2. THE LIFE OF
ELISHA
The Shunammite
Receives a Son
Lesson 7  11/16/16

3. What today’s passage teaches us …
The loving, providential care of God for all His saints.

4. What today’s passage teaches us …
The loving, providential care of God for all His saints.
God’s involvement in the lives of people in all walks of life when they respond to His grace.

5. What today’s passage teaches us …
The loving, providential care of God for all His saints.
God’s involvement in the lives of people in all walks of life when they respond to His grace.
The necessity of faith for everyone.

6. What today’s passage teaches us …
The loving, providential care of God for all His saints.
God’s involvement in the lives of people in all walks of life when they respond to His grace.
The necessity of faith for everyone.
That faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

7. 22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.”
23 So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.”
~ 2 Kings 4:22-23

8. (Two Resting Places)

11. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE

12. 8 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. 9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”
~ 2 Kings 4:8-17

13. 11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 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.”
~ 2 Kings 4:8-17

14. 14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?”
And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 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!”
17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
~ 2 Kings 4:8-17

15. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE
A Ministry of Hospitality & Faith

16. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE A Ministry of Hospitality & Faith
8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem ….

17. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE A Ministry of Hospitality & Faith
8  … where there was a notable woman ….

18. wealth, influence, or character
THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE
A Ministry of Hospitality & Faith
8  … where there was a notable woman ….
“great woman”
wealth, influence, or character

19. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE A Ministry of Hospitality & Faith
8  … where there was a notable woman ….
Her personal godliness and respect for the Word of God are seen in her hospitality.

20. The Gift of Hospitality
A sign of spiritual maturity
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” ~ Mt. 10:40-42

21. The Gift of Hospitality
A qualification for elders
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ~ 1 Tim. 3:2

22. The Gift of Hospitality
A general responsibility for all believers
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
~ Mt. 25:35-40

23. The Gift of Hospitality
A requirement for church-supported
widows
9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. ~ 1 Tim. 5:9-10

24. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE
A Ministry the Promoted the Work of God and the Preaching of His Word
9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.

25. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE
A Ministry the Promoted the Work of God and the Preaching of His Word
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. ~ 1 Pet. 4:10-11

26. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE
A Ministry that Demonstrated Her Discernment and Concern
10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”

27. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE
A Ministry that Demonstrated Her Discernment and Concern
As a discerning believer she demonstrated her concern for God’s work.

28. THE MINISTRY OF THE SHUNAMMITE
A Ministry that Demonstrated Her Discernment and Concern
As a discerning believer she demonstrated her concern for God’s work.
She also discerned the degree of Elisha’s need and their responsibility to the prophet because of the ability God had given them.

29. The Galatians 6:6-10 Principle
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

30. A Ministry that Demonstrated Her Discernment and Concern
She also discerned the degree of Elisha’s need and their responsibility to the prophet because of the ability God had given them.
As one who shared in the things Elisha taught, she wanted to share with him in all the good things which she had. So she saw to it that all his needs were met according to her ability.

31. A Ministry that Demonstrated Her Discernment and Concern
As one who shared in the things Elisha taught, she wanted to share with him in all the good things which she had. So she saw to it that all his needs were met according to her ability.
She was sowing properly using the blessings God had given. She was laying up treasure in heaven.

32. As one who shared in the things Elisha taught, she wanted to share with him in all the good things which she had. So she saw to it that all his needs were met according to her ability.
She was sowing properly using the blessings God had given. She was laying up treasure in heaven.
She did this while she had the opportunity; she didn’t procrastinate. She used her blessings for the blessing of others.

33. A Ministry that Corroborated Her Contentment
6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ~ 1 Tim. 6:6

34. GOD’S REWARD FOR HER SERVICE
14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?”
And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 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!”
17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.

35. GOD’S REWARD FOR HER SERVICE
Elisha was very appreciative and thankful for what this woman had done for him and his servant.

36. GOD’S REWARD FOR HER SERVICE
Elisha was very appreciative and thankful for what this woman had done for him and his servant.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity … 14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress  For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 18 …I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

37. GOD’S REWARD FOR HER SERVICE
Elisha wanted to express his thanks in concrete terms so he sought something he could do for her to show his appreciation.