THE CERTAIN WOMAN

II Kings 4: 4

And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

THE SHUT DOOR

Why did the man of GOD instruct the "certain woman" to shut the door? It seems like a logical thing for a person to do when they are in their house, why is this important for GOD? 

I think that there is a meaning to this instruction which goes beyond the act of "shutting the door". I think that the LORD wanted this woman to focus on what the LORD was calling her to do and shut the door to all other thoughts or distractions. I am sure that she was wondering what this activity would accomplish in bringing help to her in her time of need. She needed financial help and protection for her sons from the creditors, how would empty vessels and a little oil help her?

When she "shut the door", she shut out all thoughts or comments by others about her trouble. She shut out the noise of the streets and the noise of distractions. She could only focus on the little oil and the vessels as she poured out her miracle.

We find the Word from the LORD to "shut the door" in the account of the Passover in Exodus 12: 22b, "and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning." This instruction was given so that the family would be kept safe in the shelter of the house with the blood on the door post. It would seem that the "shut door" is also a command from GOD for protection from evil.

This "certain woman" and her sons were in the process of a great miracle of GOD. She was so certain that GOD would act on her behalf that she obeyed the words of the man of GOD. Her focus was on the LORD and He would act on her behalf., protecting her sons in the shelter of His love.

Have you "shut the door" to the work and ways of evil? Have you put off the old man with its lusts, shutting the door to old ways of behaving? There are great miracles in store for you if you go into the House of GOD and shut the door to all the outside distractions; follow JESUS with great love and see Him restore the broken things in your life.

THE CERTAIN WOMAN

II Kings 4: 3

Then he said, "Go, borrow thee vessels from all thy neighbors, even empty vessels, borrow not a few."

This time was a time of great famine and drought in the land, there were many people who had empty vessels. The man of GOD instructs this "certain woman" to go and collect as many empty vessels as she could and bring them into her house. She did what the man of GOD said for her to do. 

When the LORD tells you to do something, even if it seems strange to you and to others, be OBEDIENT. The obedience that you give to the LORD will have a ripple effect, touching others and bringing them to the LORD. This "certain woman" touched many lives of her neighbors as she gathered empty vessels in obedience to the man of GOD. Don't you know that all the neighbors were watching as the miracle of the empty vessels unfolds?

The obedience of one person effects the lives of many people and all to the glory of GOD.

When the LORD says "Go" listen to Him and do what He says, many souls depend on the obedience of one. 

How do we know that the LORD is tell us to "go"? The discipline of prayer and worship of the LORD brings about a knowing of the voice of the LORD. When you know His voice, you will hear Him say, "go" or "come", and when you do, you will see the might work of GOD in your life.

DON'T LIMIT GOD; GATHER LOTS OF POTS; GOD WILL MEET YOUR NEED WITH OVERFLOWING.

THE CERTAIN WOMAN

II Kings 4: 2

And Elisha said unto her, "What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house?" And she said, "Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, except a pot of oil."

This "Certain woman" ran to the man of GOD with her need. It was a great need, which threatened her life and the lives of her children. When she asked the man of GOD for help, he wanted to know what she wanted him to do. When we go to GOD in prayer, asking for His help in our time of need, He wants us to be specific as to what we want him to do for us. I like to be specific about what I want to happen, but end as JESUS did in Gethsemane, "Nevertheless, not my will but Thy will be done." In all situations, God knows what is best for us.

Elisha asked this woman what she had in her house. At first she said that she had nothing, then she said that she had only a pot of oil. When we look around at our circumstances, at first we may not see anything that can be done. As we look closer, we see that there is a little thing that we can give to GOD, like this woman's pot of oil or the widow's mite or the widows last flour and oil. They gave it to GOD and He multiplied it to meet the need of the one who prayed.

I am reminded that it was a little stick that GOD used to part the Red Sea (Exodus 14: 16). GOD uses what is in your hand to work wonders on your behalf. Give what you have to GOD and He will take it and use it. Give all of your life to JESUS and He will work wonders in you forever and ever. 

WHAT IS YOUR NEED RIGHT NOW? RUN TO GOD AND GIVE HIM WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND; WATCH HIM MOVE IN A MIGHTY WAY.

THE CERTAIN WOMAN

II Kings 4: 1

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, "Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD; and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be slaves."

This "certain woman" was the wife of a member of the prophet line, who knew the LORD and spoke to the people concerning the work and way of the LORD. There is a play on words here that causes me to think about this woman; she was a particular/certain woman, who was married to a man who loved the LORD, and she was "certain" of her relationship with the LORD GOD. In her time of trouble, she went to the Prophet of the LORD, Elisha, for help in her time of need. In the time before JESUS, people went to prophets for prayer and intervention; because of JESUS and His mighty act of bridging the gap between GOD and man, through His willing sacrifice of Himself, we have access to the Throne of Grace, as "certain" individuals, where we will find grace and mercy from GOD.

This "certain woman" was in a big mess. The creditor had the right to take property and children to work out the debt owed by the husband. This would have left the woman on the streets and her children in slavery, there seemed to be no way out of her trouble. BUT GOD had a plan for her salvation from this mess; His plan was for her redemption from the debt. 

I see in this story a foreshadow of the redemption of us all by our LORD JESUS Christ. The world was in a terrible mess; men of GOD turned to Him for help; He sent His Son who paid the price for the world through His shed Blood. 

This week we will follow this "certain woman" to see how she followed the way of the LORD and prevailed in her time of need. If you want to read ahead, read II KINGS 4: 1-7. This will be discussed in the following days.

REWARDS - CROWNS

James 1:12

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him.

 

THE CROWN OF LIFE

 

This is the crown that is given to all who love the LORD. If you are a believer in the LORD JESUS Christ, and love Him, you will be brought up to Him in the Rapture and there all works will be tried by fire. Even if none of the works survive the fire of the Holy Spirit, there is one Crown that you will receive, 

THE CROWN OF LIFE. 

 

The question remains, what do we do with the Crowns that we receive from the LORD? Revelation 4:10b and 11 give the answer: "The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that is seated on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying, Worthy art thou, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." 

 

We will have the honor of casting our crowns before the LORD and worship Him face to face. I like to look at this in this way; the Crowns are the Dowry of the Bride of Christ. All those who believe in JESUS and who love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and might, are part of the Bride of Christ and the Crowns that the Bride lays at the feet of JESUS, is the dowry. The wedding feast of the LAMB will follow, when JESUS and His Bride will be joined as One, forever.

 

What a glorious dowry JESUS will receive from His Bride! Gold, silver and precious stones given to the only one who is worthy to receive them, JESUS, the Only Begotten Son of GOD. For He alone is worthy to receive honor and glory and power. 

 

REWARDS - CROWNS

I Peter 5: 2-4

Feed the flock of GOD which is among you, taking the over-sight of it, not by constraint but willingly; not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind. Neither as being lords over GOD's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away.

 

THE CROWN OF GLORY

This crown is given to those who oversee the flock of GOD. This would be the Pastors, Priests, Teachers and all staff persons who have been called by GOD and have responded willingly. The Flock of GOD is precious to Him and He places people,with great care, to lead and feed His flock. He is very particular what food His flock is being fed, so, by the Holy Spirit, He watches and anoints. The flock of GOD was bought with the price of the Blood of JESUS, so GOD wants the food to be the Word of GOD and the Body and Blood of JESUS in Holy Communion. 

It is vitally important that the service to the flock be willing and not dependent on remuneration. GOD will supply the needs of the flock, including the leaders. The leaders are never to lord it over the flock, but be a part of the spiritual growth of each person. They are to be good examples of living the life of diligent servants of GOD, so that those who follow them will receive proper guidance in living the Christian life. The leader should be meek, which means "teachable". Therefore, a good leader is always being taught by GOD through the Holy Spirit and His Holy Word. 

 

THE WORD OF GOD IS GOOD FOOD

REWARDS-CROWNS

I Thessalonians 2: 19, 20

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our LORD JESUS Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

 

THE CROWN OF REJOICING

 

The Crown of rejoicing is also know as the Soul-winners Crown. This is given to those who are faithful witnesses of JESUS Christ, bringing the lost to JESUS. They are co-laborers with Christ as life lines, cast out to those who are drowning in sin, bringing them to the safety of the presence of JESUS and are saved.

 

The souls who are living because of the witness of faithful people, will rejoice and be thankful that they are safe and saved from the wrath of GOD. They will become faithful witnesses to others because of your example. GOD rewards the faithful witnesses with the Crown of rejoicing.

 

Do you have a passion for lost souls? Do you pray for those who have lost their way and are looking for answers in this world? Have you ever prayed for those who have no intercessor? Do you pray for those in most need of the mercy of GOD? Then you are part of a team of soul-winners, the chief of whom is JESUS. 

 

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING FOR THE LOST SHEEP AND SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY