Friday, 8th October 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Elisha wanted a double portion of Elijah’s anointing because he wanted to understand God more. As the people being called, we must learn from Elisha how to come close to God’s Heart. When we come closer to God’s heart then it’s easier for us to co-work with Him. Why do God co-work with men? To fulfil the God’s Will of this world. God’s Will is for our good and from the past until now, God has been working in partnership with men. Today’s story shows us how we can activate this ability to work together with God!
Section One V1-7 To Humble and Seek
V1 “A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.’” We thought God doesn’t know, but God knows everything, and as a son of the prophets, he had debt and allowed the creditor to come to the door. He didn’t live out a good testimony but let his family pay for his debt. Elisha did not see them as how people see but see them as how God sees. God has mercy for the widow and the orphan. Even though the widow’s husband, as a son of the prophets, did not seek God for help and let his family suffer, but the widow was willing to humble herself and sought help from Elisha. V2 “So Elisha said to her, ‘What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?’ And she said, ‘Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.’”
The woman only saw she had nothing, but she did not realise how God could help her through Elisha. V3-4 “Then he said, ‘Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels and set aside the full ones.’” Then Elisha gave her instruction to borrow vessels and pour the oil in them, so she went and followed the instructions. Do we also see the oil we have in our lives? Or do we only follow the instructions, living in a ‘doing mode’, and failed to see how God can change our lives through the oil we have? It’s so easy for us to see what we area lacking, we don’t believe miracles will happen to our lives, if we humble ourselves to seek.
V7 “Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.’” The oil was enough for the woman to pay off her husband’s debt. Do we see the abundance in our lives? It’s so easy to see the negative things happening in our lives but, in fact, there are equal amounts of positive things happening at the same time. We must humble ourselves and seek God, ask Him to open our eyes and see that the oil is enough for us!
Section Two V8-37 To be Fulfilled According to Faith
V8 “Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.” The woman from Shunem was so determined to invite Elisha over. She knew Elisha had the presence of God, but she didn’t recognise him as the prophet. V9 “And she said to her husband, ‘Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.’” This woman would have been worshipping God to feel the presence of God with Elisha, she even persuaded Elisha to stay in her house because she longed for this presence of God to stay with her.
V12-13 “Then he said to Gehazi his servant, ‘Call this Shunammite woman.’ When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, ‘Say now to her, Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ She answered, ‘I dwell among my own people.’” She did not respect the man of God and she did not think God could give her more abundant blessings. We must not be settled in our current situation, because God can let us experience more of Him in our lives. We thought we are being godly and humble by not asking God anything, but we compromised with our current situations, happy to stay in the ‘doing mode’, and do not seek to experience more of God’s miracles.
V16 “Then he said, ‘About this time next year you shall embrace a son.’ And she said, ‘No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!’” Even until now, the woman did not see with the eyesight of faith, she did not believe she could have a son because she did not believe the miracles God can do in her life. We are like the woman of Shunem, when God wants to give us blessings, we don’t believe they will happen, and we underestimate what God can do in our lives. She knew Elisha had the presence of God, but she did not know the true God behind Elisha.
V18-20 “And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, ‘My head, my head!’ So, he said to a servant, ‘Carry him to his mother.’ When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.” Do not think that having a child is easy and normal, every child is a blessing from God. The Shunammite woman did not believe she would have a child, she did not believe what God could do for her, therefore God allowed her son to die in her laps. Do we treasure the blessings and miracles from God? Everything happens for a reason, and we should always be thankful for what God has done in our lives.
V27 “Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, ‘Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.’” God did not want Elisha to do more than he should, therefore he did not know why she was distressed. Because God wanted the Shunammite woman to seek Elijah, to go a long way, and to build up her faith in God. She was the one, who did not believe she would have a miracle son, so she had to be the one to come and ask God for her son back. But even until this time, she did not repent her unbelief by the way she talked to Elisha. V28 “So she said, ‘Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me?’”
V30 “And the mother of the child said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.’ So he arose and followed her.” These were the same words Elisha said to Elijah, this time the Shunammite woman humbled herself, she held onto God and did not let go. If the woman did not have the determination and completely humble before God, her son would not have come back to life. Even when Elisha wanted to go with her, God might not allow her son to live. She wanted to build up relationship with the man of God, but at the same time, she did not believe what the man of God says in giving her the blessing. But here, she changed her attitude and God gave her another chance.
V34-35 “And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.” Elisha co-worked with God, he did his part, then he let God do His part. When God performs miracle through us, we must let people see God instead of us. Do not take the credit from God.
V36-37 “And he called Gehazi and said, ‘Call this Shunammite woman.’ So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, ‘Pick up your son.’ So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.” When the child lived, Elisha called the Shunammite woman to come and experience the miracle first handed. She completely surrendered to God this time and fell before Elisha. Let us learn from her mistake, do not underestimate God and always be thankful for what He has given to us before it’s too late.
Section Three V38-44 God Provides
Elisha continued to perform more miracles. He fixed the poison soup so everyone could drink. He also performed a miracle to feed a hundred people with twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain. Why do God perform miracles? Because we do not believe how much God can do for us, everything we ask God for are things we can see and think about, but what God can do is beyond our imagination. Let us have this faith and anticipation of the greater miracles of God in our lives!
Worship: I Live for You一生為祢而活 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecP1pf4OmAQ
Prayer & Pursuit
Are we willing to live our lives for God? Are we willing to see the providence of God in our families? We are easy to have a lot of negative complaints, we think that God is not with us but we fail to see God wants to bless us.
Lord, help us to count Your blessings every day, to humble ourselves, to surrender to You, and to see Your presence with us. Lord, bless us to live in Your kingdom. The old has gone and the new is here; we proclaim today is a new day full of Your miracles! Amen.
2021年10月8日 星期五
潘锡安牧师
列王纪上记录了列王的故事，列王纪下前几章记录了神的仆人的故事。以利沙是一个被神拣选替代以利亚的先知，曾求感动以利亚的灵加倍的感动他，因他知道唯有如此才能完成他的使命。以利沙所求不是为自己所想，而是站在他的师傅的立场去看。以利沙的使命不容易，但他没有负面对待，他看到的是以利亚背后的神，所以他求的不只是一个能力，而是要更认识神。以利沙和以利亚都是神所拣选的仆人，我们作为蒙召的人可以从他们的生命学习。神对我们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，为启动这个美好的计划，神都与人一起同工。
一、要谦卑寻求 v.1-7
V1 这个先知门徒的妻子家里唯一能够赚钱的男人死了，并且留下一屁股债，于是这寡妇来找以利沙。当初以利亚建立了很多“先知学房”训练门徒，但是那些先知门徒的生命有很多问题（王下第一章）。本节所提的先知门徒的妻子说他生前“敬畏耶和华”，可是这位欠债的先知门徒没有活出一个好的见证，死后还有债主要来取他的两个儿子做奴仆。耶稣曾说他会对那些行了很多神迹奇事却没有真正认识神的人说，“我不认识你。”我们是跟从神的人，我们生命中高举的是什么？
V2 虽然先知门徒并没有真的寻求神，只是在经济上倚靠人，但神是看顾孤儿寡妇的神。当寡妇来谦卑求问以利沙的时候，以利沙就问她“我可以为你做什么呢？”耶稣也会问那些来求他的人这个问题。我们在神面前能够有多低？我们是否在人面前表现得冠冕堂皇，其实里面一团糟糕？这寡妇觉得自己走投无路了，就来到神人以利沙面前，她看自己是一无所有的。当以利沙问她家里有什么的时候，她只看到“家中除了一瓶油之外，没有什么”。然而，神看到她是拥有的。
V3-7 以利沙的回复听上去很不合理 – 一瓶油能装多少器皿呢？妇人其实一开始并不是很相信，所以以一种doing的心态来做以利沙交代她的事，看到最后没有油了就来找以利沙。以利沙的本意是让这妇人回家专心去观看她自己所拥有的是什么。神能够借着那一瓶油改变妇人一家的景况，再不需要欠债，他们是靠着耶和华过活。神在我们家中放了一瓶油，神可以借着这瓶油改变我们的生活，我们看到了吗，还是觉得自己没有什么？我们要谦卑看到神在我们生命中的祝福。
二、照信心成就 v.8-37
V8-9 这个书念的妇人在当时是有钱人，她很用力的强留以利沙留在家里吃饭，这并不是司空见惯的事。在王下2:23讲到以利沙因为秃头被人取笑，但如今以利沙被强留在这个大户人家。那42个嘲笑以利沙的童子看的是他的外表，这妇人却看到以利沙是有神同在的“神人”，只是她并不知道以利沙的先知身份。她能有如此的看见，说明她平时是敬拜神的人。
V10 妇人不但常常让以利沙在她家里吃饭，还对丈夫说要在家里为以利沙盖一间小楼。她尊荣神的仆人，希望他能在家里停留。我们是否也是这样愿意在家中招待神的仆人吗？当我们尊荣神的仆人，我们就是尊荣神。
V11-16 以利沙吩咐仆人基哈西找来妇人，问她到底要求什么。一个大户人家的女主人，明明已经站在以利沙面前，但问她话的人是以利沙的奴仆，于是她回答“我在我本乡安居无事”。她在一个仆人面前不觉得自己有任何缺乏。我们来到神面前的时候，是否能真正的谦卑，还是觉得自己已经没有什么地方需要经历神了？当我们说我们没有什么事值得代祷，以为无欲无求就是谦卑的时候，我们其实是在骄傲，不觉得需要神来改变自己的生命，只是按着惯例做事就好了。连以利沙的仆人都能看到这位有钱有势的妇人其实没有儿子，但妇人不觉得自己的生命会有什么改变。以利沙亲自对妇人预言说她第二年会生一个儿子，然而妇人看到的是她和丈夫的不能，觉得这是欺骗，没有看到这是祝福。
V17-20 圣经并没有交代这个妇人是如何因着这个儿子感恩以利沙。我们是否觉得能够怀孕生子是自然而然发生的，却不知道这其实是一个神迹？我们若没有感恩，就会活在忧郁里。妇人曾拒绝这个祝福，多年后神就让他的儿子死在她的膝上。
V21-24 这位母亲知道以利沙是神人，所以将孩子放到神人的床上，要 仆人为她备驴，并且在丈夫问她的时候说“平安”。圣经里第一次出现“平安”这个词是在创世纪15：13-15里耶和华对亚伯拉罕说的话。
V25 “远远地看见”- 正如浪子回头的故事里的父亲等小儿子回家一样，以利沙一直在等这妇人回来。妇人从以利沙给她祝福后一直觉得以利沙是在欺哄她，所以直到如今都没有感恩。但人的尽头就是神的开始，妇人的儿子死后，她终于来找以利沙了。
V26 妇人对以利沙的仆人基哈西的问安的回答也是“平安”，她仍然看不起这个仆人。基哈西并没有因为妇人看不起他而影响自己的服事。我们是否会被别人影响，还是看重我们在神国度里的身份？
V27 基哈西看重自己是以利沙的仆人的身份，要推开这位妇人，但以利沙说“由她吧！因为她心里愁苦。耶和华向我隐瞒，没有指示我。”神没有让以利沙做多过他该做的事。神让这妇人放下自己的骄傲。神也让我们学习谦卑，以激发我们的信心。
V28 妇人直到此刻都没有悔改，还为儿子的事抱怨以利沙。她觉得自己本来过得很好，是神给了她儿子之后她才落入到这种崩溃的地步。
V29 以利沙知道这妇人的信心还是不够的，就吩咐仆人基哈西去到孩子那里。
V30-31 妇人开始意识到自己的问题，于是谦卑下来，对以利沙所说的话正如当年以利沙对以利亚所说。她若没有如此谦卑，她的孩子就没得救了，因为她原本顽梗叛逆不接受神的祝福，又与神人划清界限，本来按神的公义他是不需要救活这个孩子，书念妇人是要承担后果的。因着这妇人态度的改变，神给了她机会。
V32-35 以利沙知道神是不能勉强的，唯有神愿意才施行拯救，关键就在于人的谦卑。我们不能操控神，而要与神同工。以利沙在孩子身体温和却还没有苏醒之后，仍然“下来，在屋里来往走了一趟”，要在那里察验神的同在。当我们在关怀别人的时候，不要靠自己的力气做一堆事情，只要将神的同在带下即可，我们要懂得放手、倚靠神，不要做多过我们该做的，要让人看到神而不是我们。
V36-37 以利亚仍然用他的仆人去挑战书念妇人的骄傲，“妇人就进来，在以利沙脚前俯伏于地，抱起她儿子出去了”。神很爱我们，我们是否一定要走到这个书念妇人的地步才愿意俯伏在神和神的仆人面前？让我们现在就走在神给我们的生命树气息里，使我们和我们的后代一直蒙福。
三、神是供应的 v.38-44
V38-41 以利沙为这些先知门徒代求，因为当地发生饥荒。他们按着以利沙的吩咐，好不容易摘了野瓜来熬汤，结果发现有毒，但以利沙往汤中加了一些面，“锅中就没有毒了”。我们看为有害的东西其实在神手中都能变成祝福。
V42-44 以利沙让先知门徒看见神迹。从神迹中我们要看到神是供应我们日用饮食的，不是满足我们享乐的心。我们要的神迹是什么？我们不相信神会供应我们，所以没有求日用饮食，而是随从世界的情欲。求神帮助我们不要像这些先知门徒一样最后变得无法影响我们的环境、城市、国家。
*追求和回应：
我们是否愿意一生为主而活？是否愿意放下属世的欲望？是否看到神为我们家里预备的那一瓶油？我们很容易看到负面，很容易抱怨，觉得神没有祝福我们，但这些都是仇敌给我们的蒙蔽。让我们一起来祷告，将我们生命中一切的蒙蔽、顽梗、不饶恕、不愿意谦卑顺服神、觉得神欺哄我们的这些心思意念交给神，求神拿走我们里面的拦阻，饶恕我们，将我们里面的垃圾拿走，让我们看到神的祝福。
主，谢谢你，你所怀的意念是要祝福我们的。求主帮助我们，让我们每一天都能谦卑俯伏在地感谢你的恩惠祝福，每一天都能像寻宝一样。祝福我们活在你的同在中，一切的羞耻、蒙蔽都要过去，今天是充满神迹的一天！谢谢主！