The Dangerous Mistake We Make AFTER GOD Answers Our Prayer | 2 Kings 4 Sermon | John Giftah | Christian Sermon

0:01 Speaker 1: Do you ever look around and think, wow, the world is a crazy place, and it just seems to get crazier and crazier? Ease your mind and take a break. This is Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We're a hub for inspirational Christian sermons, practical keys for Christian living and Christian discussions and interviews. You'll be inspired to live the life that you were created for. Your host is a top ranking podcaster, bestselling author, world record holder, aerospace engineer, life coach, evangelist and founder of John Gifta International.

0:41 Speaker 1: Welcome to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta.

0:45 Speaker 2: Hello everyone, welcome to this edition of the John Gifter Podcast. All through this week, we're looking at various lessons we can take away from the life of Prophet Elisha revolving around his encounter with the poor widow in 2 Kings 4. So one of the things that really caught my attention was we see about the miracle that unfolds where she is in a desperate situation when she meets with Prophet Elisha and says, I do not know what to do because my husband is dead and these creditors are coming and asking for the debt to be paid and I don't have anything.

1:19 Speaker 2: And the creditors want to take away my sons as slaves. So she's in a very despicable situation. She doesn't know what to do. She's desperate. And that is when she is meeting with Prophet Elisha. I really challenge you to go back and listen to the first episode of this series because this is so important. And that's where the connection I want to bring in for today's episode as well. But anyway, even if you didn't, this is an important thing that you need to take away where you look at this aspect where when she is asked by Prophet Elisha to go and collect all the jars and start pouring the olive oil into it.

1:55 Speaker 2: And she says that there's a moment where the olive oil stopped flowing when all the jars were filled. OK, now, if you see in a sense at that point, she knows what to do.

2:07 Speaker 1: You know what?

2:08 Speaker 2: I've got enough olive oil. I can use my senses. She could just go and sell it by herself or make money through it or whatever. But she doesn't do that. What does she do? Look at verse 7 because this is crucial. When she got this, she went to the man of God again and said, this is what happened. And then he said, Now go sell the olive oil and pay your debts and you and your son shall live with what's left over. You see, a lot of people depend on God only in their crisis. And the minute God gives them an instruction and enables them to start building up their life again, what happens?

2:45 Speaker 2: They stop depending on him. They're like, you know what? Oh, now I know what to do. I'll just use this money. Oh, I will just take this step again. I will just try this kind of a reel next time. So they start depending on what worked last time and start building on their own stuff instead of constantly depending on God. Because you see, one thing I like about this lady at this point here is that the minute she got the oil, she didn't use her senses or she didn't just be logical to say, oh, I'm sure what...

3:18 Speaker 2: Elisha is going to say I know he's just going to ask me to go and sell the oil but she did not do it by herself she first went and consulted with prophet Elisha and then took the step this is an important message for you because a lot of people they say you know what God told me to start this ministry and God told me to start this business. God told me to write this book. God told me to start that YouTube channel. God told me to take the step of faith in this. Yes, God told you that. But the question here for us is when God told you, did you also listen?

3:53 Speaker 2: be in that place where you start continuing to depend on him to see what he is telling you every step along the way is he telling you what video to post next is he telling you what chapter to write next is he telling you whom to connect with next is he telling you to do something different a different strategy a different approach a different program maybe God wants to speak to you in a different sense but you are not listening because you're on autopilot mode Listen to this carefully. This lady knew what to be done.

4:28 Speaker 2: Could have known because it's just logical, right? But she didn't go by logical. She continued to be dependent on godly wisdom and counsel. That's why the Bible says in Proverbs 3 that you need to acknowledge God, not in some ways, not in the beginning, but in all your ways. And he will direct your steps. This is a wake up call for some of you. Maybe you heard the voice of God 10 years ago when God told you to start something. Maybe you heard the voice 10 days ago when you started that venture. Maybe you heard the voice 10 hours ago.

5:08 Speaker 2: But my question to you is you need to hear God continually. Are you hearing? Are you dependent? It's not enough to just hear God 10 days ago or even 10 minutes ago. You should be in that place where you continually hear the voice of God. When you continually depend on the voice of the Lord. Continually you're going by the counsel and the wisdom that God wants to give you. It's so important. Because you see, God didn't give her money. God enabled her to have the multiplication where she had to go to the market, sell that oil and make the money.

5:55 Speaker 2: Listen, God is not going to give you. I just love this. I just love this because I've heard Bishop T.D. Jake share this many times. This is so beautiful. You know, when you ask for a chair, God doesn't give you a chair. God gives you a forest.

6:13 Speaker 2: God gives you what you need. And using that, he expects you to build a chair. He expects you to go and sell. And for you to do that, you need to have that constant fellowship with God. How do I build this chair, God? How do I make the money by selling this oil, God? You need to depend on God. You know, many times when we go and visit the doctor when we are not well or something, the doctor will check on us and prescribe a set of medicines. And there's an important thing that we most of the times forget.

6:56 Speaker 2: You know what he says? I want you to take these medicines and come back after two weeks for a checkup to see if it is working out or not. Right. But 99.9% the minute we realize that it's working out and we got better, we never go back to check. Yeah, because we're like, you know what? The medicine worked. I don't need to go back to the doctor. I don't need to pay the appointment fees. You know, I don't need to travel all the way to the hospital. You know what? I don't need to depend on a doctor anymore.

7:27 Speaker 2: And many times, this is what we're doing with God also. God told me already, I'm going to act on it. But God has already told you, come back for a second appointment. God has already told you, wait, I have more instructions to give. You get what I'm saying? Maybe the doctor wants to check on you and tell you, oh, you can reduce this medicine a little bit or you can stop taking this. Or maybe there is a side reaction. You have to take a better medicine. I'm telling you, you have to be careful, right?

7:58 Speaker 2: When it comes to, like, you have to be careful because I remember there was a time when a very good doctor prescribed a certain medicine to my mom one time. But if she hadn't gone back to recheck in the stipulated time of two days or three days, she would have lost her life because that medicine had reacted wrongly in her body. And if she had continued for two or three more days, she would have lost her life. So you see how serious it is to go back for a recheck or verification. You know what I mean?

8:35 Speaker 2: Same principle here. You can't just go by, oh, God told me this. I'm going to go. Yes, God told you, no doubt. But what is God telling you now? You need to have that constant dependency on God. And that is my challenge to each one of you. That you will go to that place where you just don't go on default more. Yes, God told me. I got the breakthrough. And I stopped seeking God. No, don't stop seeking God after the breakthrough. Don't only seek God because you're desperate. Seek him because you are dependent on him.

9:09 Speaker 2: Because the miracle produced the oil. But stewardship turned the oil into a future. Because God didn't just give her what she needed to pay the debt and shut them out of the creditors. God gave them more than enough to sustain for the future because the prophet says you have the left over which you can use for you and your family you and your sons can live out of it that is what god wants to do and for that you need to be constantly dependent on him constant fellowship with the Lord constant acknowledgement to say God am I doing the right thing or do you want me to take a course correction do you want me to do something different be open for that and that's when you will see God will lead you every step along the way I really challenge you to leave a comment if you're checking this out on YouTube or Facebook and share this with someone because I believe that God is going to do something extraordinary in and through your life.

10:21 Speaker 2: God bless you.

10:22 Speaker 1: You've been listening to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We hope you were blessed and inspired to live the life that God has for you. Make sure to subscribe to the John Gifta YouTube channel for regular uploads of sermons, skits, interviews and more. Follow John Gifta on Instagram for regular inspirational posts. and don't forget to check out the best-selling books written by John Gifta, Who Am I?, which will help you understand your identity, and the latest number one bestseller, Unveil Your Purpose, helping you discover your purpose and to start walking in it.

10:57 Speaker 1: Make sure to leave a rating and review, and be sure to share it with your friends and loved ones. If you'd like to donate, you can find the PayPal link in the description. And if you'd like to invite John Gifta to speak at your event or to get more details, go to the website at www.johngifta.com. See you on the next episode of The Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. God bless you.