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Text: 2 Kings 4:8-37

Introduction

A. This account of the Shunammite’s son is one which teaches us about faith.

B. The story shows us something about what faith is and how it works?

C. Actually the story doesn’t speak of her faith directly, but the events in the passage demonstrates it (2 Kings 4:8-10).

D. It is more important to demonstrate our faith than to talk about it (James 2:26).

E. The author recognizes her as a “great” woman, not only because she came from a prominent family, but because of her faith also (2 Kings 4:8).

F. However there are two things God wants to see taking place in our faith.

i. He wants our faith to grow

ii. He puts our faith in to test so that our faith becomes stronger

G. The Shunammite woman learned these lessons of faith God wants us to learn them too.

1. God pulls us out from our comfort zone because he wants our faith to grow. (2 Kings 4:16)

A. The Shunammite woman was self content. (2 Kings 4:13)

i. She lacked nothing but a child.

ii. In ancient times being childless was taken for cursed by God

iii. This woman’s husband was very old too, and she had no hope of conceiving a child.

iv. She had made up her mind and happy serving God.

B. This is when God wanted to bring a change in to her life

i. Elisha prophesied that she will give birth to a son

ii. Probably two things went through her mind

a. A tremendous joy.

b. A fear of disappointment

iii. Finally she managed to trust God and His servant.

Lesson for us: We must learn by faith to overcome and handle all of our fears as we trust in the good hand of God. We all tend to become settled and comfortable in our lives as they are. But we must allow God to bring change in to our lives whenever He wants.

2. God puts our faith into test to make it stronger

A. Suddenly the boy died. (2 Kings 4:18-20)

i. The woman was disappointed, frustrated and overwhelmed with sorrow. (2 Kings 4:27-28) She could do two things.

a. To blame God and the prophet for giving her a son without asking

b. To seek God in faith.

B. She decided to seek God in faith

i. She believed if God could give her a son, He could raise him from dead as well.

ii. God honored her faith and she got her son back.

Lesson for us: God is in the business of developing our faith, of stretching our lives, of broadening our vision or our horizons of His grace, love, and His ability to meet our needs. No matter what life may bring let us seek Him in every situation.

3. Conclusion

A. Do you feel self content? Then you need to ask God to change your track.

B. Will you allow God if he wants to bring a change into your life and grow your faith,?

C. How would you respond when God puts your faith into test?