Four Miracles of the Shunammite Woman: Restored After the Famine
Dr RJ Sing, 30 min, Part 4 of God's Provision in Financial Famine
Originally recorded as “God's Provision in Financial Famine, Part 4”
Sermon outline
God not only provides in famine but restores what was lost, for those who keep an open hand, act on the prophetic word and refuse fear.
Main text
- 2 Kings 8:1-6
- Psalm 37:19
Opening
He welcomes listeners, prays his usual prayer for revelation and understanding, and announces part four. He recaps last week's reading from 2 Kings 7:1-8: Elisha's prophetic word, the four lepers who overcame greed and reported to the king, and the whole city sharing the spoil.
In the time of testing, God wants to see what is in your heart
David never saw the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread, and God will never leave you in a time of need. As he proved Israel for forty years in the wilderness, a financial crisis shows whether you will stay faithful and keep giving when you have little as well as when you have plenty. Even in testing he meets your need, and he restores what Satan steals.
Illustration: Israel's forty years in the wilderness, led by God to humble them and prove what was in their heart.
“During your time of financial crisis, God wants to see what's in your heart.”
- Psalm 37:25
- Deuteronomy 8:2
- Psalm 37:19
The Shunammite woman opened her hand
A wealthy woman of Shunem prepared a room and food for Elisha whenever he passed through. That was the seed she sowed, and what came back was multiplied, including things money cannot buy. God is looking for receivers. Whatever is in your hand is seed, so do not let fear and unbelief make you close your hand and hoard.
Illustration: The room she built for the prophet. He asks where the Shunammite women, the mighty men of valour and the people of faith are today.
“Nothing leaves heaven until something leaves the earth.”
- 2 Kings 4:8-17
- 2 Chronicles 20:20
Her four miracles
Miracle one: she was barren and God gave her a son. Miracle two: the boy died and was raised from the dead when Elisha prayed. Miracle three: the prophet warned her of seven years of famine and sent her household to another land. Miracle four: she came back to find everything taken, walked in just as the king was hearing her story, and the king ordered all of it restored along with the produce of her fields from the day she left.
Illustration: She arrives at the palace at the very moment the king is being told how her son was raised from the dead.
“In the time of famine, God prospered her because she heard the prophet and obeyed.”
- 2 Kings 4:17
- 2 Kings 4:33-37
- 2 Kings 8:1-6
Believe his prophets and you shall prosper
The key to her restoration was an act of obedience to the word spoken through Elisha. He says God placed a prophetic word in his mouth and in the mouths of many ministers that a worldwide financial crisis was coming, and that it has come in this decade. In the shaking God's hand of provision is on those who believe, and he is pouring out an end-time financial anointing to break debt and raise up financiers for the end-time harvest.
Illustration: Like Peter, will you step out of the boat?
“Your financial breakthrough will come when you receive the prophetic word and act on it.”
- 2 Chronicles 20:20
- Acts 11:27-30
God is your source, so read the Word aloud
Everything you need comes from God through people. Be thankful to the people he uses, but never forget the true source. Reading and speaking the Word aloud builds confidence in God and keeps you in times of trouble. He then reads a long prophetic confession of God's protection and victory and leads a confession for debt cancellation.
“He is ultimately your source. Men and women are his channels.”
- Hebrews 11:6
- Joshua 1:5-7
- 1 Timothy 4:15-16
- Psalm 27:1
- 1 John 4:4
- Psalm 3:3
- Psalm 46:1-2
- Psalm 121:1-8
Fear is a blessing blocker
To break the bondage of debt you must first break fear. Fear is a spirit that does not come from God, and it is the first thing to attack your mind when car repairs, doctors' and hospital bills, overdue accounts or retrenchment hit. Face it and beat it: the fear of insufficient funds for food, clothing, housing and transport, and the fear of losing your income.
Illustration: Unexpected emergencies: car repairs, hospital bills and losing your job overnight.
“Fear is a blessing blocker. Fear separates you from your faith.”
Start creating your tomorrow today
A farmer sows months before he needs the harvest. Tomorrow is being decided now, because your seeds of love, mercy and money are moving into your future. Believe God, express your faith and start giving your way out of trouble.
Illustration: The farmer who begins sowing his seed months before he needs the harvest.
“The seed that leaves your hand will never leave your life, but goes into your future and multiplies.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Putting it into practice
- Keep giving when you have little, just as when you have plenty.
- Act on the word God gives you, as the Shunammite woman did.
- Thank the people God uses, but look to him as your source.
- Read the Word aloud every day and spend time with God before you face the day.
- Say the debt cancellation confession out loud, and refuse the spirit of fear.
Closing
He asks listeners to lift a hand or touch the screen and decrees blessing and protection over them and their families. He reminds them that angels surround them, and urges them to be part of the solution instead of critics and to keep their discipline, respect and gratitude to God.
Declarations he led
- I will be strong and courageous. I have complete confidence in the ability of God to give me the victory in every situation.
- I'm out of debt. My needs are met. I have plenty and more to put in store. I command my freedom of debt to be released now. I loose my miracles of debt cancellation. I loose the anointing and power to get wealth now. Money you are loosed, debt you are loosed right now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
In his words
- “Nothing leaves heaven until something leaves the earth.”
- “Open your hand and God will open his hand.”
- “He is ultimately your source. Men and women are his channels.”
- “Fear is a blessing blocker. Fear separates you from your faith.”
- “The seed that leaves your hand will never leave your life, but goes into your future and multiplies.”
Every scripture in this message
- Colossians 1:9-12
- 2 Kings 7:1-8
- Psalm 37:25
- Deuteronomy 8:2
- Psalm 37:19
- 2 Kings 4:8-17
- 2 Chronicles 20:20
- 2 Kings 4:33-37
- 2 Kings 8:1-6
- Acts 11:27-30
- Hebrews 11:6
- Joshua 1:5-7
- 1 Timothy 4:15-16
- Psalm 27:1
- 1 John 4:4
- Psalm 3:3
- Psalm 46:1-2
- Psalm 121:1-8
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-2