WHAT SHALL I DO FOR YOU?

Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil."

2 Kings 4:2

There was a disaster all around her, no money, no husband, kings were at war, no food and now the debt collectors are calling. She looked around her home and believed there was nothing that could help her, there is nothing here so you may have to give me something, there is nothing here to send me to someone. "I have nothing but a laptop, I have nothing but a stove, I have nothing but an ironing board." We may overlook God in what we call the small blessings but He is there giving you the strength, power, anointing and understanding you need to receive those blessings. There is always an instruction toward the blessing. "Go borrow vessels, our response may be but God I don't like to bother with people I usually stick to myself, people will think I am a charity case but God..." when that is the connection to your blessing. The man of God said to her, ``Do not gather just a few." She had to make room for her blessing, she had to plan on where she would put the blessing. This widow had to be proactive, it was no time for a pity party, "oh Lord, my husband died, I don't have a job, I don't have money" alright let's see what you have, what have you been gifted or blessed with, what talents do you possess. There are times we may not recognize the gifts and talents we have and feel sad saying we have 'nothing'. Like the Shunammite woman who said I do not need anything, this is like doubting God, there is disbelief in God's power, there is hopelessness. But there was more to her instruction, "do not gather just a few vessels; and when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones." Excuse me a man of God, you didn't understand what I said, I said I only had A JAR of oil that is not enough to fill vessels that I have to borrow from people and I am already in debt. My sons aren't always home so I will fill them up when they go out. I have to show the neighbours what God is about to do in my life." Epic failure on our part if this is what we do when we receive instruction. There are times when I hear an instruction but I have to continuously encourage myself with the word of God or meditate on testimonies because the instruction sounds so impossible. God says, "Go to the bank to get your first home" and you are beating your brain about not having the money or the fact that you recently opened your account. Epic fails if we think about how it will get done if it can get done and not act on the instruction. She obeyed, she went from the man of God and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. She had to work, she had to cook meals, iron clothes, wash pots, or bake cookies to see the blessing through. There was more oil but there were no more vessels, there is always more anointing, there is always more grace but there has to be produced, there have to be people to receive. Now, what next...I cooked and baked and cleaned and ironed now what? Advertise, market let people know what your business is all about. The man of God said, "Go sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons live on the rest." There was extra, there was more after she paid her debt, she had a blessing in overflow." Her blessing came from what she saw as 'nothing', what is that nothing that God can use in your life? When we think of the things God can do like feed the five-thousand, raise the dead to life, give you a life of abundance and make the sick well. Why would it be so hard for Him, the Savior, to turn your situation around? Jesus was not the only man that performed miracles, that God spoke to; if He did it before He can do it again! Shalisha was instructed to feed one hundred men the meal he was serving Elisha 'the man of God'. That must've seemed so impossible this meal is only enough for you sir, how do you expect me to walk out with this? But Elisha said to give it to them and he did. They all ate and there were leftovers. He thought it couldn't be done but there was abundance, there was once again blessings and overflow. Today, overflow depends on you, the blessing depends on you. From creation, there has been provision for abundance. God is a planner, He is very proactive and demonstrated that in Genesis when He created the heavens and the earth. Before God sent rain he allowed the earth to get a mist from the ground. God does not waste and will not give you more than you can handle. The Lord needed someone to maintain the earth and created man. He placed Adam in Eden with more than Adam could handle alone and sought help for him. He brought the creatures for Adam to name but not one of them was able to compare to Adam. He must've been very tired working, he fell into a deep sleep and God performed the first surgery. God made someone similar to Adam, someone that understood him, that walked as he did, that moved the way he did, that felt the way Adam felt. God created Eve from Adam's rib. God planned for Adam's loneliness, He made provision for when Adam wanted to converse with someone; Adam never asked for a helpmate nor did he say he was lonely. God sees our situations and makes provisions for us, to help and guide us. Adam was a farmer Eve needed to be able to be a support to Adam when he got home from a hard day's work. When Eve was presented to Adam he knew she was right for him "this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man." Eve was the right fit for him, she did not look like the other creatures he named, that was presented to him before. They were naked and unashamed, they were able to speak freely to each other, to be transparent, to share their thoughts, life, and business ideas; they were not competing with each other. God provides just what you need, in the amount you need. Adam started working on naming the plants and animals, obeying instructions, fulfilling the work that was set before him. God knew he was working so hard but he needed to be loved, spiritually and physically and created Eve. God is not trying to hurt us or take our needs from us. We must be people that can be trusted with the blessings, we must be able to follow instructions. We may be like the widow that saw her blessings as nothing, overlooking the blessings and provision that God has sent. Shalisha thought that meal was only enough for Elisha, what you have is more than enough when God blesses it when He provides it. Elisha asked the widow, "What shall I do for you?" She saw the problem that she was faced with, she felt hopeless, she was hurt but she went to the right person. Is it possible that she had already told her friends the issue she was facing and they caused her to feel more hopeless? "Girl, that man died and didn't leave anything for you? What was he doing with his money? How are you supposed to take care of those sons? There are times when not speaking to certain people is very important, they would crush your hope, your dreams and your vision. But she went to the man of God who gave her instructions, who knew a way she could be blessed. Who knew she was one instruction away from her blessing, that breakthrough was knocking on her door. There is a miracle waiting for you, obey and follow the instructions.

#followinginstructions #breakthroughiscoming #seasonofwaitwillend #Godmadeprovision #overflow