Scripture References: 2 Kings 4:8-37

Sermon Notes:

Intro: Following themes of mission and contending, today we look at 2 Kings 4 – the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman's son. It challenges us to engage seemingly dead, lifeless, hopeless situations with persistent faith, prayer, and action, mirroring God's heart to bring resurrection life where death seems final.

Key Points:

1. The Story (2 Kings 4:8-37):
   • Promise & Tragedy: A woman shows hospitality to Elisha and receives a promised son, only for him to die suddenly years later.
   • Mother's Faith: Despite grief, she lays the boy on Elisha's bed and determinedly seeks the prophet ("All is well"), refusing lesser solutions (Gehazi's staff).
   • Elisha's Engagement: He goes, prays, and stretches himself out over the dead child (eye-to-eye, mouth-to-mouth, hand-to-hand).
   • Persistence to Life: The body warms – Elisha doesn't stop. He paces, prays again, stretches himself out again, and the boy is fully restored to life.
2. Identifying with the Story: Where are you? Like the woman, hurt by past disappointment, hesitant to hope? Like the passive husband, questioning spiritual pursuits? Or like Elisha, willing to engage the messy, hopeless situation?
3. The Call: Stretch Yourself Out: God often calls us towards, not away from, the dead, lifeless situations in our lives, families, and communities. Self-protection and withdrawal lead to isolated pain. Extending ourselves in faith, even when it hurts, aligns with God's redemptive work.
4. Why Stretch Out? The Power of Influence: Elisha engaged eye-to-eye (vision), mouth-to-mouth (word), and hand-to-hand (action). 
   • What you SEE (Vision): Seeing God's possibility for restoration inspires others.
   • What you SAY (Word): Speaking life, faith, and God's promises counters negativity and despair. Pray the solution, not just the problem.
   • What you DO (Action): Getting involved practically demonstrates faith and makes a tangible difference.
   • Your vision, words, and actions have contagious influence.
5. Don't Settle for "Warm": Elisha wasn't content with mere warmth; he pressed on for resurrection life. We shouldn't settle for lukewarm faith, worship, or partial results. We must "pace and pray," contending persistently until God's divine life fully breaks through.

Conclusion: God invites us to confront dead, lifeless, hopeless situations not with despair or distance, but with Elisha-like faith. Stretch yourself out – engage with vision, speak words of life, act with intention, and persistently pray, refusing to settle for anything less than God's resurrection power.

Call to Action:

• Identify: What "dead situation" is God laying in your place of comfort, asking you to engage?
• Ask: Pray for God's vision for that situation, His words of life to speak over it, and His strength to act ("stretch out").
• Persist: Commit to "pace and pray." Don't be content with "warm" improvements; contend for God's full resurrection life.
• Respond: Come forward for prayer if you feel hopeless or need strength to extend yourself in faith over a dead situation.

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