Sermon Nuggets Mon April 26, 2010
Verses: 2 Kings 4:8-17
Holy Hospitality
It is not uncommon for someone to feel alone in the midst of large groups of people. One boy went to Sunday school for his first time in a new church and his parents asked him how he liked it. He said, "I hated it. They put me in a roomful of children all by myself."
Adults too, when they attend a new worship service or a new church can feel the church is a place for friendship and fellowship, but it can be place of polite ignoring, and unintentional loneliness.
In one article Anne Williman told her story as an outsider. After marriage to Jon she was sure she would be happy anywhere with him. They moved to a little northwestern Ohio hometown. However she felt unwelcomed. Being shy she didn't say much and neighbors walked by without a word. They seemed to stare as though she were some unwelcomed intruder. A newcomer to a small community knows what it means to feel like an outsider. People did not speak to her if she didn't take the initiative, and even if they did it was cordial but not a feeling of really wanting to make a friend.
For reasons unrelated, she sought to make a call on her next door neighbor, 93 years old Mrs. Watson who would look at her with piercing eyes from her window in disapproval. As she walked up to the house and rang the doorbell, she thought “maybe she's napping. I can creep away.”
Then her tiny figure appeared. "Why it’s you-Jon's wife. I was wondering when you'd call. Do step in. I'm so glad you finally came by. I know how hard it is to meet your neighbors sometimes. I had that problem when I first married. I've lived her some 60 years now."
As Anne was encouraged to meet other neighbors, she did find that it took effort, however once the initial contact was made she found other outsiders like herself. All were happy to visit.
One married woman confessed. "I thought you didn't like us. But I guess I can understand how you feel. I married someone from this town 8 years ago and I'm still afraid people think me strange somehow.”
Anne prayed for a gift of outgoingness to help overcome her shyness. She also began a hospitality ministry to newcomers to the small town. She sees it a ministry to those who need a friend.
As we look at another passage in the life of Elisha he is shown hospitality as a bachelor in the service of the Lord. The lady who showed him kindness is an example of holy hospitality. We can learn how in giving we also receive.
Pastor Dale.
Sermon Nuggets Tues April 27, 2010
Verses- 2 Kings 4: 8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.
Hints for Hospitality- Giving an Invitation
Do you know what the most important thing is about an invitation? You have a desire, a thought, or an intention that is directed toward another. A special invitation means that the host has you in mind.
Now there are general invitations. We see them all the time in the papers and bulletins. "You all come, 'cause everyone is invited." Indeed, we do want as many people as can, to come and be part of our public worship, or fellowship, or celebration. I've received invitations also with a computer label on it. I have been invited to an open house of a new store, or especially invited to buy a product.
That is still a different type of invitation when someone writes or calls us to come over to their house. That is special because that is personal. There was no obligation of that person or family to do that. They just want to have us over, not to talk about a problem with the church, or personal counseling, but just because they want to enjoy time together.
There are people who have the gift of hospitality. Such people make others feel welcome and at home. While visiting informally in one home the hostess commented to me, “It is hard to think of you as a pastor, when you are so ordinary." Well, I wasn't sure how to take that.
Peter Wagner talks about how you can tell if you have a special gift of hospitality. It's not the person who has their house spotless and spends hours preparing the meal so everything is just right. It is the one which is more concerned about you than how their house looks. It really doesn't matter if the cushions are exactly straight. One does not worry if the cake is a day old to serve it. Guests feel like they can just get up and get their own second cup of coffee without asking.
This passage today speaks of a lady who saw how she could serve God by inviting Elisha and his servant to eat with her and her husband whenever they were in the area.
Even folks who may not feel they have a special gift of hospitality can invite others over to eat to get to know them better. Developing Holy Hospitality is when we see that friendships can both minister to Christians and be ways for non-Christians to ultimately come to know the Lord.
Luke 14:15-23 records the parable of Jesus when the King puts on a great banquet and invites many guests. Unfortunately, they all have excuses so he bids his servants to go out into the highways and byways and call on the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. He desires that we have fellowship with him. We may not feel worthy, we may not feel like he cares, but according to the word the personal invitation for salvation is to all who hear his voice. Come and be saved. And in so doing there is a relationship with God.
That is true Holy Hospitality.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds April 28
Verses- 2 Kings 4:9-10 She said to her husband, "I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God.
Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us."
Hints for Hospitality- Making Provisions
Now our text tells us that the woman was wealthy. She and her husband had means to not only provide for their own needs, but the needs of others. Of course being wealthy is not required for hospitality. I believe in the context of this story we see that she took what she had and made it available to God by making it available to Elisha to use whether it was food, which most people can provide, or a house, which most people cannot provide. She had the ability to provide a self contained room, reserved for Elisha as he was doing his work.
Part of making provision is helping those who serve the Lord in one area so others can be part of that work.
Sunday mornings many are studying the treasure principle during Sunday School. One point Randy Alcorn, in his video, was emphasizing the Biblical truth where your treasure is there is your heart. We take special interest in the things we invest in directly. His illustration hit home. Because I have been to Russia and India, when I hear of news from those countries my ears perk up and I take more interest because I invested time and money in that. This summer Judi and I will be going to Mexico and hopefully be an encouragement to our missionaries there. Our attentions have never been so directed to Mexico as in these last few months as we are praying for them and that nation.
The involvement of this couple in the work of the Lord has an affect on their spiritual lives, not just because they are befriending Elisha but they are participating in the ways they can with his work. They see that as God’s work.
They say Elisha was real about God. They saw him as a man of integrity. He did not compromise his views when it was financially beneficial to him. He trusted in the provisions from God and received those blessings. But God provided through the means of those he blessed with resources so they too share in blessings of a different sort.
Those with a gift of hospitality have an attitude that says “What is mine is yours.” They are happy to share. As they have freely received they freely give in different ways.
Matt. 10:40-42 "He who received you receives me, and he who receives me received one who sent me. Anyone who received a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward and one who received a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple I tell you the truth he will certainly not lose his reward."
Pastor Dale
Sermon nuggets Thurs April 29, 2010
Verses- 2 Kings 4:11-13 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there.
12 He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite." So he called her, and she stood before him.
13 Elisha said to him, "Tell her, 'You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?'" She replied, "I have a home among my own people."
Hints for Hospitality- Giving Freely
Elisha and his servant recognized the holy spirit of the woman and her husband and wanted to do something for them. They asked what they could do and the response was they were cared for. They had their family and their needs were met so they were content just to bless others.
I am impressed with the attitude exhibited by the kind woman willing and wanting to provide hospitality to Elisha, the man of God. Her motives are pure. She does not expect anything in return for her actions. When given the opportunity to request something, nothing comes to mind that she would want. She is a contented person.
Too often those who might be considered wealthy also feel as if they would be satisfied if they just had one more thing. Of course that desire for more seldom ends when we find we even are carting around too much.
The woman gave what she had. It was not a selfish attitude or desire to use it to gain more it was a gift freely given. She understood that she was not going to get anything out of it financially. It was not anything she did for personal praise or benefit. It was her way of giving to God because she saw that Elisha was used by God. She could not go and speak and declare the Word of the Lord, but she could give meals and a room when he traveled.
When asked what she might ask from even the king or the commander of the army, two of the most influential people in the land, her thoughts went to her family who could provide anything she felt she needed. She wasn’t out to look for more than what she already had.
There are many who keep records of who paid for the last restaurant bill, who invited whom over last, or whose turn is it to host the next party. We do want to share in the responsibilities and do our part if we are able to contribute. But with the gift of hospitality there are those for whom they do not keep records. There delight is in sharing and serving without any expectations in return.
As God has blessed us, so His instructions are that we should bless others. Freely we have received, freely give. As far as the hospitable woman there was nothing Elisha owed her. She was content.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri April 30, 2010
Verses 2 Kings 4: 14 "What can be done for her?" Elisha asked. Gehazi said, "Well, she has no son and her husband is old."
15 Then Elisha said, "Call her." So he called her, and she stood in the doorway.
16 "About this time next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms." "No, my lord," she objected. "Don't mislead your servant, O man of God!"
17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
Hints for Hospitality- Receiving a Blessing
I heard someone say that some people bring blessing where ever they
go and others whenever they go.
When Elisha was willing to bless the woman and her husband she wasn’t showing hospitality for reward. She was content with what she had and mentioning a family indicated any needs she had probably would also be met by her extended family, but as Elisha’s servant discovered they had no children of their own.
Gehazi recognized the desire of their heart which no one but God could give and that was a son. So with the authority from God Elisha pronounced the blessing that this time next year they would have a son. God blessed them above and beyond for their kindness.
When we carry out God's work there is blessing. There is the immediate blessing of fellowship. There is the relationship with the guest and the growth of knowing and sharing as friends. This is a gift not lightly to be ignored. To love and be loved, to feel worthwhile is the high goal of all people. It is a special gift indeed to have a few good close meaningful friends. But this is Holy Hospitality. It is for God's grace and goodness.
In her faithfulness to service, she was blessed far greater than she gave. God had blessed her with the desire of her heart. Hospitality is a ministry. We take what we have a share it. When we give it to the Lord and seek to serve others because of our relationship with Jesus it is a Holy Hospitality. God's spirit is in it.
Scripture talks much of hospitality, Heb. 13:2 "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. " I Peter 4:8-10 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
Ken Medema, a very talented and creative musician has taken Matthew 25:42-45 and composed this hymn: "I was hungry and you had no meat for me; I was thirsty and you would not give me drink. I was a stranger and you would not take me in, naked and you would not clothe me, sick and you would not visit me, in jail and you would not come to me, You would not come to me."
And then, a fast frivolous, defensive, exciting manner a chorus chimes in: "Lord when were you hungry? We did not see your need. Lord when were you sick, eh? We did not see you bleed. Lord, when were you in jail? We did not see you there. Were you wearing a disguise? If so, it was not fair."
And the word of the Lord resounds with strength: "If you did not do it to the least of these my little ones, then you did not do it unto me. I was hungry and you.." The abrupt ending tosses the application right into our laps.
Then the composer includes everyone in singing a kind of Postscript. "Someone is waiting right outside your door. Someone is waiting whom you've never seen before. Not the thousands or the million who crowd the city streets, But someone is lying at your feet. Someone is lying at your feet."
I know that not all churches do well in showing hospitality, I know that not all Christians are good examples of friendliness. But there is one who differs from people. He is the example of Holy Hospitality. God invites us into a relationship with him. He made all the provisions. Only instead of the blessing being his, it is ours over and over again. Not only having God's fellowship here, now, but for all eternity. It is because of his offer than he wants his children to demonstrate service one to another.
Pastor Dale
