Sermon outline

God can end a famine in a single day, but unbelief will let you see the miracle without tasting it, so speak God's word over the crisis and stand before him without doubt.

Main text

2 Kings 7:1-8

Opening

He welcomes listeners, announces part three of God's Provision in Financial Famine and prays his usual prayer for revelation and understanding. He then reads 2 Kings 7:1-8 from the NIV: Elisha's prophecy of cheap flour and barley by the next day, the officer's doubt, and the four men with leprosy who find the enemy camp deserted.

Elisha declared the word of the Lord over a starving city
The king of Syria had besieged Samaria and cut off its supplies to starve the people. A donkey's head sold for eighty shekels of silver and the famine drove people to cannibalism. In the middle of this God placed a word of financial deliverance in Elisha's mouth, and the king's officer answered it with doubt. God works with the person who releases faith, not with the one who walks in unbelief.
Illustration: The siege of Samaria: the plan was to take the city not by battering down the walls but by starving it.
“He declared the word of the Lord over the circumstances that were negative.”
- 2 Kings 7:1-2
- 2 Kings 6:24-29
Elisha's eyes were not on the famine
The enraged king blamed Elisha and sent a man to arrest and behead him, because in a crisis someone has to be blamed. They wrongly perceived the package God had sent them, since Elisha was their deliverer. God gave Elisha advance information and he was not afraid. In the present turmoil believers must lift their eyes from the negativity to Almighty God. He adds that seed faith unlocks your future.
“His eyes were not on the famine.”
- 2 Kings 6:31-33
- Luke 6:38
Unbelief is a blessing blocker
The captain challenged the prophecy, and Elisha decreed that he would see it with his own eyes but not eat of it. Unbelief is another major weapon Satan uses to keep you in financial bondage. It is a faith stopper and a dream stealer, and every prophetic message from God will be challenged by it. The captain had limited God to his own natural mind, yet his unbelief did not shake Elisha, who was not a people pleaser.
Illustration: The captain could not believe God could provide flour and barley even if he made windows in heaven and poured it down.
“Unbelief is a blessing blocker.”
- 2 Kings 7:2
- Hebrews 11:6
Recognise your harvest and break the financial curse
Your harvest is any person or thing that can bless or benefit you: information, favour, finances or an explosive idea that takes you to the next level. It already exists and is walking around you, and your eyes must be opened to recognise it, just as the world did not recognise Jesus. Those who rob God of tithes and offerings live under a curse, which can be broken as you sow.
Illustration: Many people around the world were taken to a higher level in life by nothing more than an idea.
“Your seed is proof that you have conquered greed.”
- John 1:10-11
- Malachi 3:8-9
Deliverance in one day, and recognising your seed
Without Samaria lifting a sword, God made the Syrians hear the sound of a great army and they fled, leaving horses, supplies, silver and gold: a supernatural transfer of wealth. The four lepers ate, drank and hid some of the spoil, then overcame their greed and went to tell the king. Your seed is any gift, skill or talent God has given you to sow into the lives of others, so use it and do not hide it. The prophecy was fulfilled exactly.
Illustration: The four lepers in the abandoned camp. He also notes that Joseph wanted others to recognise his ability to interpret dreams.
“Your seed is any gift, skill or talent that God has provided for you to sow into the lives of others.”
- 2 Kings 7:3-16
- Proverbs 18:16
Unbelief is deadly
The captain saw the prophecy fulfilled but did not partake of it. He was put in charge of the gate and the starving people trampled him to death. Unbelief shut a whole generation out of the promised land, and it makes you question God, harden your heart and lean on your own limited resources. Instead of being professional critics, believers should pray for heads of state, government, caregivers and medical staff.
Illustration: The officer trampled in the gate as the people rushed out for food.
“Unbelief is deadly.”
- 2 Kings 7:17-20
- Hebrews 3:19
Three things you must do to position yourself for breakthrough
Know that it is God's will to prosper you. Face your financial problems head on, not in your own name or limited power but in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and without fear. Come into covenant relationship with God, standing before him by faith with a total absence of doubt. Then the bondage of debt is broken and you live in a cycle of supernatural provision.
Illustration: He marvels at surgeons on television: their expertise, and the faith with which they undertake dangerous operations believing all will be well.
“You must come into covenant relationship with God where you stand before him by faith with total absence of doubt.”
- Matthew 21:21-22
- James 1:5-6
- Deuteronomy 11:16-21

Putting it into practice

Speak God's word over negative circumstances instead of repeating the negativity.
Do not limit what God can do to what your natural mind can work out.
Use the gift, skill or talent in your hand as seed, and look for the harvest already around you.
Face your financial problems head on in the name of Jesus, without fear.
Pray for leaders, governments, caregivers and medical staff instead of criticising them.

Closing

He points listeners to Deuteronomy 11:16-21 for another strategy the enemy uses and urges them to beat fear, doubt and unbelief. He asks them to hold someone's hand or touch the screen, then blesses them, their families and every nation, prays for the South African government and leaders everywhere to find solutions, and declares safety and preservation over them.

In his words

“Unbelief is a blessing blocker.”
“Your seed is proof that you have conquered greed.”
“When you analyze something, ladies and gentlemen, you begin to paralyze yourself.”
“The supernatural should be more real than the natural.”
“Unbelief is deadly.”