Immeasurable Faith: Trusting God for Miraculous Abundance
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of faith, particularly the kind of faith that invites the miraculous into our lives. Drawing from Ephesians 3:20 and the story of the widow in 2 Kings 4, we delved into the necessity of having an "immeasurably more" type of faith. This is a faith that goes beyond our understanding and calculations, a faith that trusts God to do more than we can ask or imagine. We acknowledged that many of us may have settled for a measurable faith, one that is comfortable and predictable. However, God calls us to step into a faith that is bold and expansive, one that requires us to trust Him with everything we have.
The widow's story is a powerful illustration of this faith. In her desperation, she cried out to Elisha, the man of God, for help. Her story teaches us that faith is not a formula but a foundation. It is not about obligating God to act in a certain way but about trusting Him completely. The miracle she experienced was not just about the oil multiplying but about her willingness to give everything she had, trusting God to provide. This narrative challenges us to examine what we are holding back from God and to consider what it means to truly surrender to Him.
We also discussed the importance of obedience and sacrifice in our faith journey. The widow's obedience to Elisha's instructions demonstrated her faith, and her willingness to sacrifice her last bit of oil was a testament to her trust in God's provision. This story reminds us that God often uses what we already have to bring about His miracles. Our role is to be willing vessels, ready to be filled and used for His glory.
Finally, we were reminded that God is a God of abundance, not just enough. He desires to fill us to the brim, to pour out His blessings and presence in our lives. But for this to happen, we must be willing to gather jars, to prepare ourselves to receive all that He has for us. This requires us to step out in faith, to trust Him with our lives, and to be obedient to His call.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith is the currency of the kingdom, and it requires us to trust God beyond our understanding. It is not about obligating God but about surrendering to His will and trusting Him to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. [38:43]
- The story of the widow in 2 Kings 4 teaches us that God often uses what we already have to perform His miracles. Our role is to be willing vessels, ready to be filled and used for His glory. [45:17]
- Obedience and sacrifice are crucial components of our faith journey. Our level of obedience demonstrates our faith, and our willingness to sacrifice develops it. We must be willing to give God access to everything we have. [56:53]
- God is a God of abundance, not just enough. He desires to fill us to the brim, to pour out His blessings and presence in our lives. We must be willing to gather jars, to prepare ourselves to receive all that He has for us. [01:02:32]
- The miracle of the widow's oil is a reminder that God is always ready to pour out His anointing, favor, and blessing. The oil stopped flowing when the jars ran out, not because God lacked resources, but because there were no more vessels to fill. We must be willing to be those vessels. [01:04:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [38:43] - Introduction to Faith
- [41:44] - Immeasurably More Faith
- [42:37] - Faith as a Foundation
- [45:17] - The Widow's Story
- [47:33] - Crying Out to God
- [48:59] - Measurable vs. Immeasurable Prayers
- [50:01] - Praying for Abundance
- [52:04] - Borrowed Vessels
- [54:02] - Private Preparation
- [55:50] - Sacrifice and Obedience
- [56:53] - Demonstrating Faith
- [59:18] - The Role of Community
- [01:02:32] - Filled to the Brim
- [01:04:05] - Gathering Jars
- [01:07:53] - The Gospel in the Old Testament
- [01:10:01] - Invitation to Salvation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 2 Kings 4:1-7
- Ephesians 3:20
---
Observation Questions:
1. In 2 Kings 4:1-7, what was the widow's initial situation, and how did she respond to her crisis? [45:17]
2. How does Ephesians 3:20 describe God's ability to work in our lives, and what does it suggest about the nature of faith? [38:43]
3. What specific instructions did Elisha give to the widow, and how did her actions demonstrate her faith? [56:53]
4. According to the sermon, what role did the widow's sons play in the miracle, and why is this significant? [01:00:37]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the widow's story in 2 Kings 4 illustrate the concept of "immeasurably more" faith as described in Ephesians 3:20? [41:44]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between obedience and faith, and how does this relate to the widow's actions? [56:53]
3. In what ways does the sermon challenge the idea of faith as a formula, and how does it redefine faith as a foundation? [47:33]
4. How does the concept of being a "willing vessel" relate to the idea of God using what we already have to perform miracles? [52:04]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you settled for a "measurable" faith. What steps can you take to cultivate an "immeasurably more" type of faith in your current situation? [41:44]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of obedience in demonstrating faith. What is one area of your life where you struggle with obedience, and how can you take a step towards surrendering it to God? [56:53]
3. Consider the idea that God often uses what we already have to perform His miracles. What resources or talents do you have that you might be overlooking, and how can you offer them to God? [52:04]
4. The widow's sons played a crucial role in gathering jars for the miracle. How can you involve others in your faith journey, and what practical steps can you take to build a supportive community? [01:00:37]
5. The sermon suggests that God is a God of abundance. How can you shift your prayers from asking for "just enough" to asking for abundance, and what impact might this have on your life and those around you? [50:01]
6. Reflect on the idea that the oil stopped flowing when the jars ran out. What "jars" or opportunities might you be missing in your life, and how can you prepare yourself to receive more of God's blessings? [01:04:05]
7. The sermon concludes with an invitation to surrender control to Jesus. What is one specific area of your life where you need to relinquish control, and how can you take a step towards doing so this week? [01:10:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting Beyond Understanding
Faith is the currency of the kingdom, and it requires us to trust God beyond our understanding. It is not about obligating God but about surrendering to His will and trusting Him to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. This kind of faith challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones and embrace the unknown, relying on God's promises rather than our own calculations. It invites us to let go of our need for control and to trust that God has a plan that surpasses our limited perspective. [38:43]
Ephesians 3:20-21 (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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God fully? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?
Day 2: Being Willing Vessels
The story of the widow in 2 Kings 4 teaches us that God often uses what we already have to perform His miracles. Our role is to be willing vessels, ready to be filled and used for His glory. This narrative encourages us to recognize the potential in what we already possess and to offer it to God with an open heart. It reminds us that God can multiply our resources and efforts when we are willing to step out in faith and obedience. [45:17]
2 Kings 4:2-4 (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.' Then he said, 'Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.'"
Reflection: What is one gift or resource you have that you can offer to God for His use? How can you take a step of faith to use it for His glory this week?
Day 3: Obedience and Sacrifice
Obedience and sacrifice are crucial components of our faith journey. Our level of obedience demonstrates our faith, and our willingness to sacrifice develops it. We must be willing to give God access to everything we have. This principle challenges us to examine our priorities and to consider what we might be holding back from God. It calls us to a deeper level of commitment, where we trust God with our most valuable possessions and desires, knowing that He is faithful to provide. [56:53]
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"
Reflection: Is there something in your life that you feel God is asking you to let go of or sacrifice? How can you take a step of obedience in this area today?
Day 4: Preparing for Abundance
God is a God of abundance, not just enough. He desires to fill us to the brim, to pour out His blessings and presence in our lives. We must be willing to gather jars, to prepare ourselves to receive all that He has for us. This requires us to actively make room for God's blessings by aligning our lives with His purposes and being open to His leading. It encourages us to anticipate God's provision and to be ready to receive it with gratitude and expectation. [01:02:32]
Malachi 3:10 (ESV): "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."
Reflection: What steps can you take to prepare your heart and life to receive God's abundance? How can you make room for His blessings today?
Day 5: Being Vessels for God's Anointing
The miracle of the widow's oil is a reminder that God is always ready to pour out His anointing, favor, and blessing. The oil stopped flowing when the jars ran out, not because God lacked resources, but because there were no more vessels to fill. We must be willing to be those vessels. This calls us to be open and available for God's use, ready to be filled with His Spirit and to carry His presence into the world. It challenges us to expand our capacity for God's work in our lives and to be conduits of His love and grace. [01:04:05]
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
Reflection: In what ways can you make yourself more available to be used by God? How can you expand your capacity to be a vessel for His anointing and blessing?
Quotes
"Faith is the currency of the kingdom. Faith is what allows us to please God. The Bible says without faith, it's impossible to please God. It doesn't matter how good you are. It doesn't matter what you do, how many people you help. Without faith, without surrendering your life to the lordship of Jesus, without faith, we cannot please God." [00:43:09] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"That one of the ingredients or recipes for a miracle in our life, for us to walk a life of faith, is to include God not at the end, but at the very beginning. At the very beginning, she cried out to God, a cry of desperation." [00:47:33] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"I want to make sure we understand as we invite God in and we start this faith journey, we start believing God for the miraculous, I need you to understand that your faith is a currency, it is a foundation, it is something that God needs to move on our behalf, but our faith does not obligate God to anything." [00:47:50] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"I want to make sure that we don't get in a formula that if you see these steps, if I do this, this, and this, A plus B is gonna equal C, that's a formula, that's not a relationship. That's a religious tradition, that's not a relationship. God's not looking for us to put things in a formula, he's looking for us to put our trust in him." [00:48:09] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God is there for you. This church is here for you, but I believe there are some ingredients to our faith journey, to a pursuit of the miraculous, that God is asking us, what do we already have in the house? She says, nothing at all, and oftentimes that's our response as well." [00:52:04] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"You and I are simply vessels on this earth to be filled with the oil of God, the presence of God, the spirit of God, and then to be utilized for others' benefit and for God's glory. The jars were borrowed, why? So she and her sons could not take credit for the miracle because they didn't even own the vessel. The miracle was contained in." [00:52:37] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"I believe the miracles in our life will always require something from us, and I've read this story for years, and I missed it until a couple years ago. I thought, I don't know, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. some jars and a flask of oil, this olive oil would have been the most valuable thing that this widow had left in her life." [00:55:50] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?