2 Kings 4:14-17 NKJV
[14] So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
[15] So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.
[16] Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”
[17] But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
I have read it in the Scripture that without Faith you can not please God (Hebrew 11:6) And I read it that When Jesus went to Nazareth, He could not perform many miracles there as He had done in many other cities and villages in Galilee, because of the unbelief of the people of the place.
Matthew 13:58 NKJV
[58] Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
And I have read what Jesus said to the woman with the issue of Blood that, it was her faith that healed her.
Mark 5:34 NKJV
[34] And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
And what about what Jesus said to Mary when his brother Lazarus died and she was crying.:
John 11:40 NKJV
[40] Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
So, I have always believed that you have to operate in faith before you can receive anything from the Lord. That is what the Bible says. And I have been living on that principle of Faith.
However, I saw another angle of faith in the story of the Shunemite woman and in the life of Sarah, the wife of Abraham.
When Elisha the Prophet wanted to bless the woman for all her care for him, he called her and said: By this time next year, you will embrace a son, did you observe the immediate response of the Woman?
“And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”
What did that response mean to you? Her immediate response was “No, my lord…Do not lie to me!”
THE WAS UNBELIEF.
She never believed it could ever happen again. She had no faith that she could conceive again. She did not even place it as a request before Elisha, when Elisha asked from her what her need was. She said she had no need of anything. Having a child is out of the question. She could never have a child again. So, she thought. So, when the Man of God prophesied that she would carry a child by the coming year, she responded in the negative, immediately.
With that response, she broke the rule of Faith. The Book of James 1:6-7. Says:
[6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
[7] For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
BUT THAT WOMAN HAD ALREADY ENTERED INTO A COVENANT OF DIVINE FAVOUR.
She was hosting a Prophet of God, a Carrier of Grace and Favour. She and her husband had hosted the presence of God in their house and built a Guest room for God’s prophet on top of their house. They have the Presence of God in the life of the Prophet as a covering for their life. They have hosted Favor and Mercy, by taking care of the Anointed Man of God:
SO FAVOUR HAD DECIDED TO SET ASIDE ALL PROTOCOLS OF UNBELIEF!
FAVOUR BREAKS PROTOCOLS!
INCLUDING PROTOCOLS OF UNBELIEFS!
So, the very next verse, the Thunder struck and the Lightings broke!
2 Kings 4:17
[17] But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
INCIDENCE NUMBER TWO:
The story of the conception of Isaac by Sarah broke the Principle of Faith. ABRAHAM had hosted the three Angelic beings and Sarah had prepared them food. Then, the Mouthpiece of the Three Angelic visitors had spoken and said:
Genesis 18:9-10,12-15 NKJV
[9]….”Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.”
[10] And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)
[12] Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
Take note of Verse 13. Even the Lord questioned why Sarah should laugh at the Promise He had given. And the Lord heard what she said in her heart: “Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?”
Sarah denied it that she actually laughed, because she was afraid. So she lied even before God that she doubted at that point.
[14] Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
[15] But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”
THEN THE THUNDER STRUCK AND THE LIGHTINGS STRIPPED THE SKIES:
Genesis 21:1-2. SARAH conceived and bore a son in her old age, Isaac, according to the Promise of the Lord.
The Principle of Faith was Broken.
FAVOUR BROKE THE RULES OF FAITH.
FAVOUR BREAKS ALL PROTOCOLS….
INCLUDING THE RULES OF FAITH!
Romans 9:15-16 NKJV
[15] For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
[16] So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
I Claim the FAVOUR of the Lord for my Life.
I claim the MERCY OF THE LORD over every Moment of my Unbelief!
DO YOU DESIRE THIS?
THEN KEEP SERVING HIM.
HONOR HIM AND REVERENCE HIM ALWAYS.
HOST HIM AND SERVE HIM IN YOUR HOUSE.
LAVISH THE LORD AND HIS SERVANTS WITH HOSPITALITIES!
IDENTIFY THE CARRIERS OF GRACE AND FAVOUR AND DO HIM OR HER MUCH GOOD!
GIVE GIFTS! SOW SEEDS! PLANT IN HIS VINEYARD!
ATTRACT THE FAVOUR AND MAGNETIZE THE GRACE.
I hope you are blessed.
” Lord Jesus, May your FAVOUR prevail over my moments of unbelief.”
” When my faith is weak, may Your FAVOUR steps into my situations.”
“Lord Jesus, May I always identify Your Carriers of grace and Favor, to do them good as you would instruct me.”
Aphorism CITY 