things that took place in 2020. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.099 One of the things that took place in my life is I had to learn how to use Zoom. 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:54.020 I had never heard of Zoom before that, I don't believe. 00:02:54.020 --> 00:02:59.300 But all of a sudden now I had to learn to use Zoom and I used it with Sunday school classes. 00:02:59.480 --> 00:03:09.140 But we also used it to do some training with individuals in Peru that we would not have been able to have done without actually traveling and going down there. 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:20.280 We're also getting ready to start another Bible study with Peruvians through Zoom and as well as train pastors in Peru. 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:29.560 And then just this week I got an invitation from a leader in Ecuador wanting us to train pastors in Ecuador. 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:38.259 And so some of those things would have never occurred without coronavirus and COVID-19 that we've been through. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:42.199 Because I wouldn't have necessarily known how to have done that. 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:43.979 And they may not have asked. 00:03:43.979 --> 00:03:46.199 They would have wanted us to come travel down there. 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:53.799 And we can't travel and do as much as we can do obviously over the internet and Zoom. 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:55.799 So there's been some good things, hasn't there? 00:03:55.839 --> 00:03:58.679 But one of the best things I want to share with you now. 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:02.839 My best thing that happened to me this year. 00:04:03.339 --> 00:04:04.719 My granddaughter was born. 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:16.420 Last Sunday morning at 2.55, Lori Harper Davis was born on December 20th of 2020. 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:20.920 Now I would put it in military time and say she was born at 2020, but she wasn't. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:23.120 It was 2.55 in the morning. 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:25.360 But she's home, doing well. 00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:31.339 I said my daughter has too easy a time with babies because the first night she was home she only got up once all night. 00:04:31.339 --> 00:04:35.679 And I think Ashley even woke her up to feed her. 00:04:35.779 --> 00:04:37.479 I'm like, what kind of babies do you have? 00:04:37.859 --> 00:04:39.619 Because my grandson, he sleeps. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:43.899 He'll go to bed at 8 or 9 o'clock at night and sleep until 10, 11 o'clock the next day. 00:04:43.979 --> 00:04:48.559 I'm like, I told her, I said, you're not going to get that lucky with every baby. 00:04:48.799 --> 00:04:52.739 This one will probably start getting up every two hours before long. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:59.399 But as we look back on the year of 2020, there's been some good things that have happened. 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:03.719 Some bad, and we've all had challenges that we have faced. 00:05:03.799 --> 00:05:08.779 It's been definitely a challenging year that we have dealt with. 00:05:09.219 --> 00:05:17.500 And there's going to be some lasting effects upon us individually, maybe as a community, but definitely as a nation. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:23.319 There's going to be financial impacts upon our nation for years and years to come. 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:41.000 There's going to be some maybe physical effects, mental, emotional, maybe some spiritual, educational impacts, and definitely political impacts to our nation from 2020 for a generation to come. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:50.560 And there are times in our lives when circumstances arise that we have no power and no control over. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:57.240 Circumstances that impact our lives that we didn't do anything to deserve those circumstances. 00:05:57.459 --> 00:06:01.339 We didn't do anything to bring those circumstances upon ourselves. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:03.399 We didn't act irrationally. 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:05.079 We didn't make bad decisions. 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:09.600 We didn't ask for these things to come into our lives, such as coronavirus. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:12.200 We didn't ask for coronavirus. 00:06:12.200 --> 00:06:19.500 And none of us in here did anything to bring about coronavirus as a worldwide pandemic. 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:29.160 But sometimes those things come into our lives and they present challenges in our lives that we have no control over that. 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:36.840 But at times when these circumstances of life occur such as this, it can bring about a sense of fear. 00:06:37.760 --> 00:06:42.900 It can bring about a sense of desperation or even hopelessness in our hearts. 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:48.520 And we're left with asking questions such as, what do I do now? 00:06:49.140 --> 00:06:50.940 How do I respond to this? 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:53.020 How do I take care of my family? 00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:59.240 You know, how do I go on maybe when you've lost a loved one as a result? 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:14.099 And this is why this morning I want us to take a look at a poor widow found in 2 Kings who found herself in one of these moments when life circumstances were beyond her control. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:20.140 The scripture passage is 2 Kings chapter 4 verses 1 through 7. 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:30.460 And the message of this poor widow is a practical message that answers the question that maybe all of us are asking in our lives, at least at some point in time or another, 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:35.660 is where is the power to meet the desperate needs of human life? 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:53.640 When we're put in the situation of circumstances of life that are bigger than us, beyond our control, where is that power for us to face those circumstances and definitely to face it representing the Lord and honoring God? 00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:55.720 So let's look together at 2 Kings. 00:07:55.820 --> 00:07:57.980 You can look at the scripture on the board. 00:07:58.080 --> 00:08:02.360 2 Kings chapter 4 verses 1 through 7. 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:32.340 The wife of the prophet said, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:35.440 Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. 00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:37.460 Don't ask for just a few. 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:41.620 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:48.159 Pour oil into all the jars and as each is filled, put it to one side. 00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:53.259 She left him and afterwards shut the door behind her and her sons. 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:57.139 They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 00:08:57.139 --> 00:09:03.259 When all of the jars were full, she said to her son, bring me another one. 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:06.279 But he replied, there is not a jar left. 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:09.240 Then the oil stopped flowing. 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:16.799 She went and told the man of God and he said, go sell the oil and pay your debts. 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:21.080 You and your sons can live on what is left. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:22.400 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:09:23.400 --> 00:09:25.220 Father, we just come to you today. 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:37.740 And we acknowledge that we have been in circumstances and situations with this coronavirus and maybe others that are bigger than us. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:50.580 And we turn to you, Lord, to work in our lives, work in our hearts, work in our minds, to help us, Lord, to have the power to face these circumstances and situations. 00:09:51.299 --> 00:10:01.460 And not only to face these, but to face them with faith and to face them with trust and reliance upon you. 00:10:02.060 --> 00:10:05.759 Lord, I pray that you speak to each and every one of us today through your word. 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:10.879 And I don't know who is here, maybe struggling even more than anyone else. 00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:21.220 But I pray, Lord, that you speak your word and your truth to our hearts and help us, Lord, to draw nearer and closer to you. 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:24.379 And we thank you for this and praise you, Father, in Jesus' name. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:25.399 Amen. 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:37.439 As we can see in just reading these seven verses that the widow faced a severe and a very urgent crisis in her life. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:41.459 Her husband, who had been a prophet, he has died. 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:48.079 And he has left her with a substantial debt that she is not able to pay. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:52.440 Now, we don't know much about her husband. 00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:53.280 We don't know. 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:56.720 And we don't know how he incurred such a debt. 00:10:57.300 --> 00:11:09.379 But one thing we can probably assume is that he didn't incur this debt due to wild living or irresponsible behavior or making bad decisions in his life. 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:15.559 Because it's kind of clear here in Scripture that he was a prophet and he was a very godly man. 00:11:15.659 --> 00:11:17.159 He was known by Elisha. 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:19.360 He was respected by Elisha. 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:23.580 By the way, Elisha is the prophet who replaced Elijah. 00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:33.279 Elijah had been so close to God and so intimate with God that he is one of only two people that we read about in Scripture who never died. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:39.059 Elijah was taken in a whirlwind to heaven to be with God. 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:40.740 He was that close to God. 00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:49.659 Sometimes in our lives, as we pray, we should pray and ask God to help us to have that type of relationship with God. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:52.579 That we would grow in that type of intimacy. 00:11:53.339 --> 00:11:56.659 And that's going to mean spending a lot of time with God. 00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:58.480 Spending time in His Word. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:11:59.799 Spending time in prayer. 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:02.959 Spending time meditating upon the Word. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:07.939 And to have that type of relationship with God would be amazing. 00:12:08.079 --> 00:12:14.759 But before he was taken into heaven, he appointed Elisha to replace him. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:18.259 Which, by the way, Elisha is my favorite prophet. 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:20.100 And some of you know why. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.419 I know Mike knows why. 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:23.740 But I'm not going to go into that today. 00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:28.220 But if you go back to 2 Kings chapter 2 and read chapter 2, 00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:33.500 it won't take you long to figure out why Elisha is my favorite prophet. 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:37.399 But this man that was this widow's husband, 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:42.539 you know, it's quite possibly that he was one of the 7,000 prophets 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:46.759 that God had told Elijah that he had kept for himself. 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:49.459 And that he had never bowed down to Baal. 00:12:49.459 --> 00:12:52.639 Remember, Elijah was fleeing Jezebel. 00:12:53.019 --> 00:13:00.240 And she was, or he was fearful that he was the only one left that was honoring God. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:04.320 And God said, you know, I've kept 7,000 prophets to myself 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:07.279 that have kept themselves pure and they've never bowed to Baal. 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:09.960 We don't know this, but it's kind of possible 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:15.000 that he could have been one of those prophets 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:17.560 that remained pure and holy 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:22.539 even when Jezebel was trying to persecute them and kill them. 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:28.579 And perhaps this prophet incurred this type of debt 00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:31.879 because of Jezebel and her persecution 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:36.539 against the prophets during that day and that time. 00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:40.459 We really don't know how he incurred that debt. 00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:43.519 But we do know that he has died 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:46.719 and he's left his wife with this debt. 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.699 Now, in that day and time, 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:53.400 a woman did not have the ability to go out and get a job 00:13:53.400 --> 00:13:56.720 that would have provided the type of income 00:13:56.720 --> 00:14:02.100 that she would have needed to be able to pay off this type of debt. 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:05.020 It was the general practice in that day and time 00:14:05.020 --> 00:14:08.220 that when a man died and left his wife a widow, 00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:12.080 that the sons, especially the oldest son, 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:15.320 it would be his responsibility to care for 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:17.940 and to take care of his mother. 00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:19.920 But in this particular passage, 00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:21.980 it becomes kind of obvious 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:25.840 that her sons must be too young to be able to do that. 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:29.000 They're not old enough to go out 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:32.020 and get the type of job that would provide for their mother 00:14:32.020 --> 00:14:33.080 and pay off this debt. 00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:36.640 They probably are of some age 00:14:36.640 --> 00:14:38.920 that the creditors are getting ready to come 00:14:38.920 --> 00:14:40.680 and take them and enslave them. 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.040 So they're probably old enough 00:14:42.040 --> 00:14:45.280 that they could be of some benefit to a creditor. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:48.620 But they're not old enough to take care of their mother 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:51.759 and to pay off this type of debt. 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:55.259 And so the creditor is now threatening 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:59.079 that he's going to come and he's going to take these two boys 00:14:59.079 --> 00:15:05.299 and he's going to enslave them to work off this debt. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:09.039 And that's the way things were done in this period of time 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.439 that when you owed a debt, 00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:15.219 the creditor was in his full right to come and take them 00:15:15.219 --> 00:15:20.000 and make them work for him to work off that debt. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:23.240 He had every right to do that. 00:15:23.319 --> 00:15:24.939 That was the general practice. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:29.679 However, he didn't have the right to enslave them. 00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:33.120 That was against the word of God for the Jews 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:36.719 to take another Jew and to put them in slavery. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:40.019 God said that he had delivered Israel 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:42.680 from the bondage of slavery in Egypt 00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:48.379 and they were not to take them away as a slave. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.800 Look with me at Leviticus 25. 00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:52.480 It'll be on the screen. 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:55.379 Leviticus 25 verses 39 through 40. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:58.580 If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you 00:15:58.580 --> 00:16:00.540 and sells himself to you, 00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:03.379 do not make him work as a slave. 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:06.100 He is to be treated as a hired worker 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:08.899 or a temporary resident among you. 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:12.080 He is to work for you until the year of Jubilee. 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:14.320 So it's in the right for this creditor 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.259 to take the boys as a hired servant 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:21.179 or a worker to work that debt off. 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:25.379 But he was not to take them and treat them like slaves. 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:28.840 And the year of Jubilee came every 50 years. 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:32.320 And it was designed for, number one, 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:34.639 the earth and the land to rest, 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:39.680 but also for property to go back to rightful owners. 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:41.200 If they sold property, 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.580 then at the year of Jubilee, 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:45.980 it went back to the original owners of that. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:50.639 As well as if you had sold yourself as a servant 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:53.540 or in bondage there, 00:16:53.660 --> 00:16:54.660 at the year of Jubilee, 00:16:54.780 --> 00:16:55.800 you were set free 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:58.539 and you'd have your freedom back. 00:16:58.659 --> 00:17:02.559 And so these boys could be taken as a servant. 00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:04.460 But they were looking forward. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:07.159 They could be treated like a hired servant 00:17:07.159 --> 00:17:08.720 until the debt was paid off 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.119 and then they would be set free. 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:12.700 Or they would work until the year of Jubilee, 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.859 which we don't know at this point 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:16.700 how soon that would be coming. 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.779 But they could work to the year of Jubilee 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:22.079 and then they would be set free as well. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:25.399 But this is little consolation to a mother, isn't it? 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.639 Little consolation to a mother 00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:31.659 who they're getting ready to take her two boys. 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:33.179 She's already lost her husband. 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:37.220 She's a widow trying to raise two boys 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:39.259 and now they're getting ready to take them. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.699 We can almost sense. 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:44.119 We can almost feel the desperation 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:45.799 that she must be feeling. 00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:47.299 Put yourself in that position. 00:17:47.879 --> 00:17:48.779 If you're a parent, 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:50.720 you can put yourself in that position. 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:52.140 If you're a single parent, 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:56.339 you can really put yourself in that position 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:58.420 where your two children 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:01.559 are getting ready to be taken away from you 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:04.339 and made slaves. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:07.240 You're probably more worried about them 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:10.700 being put in slavery and treated like a slave 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.980 than you are yourself. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.319 But then you also must think how she felt 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:18.920 about being all alone at this point in time. 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:20.560 Her husband, her children, 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:23.460 everything has been stripped away from her 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.920 and taken away from her. 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:28.900 And all she has to her name at this point 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:31.060 is a little bit of olive oil. 00:18:31.800 --> 00:18:33.240 She has nothing else. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.580 She has no food. 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.960 She has no resources. 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:39.039 She has nothing 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:42.420 but a little bit of olive oil left in her house. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:44.140 Olive oil could have been used for cooking. 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.440 We still do that today. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.580 They could have also used it for heating. 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:52.259 Ironically, you could use the olive oil for cooking 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.660 but she didn't have anything to cook. 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:57.539 So this lady ends up doing the only thing 00:18:57.539 --> 00:19:00.120 that she knows what to do. 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:03.399 And that is she turns to Elisha. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:05.559 In a sense, she's turning to God. 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:08.519 But she's turning to God's prophet 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:12.539 and asking what she was to do 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:14.500 in this desperate situation 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:18.079 so that her sons wouldn't be taken from her. 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.839 And as simply as she could, 00:19:19.959 --> 00:19:22.299 she explained to Elisha 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:24.739 exactly what was going on here. 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.720 that her husband, 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:29.900 who was a prophet with Elisha, 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:32.460 he had died and left her with this debt 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:36.240 and now her sons were about to be taken as slaves. 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:38.299 Now, instead of Elisha 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:41.660 doing a miracle right in front of her eyes 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:43.279 and providing for her, 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.900 he does something that is a tremendous lesson 00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:48.180 for us today too 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:50.019 in helping people. 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.019 What did he do? 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:55.259 He didn't just provide for her 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.579 but he asked her, 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:58.940 what do you have in your house 00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:01.039 that you can help yourself? 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.639 You know, what do you have there? 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.339 Well, she says, 00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:05.400 I don't have anything 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:07.079 but a little bit of oil. 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:07.740 But, you know, 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:09.119 we're often confronted 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:10.960 in the world in which we live 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:13.019 with individuals that have a need, aren't we? 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:15.779 And we're often left wondering, 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:17.339 how do we help those? 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.019 As Christians, 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.139 we should have a heart 00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:20.660 that we want to help people 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.420 that have needs 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:24.360 but we don't want to help them 00:20:24.360 --> 00:20:25.880 in the wrong way either 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:27.620 that causes them 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:30.700 to enable them 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.900 to continue a lifestyle 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:34.120 of not taking care of themselves. 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:36.560 And so we learn a lesson here 00:20:36.560 --> 00:20:38.140 of helping others 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:39.960 by helping them help themselves. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:42.480 We help the Dream Center 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.840 through this church, 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.880 many others in the community 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:47.380 and this area help them 00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:48.780 and that's their whole motto 00:20:48.780 --> 00:20:49.880 is a hand up, 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.920 not a hand out 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:52.540 of helping individuals. 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.740 But that's another lesson 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.040 for another day. 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.500 But that's what Elisha's doing. 00:20:56.580 --> 00:20:57.300 He asked her, 00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:59.060 what do you have in your house 00:20:59.060 --> 00:21:01.840 that you can help yourself? 00:21:02.040 --> 00:21:03.120 And all she had 00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:05.260 was a little bit of oil. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.820 All she had 00:21:06.820 --> 00:21:08.840 was a little bit of olive oil. 00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:11.060 But one thing that we learn, 00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:13.740 not only here in 2 Kings 4, 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.700 but throughout Scripture 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.720 over and over, 00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:18.799 that even a little bit 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:20.880 when put in the hands of God 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:22.380 becomes a lot. 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:24.440 Even a little bit 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.460 put in the hands of God 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:29.839 is enough to meet our needs 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:31.559 and to provide for all 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:34.000 that we might have a need of. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:36.759 Now Elisha was teaching her 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:38.819 ultimately to put her faith 00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:40.759 and trust in God 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.900 and to trust Him 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.200 to meet those needs. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.460 Not to put trust 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:46.819 in an individual. 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:47.599 No. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.960 He didn't want her 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.660 putting her faith 00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:51.259 and trust just in Elisha 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.720 even though he was a prophet. 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.819 He wanted her 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:55.259 to trust God 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:57.319 and to trust God 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:59.019 to meet her needs. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.000 And he told her 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.759 to go out, 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.759 go to all your neighbors 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:04.379 and ask for as many 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:05.259 empty vessels 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.299 as you can find 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:09.079 and don't just ask for a few. 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:11.460 Ask for a lot. 00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:14.259 Go everywhere you can 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:17.419 and get as many vessels 00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:18.819 as you possibly can 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:20.839 and then bring them back 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:22.139 to your house. 00:22:22.199 --> 00:22:23.159 It doesn't tell us 00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:23.960 that she did that 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:25.359 but we know she did 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.619 because she's got the vessels 00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:27.839 to fill up here in a moment. 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.500 But when she had gone out 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.519 and her sons helped her 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.579 gather all the vessels, 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:33.019 she probably asked every neighbor 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.299 she could possibly ask. 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:36.199 She goes back to her house, 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.980 she takes her two sons, 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.099 she goes into her house 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:40.579 and she closes the door 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:42.079 so that this is not 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.960 a big spectacle 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:44.339 for everybody to see. 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:45.559 Elisha, 00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.579 she's doing exactly 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:48.460 what he had told her to do 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.420 because this was going 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.140 to be a miracle 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:52.160 that God was going to do 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.839 that was going to be 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.720 very private 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:55.680 between her and her sons 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.319 and God. 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:58.259 And we see Jesus do this 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.220 from time to time 00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.400 in his ministry too 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.980 because they didn't want 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.799 to bring attention 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:05.019 and focus to her 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:07.019 or her family 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.940 but to bring the attention 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.659 to God 00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:11.779 and to let this be 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.559 an experience 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.720 between her and God 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.019 to build her faith 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.579 in God 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.799 that God is able 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:19.659 to meet whatever needs 00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:21.399 that she might have. 00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:22.379 Now, 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.720 once inside her house 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.839 she began to pour 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.980 the little bit of oil 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:27.059 that she had 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.139 into the vessels 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:29.220 that she had gathered 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:31.700 until they all ran out. 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:31.980 Now, 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.360 we don't know 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:34.120 how much oil 00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:34.980 she had. 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.420 It just said 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.340 she had a little bit. 00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:37.940 Common sense 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.880 would tell us 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:40.759 that a little bit of oil 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:42.180 would not fill up 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.200 all these vessels. 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:45.019 It probably wouldn't 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.720 fill up even one of them 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.819 much less all of them. 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.819 And so, 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.100 common sense 00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:52.059 tells us 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.640 that this is ridiculous 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:55.500 to even start doing 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.819 but over and over again 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:59.019 we see in Scripture 00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:01.440 that God defies 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.519 common sense. 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:04.299 Over and over 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:05.059 in Scripture 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:07.480 God defies 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.480 common sense. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.559 Common sense 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.400 would tell us 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.320 that a virgin 00:24:11.320 --> 00:24:12.259 couldn't have a baby. 00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:14.180 Common sense 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.960 would tell us 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.880 not to trust God 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:18.480 to meet our every need 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.440 but get out there 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:21.440 and do the best we can. 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.660 I grew up here 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.559 and pull yourself up 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.779 by your own bootstraps 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.680 and get out there 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.360 and get to work 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.440 and take care of yourself. 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.940 Common sense 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:30.080 would tell us 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:31.099 over and over 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.359 not to trust 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.899 in God 00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:34.980 but to trust 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.799 in ourselves 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.199 and trust in the system 00:24:37.199 --> 00:24:38.419 and trust the things 00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:39.119 of this world 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.119 and get out there 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:40.480 and do it. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.720 But over and over again 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.079 we see in the Bible 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:46.199 where God defies 00:24:46.199 --> 00:24:47.659 common sense. 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:47.939 I mean, 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.659 He divided the Red Sea 00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:51.059 where people walked 00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.699 across on dry land. 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.859 He provided 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:55.199 for the children of Israel 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:57.799 food for 40 years. 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.900 Over and over again 00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:02.160 God did amazing things. 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.160 It reminds me 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:05.700 of 1 Corinthians 1.27. 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:08.180 But God chose 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.440 the foolish things 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.299 of the world 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.660 to shame the wise. 00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:12.799 God chose 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.880 the weak things 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.539 of the world 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:16.160 to shame the strong. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.720 Over and over again 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:19.700 God calls us 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:22.299 to step out in faith 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:24.480 and to trust Him 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:26.159 and to believe Him 00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:27.619 and not to believe 00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:29.099 common sense. 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.599 And over and over again 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.399 our faith is put 00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:34.159 to challenge. 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.480 Are we going to trust 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.639 God or not? 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.579 You know, 00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:38.480 just this week 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.720 I was talking 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.819 to another Christian 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:43.599 and it was almost like 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:45.299 they were discouraging me 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:48.240 from doing things 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.919 that I felt like 00:25:48.919 --> 00:25:49.700 God had opened 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.399 the door for. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.360 I'll give you an example. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:53.440 I was telling them 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.620 about the opportunities 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:56.019 that I was going to have 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:57.440 to train pastors 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.120 in Ecuador. 00:25:59.060 --> 00:26:00.400 And I told them 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.620 this individual 00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:02.460 you know, 00:26:02.540 --> 00:26:03.200 we're getting ready 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.360 to start a Bible study 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:07.300 with individuals in Peru. 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:09.019 We're talking about 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:11.620 training pastors in Peru. 00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.340 We've already done 00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:13.140 three out of a 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:14.740 ten course curriculum 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.960 with the pastors in Peru. 00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:16.580 We're looking at 00:26:16.580 --> 00:26:18.440 doing the fourth lesson 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:20.040 or course. 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.720 It's a 60 hour course. 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.819 So if you did 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:24.039 two hours a week 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:25.099 you do the math 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:28.779 that's a 30 hour course 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.200 that we, 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:30.559 a 30 week course 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.359 that we would have 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:33.279 to meet with the Peruvians. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.399 But then we'd also 00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.519 have to do the same thing 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.200 with Ecuador 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.779 and go back 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.460 and start first. 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:37.839 So that'd be 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:39.299 three nights out of the week 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:41.279 that I'd be tied up 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.579 two hours each night 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.240 doing this. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.700 And they're like, 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.759 well maybe you shouldn't 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.220 do that. 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:47.139 Maybe God's not God. 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.920 Maybe you shouldn't 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.920 try to help everybody. 00:26:50.800 --> 00:26:51.620 Maybe it's just people 00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:52.220 wanting your help 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.620 and I'm going, 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.400 oh my word. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:56.060 I see it as doors 00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:57.259 that God is opening 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:59.120 for this church 00:26:59.120 --> 00:27:00.940 to be involved 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.780 in training pastors 00:27:02.780 --> 00:27:03.900 you know, 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.920 in two countries 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.920 in South America 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.820 and who knows 00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:07.640 where it'll go. 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.240 You know, 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.840 the person that called me 00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:12.160 said, 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:14.900 he's been working 00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.660 with pastors 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.420 in the mountains 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.120 of Ecuador 00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:19.100 and he's been teaching 00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:20.100 them about missions 00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:21.019 but he needs somebody 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.060 that can help them 00:27:22.060 --> 00:27:23.660 with more theology. 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.900 And he said 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.980 these are all pastors 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.560 in their 60s and 70s 00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:29.259 and they've never 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.220 thought about 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.400 training up 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:32.500 the next generation 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.360 of pastors 00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:34.320 behind them. 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.680 They've not, 00:27:36.040 --> 00:27:36.720 that just doesn't 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.660 enter their mind. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:38.980 And so they've done 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:40.300 very little if anything 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:42.639 to train up 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.619 pastors coming 00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.319 behind them 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:45.039 to one day 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.919 take their place. 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.399 And I see it 00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:49.419 as doors opening 00:27:49.419 --> 00:27:51.240 that God can use us 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.139 you know, 00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:52.839 because I've already 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.700 started talking 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.559 to people like 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.460 Paul Welch 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.759 who y'all know 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.899 is a retired pastor. 00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:58.819 He's been down 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.839 with us once before 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.599 to help us 00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:02.019 but to have him 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:03.240 help us do the training 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:05.059 as well as Paul's son 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.440 some of you may know 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.879 Michael is a pastor 00:28:07.879 --> 00:28:09.440 over in Marietta 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:11.100 and pull in 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:11.880 some other pastors 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.519 to help us. 00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:13.200 And I was thinking 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.640 man, 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.600 the impact 00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:16.600 that 00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:18.019 Piggins First Baptist 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.920 can have 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.039 literally 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:21.120 upon 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:22.100 churches 00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:23.180 around the world 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.299 is amazing 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.420 of the things 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:26.820 that we can do. 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.559 But I had this 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.360 Christian that I was 00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:29.000 talking to 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.740 almost discouraging me. 00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:31.660 Like 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:33.340 don't do that. 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.700 You've probably 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:35.779 experienced that 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.519 in your life 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.080 as well 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.279 when individuals 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:40.379 try to discourage you 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:43.019 from trusting the Lord 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:45.019 and walking in faith 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:46.619 and allowing God 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:47.399 to use you 00:28:47.399 --> 00:28:48.259 to do things 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.419 that are not possible 00:28:49.419 --> 00:28:50.720 in and of yourself 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.960 you know 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:53.179 that defies 00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:54.480 common sense. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.099 But when this 00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:56.960 widow 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.740 obeyed 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.980 Elisha's word 00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:00.119 to essentially 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:01.000 trust God 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:02.199 then God 00:29:02.199 --> 00:29:03.659 responded to her 00:29:03.659 --> 00:29:04.480 and he took 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.299 that little bit 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:05.920 of oil 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:07.240 that she had 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.039 and began 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:08.880 to multiply 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.759 to the point 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.559 where she filled 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.460 up one vessel 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.299 after another. 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.500 Every time a vessel 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.120 was full 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:15.220 her sons would 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.000 set it aside 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.700 and put another 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.360 vessel there 00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:18.500 and the oil 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.660 kept pouring 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:21.019 and kept pouring 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:22.120 and kept pouring 00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:23.500 until every one 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.380 of those vessels 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:25.440 that she had 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:25.860 gathered 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.819 was full 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.099 and at that moment 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:29.019 the oil 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.279 stopped flowing 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.259 because God 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.940 responded 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:33.299 to her faith 00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.460 and the faith 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.539 that she had 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.660 to go out 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.500 and the number 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.080 of vessels 00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:39.220 that she was able 00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:40.240 to gather 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.420 and the oil 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.340 flowed 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.700 until they were 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:45.100 all full. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.019 If she had gathered 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.799 more vessels 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:48.440 I think that 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.840 oil would have 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:50.880 continued flowing 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.240 until those vessels 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.640 were also 00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:55.400 full as well. 00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.080 You see 00:29:56.080 --> 00:29:57.519 there is no end 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.740 to God's resources. 00:29:58.740 --> 00:30:01.000 There is no end 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:02.920 to God's resources 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:04.220 and He makes 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:05.180 those available 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:06.740 to His children. 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.500 God can meet 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.059 every one 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.740 of our needs. 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:12.400 God can meet 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.140 our needs 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:14.000 according to 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.700 our faith 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:16.019 and how we 00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:17.880 trust in Him 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:19.460 and He will do 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.240 that in our lives 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.339 more than just 00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:23.000 materially too 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:24.279 and I will talk 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.759 about that 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.519 in just a moment 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.839 but you know 00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:27.980 not only was 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.919 the oil here 00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.519 enough 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.879 to meet 00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:32.419 this lady's debt 00:30:32.419 --> 00:30:33.299 that she owed 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.000 her creditor 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.919 that was going 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:35.879 to keep her sons 00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.679 now from being 00:30:36.679 --> 00:30:38.259 taken into slavery 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.919 but now 00:30:39.919 --> 00:30:40.779 she was also 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:42.039 able to live 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.579 on that. 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.899 Elisha tells her 00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:45.079 to go sell the oil 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:46.539 take that money 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.859 pay off your creditor 00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:49.259 and now you have 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:49.859 enough money 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.759 to live on. 00:30:50.959 --> 00:30:51.419 We don't know 00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.019 how long 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:53.319 maybe until her sons 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:55.359 were able to grow up 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:57.000 and then get jobs 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.859 and start working 00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:59.579 and taking care 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:01.099 of her the way 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:02.199 they did in that 00:31:02.199 --> 00:31:03.259 day and time. 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.539 But what we learn 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.819 from this story 00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.359 in scripture 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:07.059 and by the way 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:08.199 this is not a parable 00:31:08.199 --> 00:31:09.539 this is a true story 00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:11.419 that really took place 00:31:11.419 --> 00:31:12.919 and what we learn 00:31:12.919 --> 00:31:13.959 from it is that 00:31:13.959 --> 00:31:15.199 we can look to God 00:31:15.199 --> 00:31:16.119 to meet our needs. 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.979 We can turn to God 00:31:17.979 --> 00:31:18.779 to meet our needs 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.759 no matter what our 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.859 needs we're facing. 00:31:21.459 --> 00:31:22.259 No matter what 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.639 challenges that we're 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:25.460 up against God's heart 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:27.280 is full of compassion 00:31:27.280 --> 00:31:28.940 for his children 00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:30.480 and when we turn 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.420 to him and have 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.360 faith and trust 00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:33.340 in him and seek 00:31:33.340 --> 00:31:35.380 him then he will 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.580 surely meet 00:31:36.580 --> 00:31:37.380 those needs. 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:39.060 Jesus tells us 00:31:39.060 --> 00:31:40.300 you know as a good 00:31:40.300 --> 00:31:41.540 father what father 00:31:41.540 --> 00:31:43.259 if a child asked 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.820 him for a loaf 00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:44.420 of bread would 00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.240 give him a snake. 00:31:46.280 --> 00:31:46.940 You know a good 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:48.220 father gives their 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.800 children good gifts 00:31:49.800 --> 00:31:51.540 and we can trust 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:53.000 God as our father 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.839 to take care of us 00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.720 and to meet our 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:57.659 needs and to give 00:31:57.659 --> 00:31:58.359 us the things 00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:58.980 that we need. 00:31:59.079 --> 00:31:59.779 We know that he 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.879 knows our needs 00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:02.139 even more than we 00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:02.879 know our needs. 00:32:03.099 --> 00:32:04.000 He knows our needs 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.980 before we know 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:06.000 our needs and we 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.079 can trust that God 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:08.399 is going to take 00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:09.879 care of us. 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.379 What are you facing 00:32:11.379 --> 00:32:11.779 today? 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:14.339 What challenges 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.460 are you up against? 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:17.720 You know like I said 00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.539 it doesn't have to be 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.119 material. 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.539 It doesn't have to be 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.180 financial. 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:23.240 God cares about each 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:23.680 of the needs. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.519 It may be physical 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:27.779 needs in your life. 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.559 It may be a whole 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.480 host of things. 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:30.819 You know we may 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:32.139 have the need you 00:32:32.139 --> 00:32:33.099 know the basic needs 00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:34.180 of life you may be 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.819 facing and up against 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:37.399 and we can trust God 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.740 to meet those needs 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.839 but we may have 00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:40.720 other needs that 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.680 we're facing as well 00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:44.180 such as a need for 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:44.700 purpose. 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.779 A need for meaning. 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.379 The need for 00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.119 significance. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:51.459 The need for a 00:32:51.459 --> 00:32:52.539 sense of fulfillment 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:54.259 and satisfaction. 00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:56.119 The need for 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:57.639 conquering the trials 00:32:57.639 --> 00:32:59.519 and the temptations 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.679 of life. 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:02.819 The need for either 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:05.459 health or the 00:33:05.459 --> 00:33:06.639 strength to bear the 00:33:06.639 --> 00:33:08.619 suffering, pain and 00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:10.819 infirmities of life. 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:13.599 Whatever needs that 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:14.699 we're up against and 00:33:14.699 --> 00:33:16.659 we're facing we know 00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:17.940 that God can meet 00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:19.840 those needs and he 00:33:19.840 --> 00:33:21.000 can come to us and 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.620 provide for us in a 00:33:22.620 --> 00:33:23.900 way that we could not 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:24.880 ever provide for 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.800 ourselves and no 00:33:25.800 --> 00:33:27.040 resource in the world 00:33:27.040 --> 00:33:28.600 could provide for us 00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:29.560 but God can. 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:31.940 God has the power and 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:34.080 the desire to meet 00:33:34.080 --> 00:33:34.620 our needs. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.620 If you're like me a lot 00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:36.680 of times we know God 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:38.320 can do something but 00:33:38.320 --> 00:33:39.340 sometimes we get into 00:33:39.340 --> 00:33:40.240 that place where we 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:42.040 wonder if God will do 00:33:42.040 --> 00:33:43.600 that or wants to do 00:33:43.600 --> 00:33:43.960 that. 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:45.059 What I want to tell 00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:46.720 you today God loves 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:49.480 you and God wants to 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.799 meet your needs. 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.500 He wants to come to 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.700 you and provide the 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.759 things that you need 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.400 in your life. 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.940 The needs not 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:58.460 necessarily the wants 00:33:58.460 --> 00:34:00.900 and the desires of 00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:02.440 life but the needs 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:04.160 that we have in life 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:05.519 but can I also share 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:07.000 with you that there's a 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.920 requirement for God to 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.480 do that. 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:14.619 in Matthew 6 33 it 00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:16.420 says seek first his 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.980 kingdom and his 00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:19.960 righteousness and all 00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:21.019 these things will be 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:21.840 given unto you. 00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:23.019 What are these things 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.179 it says will be given 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:24.699 to you? 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.740 Well if you go back and 00:34:26.740 --> 00:34:28.179 read Matthew chapter 6 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.619 you'll see he's telling 00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:30.679 you don't worry about 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.480 what you're going to 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:31.820 eat. 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.659 Don't worry about what 00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.539 you're going to wear. 00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:36.559 Don't worry about where 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:37.360 you're going to live. 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.500 He's talking about 00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:41.360 meeting the needs of 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:43.200 your life and I think 00:34:43.200 --> 00:34:44.420 that even though that 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.700 chapter doesn't say it 00:34:45.700 --> 00:34:47.300 but God meets other 00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.980 needs in our lives as 00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:49.740 well like I just 00:34:49.740 --> 00:34:50.760 mentioned a need for 00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:52.800 purpose a need for 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:55.300 significance a need for 00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:55.960 meaning. 00:34:56.620 --> 00:34:58.280 You know if we seek God 00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:59.599 and live for God I want 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:00.400 to tell you right now 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:01.260 he's going to give you 00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:01.800 purpose. 00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:03.099 He's going to give you 00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:03.640 meaning. 00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:05.039 He's going to give you 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.579 significance in your life 00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:07.619 that you would never 00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:09.799 find anywhere else. 00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:12.079 But God has to become 00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:14.179 the priority in which 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:16.159 we are seeking in our 00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:16.539 lives. 00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:18.880 Seek ye first the 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:20.279 kingdom of God. 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:21.559 Don't worry about all 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.400 these other things. 00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:25.099 God knows what we need. 00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:27.940 He will provide what we 00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:30.779 need in life if he 00:35:30.779 --> 00:35:32.579 becomes the priority of 00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:33.779 our life. 00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:33.820 life. 00:35:34.140 --> 00:35:35.680 Unfortunately most of us 00:35:35.680 --> 00:35:37.100 have our needs met don't 00:35:37.100 --> 00:35:37.300 we? 00:35:38.580 --> 00:35:39.860 Most of our needs are 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:41.380 already met and so we're 00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:43.680 not satisfied with just 00:35:43.680 --> 00:35:45.440 having the needs of life. 00:35:45.620 --> 00:35:47.660 We want beyond that and 00:35:47.660 --> 00:35:49.000 that's where we fail to 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:51.220 trust God so often because 00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:52.019 we want more. 00:35:52.140 --> 00:35:53.140 We know God will provide 00:35:53.140 --> 00:35:54.760 our needs but we want 00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:55.720 more than that. 00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.160 Can I tell you too 00:35:57.160 --> 00:35:59.340 sometimes when we make God 00:35:59.340 --> 00:36:01.860 our priority and we want 00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:03.460 him more than we want 00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:05.440 anything else and we're 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.820 seeking after him. 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:08.000 We're seeking to serve 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.140 him. 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.900 Our wants and our desires 00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:12.440 will change and we will 00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:14.420 want the things that God 00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:16.420 wants and he will provide 00:36:16.420 --> 00:36:17.059 that too. 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:19.079 You know one time when I was 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:20.019 in seminary it was my very 00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:21.940 first semester in seminary 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:23.720 I had Gerald Borchard for 00:36:23.720 --> 00:36:24.400 New Testament. 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:28.019 And I'll still remember and 00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:29.059 hopefully I will never 00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:30.960 forget a question he asked 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.320 us. 00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:34.800 He said do you hunger for 00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:38.500 God the way a hungry man 00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:40.360 desires food? 00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:43.579 Have you ever gone a day 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.300 without eating? 00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:47.860 Have you ever gone a meal? 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:52.079 Do you know how hungry you 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:53.980 were and what would you do 00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:56.940 to get some food to eat? 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:00.860 When I was a teenager and 00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:02.079 in college my friends and 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:03.420 I used to go hunting a lot 00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:05.280 we'd get up early on a 00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:06.360 Saturday or maybe a 00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:08.219 Christmas break and we'd 00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:09.400 take off and where I 00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.920 lived you could walk all 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:12.659 day long and not come to 00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:13.579 the end of land. 00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:15.500 And we would go and we 00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:16.980 weren't smart enough to 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:18.019 think about taking food 00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:19.119 with us or water or 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:19.599 anything else. 00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:21.740 We'd just go walk and we'd 00:37:21.740 --> 00:37:23.960 stay gone all day long. 00:37:23.980 --> 00:37:25.719 And come back in after 00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:26.400 dark. 00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:28.099 A lot of times supper was 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:29.480 already over and gone and 00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:30.780 all that's left are scraps. 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:32.240 But when you come in and you 00:37:32.240 --> 00:37:33.800 haven't eaten all day long 00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:35.099 you come in and you just 00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:36.480 start grabbing whatever's 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:39.199 there and just pouring it 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:40.059 down because we haven't 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:40.820 had anything to eat. 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:42.940 You ever been that hungry? 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:48.619 You ever been that hungry for God? 00:37:50.260 --> 00:37:52.780 Have you ever desired God so 00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:54.920 much that He is your priority 00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:57.480 and He's all you're focused on 00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:59.460 and you're seeking Him and 00:37:59.460 --> 00:38:00.820 you're living for Him and 00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:02.320 you're studying His Word and 00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:03.780 you're spending time with Him 00:38:03.780 --> 00:38:05.360 because He becomes your 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.880 priority in life and then God 00:38:07.880 --> 00:38:10.159 will meet all of your other 00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:10.800 needs. 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:13.039 We don't have to spend time 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:14.840 worrying about all these 00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:16.100 other things in life. 00:38:16.760 --> 00:38:18.420 We don't have to worry about 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.200 politics. 00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:21.700 We don't have to worry about 00:38:21.700 --> 00:38:23.620 the coronavirus and vaccines 00:38:23.620 --> 00:38:24.840 and all that kind of stuff. 00:38:25.100 --> 00:38:26.580 Focus on the Lord. 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:28.940 Live for God. 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:31.280 Seek God with all your heart, 00:38:31.380 --> 00:38:32.800 with all your soul, with all 00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:33.500 of your might. 00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:36.940 And He knows our needs and He'll 00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:39.380 provide those needs for us in a 00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:42.280 way that we could never imagine. 00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:45.739 You know, Ephesians 3.20, it 00:38:45.739 --> 00:38:47.559 tells us that God will do far 00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:50.719 more than we can ask for or we can 00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:51.320 imagine. 00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:53.500 You know, I have a pretty vivid 00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:56.659 imagination and I can imagine a 00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:59.679 lot of things God could do and I 00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:01.599 can ask for a whole lot of things 00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:01.940 too. 00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:05.079 But Ephesians 3.20 says God can do 00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:08.019 more than what we even ask for. 00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:10.219 He can do more than we can even 00:39:10.219 --> 00:39:13.500 imagine God will do in our lives 00:39:13.500 --> 00:39:17.239 when we seek Him first and put Him 00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:20.360 as the priority of our lives. 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:23.139 I hope that as we go into a new 00:39:23.139 --> 00:39:27.759 year, 2021, that a relationship with 00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:31.340 Jesus Christ, that intimate, personal 00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:35.440 relationship like Elijah had, I hope 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:39.140 that becomes our goal, our desire, our 00:39:39.140 --> 00:39:42.760 hunger and we take our eyes off of 00:39:42.760 --> 00:39:46.680 all this other stuff going on and we 00:39:46.680 --> 00:39:49.100 just focus on the Lord. 00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:51.360 You know, the greatest need that 00:39:51.360 --> 00:39:54.680 mankind has ever known is the need to 00:39:54.679 --> 00:39:58.079 be forgiven of our sins and God has 00:39:58.079 --> 00:39:59.679 provided that as well. 00:39:59.819 --> 00:40:02.119 Christmas was just the beginning of 00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:05.460 that story of Jesus coming into the 00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:07.299 earth, Christmas that we just 00:40:07.299 --> 00:40:07.980 celebrated. 00:40:08.839 --> 00:40:10.919 That's just the beginning of the story 00:40:10.919 --> 00:40:13.279 and we all know the rest of the story. 00:40:14.319 --> 00:40:17.359 But God provided a way for our sins to 00:40:17.359 --> 00:40:19.839 be forgiven and how we can have a 00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:20.740 relationship with Him. 00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:24.519 We can be reborn and we can be 00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:27.079 children of God and we can look 00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:28.900 forward to the future and we can look 00:40:28.900 --> 00:40:30.120 forward to eternity. 00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:33.460 Maybe today you've never asked Jesus 00:40:33.460 --> 00:40:35.079 Christ to be your Lord and Savior. 00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:39.620 Maybe today is that day unto salvation 00:40:39.620 --> 00:40:42.079 when you want to confess you're a sinner 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:45.380 and ask Christ to forgive you of your sin 00:40:45.380 --> 00:40:47.900 and to enter your life to be your Lord 00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:48.340 and Savior. 00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:50.420 We're going to have a moment when 00:40:50.420 --> 00:40:52.360 Liddell comes and plays. 00:40:52.820 --> 00:40:54.079 I just want to ask you to have an 00:40:54.079 --> 00:40:56.700 attitude of prayer where you just pray 00:40:56.700 --> 00:40:58.800 and ask God to be with you and speak 00:40:58.800 --> 00:41:01.639 to you and respond during this time 00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:03.200 however the Lord is leading you.