ELISHA: A SUCCESSION OF MIRACLES. 2 Kings 4

The widow’s oil multiplied in her hour of great need. Her God-fearing husband had died, leaving her in debt. ’The creditor, extortioner or usurer, threatened to come and enslave her sons.’ It was too much for this noble woman. Her boys would be enslaved for seven years. Hence her urgent cry to Elisha, the prophet of God.

This suggested that the creditor was satanic, and out to ruin her beloved family.

‘What shall I do for you?’, Elisha (meaning God is salvation ) said. Elisha chose the Hebrew word ‘asah ‘ which means to fashion or form; and was used often in the first two chapters of Genesis. Here the Lord created the heavens and the earth- and all that is in them. Elisha, God’s mouthpiece, offered to fashion or create something for the widow. Such is our adorable Lord. What is your God longing to do or fashion for you? Enter by faith in that close relationship with your Lord.

‘Tell me what you have in the house.’ Her home lacked everything except a ‘jar of oil,’ prophetic oil, with which her husband had anointed God’s servants: prophets, priests and kings. .It also spoke of the personal Presence of the Holy Spirit. While the prophet’s directions were simple, the potential was unlimited. ‘Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours - empty vessels; do not gather just a few.’ (v3) Our Lord longs that ‘Of HIS fullness we should all receive, and grace for grace’, He yearns that we should draw of His riches.

To ‘borrow’ meant to request or beg, so that the sons should have pleaded with their neighbours for vessels. Hannah used the same word when she said, ‘I have lent him ( sacrificially) unto the Lord.‘ Hence the widow would have expected her sons to gather a vast number of containers; and her God to do marvellously.

The vessels must be empty, that is free from all that had possessed them, cleansed and purified before the precious oil could flow. God deals with His children in just the same way. Do not despise the all-wise Lord‘s command to repent of all worldliness; so that you may be filled with the overflowing life of the Lord.

Now the true test would follow the quietness of being alone with the unseen Lord and her two sons. The widow must ‘Shut the door behind you and your sons‘; so that she could pour out her soul before the Lord. ‘She must be crucified to the world and all its attractions‘. Hence the shut door. Nothing must distract from this burning concern. God moves only when His loved ones pray. He has limited His illimitable Self to the prayers of His blood-bought children. Oh, the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) accomplishes much. (James 5;16 )

‘Pour it into all those vessels. And set aside the full ones.’. she had never stepped out in such faith- namely, to take the precious prophetic oil, her only treasure, pouring it into the first empty pot, which her sons gave her. Did she have enough to fill the first vessel? Did they think their mother would drop only a few drops into each, to make the oil spin out. If so, how could she set aside the full ones?’ They would be mystified at the working of God in the multiplied oil. So should we be.

Gwenda and I left our village school in Java 47 years ago. We had poured out the oil of God’s Spirit into the lives of 90 boys and girls from our village. We taught bible truths; how to pray and to tell others of the Lord Jesus. We have just received delightful news of 15 from that group, who are now in positions of responsibility: two of whom are pastors, another the wife of one; one is principal of an electricity venture; another a leader in taxation; another a manager of a factory. Two of our young peoples sent photographs of their five children as University graduates. They love and adore their Lord Jesus Christ, Who has filled them with His Holy Spirit.

Mary Magdalene surrendered her treasured alabaster pot of perfume. (Mark 14:3) ‘And being in Bethany at the house of Simon, the leper, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. And she broke the flask and poured it on His head.’ Mary Magdalene sacrificially anointed her beloved Lord. She followed the pattern of the widow in Elisha’s day. Has the Lord poured out His Spirit in your life? Do you know the meaning of sacrifice?

Bu Pri out-poured her life for her risen Lord. My Javanese midwife was available day and night to help women in difficult labour: often in inaccessible, lonely areas.

The shortage of vessels was disastrous . For ‘when the vessels were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another vessel.’ And he said to her, ’There is not another vessel.’. so the oil ceased. (v6) We do not know where the other son was, during this emergency. Did he calculate the value of the vessels full of prized oil? Did she frantically shout, ‘No more?’ Why? I told you to’ bring not a few.’ Had their faith failed them , in disobeying the wise mother? Had they mocked her child-like trust in her unfailing Lord? Then sadly and tragically, ’The oil stayed.’ God suspended His amazing reproduction of this prophetic oil. Only when their faith had failed.

Does your faith allow God to show His mighty, unfettered power: or hinder HIM?

‘When the widow came and told the man of God, of the miracle of the multiplied oil.

He directed, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debt: and you and your sons live on the rest.’ (v7) ‘To go’ meant this shall be your manner of life. ‘to sell’ means to give over to death to self, while ‘pay the debt’ was to be at peace, entering in to a covenant ; while ‘to live’ meant to enjoy abundant life and spiritual prosperity.

She was to walk in the Spirit; and not fulfil the lusts of the flesh: to pray in the Spirit is ‘to abide in Him while He abides in you; Joel had written, ’I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh ( as the widow poured out the prophetic oil ) ; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; Your old men shall dream dreams; Your young men shall see visions. Zechariah wrote appropriately ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.’ (4:6)

Is the oil of the Holy Spirit poured out in your life?