Like the globally popular superhero films such as Batman and Spider-Man, everyone deeply desires to become an extraordinary individual with superpowers. This chapter of the Bible presents such a divine man—the prophet Elisha. No need to transform into a bat or spider; the teacher will share how to experience miracles and wonders in life!

Questions for Reflection:

What blessed qualities do you observe in the wife of the prophet's disciple?

Why did the Shunammite woman experience God's miracles?

What qualities do you think a miracle worker must possess?

Are you a miracle worker? From these stories, where do you feel you need to practice?

Being a Divine Person is Better Than Being an Ordinary Person

In 2 Kings chapter 4, it talks about several miracles performed by the prophet Elisha. Whenever I mention miracles, I get particularly excited because I also have a hope that one day I can see someone resurrected from the dead! If such a thing can happen, what else in this world cannot be conquered? So, being a divine person is better than being an ordinary person! I encourage everyone to long to be a divine person, and never just be an ordinary person. The natural man dies naturally, but the divine person does not die naturally, but supernaturally, like Elijah who was taken up to heaven by God.

A supernatural person can overcome many unimaginable problems in life. For example, the plane explosion reported in the news today, if Elisha were on that plane, things might change because he is a divine person! If you are like Elisha, I think miracles will happen wherever you go, and even everyone on the plane you are on will be blessed because of you!

First Miracle: Learn to Believe and Prepare Seeds and Vessels for Blessing

The first miracle Elisha performed was the unending oil. The wife of a prophet's disciple pleaded with Elisha, saying, Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. But now the creditor has come to take my two sons as slaves. (2 Kings 4:1) I found this strange. She is the wife of one of Elisha's prophet disciples, and this prophet disciple fears God, so how could his family live in poverty? I couldn't understand it. But later I understood: what a person believes, they will receive. Everyone must not think that poverty is more spiritual, because you will therefore live in poverty; and once a person lives in poverty, they will begin to doubt and complain about God. We must know that there is a reason for a person's poverty. Where is the reason? It's in the mind. If you think poverty is more spiritual, you will live in poverty; if you think poverty is not very spiritual, and you are willing to be a spiritual person, you don't need to live in poverty, so everyone's thoughts need to change.

But I think the wife of this prophet's disciple is more powerful than her husband who was the prophet disciple because, at a critical moment, her faith is greater than her husband's. I also find that sometimes the faith of sisters is really amazing and greater than the faith of brothers! Today we must learn from this woman. Her husband passed away, but she knew that finding Elisha could solve the problem she faced, and Elisha's solution for her was to go to her neighbors to borrow as many empty jars as you can, and then pour oil into the jars (see 2 Kings 4:3-4).

This woman actually believed Elisha's words, which is really miraculous and amazing. In the future, everyone should learn to believe, and also know that if people want to be blessed, they must prepare vessels. I think when this woman's husband was still alive, they should have had a poverty mentality when they lived as husband and wife, that is, they did not prepare vessels to receive blessings. But now the prophet Elisha told her to prepare vessels well, and she did so, and tried her best to borrow all the vessels.

We also need to learn a spiritual key, that is, there is still a jar of oil in the house, and there must be a seed of blessing. If a person wants to be blessed, they must take something out. If this woman said, I have nothing in my house, the prophet might also find it a bit troublesome. But thank the Lord, she still had a jar of oil in her house, and she did not sell this seed. Everyone should not think this is a very ordinary thing, you must know that this is a spiritual thing: she took out the little oil from her house and made it a seed of blessing, and then poured it into the vessels, but when there were no more vessels, the oil stopped. Through this incident, we must know that how big our hearts are, that is how much blessing we will receive. If your heart is small, I think it is a pity, because the oil will stop when it is full.

Poverty is because the realm is too small, so you have to make your heart bigger so that you can bear great blessings! Just like our church, it started with only twenty-odd people, which was enough for the original small place. But one day I told my wife that we should rent the place where we are meeting today. Later, I thought it was quite risky because there was no money. At that time, we only received 5,000 dollars in offerings a month, and this place would cost 10,000 dollars a month in rent, so we might lose 5,000 dollars a month, plus the cost of renovation. At this rate, we would have to lose money after two months. Thank God, we didn't lose money!

God does things so wonderfully, how big your vessel is, that is how much oil God pours into it. Everyone remember: You must invest first and then see the blessing, and then how many vessels you prepare, that is how much blessing God will put in. This is a spiritual principle, we must understand this principle! No matter when, you must prepare to expand your heart and your boundaries, because how big your boundary is, God will fill it. Then we can imagine: if this woman grasped and learned this spiritual lesson, how would she be? She would constantly expand her boundaries. Why did she live in poverty before? Because the boundaries were too small. So everyone must change their concepts.

Second Miracle: Receiving a Prophet Receives the Benefits of a Prophet

Receiving the Benefits of a Prophet

In Elisha's second miracle, there are several keys. The first thing we need to know is Receiving a prophet receives the benefits of a prophet. The Shunammite woman was very smart! She received Elisha, built a small room for him, and let him sleep in it, and she received the benefits of the prophet, she got a son. If she did not receive this prophet, she might never have a son in her life. It is easy for a prophet to bless people! Everyone must not think that God tells the prophet what to do, but God works with the prophet and the prophet is connected with God. Elisha said, You will hold a son, and God gave the woman a son! If you are a prophet, if someone receives you, you bless that person, and that person will definitely be blessed.

Hope is the Beginning of Miracles

But after this blessed woman got this child, the child was attacked by the spirit of death. The child shouted, My head, my head, and then died. The second key is a lesson everyone should learn: hope is the beginning of miracles, and you must make positive declarations! The child was clearly dead, did the child's mother know? She knew. But she thought in her heart: if the prophet gave me a child when I couldn't have children, can't the prophet bring him back to life when this child dies? She has this great hope, which is the beginning of miracles.

This woman refused to declare the child dead. If her husband asked her, What happened? She replied, The child is dead. Then there would be no hope forever. Everyone must know that the words you declare from your mouth, whether positive or negative, will come to pass.

Among us, there was a brother who said It's over after the exam and kept declaring negative words in his heart. He walked back and forth on the street several times, walking in despair, not with hopeful declarations. At this time, if he thought like this: No! I have to hurry back to Singapore to find the pastor and brothers and sisters, let's pray together to turn this thing around, I don't believe it can't be turned around. That's great!

So, the brothers and sisters in our church really need to learn to be strong! This woman was very smart, she did not make negative declarations. No matter what difficult situation we encounter, we must not make negative declarations! We must still hold on to the hope in Jesus Christ, then you are a strong person!

Continuous Attempts

The third key: continuous attempts. Elisha's first attempt was to have Gehazi put the staff on the child. I believe Elisha had used this method to resurrect people from the dead before, but it was not recorded in the Bible. He thought that putting it on would bring the child back to life, but it did not. It is described in the scripture as the child has not awakened (see 2 Kings 4:31). I often hear such words, for example, a sister among us had a big lump on her child, I prayed for this sister's child, and when I asked her the first time, I said: How is the lump? She replied: It's still the same as before. I have heard this sentence from many brothers and sisters.

But I encourage you, if you hear this sentence, don't give up, but try again and again! For example, a few days ago, a sister sprained her foot. After I prayed for her, I asked her how she was. She said it was very painful, it was still very painful. Many people's first words and first reaction to me are this answer. Thank the Lord, every time everyone gives me this reaction, I start to learn from Elisha and start making the second attempt, the third attempt, the fourth attempt ... If it really doesn't work, I hold it with my hands, touch it, cover it, and grab the sprained foot. I said again: Sister, does it hurt when you rub your foot with your hand? When she touched it with her hand, she cried out in pain. I simply made up my mind, pressed my hand on it, prayed while pressing, and then used a little more force, and a little more force, and finally it really didn't hurt anymore. I think everyone should not limit themselves to their own methods when healing and releasing, but imitate the prophet Elisha and try continuously, and finally you will see the effect!

The last key is that the child sneezed seven times and came back to life, and the spirit of death went out through these sneezes. So brothers and sisters, you will see one thing: an impossible thing, as a result, it was accomplished all at once because of these factors!

## Scripture

2Ki 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

2Ki 4:2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

2Ki 4:3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

2Ki 4:4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

2Ki 4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

2Ki 4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

2Ki 4:7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

2Ki 4:8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

2Ki 4:9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

2Ki 4:10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

2Ki 4:11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.

2Ki 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.

2Ki 4:13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

2Ki 4:14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

2Ki 4:15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

2Ki 4:16 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

2Ki 4:17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

2Ki 4:18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

2Ki 4:19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

2Ki 4:20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

2Ki 4:21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

2Ki 4:22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

2Ki 4:23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

2Ki 4:24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

2Ki 4:25 So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:

2Ki 4:26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.

2Ki 4:27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

2Ki 4:28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

2Ki 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

2Ki 4:30 And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.

2Ki 4:31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

2Ki 4:32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

2Ki 4:33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord.

2Ki 4:34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

2Ki 4:35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

2Ki 4:36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

2Ki 4:37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

2Ki 4:38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.

2Ki 4:39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.

2Ki 4:40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.

2Ki 4:41 But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.

2Ki 4:42 And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

2Ki 4:43 And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.

2Ki 4:44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord.