SACRED STORIES

“Getting MORE From God”
Pastor Ben Johnson – July 2, 2023

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”“What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” ”Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” So, she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.” — 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NLT)

RECEIVING more from God REQUIRES
GIVING more of ourselves to God.

Bring God…

1. Our BURDENS.
   
   So, be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”— Deuteronomy 21:6
   

2. Our DOUBTS.
   
   “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” — Mark 9:23-24 (NLT)
   

3. Our EMPTINESS.
   
   For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible... — Ephesians 5:8-14 (NLT)
   
   “It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself.” - Mother Teresa

The depth of my SACRIFICE will determine the depth of my COMMITMENT. The depth of my commitment will determine the LEVEL in which God can ENTRUST me with MORE.