Has your baby/promise died? What's your stance?
2 Kings 4:8-37
Gladys Palmer
God made a promise to the Shunammite woman through Elisha:
"About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son".
We learn in verse 14, that she was childless and her husband was old, but so were Abraham & Sarah, Elisabeth & Zacharias! Hello? Abraham topped the chart as the oldest father!!!
True to the words of the prophet, this Shunammite woman bares a son. However, he dies after a brief illness. I love the stance the mother takes!
She simply lays the child on Elisha's bed and goes in search of him (vs 20 ff). I could just hear the sister talk to herself, all the way up the hill :
"THE DEVIL IS A LIAR! I was going about my business, serving the Lord whole-heartedly. Didn't ask for a child, but now that I've experienced the joys of motherhood, my baby ain't going down like that!" The preceding verses of Scripture inform us that she had perceived Elisha was a "holy man of God". She asked him not to lie to her and discovered that God was not man that he would lie. The prophecy came true and she sure wasn't about to give up that easily! Make this declaration with me:
"The blessing of the Lord, it makes rich and he adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22).
The counsel of the Lord shall stand! Remember our confession for the year? 2 Corinthians 1:20. {See devotional entitled-Conception to Delivery}.
What He blesses is forever blessed and that which He curses, no man can bless.
Maybe, a child of yours that was prophesied over to be a mighty man/woman of God is acting crazy; contrary to what you've been believing for. Are you going to plan his/her funeral or will you heed the words of Nehemiah to "remember the Lord thy God, which is great and terrible and fight for your sons and your daughters"? {Nehemiah 4:14}
Are you facing foreclosure on a home you know God gave you? Are you a faithful tither and the enemy has "come in like a flood" against your finances? Have you been standing on the promises of God for a family member to be saved and delivered? I say it's time to re-visit your Promise-Giver and make some demands. God says: "command ye me."
Come on, let's do it together!
Be like the Shunammite sister: put on your armor and contend for that which is due you!
If Lazarus's purpose had been fulfilled, Christ would not have raised him from the dead. It doesn't matter how long your dream/promise has laid dormant. Believe it can live again! It's not over, unless God says so. The word of Lord has to accomplish that which he pleases and prosper wherever he sends it. It is forever settled in heaven and on earth!
Every God-breathed promise has an intended purpose: to glorify Him.
It may look dead, but don't bury it just yet.
Call it
forth! It can live again!!!!
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