NOVEMBERFAST: Resurrecting Dead Promises
2 Kings 4:14–20 (ESV) And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi 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, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her. When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.
Exceptional Promises Are The Norm For Kingdom Participants.
Belief in God is good
Following Jesus is the starting point
That will take you into a Journey of Kingdom Participation
We still live in the world
We have a new King
We have a new law
We have a new way of living
We have a new family
We have a new mission
We have a new economy
While the decision to follow Jesus unlocks salvation but participation in Kingdom, and taking Kingdom ground unlocks a next level experience in all arenas of life.
2 Kings 4:8–10 (ESV) 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 there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”
Matthew 16:16–19 (ESV) Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Promises Received Are Promises At Risk.
2 Kings 4:20 (ESV) And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.
“God… I thought you were giving me this amazing promise and now you are taking it away???” Your promise is always at risk and you must protect it.
The Attacks You Will Face:
Pushback Of This World
Sin & Stupidity
Attack By Worldly Haters
Attacks On Kingdom Players
The Same Kingdom Participation It Took To Receive The Promise Is The Same Kingdom Participation It Will Take To Maintain The Promise
She could have given up, appreciative for what was done, surrendering the full promise for a full life.
She should have become an emotional disaster and added to the problem
She could have called for natural help
2 Kings 4:22–25 (ESV) Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite.
She could have leaned on her own spiritual strength
Instead she tapped into the flow of what brought the promise in the first place.
Hebrews 10:39 (ESV) But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Philippians 3:16 (ESV) Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Elisha’s ability to deliver results required him to be a Kingdom participant