Miracles in the Midst of Famine
2 Kings 4:38-44
1. Two thirds of Jesus' ministry involved healing or deliverance in some form.
Acts 10:38 (NIV)
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
2. Nothing is different about the James River Church minstry.
2 Kings 4:38-44 (NKJV)
Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets." So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were. Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, "Man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it. So he said, "Then bring some flour." And he put it into the pot, and said, "Serve it to the people, that they may eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot. Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, "Give it to the people, that they may eat." But his servant said,"What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?" He said again, "Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the Lord: 'They shall eat and have some left over.'" So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.
3 Areas related to miracles in times of famine
1. Famines come to everyone.
2 Kings 4:38-40 (NKJV)
And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land.
2 Kings 4:38-40 (NKJV)
Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets." So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were. Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, "Man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it.
2. Famines are material for a miracle.
2 Kings 4:41 (NKJV)
So he [Elisha] said, "Then bring some flour." And he put it into the pot, and said, "Serve it to the people, that they may eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot.
3. Famines are an opportunity to hear God's voice.
2 Kings 4:42-43 (NKJV)
Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, "Give it to the people, that they may eat." But his servant said,"What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?"
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, "declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
2 Kings 4:43 (NKJV)
But his servant said,"What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?" He said again, "Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the Lord:'They shall eat and have some left over.'"
2 Kings 4:44 (NKJV)
So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.
