Creating Space for God's Miraculous Work
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the theme of "Making Space for Faith." We began by acknowledging the busyness of our lives and how we often try to fit too much into our limited time. This can leave us with little room for God to work in our lives. We reflected on the story of the widow in 2 Kings 4, who was in a desperate situation after her husband's death. She had nothing but a small jar of olive oil, yet through her faith and obedience to Elisha's instructions, God performed a miracle. The widow's story teaches us that we often already possess what we need for God to work in our lives. However, making space for God requires effort and sometimes painful sacrifices.
We discussed how our lives are filled with various "jars"—work, family, personal time, and more. Each jar takes up space, and often, our "God jar" is the smallest. To see God move powerfully, we need to make more space for Him, even if it means letting go of things that are valuable but not as valuable as what God wants to pour out. The more space we give to God, the more He can fill us with His blessings. This requires faith and a willingness to pour out what we have, trusting that God will fill us with something far greater.
### Key Takeaways
1. You Already Have What You Need: Often, we look outside for solutions when God has already equipped us with what we need. Just like the widow who had a small jar of olive oil, we may possess seemingly insignificant resources that God can use for a miracle. Take inventory of what you have and trust that God can use it. [38:23]
2. Making Space Takes Effort: Creating room for God in our lives requires intentional effort. The widow had to gather jars from her neighbors, which took time and energy. Similarly, we need to actively clear out space in our schedules, minds, and hearts to make room for God to work. [42:12]
3. Sacrifice for Greater Value: Sometimes, making space for God means letting go of things that are valuable but not as valuable as what God wants to give us. The widow had to empty jars that might have contained valuable items to make room for the miraculous oil. We must be willing to sacrifice lesser things for the greater blessings God has in store. [43:27]
4. The More Space You Give, The More You Receive: God's blessings are proportional to the space we make for Him. The widow's oil only stopped flowing when she ran out of jars. Similarly, the more room we make for God, the more He can pour into our lives. Don't limit God's blessings by giving Him only a small part of your life. [48:46]
5. Faith in Action: True faith is demonstrated by our willingness to make space for God to act. It's not enough to pray for miracles; we must also prepare for them by creating room in our lives. This involves both prayer and practical steps to ensure we are ready to receive what God wants to give. [53:10]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[23:13] - Announcements and Giving
[24:00] - Jesus Encounters Service
[24:33] - Community Groups
[25:16] - Pastoral Team on Road Trip
[25:56] - Introduction of Pastor Chase
[26:51] - Honoring Pastor Tommy
[27:34] - Making Space for Faith
[28:09] - The Art of Tupperware
[31:55] - Overestimating Our Capacity
[32:49] - Running on Thin Margins
[33:35] - The Widow's Desperation
[38:23] - You Already Have What You Need
[42:12] - Making Space Takes Effort
[43:27] - Sacrifice for Greater Value
[48:46] - The More Space You Give, The More You Receive
[53:10] - Faith in Action
[57:22] - Prayer and Worship
[01:05:55] - Closing and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV)
### Observation Questions
1. What was the widow's initial response when Elisha asked her what she had in her house? ([34:18])
2. How did the widow and her sons gather the jars, and what did they do with them? ([35:08])
3. What happened to the oil when the widow ran out of jars? ([51:29])
4. What did Elisha instruct the widow to do with the oil after all the jars were filled? ([35:08])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Elisha asked the widow what she already had in her house instead of providing something new? ([34:18])
2. How does the act of gathering jars from neighbors demonstrate the widow's faith and desperation? ([43:27])
3. What does the story suggest about the relationship between the amount of space we make for God and the blessings we receive? ([48:46])
4. How can the widow's willingness to pour out her small amount of oil be seen as an act of faith? ([42:12])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. What "small jar of oil" do you have that you might be overlooking? How can you offer it to God for His use? ([34:18])
2. What are some practical steps you can take to make more space for God in your daily schedule? ([32:49])
3. Are there valuable but non-essential things in your life that you need to let go of to make more room for God? What are they, and how can you start letting them go? ([43:27])
4. Think about a time when you felt desperate and turned to God. How did that experience change your faith and your relationship with Him? ([36:48])
5. How can you actively prepare for the blessings you are praying for, similar to how the widow gathered jars in anticipation of the oil? ([53:10])
6. In what ways can you demonstrate your faith through action, not just prayer, in your current circumstances? ([53:10])
7. Identify one area of your life where you feel "maxed out." What specific changes can you make to create more margin for God to work? ([32:49])
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing God's Provision in What You Have
Often, we look outside for solutions when God has already equipped us with what we need. Just like the widow who had a small jar of olive oil, we may possess seemingly insignificant resources that God can use for a miracle. Take inventory of what you have and trust that God can use it. The widow's story in 2 Kings 4 reminds us that God can work with what we already have, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. By acknowledging and valuing the resources God has given us, we open the door for Him to perform miracles in our lives. [38:23]
2 Kings 4:2 (ESV): "And Elisha said to her, 'What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?' And she said, 'Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.'"
Reflection: What is one resource or talent you have overlooked that God might want to use for His purposes? How can you start using it today?
Day 2: The Effort of Making Space for God
Creating room for God in our lives requires intentional effort. The widow had to gather jars from her neighbors, which took time and energy. Similarly, we need to actively clear out space in our schedules, minds, and hearts to make room for God to work. This might involve setting aside specific times for prayer, Bible study, or simply being still before God. The effort we put into making space for God is a demonstration of our faith and readiness to receive His blessings. [42:12]
James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to clear out space in your schedule for God? How will you ensure you stick to this commitment?
Day 3: Sacrificing Lesser Things for Greater Blessings
Sometimes, making space for God means letting go of things that are valuable but not as valuable as what God wants to give us. The widow had to empty jars that might have contained valuable items to make room for the miraculous oil. We must be willing to sacrifice lesser things for the greater blessings God has in store. This might mean giving up certain activities, habits, or even relationships that hinder our spiritual growth. The act of sacrifice is a testament to our trust in God's greater plan for our lives. [43:27]
Matthew 13:44 (ESV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you value but might need to let go of to make more space for God? How can you begin to release it today?
Day 4: Expanding Your Capacity to Receive God's Blessings
God's blessings are proportional to the space we make for Him. The widow's oil only stopped flowing when she ran out of jars. Similarly, the more room we make for God, the more He can pour into our lives. Don't limit God's blessings by giving Him only a small part of your life. By expanding our capacity to receive, we allow God to fill us with His abundance. This involves not just physical space but also emotional and spiritual openness to God's work in our lives. [48:46]
Ephesians 3:20 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us."
Reflection: In what areas of your life have you limited God's work by not making enough space for Him? How can you expand your capacity to receive His blessings?
Day 5: Demonstrating Faith Through Action
True faith is demonstrated by our willingness to make space for God to act. It's not enough to pray for miracles; we must also prepare for them by creating room in our lives. This involves both prayer and practical steps to ensure we are ready to receive what God wants to give. Faith in action means actively participating in God's plan and being ready to move when He calls. By preparing ourselves, we show God that we are serious about our faith and ready for His intervention. [53:10]
James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to demonstrate your faith in God's promises? How will you prepare yourself to receive what God wants to give you?
Quotes
1. "I believe that so often in our lives, we are trying to fit as much as we possibly can in the little bit of time that we have, right? We're trying to, we overestimate what we can really fit into our lives because so far I've only gotten 24 hours in a day. I imagine the same is true for you. Nobody gets any extra. We try to fit as much as we possibly can into this little bit of time, try to make as much space as possible and we'll fill our schedules with stuff and we'll empty our bank accounts for stuff, all just trying to fit more than we can really fit in the amount of space that we have." [31:55] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I believe that you might be thinking, I don't have much, but I believe what you have is exactly what God wants to use in your life. The widow responded to Elisha at this question, probably thinking, she felt foolish. She almost didn't say it, I bet. I'll tell you, if all I have to my name, I'm down to just my last couple items, all I have, I just have a little bit of olive oil. If somebody says, hey, Chase, what do you have? I'm probably not mentioning the olive oil. I'm just going to say, I don't have anything." [41:12] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Making space takes effort. It very clear instructions. Go gather jars. Get some jars. Go to your neighbors and ask for jars. I'm sure they went to every neighbor, every family friend, every mutual friend, every person across town. I mean, when you're desperate, you don't care, right? When you're desperate and you know that God wants to do something, you're going to do whatever you can do to maximize what God's about to do. So they're going to everybody. They're going to everybody. They're going to every friend, family member. Where are the jars? We need the jars." [42:12] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You don't need more space today. I want you to know that. You need less stuff taking up your space. You've got plenty of space. You're not going to get any more or get any less as time goes by. You need less stuff taking up your space. God wants to pour out on you today. I believe that, but you don't have any more room. Your God jar is full. You've got to worry about everything else. You just don't have any more room. I'll tell you this. It costs you to make room, but it's worth it." [47:14] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The more space you give, the more oil you'll receive. Elisha gave them these instructions and said, don't just grab a few, right? He said, don't just go grab two or three jars. Go get as many jars as you can. Get as many jars as you possibly can because we don't serve a God who just stops pouring out anytime he wants to. We serve a God who really stops pouring out when we stop giving him a place to pour into." [48:46] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "I believe that if you give God. That space, you will see signs and wonders in your life. You will see the Holy Spirit fill you. You will see the incredible things and the miracles that you've been praying for. It's time to give God some space in this house today." [56:27] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I believe today there's going to be some sacrifice in the room to make space for God to do something incredible. Make space for our faith to grow and see him do the miraculous. I believe that if you give God. That space, you will see signs and wonders in your life. You will see the Holy Spirit fill you. You will see the incredible things and the miracles that you've been praying for. It's time to give God some space in this house today." [56:27] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I believe that as you're pouring out, God, we will see significant change in our lives, Lord. That when you pour out, it's not something that just allows it to be another day. God, it is life-changing. It is a before and after moment. It's a paradigm shift in us." [01:05:15] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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