There once was a woman whose husband died leaving behind many debts. She had the opportunity to speak to Prophet Elisha and here's what she said, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” (2 Kings 4:1).
The conversation continued as follows in 2 Kings 4:2 - Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
Elisha proceeded to tell her to borrow jars from all of her neighbors, shut the door of her home with just her sons and herself inside, then pour the olive oil she has into each of the jars. She obeyed the Prophet then returned to him for further directions. He then told her, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” (2 Kings 4:7).
This woman must have had multiple sleepless nights and likely worried herself to bones. The consequences of her husband's debts were severe - her sons could become slaves, losing their freedom.
Nevertheless, the only solution to her problems had to come from the Lord. And as we can all see, the solution was miraculous. How did that "small jar of olive oil" fill all those borrowed containers? God had to move on her behalf to bring her the financial and physical freedom she and her boys needed.
And that's the point. We are all going through challenges that keep us up at night. We wonder what moves we can make to step outside of the 'bondage' these problems create. However, the only solution that will bring permanent freedom and remedy is the one we receive from the Lord. God's solution will not have us doing contemptible things or debasing ourselves. This is why we are told in Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
This woman sought out a solution from the Lord and upon receiving His guidance, she followed through. She didn't sit and think of all the things that could go wrong, applying human logic to the things of the Lord. No, she did as instructed and even went back to the Man of God for further directions. And once received, she wasted no time in obeying.
The result was freedom for her family and likely some leftover profit with which she could reinvest into her olive oil selling business.
Hebrews 6:10 tells us, God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. In this story, the woman relied upon her husband's service to the Lord. He was Obadiah, the man who protected 100 of God's prophets from being killed by evil queen Jezebel.
In your case, if you participate in P&P - glorifying God and interceding for your fellow participants and others - you too have access to the very miracle that happened to the widow. Remind God of how you have served Him and ask Him for the key to unlock the shackles over your life. Whatever you need freedom from, you now have a prayer approach to obtain the blessings of God. Wait on the Lord to give you the solution. Don't run out trying one scheme or another without God's sanction. Those are bound to eventually fail. Let God lead and you follow, just as the widow with the olive oil did. This requires patience, submission and trust in the Lord. All virtues you are capable of putting into practice. Plus, if you ask Him to, He will help you do so.
So ask yourself, can you submit to the Lord to ask for His guidance on the issues you face? Can you be patient enough to receive instruction? Can you humble yourself to go back for more details, even if none of it makes logical sense? Can you trust God enough to obey or would you rather do things the way that make sense to you?
God bless you!
As you wait for fellowship, consider reading the following previous P&P messages:
Trust God - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) June 30, 2020
Wait on God - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) May 18, 2021
Patience: A Fruit of The Spirit - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) July 6, 2021
Faith vs Trust - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) September 10, 2021
Patience - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) October 5, 2021
Hold On - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) November 16, 2021
But, can you wait? - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) June 17, 2022
*From M22* - Thank you Lord for today's P and P. Thank you Father I could make it here today. Heavenly Father I hold on to you to complete your healing in my life and that of my baby sister. I pray Abba that you help me stay consistent no matter the circumstances. Help me focus on you and not my circumstances. Thank you Abba IJMN amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father I want to thank you for sis @FFJ. Thank you Lord for her, her family, her work and ministry. Thank you Lord for strengthening her to bring us all together to praise and intercede. I pray that you continue to increase her anointing and take care of every of her needs. I pray that you will continue to strengthen her and she will never grow weary serving you. IJMN amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father I pray for the widowed and orphans. That you strengthen them and guide them. I pray that you console them. I pray that you remove every burden in their lives and give them rest. I pray that you comfort them and feel their heart with so much inner peace and joy IJMN amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father I pray for the sick. I pray that your healing power radiates every cell, organ, system and blood vessels in their bodies. I pray that your healing power fills their bodies with light. I pray that you direct the medical team to carry out the right procedures and administer the right drugs and treatment to the glory of your name. Amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father I pray for women struggling with childlessness that you bless them with the fruit of the womb. I pray that you heal them of every infirmities that might be an hindrance that might be disturbing their wombs. I pray that as they rest and wait in you. They will carry their own bundle of joy in no time. As you answered Hannah please answer every woman expecting the fruit of the womb IJMN amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father I commit the homeless into your care. I pray that you shelter them and elevate them to better living conditions. I pray you grant them daily provision and sources of income to take adequate care of themselves.
Heavenly father I pray that you avert every natural and manmade disasters. I pray that you keep your children out of harm's way IJMN amen.
*From M22* - Thank you Abba for every Peppers offline and online. Thank you for glorifying your name in their lives as pray and intercede on behalf of others. I pray that you lift up every burden in their lives and give them rest.
CLOSING PRAYER
Hallelujah! Amen!
Another hour has passed and You get the glory, Redeemer. Thank You for teaching us today. Thank You for creating an atmosphere where we could praise and intercede for others. Thank You for the time to reflect on how we can be more like the widow with the olive oil jars and experience miracles from You.
Lord, I pray for today's participants that You will unlock the knowledge they need to grow in You. I pray they will earnestly seek You to receive this privilege. I also pray that as each one enters the weekend, today's message will not be lost on them but they will instead nurse it all by Your grace and to Your glory, IJMN, Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
We reviewed the story of Prophet Elisha and the widow with the olive oil jars. I pray you were convicted to call on the Lord for His directions to solve the challenges you face.
It is very easy for us to use our human understanding to find solutions to our problems. In fact, many will ask you, didn't God give you a mind to use?
That sentiment isn't completely wrong but let me explain how it doesn't make sense for us as believers. Yes, God gave us the capacity to think and apply the brain He gave us for free. However, as believers, He has called us to submit our ability to figure things out on our own to Him. He has called us to not rely upon our understanding but instead lean on Him for everything.
And that is the point of today's message. It is to remind you to go to Him first. The need for His instructions cannot be an afterthought. Instead, you must rely on Him even when it hurts.
The widow was more than likely stressed out. She'd likely prayed. God answered her prayers by sending His servant who could hear Him and He had that servant give her the way out of her late husband's debt.
This is another reminder as to why you need to put in the time and effort to hear God's voice with clarity. You need to pray to recognize His servants when He sends them to you. You need to pray to have a track record with Him that you can rely on to plead before Him (remember, the widow referenced her husband's faithful service to God).
Use the rest of the fellowship to think of these issues. Pray on them. Listen quietly for God's response.
God bless you!
Almighty God! You are the Alpha and the Omega. Jehovah Shammah. You reign forever and Your faithful ones give You all the glory!
Lord, I lift up Your children in P&P who have ventured into entrepreneurship or who will. Thank You for being the God from whom all blessings flow.
I know satan wants to keep them from experiencing success in business, but what the devil wants is irrelevant for the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. The world and all who are in it are subject to Your complete and irreversible authority. Hallelujah!
And so Lord, I thank You for blessing Your children with the capacity to go forth in business ventures. I call on You with the word in Deuteronomy 33:11 - Bless all his skills, LORD, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more.”
IJMN, Amen.
Father of the Fatherless!
I lift up Your word that says "I shall teach your children, and great shall be their peace".
Lord God almighty, to You, I lift up the needs of children all the world, especially those at KA.
Let Your hand of justice continue to move for the them, and protect them from those who have evil intentions for them.
I ask this Lord of hosts, that You may "send help from Your sanctuary" and defend the children on all sides.
Lord, I know that it is the prayers over my life that have protected me in my childhood, and so now I do the same for the children I have authority over. I want them to be godly offspring that are pleasing to You. Let it be that Your angels protect them, and that Your right hand contends with those who contend with them.
Thank You, my Rock, for watching over Your word to make it good. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Mighty One,
You are the Lord who heals us. Your word says You are the God who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases. My King, I stand in the gap for those whose bodies are experiencing symptoms of allergic reactions during this springtime. Asthma, pollen allergies, dust allergies.
I decree 'peace be still', and command that it calms the storm of discomfort in their bodies.
Lord God, as You gave a solution to the widow at Zarephath, let these people also receive a solution to curb these allergic reactions. You have healed them, and let it be so in Jesus name, amen.
*From AC* - Almighty El Rapha, please pour out your miracle healing power upon JAD, Mama K, Auntie S, @k, @MFC, GrandmaFC, my Pepper family, and their loved ones with health needs. May you command every cell, hormonal system, bone, organ, tissue, nerve ending, and vessel to come under the authority of our mighty Physician Jesus, by Whose stripes we are healed. Make available to them easy access to quality healthcare and guide the hands and minds of the medical team entrusted with their care. Comfort them Lord, and guard their minds and hearts against the spirit of fear with Your transcending peace. Renew their strength and faith in You by the power of the Holy Spirit and deliver them from pain and disease, with a supernatural healing breakthrough, for Your victory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
*From BI* - As costs of living is rising, Lord I lift into Your capable hands people that are struggling to make ends meet. Lord, You are our great Shepherd and therefore we shall not want. I pray that You send divine help to Your children. It is not Your Will for Your children to worry and fear so please lead them besides still waters and restore their souls. Lord, provide for their needs and help them to not only survive but thrive. As things are becoming more expensive, Lord touch the hearts of those who seek to increase their wealth at the expense of the poor. Heavenly Father, I pray barren lands become fertile and oases spring up in dry places for Your children all over the world IJMN Amen.
Good God, You are the Almighty. Nobody compares to You. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer for people that they come to a knowledge of You as You promised in Jeremiah 24:7. Thank You for giving people a desire for You. Thank You for whetting their appetites for more of You. Thank You for letting hearts clamor for You. Thank You for kindly pouring out Your Spirit on all mankind in accordance with Your word in Joel 2:28. Be glorified, Lord our Redeemer.
Now and forever more, IJMN, Amen.
*From AC* - Adonai Yireh, I lift up in prayer before You those in financial need. These are scary times with inflation, rising debt, stagnant wages and lack of available funds.
People are struggling to pay past and present bills. They are unable to afford their rent/mortgage, groceries, medications and basic necessities. There are those who are weary or sick but can’t afford to take off time from their jobs or go on a vacation for some respite. Many people can’t afford to save for a nest egg or retirement. Single mothers are struggling to make ends meet. Millions are saddled with medical expenses and millions more are without a home to live.
Abba, we know Your plan is to prosper and give hope and a future to Your children (Jeremiah 29:11). You are the God of provision, and we know that You provide in abundance, and so I ask that You please open the storehouse of Your heavenly bounty and rain upon them a financial breakthrough (Deuteronomy 28:12). Ease their burden and cover them with Your supernatural peace during these precarious times.
Crush the wickedness that is corporate greed in this nation and rise up humble, servant leaders, who will put the needs of the people above selfish ambition and vain conceit (Philippians 2:3) for Your almighty Glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Sovereign Lord. I honor and glorify Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation (Daniel 4:34).
Genesis 50:21 - So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Although the devil strives to steal the inheritance of good health and healing that belongs to Your children, I thank You God for Your purpose and plan cannot be thwarted. Indeed, Your gifts and calling are irrevocable, Amen. (Romans 11:29)
Therefore, Lord, I join Your children in this group who seek Your miraculous and merciful healing in calling on You. You have promised that when Your people cry out to You, You will send Your word to heal and deliver from the grave (Psalm 107:16-20). I say Amen to this blessed Yes from You oh Lord. I thank You in advance for the healing grace You have provided for these ones and their families. For by the stripes of our Savior Jesus Christ are they healed, in His name I pray, Amen! (Isaiah 53:5)
PRAYER TIME
Glory to God in the highest! Now, it is time for us to lift up the needs of others in prayer. Let us call on the Lord to help them by turning their situation around.
If you're not praying for a person but are praying about an issue affecting people, call on the Lord to work miracles.
The Lord bless and guide you, IJMN, Amen.
*From MM* - Thank you for the tag @FFJ
Lord, thank you so much for being gracious with me. You listen when I call out to you, and forgive me when I’m wrong. I don’t deserve your grace and I owe you all of the glory.
Almighty God, thank You for Your protection. Thank You for showing Yourself mighty in my life.
Thank You for putting the enemy to shame and setting my feet on solid rock.
You are kind and loving. Ever faithful and true.
I love You but am ever so grateful You loved me first.
Hallelujah!