2 Kings 4 (Part 2) Bible Study (Elisha and the Shunammite Woman) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for this time. We do lift up this nation to you. We know that, between now and November 5 and beyond, there can be, many plot twists. But we pray for your supernatural hand to be upon this nation, that your favorable hand would be upon this nation, that especially at this election, Lord, that righteousness would prevail, that evil would be subdued, that it would be set back, that whatever Satan has in mind to destroy this country, this generation, this culture would be kept at bay.

And instead, Lord, your church would thrive and take advantage of the freedoms that you would provide to be effective, to be busy, to be zealous with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So Lord, we pray for our politics because our politics, comes into affecting people. Policies that will affect people and and Lord, we want righteousness. We want the reflection of your goodness to to shine and to be known in every sphere of this nation. So we pray Lord intervene.

Intervene Lord and let goodness and kindness and mercy and justice rule and reign longer in this land and strengthen your church in the midst of it. May we not fall asleep. Should you give us four more years of peace and tranquility, at least a little bit more peace and tranquility, let not your church be asleep. In her plenty, we pray Lord that this would be a wake up call for not just us, but the church at large to again see what we have ahead of us and to make use of it. To work while it is day, for night is coming when no man can work.

We ask these things in the precious name of the ruling, reigning, living name of Jesus Christ. Amen and amen. Amen. Preach the word in season and out of season, even an election year. So let's come to second Kings chapter four as we read from verse eight down to verse 17.

This chapter is absolutely filled with the miraculous. We studied a miracle in the first seven verses of this chapter and miracles will only continue as we advance with this particular section of God's word. So let us do this. If you're there with me, follow with me with your eyes, more importantly with your heart, and let's read from verse eight down to verse 17 before we unfold these things together. Verse eight.

One day, Elisha went on to Shunem where a wealthy woman lived who urged him to eat some food, so whenever he passed that way he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, behold now I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put therefore him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there. One day he came there and he turned into the chamber and rested there. And he said to Gehazi, his servant, called the Shunammite.

When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, say now to her, see you have taken all this trouble for us. What is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army? She answered, I dwell among my own people.

And he said, what then is to be done for her? Ghazi answered, well, she has no son and her husband is old. He said, call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. And he said, at this season about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.

And she said, no, my lord. Oh, men of God. Do not lie to your servant. But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring as Elijah has said to her. It is a good habit in your study of God's word that whenever you come across a reference of a village, the name of a city or a town, that you meditate on that and do a little bit of exploration to see the significance of that city or the history of that city or the cross references concerning that city, if you make that a discipline, you will indeed enrich your study of the very passage that you are confronted with.

And I believe that to be the case with what we have in this passage today. We are told that Elisha went on to a place called Shunem. Now Shunem is only mentioned a total of three times in all of the Old Testament. One time here, another time in first Samuel chapter 28 and verse four, and for the very first time in the book of Joshua. And it is in the book of Joshua where we are told which tribe shouldn't belong to.

Where it was located in terms of the sons of Israel and their allotted land. Can anybody guess where Shunem is found? Somebody I think said it, but is nervous to say it louder. If you know it, say it. If you don't know it and you wanna know it, you have to turn to Joshua chapter 19 and look at verse seventeen and eighteen.

And if you get there first and you find the tribe, say it out loud for us to hear it. Issachar. Not a very well known tribe, but here it is. Issachar according to verse seventeen, eighteen of Joshua chapter 19 had Shunam in its boundaries. Issachar.

Now do you remember that in Genesis 49 when Jacob was still alive and his 12 sons who later became became the tribes of Israel, Before his departure into glory, he brought them in and he prophesied over each of them concerning not just their own lives, but the destiny of their descendants. And I want you to see with your own eyes what Jacob said to his son Issachar. So go to the very beginning, the first book of this divine library, Genesis 49. Look at two verses with me in Genesis 49, fourteen and fifteen of that chapter. Notice what Israel says to Issachar.

Issachar is a strong donkey. Now that might be an insult in our day, but it wasn't in this context. Issachar is a strong donkey crouching between the sheepfolds. He saw that a resting place was good and that the land was pleasant. So he bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant at forced labor.

So remember, Jacob and his sons are still in Egypt. They haven't arrived to the promised land just yet. But he tells Issachar that your descendants, when they come to that promised land, are gonna find a good resting place. And they're gonna find a piece of property that will be pleasant. But above that, he says that the people of Issachar would be an industrious people.

Right? Diligent to work. Willing to embrace the burden of the soil. That's what he says. He says that he bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant at forced labor.

Now you can either interpret that in a positive way or a negative way. The positive way and the way that I just explained that they would be hard workers. The negative that because they were in such a prosperous place, they would often be the object of foreign oppression, trying to take advantage of what they have and at at a cost, they would be forced to be servants. If we look at it from the positive lens, these people would be hardworking. And when you trace the people of Issachar, specifically in the book of judges and chronicles, what you discover is that many warriors arose from this tribe.

Many of them in times of oppression and war did not hesitate to come to the aid of the people as a whole, their brethren. So not only did they carry their own burdens, but they also were willing to carry the load of others. All that to say that we are introduced to a woman who comes from Shunem. And she will prove that she was not distracted by the rich opportunities of the land, but that she made the most important investment that you can make in this life. A spiritual one.

She will prove to be a hardworking servant, but not just for agriculture and gain and business, but for the advancement of the purposes of God. Let me add this. Does anybody have an idea what the name Shunamm means in the Hebrew? I know one person here who would know it. Double resting place.

So remember, Jacob told Issachar, you're gonna find a good resting place. And within the resting place, the allotment of the land given to Issachar, there was a town that was not just a resting place, double resting place. And so you get the impression from this that Shunam was perhaps a very picturesque, broad, tranquil, relaxing, beautiful place. And what we learn is that Elisha and his frequent travels in the ministry would often pass through that place. But what we're gonna discover is that Shun'im, double resting place, will offer something to Elisha through a person who had the gift of hospitality, and who cared enough for a man of God and the ministry of God to bring rest and help.

And I wanna investigate further to see what we can learn about this woman. Let's come back to second Kings four eight. From that one verse, what do you learn about her? What stands out to you about this woman? She was wealthy.

She was a wealthy woman. Now, you should not be inspired by the fact that she was rich, but what she did with her riches. Her prosperity, listen, it did not do what material fortune often does to people. Especially those who grew up in the church or who are connected to the faith. It did not overtake her to the point of becoming spiritually debilitated.

Instead, what do you read when you when you read about her in this introduction? You see that she's eager to serve, looking for opportunities to do so, and she found one and then she used her resources to contribute to the cause of the truth. That's what you find in this woman. And when she saw and learned that Elisha, this man of God who is gaining notoriety, when when she learned that he frequently traveled through her neighborhood, she saw an opportunity right there. She said, I wanna do something for this man of God.

I wanna come to his aid. I wanna support him. And listen, she was not reluctant. She was not coerced. In fact, if there's anybody that was hesitating with this interaction of receiving help, it was Elisha.

Look back here. What do we read? Verse eight. A wealthy woman lived who urged him to eat some food. She wouldn't take no for an answer.

No. No. You're gonna eat. I already prepared the food. You're coming inside.

And Elijah's like, no. You know, I just wanna be a burden. No. No. It's okay, man.

Thank you so much. No. No. No. No.

No. You're eating no matter what you say. And finally, he gave in and he became very comfortable because we're told in the same verse that whenever he went that way, he would turn in there to eat food. It's worth pausing here and making a few comments. The Bible does not prohibit Christians from becoming financially successful, nor does it suggest that wealthy Christians should be ashamed of their assets.

However, the same Bible also warns every man including those in the faith of the perils of pursuing wealth and offers unique instructions to Christians who are materially blessed. And one of the clearest examples of this in the New Testament is found in first Timothy chapter six, and I want you to see it with me in verse 17. First Timothy chapter six verse seventeen and eighteen. Let's look at this together. Paul is about to tell Timothy in the closing remarks of this epistle, as for the rich in this present age just stop there.

Don't you love that? Timothy, I want you to address a particular demographic in your church. As for the rich. But he doesn't just say ask for the rich, he says ask for the rich in this present age. Meaning, it's possible to be wealthy and affluent in this world and for that not to transfer over into an eternal currency.

In fact, it's possible to be very, very prosperous in this life and void of any eternal reward in the life to come. So speak to the rich in this present age. Their present situation and circumstance and comfort does not mean that it will transfer over into the world to come. But there is something that this particular group of people in your church, in the church at large can do to ensure that they make an impact in this life and in the age to come. And in the first verse there, he provides the negatives.

Make sure they don't do this. Make sure they don't act like that. Make sure they don't think this way. And then in verse 18, he gets into the positives. And notice what he says as we read this in its entirety.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. I like that last part. God can give you things to enjoy. It's not spiritual to be solemn and to not see the blessings and things that are material. But enjoyment in those things are not an end in itself.

It's not the goal of the accumulation of our wealth. Notice what he says in the next part. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share. Here's a summary of what Paul is saying by the spirit. Christians who are financially successful, followers of Christ who have that kind of favor in their lives cannot be hoarders.

They cannot be hoarders. They cannot live with this mindset that they work hard and they they accumulate more and more in order for them to keep these things for themselves. Instead, a believer who is spirit filled will understand that resources are to be actively and thoughtfully used to seek opportunities to bless others. Particularly in the name and for the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's that's how not just Christians should think, but especially Christians who are unusually and uncommonly favored in their finances, which is the most enjoyable thing.

Is it not? Is it not? The Lord Jesus said according to Paul's words that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. I I just want you to think about it. What a thrilling thought it is that as as we go into this world and we work hard and we accumulate an income and bonuses and all these different things, that the wealth of the world, we can take that and then take a portion of it and place it in the advancement of the eternal kingdom of God.

So this should excite us. And now I get it. I I get it. A lot of Christians, maybe even now you're you're squirming. And a lot of believers including pastors get nervous of talking about this from the pulpit, which is understandable because of the vast abuses of it.

You have every right to be unsettled if you hear from this microphone, something along the lines of, sow $91 so that you can reap the Psalm 91 blessing. You can be squirmish when you hear something like that. And you can be squirmish if any ministry leader pressures the people of God to empty their bank accounts in the name of investing in the kingdom of God, while you're left struggling and your family can't put food on their table or pay their bills. That's evil. That being said, you cannot deny that the Bible by the mind and the wisdom of God seeks to train the church of Jesus Christ to be spiritually strategic with their money.

You can't deny that. If you deny that, then you are in a proverbial way taking out scissors and cutting up parts of the Bible. You can't deny it. I can't deny it. And I remember on a personal level, at some point in my walk with the Lord, as I examine my own sanctification, I examine my consecration to the Lord thinking to myself, have I consecrated every part of my life except my wallet, except my bank account?

And so that was a turnaround for me in thinking about how to pray and come before the Lord and saying, Lord, you have my time, you have my my the gifts that you've given me, my energy, but Lord, is there anything, is there anybody that you want me to help? If there is there any ministry that is faithful that you want me to invest in? And I'll tell you this, that over time your heart will begin to fill with joy as you realize that you and I are invited to contribute to the kingdom of God in this way. And that's something by the spirit. And so we see here that Timothy was instructed to charge this particular group of people, and as he's charging them, let me charge you.

If you are seeking financial growth, multiplication, accumulation, if you are enjoying the fruits of your labor, or if you're even ready to be the recipient of a grand inheritance for example, but are not stirred in your service to the Lord along the way, you are treading on dangerous ground. You have lost sight of your true purpose as a follower of Jesus Christ and have possibly become self absorbed instead of being against strategic for the gospel. And if you're not careful, listen, I say this in love, if you're not careful to put money in its appropriate place, to put your pursuits in light of eternity, then one of the worst things that can happen to you as a Christian is to become successful in this life. That's one of the worst things that can happen to you. Because success, unfortunately, has sabotaged the devotion of many disciples of Jesus Christ throughout the age.

So let your heart always live in light of God's wisdom of how to handle mammon, and how to always have this understanding that you're only gonna live a few decades in this world, and you wanna ensure that every part of your life makes some kind of contribution to the kingdom of God. And this woman is a tremendous example of how the rich in this life should be like. In fact, when you come back to second Kings chapter four, I want you to notice a couple of references that reflect her posture of heart. Come back to second Kings chapter four. Look at verse 12.

And he said to Gehazi his servant called this Shunammite. When he had called her, she did what? What does it say in your in your bible? What did she do? She stood.

She stood before him. Look look at verse 15. He said, call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. Listen, to stand is a posture of servitude.

It signifies a position of readiness to be commissioned. And what this woman shows us is that in her material gain, she did not allow her ego to be inflated. She did not become more selfish or demanding. No. Her devotion to God allowed her to remain sensitive to the needs of others even in her surplus.

She stood. She stood. You know, it's worth making this beautiful observation before we move on because we studied Elisha in the beginning of this chapter and his interaction with a different kind of woman. And as now we continue, we see him interacting with a woman once more. But what a contrast there is between these two women in their circumstances.

If you think about the woman from the first seven verses, we realize that she was what? A widow. While the Shunammite was what? She was married. The widow at the beginning of this chapter was destitute, whereas this one was wealthy.

The woman expressed her faith in the first seven verses in her need, whereas the Shunammite practice her faith in her plenty. The widow, did she have children? How many? She had two sons. The Shunammite, did she have any children?

No. She didn't. She was barren. Here here's the point of this. Despite their differences, what these two women demonstrate that it's possible to honor God regardless of your circumstances.

Regardless. And if your situation changes, whether it's financial, whether it's physical, whether it is relational, the goal of our lives remains the same. God wants to be glorified. And in his providence, he positioned you in a way to glorify him in a particular manner. In this case, this woman had much, she was able to glorify God.

In the former case, this woman had virtually nothing and she was still able to glorify God. As I told you last week, I was so moved by this widow in the first seven verses and this wealthy woman moves me just as much. Look at what we find in verse nine now. All of this was just verse eight. So let's move on to verse nine.

And she said to her husband, behold now I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. This woman was not just wealthy in her materials, she was wealthy with her wisdom. She was discerning. You know, Proverbs sixteen sixteen says, how much better to get wisdom than gold? To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

So she's wealthy where it matters. She possessed discretion and prudence. And how does she demonstrate that? Over time, as Elisha came over for a meal, we don't know how many meals, she picked up this man is a true man of God. He is truly holy.

And it impressed her. She was able to process his faith, his character, and come to the conclusion that he is the real deal. And I wanna say this in light of Elijah or Elisha rather. This says so much about this man of God because the sincerity of of his faith was proven in one of the most challenging places in this world. You know where it is?

The home. It's very difficult to put on a show, to put on a spiritual facade and the comfort familiarity and the privacy of your home. Is it not? You know, it's much easier to come to a place like this on a Friday or in a Sunday and seem to be something as spiritual and connected to God. Why?

Because the show only lasts for like an hour and forty five minutes. But in the home, if your faith is real in your living room, and your bedroom, and your kitchen, that's something. That is something noteworthy. You see, Elisha's spirituality did not turn on and off at will. It did not turn on and off depending on his surroundings.

He was consistent no matter where he found himself. I was reflecting on, a brief testimony that a young man shared with me concerning his struggles to be a true Christian, especially around his unbelieving peers. And more than that, he was often tempted to fit the mold of the world and to give into their desires and their ways. And this was a growing concern for him for the obvious reasons, but something happened that struck him to the core that he admitted would change the trajectory of his ways, and I hope it does. He'd said that with one of his roommates after living with him for a few weeks, again fearful of witnessing, not even bringing up any idea that he is a Christian, not intentional about witnessing at all or demonstrating any qualities of holiness.

Somehow the conversation of the afterlife came up between these two and what this roommate said pricked his heart. At some point in that dialogue, the roommate said to this believer, who again was struggling, the following statement. Well, even if there is a hell, it doesn't really matter because we're both going there. What what was he saying in that? The way this young Christian registered it was, this guy doesn't believe that I'm a Christian.

Whatever this guy perceived, he he thinks that I deserve to go to hell, that I'm no different than him. So it didn't shine where it's supposed to show him. In the day to day, it was not real. It was not perceptive. Do you notice how when she shared this with her husband, she started with look at the first two words.

And she said to her husband, behold now. Behold means look at this. Look at this. We're not told her name or her husband's name, but for her to say behold now may indicate that this woman had more spiritual insight than her husband. That she was able to pick up on the quality of this man of God's faith more than him.

And if that is the case, then there's even more things praiseworthy about this woman. That though she may have been more spiritually mature than her husband, she did not disrespect her husband. Because she's asking him if they can pursue this project. She is honoring his authority. She is coming to him and presenting a idea and didn't assume that this is something that she can do on her own.

And this teaches us that being spiritually mature does not give us the right to act superior to others. And she might have seen what he did not see, but it didn't cause her to look down on him. Moreover, her words behold now also I think indicate that she was thrilled to find out that Elisha was sincere. Why would she be thrilled? What was the spiritual climate of this time?

Was Israel filled with faithful men of God? Compromising voices. Inept spiritual leadership. And so when she came across a genuine man of God, behold this. We gotta do something.

It's so overwhelmed her, the sight and the interaction of a genuine servant of God that she could not sit still. She wanted to do what she could to strengthen and help and come alongside this man. And in her own way, here's her idea. We're gonna do a building project. We're gonna assist him by adding an extension to our home.

Now, her wealth allowed her and enabled her to do such things. Her wealth allowed her to not just provide one meal, but a consistent menu whenever he came through those streets. And again, so we see the heart of this woman. She she's not just trying to reluctantly be charitable just so she can, you know, satisfy her conscience. She really wants to do this.

And all the more when she discovered that this man was a truly holy man. And I believe there's a lesson here for us. Pay attention to this. When you and I come across a man of God, a woman of God, and they are not reserved just for pastors. Actually, sometimes men and women of God are not pastors.

There are more men and women of God than pastors. But when you come to know a man or a woman of God through a growing relationship, here's what I here's what I take from this. I should recognize them as a blessing and be willing to support them even if I have nothing to offer. See this woman, she could build an extension for this man of God in her home. You may not be able to do that, but you know what you can do for men and women of God?

Christians, genuine followers of Christ? Build them up. Build them up. You know, we often reserve our encouragement for those who are struggling, for those who tend to go back and forth, who disappear for a season, who for a few weeks are here with the Lord, they're on a mountain top and they're serving and then they disappear for a few more weeks and then it's just kind of a cycle. And we we tend to reach out to them with our upbuilding words and rightfully so, we need to encourage the faint hearted and we need to stir up the idol, but consider consider encouraging those who are rock solid in their faith.

Consider looking to those who, go out and witness and who love their families well and raise their children in the fear of God, who honor their husbands, who love their wives like Christ loves the church, who who don't just come to church to consume, but you recognize they participate. Consider those people and consider supporting them. Building them up. They're human. Add more fuel to their fire.

Don't just don't just think that people who have allowed their fire to become embers that they need sparks, add some gasoline to those who are actually burning for the Lord. You'd be amazed to know what a brief few sentences after a Sunday service can do to somebody for the next few months. You'd be amazed to know what a text a sincere prayed up text message can offer somebody who leads one of the ministries in this church. So here's a woman who is willing to help and to come alongside somebody who's already serving God in a remarkable way. And I think it provides us instruction to build those who are building God's kingdom.

Shall we continue? We shall. So she builds this house and I love it. Look at verse 10. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there from a bed a table, a chair, and a lamp so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.

She just wanted to provide a secluded place for Elisha to do what men of God who preach God's word really do, be alone with God. To have a table to study, a chair to sit on, a lamp so that he can study at night, like on a Saturday when a pastor preaches, he often does so late into the night. So what happens? Look at verse 11. So one day he came there and he turned into the chamber and rested there.

Seems like Elisha is really getting comfortable at the Shunammite's house. Right? And he said to Gehazi, his servant, called this Shunammite. When he had called her, she stood before him. So in our study of this great man of God, Elisha, we are introduced to a new character.

His name is Gehazi. We've never seen him before and this is not gonna be the last time that we see him in this book. Now, if you're familiar with the book of second Kings and you realize that Gehazi had a tragic end. He did not follow in the pattern of Elijah and Elisha, where Elisha emulated his tutor's faith and consecration. He he goes in a different direction and we'll we'll come to that in a few weeks.

But just from our introduction, just from what we see of him, do you get a good impression or a bad impression of Gehazi? What stands out to you that says, you know, from what I see so far, he seems pretty promising. Any idea? Consider the whole passage that we read today. There are two things that stand out to me.

Let me put it this way, was it the popular thing to do to be associated with ministers of Yahweh at this time? No. No. No. No.

No. It wasn't. It was actually costly. Baalism and all these false gods and these false priests, they were the prominent ones. They were the praised ones.

So to be associated with the remnant of the prophets of Yahweh came with a price. And for Gehazi to be willing to assist Elisha says something about this man's willingness to serve and to honor God supposedly. Here's a second one contextually that that makes an impression on me about Gehazi. Elisha now in his gratitude wants to bring something and offer something to the Shunammite. Right?

I mean, he he receives all this. He sees the sacrifice. He sees the room, the building project. Just amazing. And he's so moved that he wants to do something in return, but he doesn't know what to do.

And you've probably faced that dilemma when you're trying to figure out how to give a gift to a relative or a friend that owns everything or has so much that they can just get whatever they want. It's like, what do I buy this person? And so, in a sense, there's that kind of tension. There's that dilemma. And so, he's figuring out what to do.

He asked Gehazi to ask her and and when she was like, you know, I'm fine and we're gonna get to a response in a moment, it was Gehazi that solved the issue. Look again here at verse 14. And he said, what then is to be done for her? Gehazi answered, well, she has no son and her husband is old. Gehazi is observant.

Gehazi is attentive. Gehazi is thoughtful. And he was able to spot out in all the things that this woman had a need. She really wanted a child. Especially in this time, there was such stigma if you were if you were barren.

It was almost seemed like a curse if you could not have a child, which I find absolutely mind blowing concerning our society today. Can I pause and say this? This is how warped we have become as a culture since then. What was recognized as a blessing, as a gift from heaven today is seen as a curse. Seen as a burden.

I mean, you're gonna see how this woman reacts when she's told by a prophet that you're gonna have a child and she's just elated. What do we do in our culture today when they find out they're pregnant? Those people who don't fear God, they go and murder the thing. So this is how this is where we are at a society. This is a culture that we're studying in the old testament on Fridays where a child was seen as one of the greatest things that you can experience in this life and today, we throw them in the trash bin.

And so we see that Gehazi is the one who says, she has no son and her husband is old. So he also perceives that her husband's older than than her. If there's anybody that's gonna leave before the other, it's this man. So what's the problem here? That she might be left alone.

She has she has nobody else. Nobody's gonna be there to take care of her when her husband who is older passes on. Who observes this? Gehazi. Even Elisha the prophet missed it.

And I meditated on this this morning. I looked at this and I thought to myself, there's something here instructive about the blessing of working alongside other servants of God. We see here that this man shows us that we need one another to see things more clearly. Do you see that? Even prophets have blind spots and can benefit from the presence and partnership of other believers.

Pay attention to this, please. There are some Christians who think that they are better off walking and ministering alone. Can I ask you a very humbling question? Are you more perceptive and powerful than the prophet Elisha? If you you think you can walk solo, independent from being hand in hand with other believers, I see one of the most powerful miracle working prophets in redemptive history and he received help of being a more effective minister through one of his assistants.

Who are you to think so lowly of the church of Jesus Christ? Who are you to think that you don't need brothers and sisters and like Elisha? And if you're a leader in any capacity, take note of this. Elisha asked Gehazi, what can we do for her? He was willing to humble himself and ask somebody else, his assistant, is there any way that we can that I can be more efficient and helpful?

Ask questions. Get accountability. Here is here is a wonderful example of a man of God who is even more effective as a man of God because of another person who served God. So you're in la la land. I say this in love, if you think that you can just cruise through your Christian journey without running with other believers.

What would become of your marriage? What would become of your inside of scripture? What would become of your ministry if you had people in your life that were willing to speak into you and help you see things more clearly. That's what I take from this. And so moving on, before we move on to anything else, I want us to retract here and look at Elisha's initial ideas when he had sent Gehazi.

Look at verse 13. Before Gehazi gave the precise prescription, verse 13, initially, he said to him, say now to her, see, you have taken all this trouble for us. What is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on behalf to the king or to the commander of the army? So obviously, Elisha had some connections with royalty and with politicians.

We saw in chapter three how he came to the aid of three kings, so he was up there. And this is what he could think of. He he's asking this wealthy woman, look, do do you do you want some kind of word spoken on your behalf? Is there any situation, legal problems that I can I can speak on your behalf and ask the king or the commander of armies? And this is her answer.

She goes, I dwell among my own people. And I think her answer when she says this, I dwell among my own people reveals two other gems on the crown of her faith. How do you understand this? I understand this in two ways. I understand this in terms of her contentment, and I see something about her character.

She was content. She didn't care about having an audience with the king or or with the general of army. She I dwell among my people. I'm happy where I'm at. Now you would think that the reason why she's content is because she was so wealthy already.

But you know this about wealthy people. Right? That just because you've accumulated wealth does not mean you're satisfied. Is that not true? That if your identity and your purpose is in that, no matter where you arrived, you're gonna want more.

So if you can acquire more, I want more. If you can dominate more, I wanna dominate more. And when you get bored with the billions, you know what happens to some of these people? They move on to the next goal, power, control. That's what we're seeing in our culture today.

All these elites, they had the snap of the finger, they can have whatever they want. Any car, any house, and because they're not filled with God, they now have to move on to the next fleshly thing and many of these guys are operating under demonic influence to control people. So don't don't believe, at least I don't believe that this woman is saying, I dwell among my people. I don't want any political help or any connections or networking because I already have all this. I don't think it's that.

I believe it's because she is so deeply satisfied with her walk with God. Don't you get that impression from these verses that she finds her true joy in serving the things of God? So let this be a reminder to all of us that nothing can leave you being and feeling fulfilled like savoring in the knowledge of God and serving his church. Nothing. Nothing.

Nothing comes close to that. Savoring in the knowledge of God and serving his church is the greatest thrill in your brief existence and mind. Here's a wealthy woman that proves it. I've talked to enough of very wealthy people who are shriveled in their soul. Because they thought if they reach that number they would be happy then they got there and they thought, you know what, I can get to that number and they get there and they realize why does it feel like I'm stuffing myself with these things and it's just going into this black hole in my soul.

And it's because nothing will leave you more fulfilled than knowing God and making him known. Nothing. But her response also says something about her character, not just her contentment. You know, when she says, I dwell among my own people, in other words she's saying like, I don't need anything. I'm fine where I'm at.

And what that shows is that when she helped Elisha and the way she helped Elisha, she wasn't looking for anything for herself in that. She was not trying to gain anything personal. She was not trying to climb a ladder, trying to manipulate the situation so that she can arrive somewhere else. Can I say something? If you are serving in a manner to arrive at a selfish goal and using that kind of a ministry as the means, that is a very shameful thing.

It's a very shameful thing. Because true greatness in the kingdom of God is to serve with all your heart, mind, soul and strength wherever God places you. And if he should promote you, the Bible says promotion comes from the Lord. So this is a woman who just, she found her delight in knowing that she can help this man of God, full stop. Not so that Elisha could put a word for me and I can get there and I can get invited there.

None of that. Just in knowing that she could do her part for the ministry. And so she she says, I dwell among my people and then she asked Gehazi or he asked Gehazi as you know. And Gehazi said, well, she has no son and her husband is old. Let's finish this bible study in the last few verses.

Verse 15, he said, call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway and he said, at this season about this time next year, you shall embrace a son. And she said, no, my lord. Oh, man of God, do not lie to your servant. I like her personality.

You can see it here. Right? It's like, don't pull my leg. No. No.

No. No. No. She's not accusing him of being a liar, of course. She's just responding in a very natural way.

Verse 17, but the woman conceived and she bore a son about that time the following spring as Elisha had said to her. Does this remind you of any other promise that was made in the Bible in terms of a a woman in a very difficult situation, maybe even impossible situation receiving a child? Sarah. Abraham and Sarah. And there's almost like a nudge here that as we as we go from Genesis to second Kings, so much has changed in terms of the people of God and things are not looking too bright in terms of the projection of the people of God.

But this miracle with the familiarity is supposed to give us this kind of a an impression that the God of Abraham is is at work. He's still at work. But here's how we're gonna end here. This woman did not want a reward, but guess what? It came to her anyway.

It came to her anyway. Because though the the promise of a child, this reward, this treasure is unique to her, the principle of receiving a reward for serving God's purposes in the way that you believe you should is not unique to her. Let me give you a couple of references in the new testament before we wrap this up and pray. I want you to consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 10 verse 41. Turn there with me because second kings four, at least in this part, is a wonderful illustration of a few New Testament promises.

Look at Matthew ten forty one. Speaking to his disciples, he says, the one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. So the context here is reminding us that whenever we receive anybody who serves God in any capacity, a genuine disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, we're receiving Christ. How we treat them is ultimately how we treat the Lord and that's how letting us know that's how we are supposed to perceive it. But notice what he says here in being very specific.

He says, the one who receives a prophet. So it's a specific title and role. The one who receives a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. And the idea of reception here is hospitality, support of various kinds, assistance in any way. The one who sees a prophet and like the Shunammite, takes that opportunity to bless that prophet will receive a prophet's reward.

And not just a prophet, but a righteous person, because he's a righteous person. So for the reason that he is a righteous person, if anybody receives that person, welcomes that person, blesses that person, they will receive a righteous person's reward. Now, this can be one of different things and one way to understand is that if you receive a prophet, the reward is that what the prophet has to say, it becomes your portion. The truth becomes your inheritance as well. You benefit from that individual's ministry and that's one part of it I think, but I think the promise is even greater than that.

That if I receive somebody, a man of God or woman of God, because of what they do for God, how they serve God, if I honor them in that way, then the reward that God will bestow the prophet or the righteous person will spill over and become your reward. That's what he's saying here. That the the reward that's reserved for that individual and how they are serving God will be shared with you. You say, well, I don't have much to give. I can't build a house.

I can't build a room. I'm still trying to fix my house. So look at verse 42. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of water, of cold water, because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. What can be more transient and temporary than a glass of water?

Like after this, I'm gonna go before I greet and and see some people, I'm gonna grab a little bottle of water and I'm gonna drink it because I'm parched. Right? Guess what's gonna happen in a couple hours? I'm gonna need water again. So it's like a glass of water, a bottle of water being shared, even something as brief and short lived as a glass of water will be recognized by God and you'll be rewarded for it.

Think about this. God is much more gracious than we imagine him to be. I think, I believe at least, that when we stand before the Lord, before the judgment seat of Christ, and that that judgment seat is not gonna determine our eternal destination. It will determine the degree of our reward. When we stand there, I think all of us are gonna be shocked when our records are pulled out and the Lord will begin to reward us for things that we didn't even think deserve the reward.

I can't do much. Can you give a glass of water? Can you send an encouraging message? Can you pray for people for sixty seconds on your way to work when you know somebody is serving the kingdom of God with all their hearts? You do that, God will reward you.

Let me give you another example. Here's our final text. Look at third John. Not often referenced, but it's in the Bible. The third epistle of John.

There's no chapter, so we only have verse references, but go to third John. It's on the right side, the very right side of your Bibles. Keep going. Keep going. It's near Revelation.

If you've gone through Revelation, you've gone too far. Three John. Third John. Look at what the apostle John says to this particular individual and how it puts and ties everything so wonderfully together. He's speaking to a man named Gaius, and notice what he says in this brief letter.

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testify to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. Pause here. What's going on here? Gaius evidently has opened his home for traveling ministers to remain in for some time before they moved on in their journey.

Hospitality was greatly needed in the early church, especially for those who are part of this new movement called Christianity, followers of the way. There was hostility, there was pushback. And so the church really depended on Christians, especially missionaries, to be welcomed and taken care of when they would go from town to town. And Gaius was one of was one of those people. And John commends him for that.

He goes, listen, it's a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers. Strangers as they are, they didn't even really know. All they know is that they're missionaries, they're faithful teachers. I don't really know them that well, but I heard they're coming through this town and so I wanna open my home to them. And John says, you're doing a faithful thing.

And and they they say here in verse six, the reason why John's writing this is because they testify to your love before the church. So these these strangers, to Gaius at least, came before the church that they were traveling to and say, look, we were so blessed by brother and so and so. They opened their home in these past few days. May God bless them, and John wants to bless Gaius. But But notice his language here in verse seven, for they've gone out for the sake of the name.

Pause. They left their families, their comforts, their homes, they put themselves in danger and need. Why? For the sake of the name. Accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

They would not be a burden on the unbelievers. They would not put place themselves at the hands of those who did not trust in the savior. And here's what moves me, it's verse eight. Therefore, we ought to support people like these that we may be fellow workers for the truth. Notice that he says we.

Doesn't say you, He includes himself. And notice what he says, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. So Gaius and others like him, in their support of these men of God, become partners in the cause of the gospel being advanced. They become fellow workers. That's how God sees it.

What you see is a woman who's at home, who makes wonderful meals and provides a room for a passerby. Somebody who just ministers and preaches and does miracles and needs a place to sleep. That's what you see. You see a very nice lady who has free time on her hands, who has a little bit extra resources. You know how the bible sees her?

A fellow worker in the truth and who will one day share in the prophet's reward. So really this bible study is supposed to inspire each of us in this place. Each of us in this place. Because we all have the opportunity ahead of us and before us to contribute something in our plenty, maybe not even in our plenty. And here's the promise.

God looks from heaven and he wants to reward us for it. Have you lost your sight of what you can potentially contribute to the kingdom of God? At one point in my life, it was even me looking at what God has given me over the years to say, Lord, how can I partner with your purpose? I'm asking your wisdom and your guidance in that area. But even if you don't have anything, barely savings in your bank account.

You know what God is asking of you? Reach out for a glass of water if you need to and extend it to somebody and ask God for the opportunity and he'll give you that opportunity. All to say that there's no excuse for any of us not to be partnering in the kingdom of God. Not one. Not one.

And that should excite us. Well, I better stop here before I keep you longer. I want you to pause with me now at this time, sit back, reflect on this brief bible study, and ask the Lord to help you in your contentment, to help you in your character, to have a greater vision of what you can do for God's kingdom. You'd be amazed to know how the Lord can answer those prayers. Ask him to make you excited again, to know that you're playing a part in this time of world history to advance the purposes of God.

Lord, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this study. We thank you how we don't know what we will expect as we move from chapter to chapter, section to section, and Lord tonight, your voice was loud and clear. We pray, oh God, that you would energize us in our participation of your purposes. Open our eyes to see those who are a blessing and to bless them. Help us practice our faith, Lord, especially in America just like the land of Issachar where there is so much availability, so much potential for growth and increase, but maybe be like this Shunammite woman who is not distracted, would not allow herself to become spiritually crippled because of her wealth.

We want to be wealthy in you. We want to be rich for the glory of God. So train us through your word by your spirit to know how to be positioned there. We trust you and we worship you this evening giving you thanks for speaking to our hearts. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen. He is worthy of praise. If the praise team can come and join us and assist us as you have been so wonderfully doing this evening, Let's give him praise and glory.