Shunammite Woman's Faith And Elisha's Response

In this part of the sermon: This section details Elisha's immediate, outgoing concern upon seeing the Shunammite woman from afar, and her earnest, brief verbal response followed by her physical act of…

Martin explains that 'narrative' is just a big word for 'story' for the children in the congregation, making the sermon accessible.

When we've gained a grasp upon the facts of the narrative, we will then consider the lessons or the message of the narrative to our own hearts. And for you kids, the word narrative is just a big word for story. So if you're taking notes, and some of the little ones do, you can just put down the facts of the story, because you're not quite sure how to spell narrative. But your moms and dads ought to know how to spell it.

3:28 - 3:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details Elisha's immediate, outgoing concern upon seeing the Shunammite woman from afar, and her earnest, brief verbal response followed by her physical act of…

Elisha's knowledge of the Shunammite woman's character assures him she is not a 'calamity Jane' coming for trivial reasons, highlighting her noble character.

He has seen her to be a true Israelite. He has observed her under the pressures of responsibility. He has seen her in her noble character and, therefore, he knows enough of her to know that she was no calamity Jane who was being brought his way on a donkey simply because a fuse blew back at the ranch. There must have been some good reason for her to be coming and obviously coming with such haste and such earnestness.

5:27 - 5:57 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details Elisha's immediate, outgoing concern upon seeing the Shunammite woman from afar, and her earnest, brief verbal response followed by her physical act of…

The woman clasping Elisha's feet is described as if to say, 'O man of God, I now have you as my captive,' emphasizing her desperate determination.

And then she clasps his feet. And then she clasps his feet. And then she clasps his feet. And then she clasps his feet.

8:24 - 8:26 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And though in the first encounter we had with him there seemed to be an element of sensitivity to the need of the woman, about the only positive thing in the whole record of this man is that initial record of his concern…

Gehazi's reaction to the woman breaking social rules, rather than perceiving her distress, illustrates his insensitivity and lack of true spiritual character.

And though in the first encounter we had with him there seemed to be an element of sensitivity to the need of the woman, about the only positive thing in the whole record of this man is that initial record of his concern for the woman. And from this point onward, as the man's true character begins to come to light, it is obvious that he's a stranger to all of those things that make up a true man of God, and probably a stranger to even the elementary things that constitute a saving relationship to the living God. For you see, she was going beyond the bounds of social propriety. She was breaking...

9:24 - 10:34 Read in full sermon

Driving home: That's why you find again and again in scripture this language, The word of the Lord came unto thus, and unto this one, and unto thus, and thus a prophet. There is that element of the absolute sovereignty of God, the she…

Elisha's statement 'The Lord hath hid it from me' illustrates that prophets could not 'turn on the prophetic gifts at his own will' like pushing a button, emphasizing God's sovereignty in revelation.

From her previous proven character, that there is some deep vexation of spirit, and yet he says, The Lord hath hid it from me, indicating, you see, that a prophet could not turn on the prophetic gifts at his own will. When God would give a prophet a knowledge of his mind and will, the prophet was in that sense totally receptive. But if God was not pleased to give the revelation of his will, the prophet did not have a button somewhere that he pushed, that would immediately introduce him to the secrets of the Lord. That's why you find again and again in scripture this language, The word of the L...

11:43 - 12:27 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Well, what can a man of God do in the presence of a woman filled with such holy vehemence of active faith?

The Shunammite woman's vow 'I will not leave thee' is a direct echo of Elisha's own vow to Elijah, showing her deep understanding of Elisha's spiritual history and her determined faith.

And then we have it again, I believe, in verse 6. Now remember, this is the woman who had spent many hours with the man of God, Elisha, in her own home. And as we had reason to intimate last week, when the man of God was in the presence of this great woman of faith, they didn't talk just about the mundane. And no doubt this very sacred account of his home going formed the experience, the occasion of many conversations, until in her hour of need, she turns, as it were, the very language of the prophet, turns it around on him.

17:39 - 18:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin exhorts believers to imitate Elisha's graces of accessibility, sensitivity, and readiness to respond to need, noting these virtues are reflections of Christ and require…

Gehazi's inability to perceive the woman's distress is likened to his 'antennae were pulled in or he'd blown a diode or a tube somewhere,' highlighting his spiritual dullness.

He picked up and interpreted. Those same signals were going out to Gehazi. But either his antennae were pulled in or he'd blown a diode or a tube somewhere. He didn't get the signals.

27:54 - 28:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider and imitate the faith of the Shunammite woman, particularly her refusal to despair in desperate situations.

Despair and faith are contrasted using the analogy of a sinking boat, where faith asserts that Christ's presence prevents ultimate destruction.

You remember despair in the language of the disciples. They're in that ship, and it begins to fill, with water, and they cry out, Lord, wait, we perish! And he rebukes them and says, where is your faith? You see, despair and faith are never found in the same sinking boat at the same time.

36:51 - 37:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider and imitate the faith of the Shunammite woman, particularly her refusal to despair in desperate situations.

Martin quotes a children's hymn, 'With Christ in the vessel, we'll laugh at the storm and shout hallelujah,' to illustrate faith's triumph over despair.

Faith would say, yes, the boat is filling, but it cannot sink and destroy us, for it would destroy him who is the Lord of the winds and the waves, and that cannot be. As long as he's in this ship, no matter what we see and feel in our senses, tell us, there is no ground for despair. In the language of that little hymn or little chorus we used to sing in the Salvation Army, with Christ in the vessel, with Christ in the vessel, with Christ in the vessel, we'll shout at the, we'll laugh at the storm and shout hallelujah, and shout hallelujah, and shout hallelujah, and smile at the storm. Her fait...

37:11 - 38:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not despair in the face of church problems or God's strange dealings, remembering Jehovah lives and His power is still at work.

The persistent faith of the Syrophoenician woman, who broke through rebuffs and insults to receive healing for her daughter, is used as a parallel to the Shunammite woman's determination.

Surely one cannot help but think of incidents in the Gospels that have their parallel in this. You remember that Syrophoenician woman. She was determined her daughter would receive the virtue of the Son of God. She's first of all rebuffed by the disciples, and she breaks through that rebuff.

39:58 - 40:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Imitate the Shunammite woman's faith by letting it grow in strength and determination, even to holy impudence, in seeking God.

The Shunammite woman's tenacious grip on Elisha is described as if she's putting 'not a ball and chain around your ankles, but the hands of a Shunammite woman,' emphasizing her unwavering resolve.

Our difficulties may be. As the people of God, we need to imitate the faith of this Shunammite woman and have our faith grow in strength and determination until it becomes what hers was, almost an impudence. She said, man of God, if you don't come and do something for my boy, you're going to have not a ball and chain around your ankles, but the hands of a Shunammite woman. She got hold of him and said, I will not let you go.

42:42 - 43:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek the Lord with desperation, forsaking wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts, and return to Him for mercy and pardon.

Jacob's wrestling with the angel, saying 'I will not let thee go unless thou bless me,' is presented as another example of faith in operation, mirroring the Shunammite woman's persistence.

Remind you of another man that prevailed. Oh, Jacob, that's the Spirit wrestling with the angel of Jehovah. I will not let thee go unless thou bless me. That's faith in operation. Not only faith in the life of a believer, but listen, for some of you that are yet in your sins, that's how faith works. And coming to birth in those who are yet at this point strangers to grace, you'll not get saved until you're desperate to be saved. That's why God says, seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near.

43:19 - 43:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Stop trusting in your means (e.g., health practices) as if sin has not intruded, and plead for God's blessing upon them.

Martin warns against trusting in natural means (vitamins, natural childbirth, organic gardening) from a humanistic standpoint, without pleading for God's blessing, illustrating the inefficiency of means without God.

Most of the people who write on these subjects write from a humanistic standpoint, as though sin has never intruded in the human process. And some of you have been brainwashed into thinking like humanists. If I take my Shackley's vitamins, if I go to my natural childbirth classes, if I do all the right things in raising the right foods the right way and eat them with the proper ingredients and proportions, all will be well. The best of means without the blessing of God will come to naught.

49:07 - 49:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that spiritual means (preaching, eldership) are powerless without the Spirit's blessing, and prioritize fervent intercessory prayer.

The idea that preaching alone can automatically produce spiritual results is likened to 'waving the magical staff of somebody's preaching over a congregation,' emphasizing the need for prayer and the Spirit's blessing.

But my friends, these means without the blessing of the Spirit of God cannot automatically produce either the kind of order and harmony and blessing of this congregation which we so desperately need or the conversion of sinners unless God is pleased to bear His arm. And He is pleased to do that how? Not by waving the magical staff of somebody's preaching over a congregation, but by the poor pouring out of our souls in intercessory prayer. That's why your elders are alarmed whenever we begin to see any erosion in attendance and in the fervency of our public prayer meetings. It frightens us. Why...

50:31 - 51:31 Read in full sermon