The Great Woman

THE GREAT WOMAN Introduction: Purpose of this series is to help us as women to become more pleasing to God, to our families and those around us by looking at the examples of women in the Bible….The Good, the Bad and the Ugly! Which are you? Whether you want to be or not, you are an example just by existing. (Sunday School class a couple of weeks ago) It’s a responsibility you have…what you do with it is up to you. We are going to begin with The Good: HOW TO BE GRRRRREAT! Intro. II Kings 4: 8

1. This woman called “great”. In same league with Moses, David and John the Baptist. First mention of word is in Gen. 12:2 where God told Abraham he would make of him a great nation.

2. Word thrown around randomly. Many different definitions acc. to Webster’s 1828…large, important, powerful, vast, elevated, rich, superior, influential. How do we know she’s not called great because she was a substantial woman? How do we know she fits the additional definition of “magnanimous, generous, high-minded?” By the rest of the story! She is otherwise anonymous for what she did was more important than who she was.

3. We have a convoluted idea of greatness is today’s world. To obtain greatness you have to serve in Congress, sit on the Supreme Court or be a vocal advocate for AIDS research. Hillary Clinton still ranks as one of the most admired women in the world….go figure. And, so much of the value of women in this culture is how they look…the model with the 40” inseam and an IQ to match is regarded as a role model for our young girls! Worse, to be a great woman in some churches, you must march for right to life, get on the speaker circuit, or write a self-help book. Some great women merely sit in the nursery or clean the church bathrooms.

4. So, why was this woman great. I have found 14 reasons in the chapter….you can list them on your worksheet if you want. 1. 4:8 Hospitable – Opening your home is one of the greatest gifts you can give esp. when it extends outside your comfort zone…it’s personal and requires effort. Don’t be like the man who took his dog to the vet, asking to have the animal’s tail cut off completely. “I don’t like to do that,” said the vet. “And why completely?” “Well,” the owner replied, “my mother-in- law is coming to visit us, and I don’t want anything in the house to suggest that she is welcome.” I Peter 4:9 He should have read this verse!

2. 4:8 Consistent – This was an open invitation, available whenever he showed up…unexpected company…the bane of most of our existences! Often we have brief twinges of benevolence, we quench them and move on. Hers was ongoing…she was always prepared.

3. 4:9 Perceptive - This is a lost art! This was the impetus for the two previous actions….not so busy that she couldn’t see a God-given opportunity when it walked into her life. She recognized who Elisha was…a man of God. Not until eternity will we know who we actually entertained or what we missed. Some of our sweetest fellowships in our home have been with our old friend Damon Woods, missionary to the Philippines; he was Elisha to me.

4. 4:9-10 -Respected husband – This is just me, but I am so tired of seeing commercials of men cleaning the house, fixing dinner or trying to get a stain out of a child’s shirt. How about we return to traditional roles where the husband is consulted before an action is taken? This woman actually went to her husband before she went to Home Depot. “Let us” indicates she intended to help. Illustration: Jim saying, “Who’s we?” “I pray thee” shows he was the one who made the final call.

5. 4:10 – Generous This isn’t a cot and blanket thrown in a corner; it’s a full- blown suite! It’s been my experience that the most miserable people in the world are the selfish ones…the “takers.” I have listened to missionaries relate stories re. being housed in deplorable situations while on furlough or on deputation…it’s a given that our generosity surely should extend to those who serve the Lord on a foreign field.

6. 4:13 – Content Dorothy Prailey and I just had a discussion re. the difference between contentment and complacency…and there is a big one! Paul tells us in Phil.4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Contentment is learned…it’s an acquired habit! Complacency is very dangerous. The woman has the contentment thing down pat as is demonstrated by her response to Elisha. Given the activity in the previous chapter, Elisha had the liberty to call in some favors from the king or the joint chiefs of staff… the possibilities are endless! Because she experienced complete contentment, she turned down his offer. Enter Gehazi to save the day! Vs. 14-16

7. 4:16 - Realistic Perhaps she didn’t mention this piece of information because she certainly knew that what she undoubtedly wanted most was no longer possible and had come to accept that. There is a peace that comes from accepting things you can’t change; she had achieved that. However, the old preacher, John R. Rice, once said, “Never put a question mark where God has put a period.”

8. 4:17 - Rewarded You have all lived long enough to know that you can’t expect compensation every time you do a “good deed.” What’s the saying….No good deed goes unpunished. Remember, the great use of a life is to spend it for something that outlasts it. Obviously, doing right is its own reward, but every once in a while, people surprise you, and the good comes back to you. The actions of the great woman were rewarded in an unbelievable fashion for her, and she was given a precious gift. But that isn’t the end of the story…it gets better. You have 6 more vacant numbers!

9. 4:18-21 In control of emotions This is where she truly triumphs over her innate female make-up! Can you imagine how she must have felt? But instead of giving over to the overwhelming grief she must have experienced, she calmly takes her dead son, not to the graveyard, not even to her husband or to his own room. She heads straight for Elisha’s room.

10. 4:22-23 - Protective of her husband At this point it doesn’t appear he even knows what has happened…and she doesn’t tell him. Is this different from today when all our problems, woes and cares are spilled out on Facebook, tweets and Dr. Phil?

11. 4:24-26 - Possesses amazing faith This faith propels her without haste to the one who can help her. “It is well.” 12. 4:27-28 Possesses bold faith She went back to the source of her reward from God through Elisha and was bold enough to remind him of his promise. Hebrews 4:16

13. 4:30 – Accepted no substitute for her faith It’s certainly not wrong to use doctors, medicine, etc. but ultimately, faith should be placed where it is the most valuable. Gehazi seemed like a nice guy but he just wasn’t the real deal. (vs. 31) Elisha then re-enacts the miracle of Elijah in I Kings 17 almost exactly. The original CPR!

14. 4:32 – Allowed God to work His will Often, all we can do is exhibit our faith, boldly act on it and then let God take control. For a mother… relinquishing that control is excruciating…but for the Shunamite woman, it worked. Faith is idle when circumstances are right, only when they are adverse is one’s faith in God exercised. Faith, like muscle, grows strong and supple with exercise. Mark 9:24 I can just imagine her meeting up with her husband and saying, “You won’t believe what a day we’ve had!” Closing: Ecclesiastes 7:25-28 The sad commentary of a man who had 300 wives and 700 concubines…he couldn’t find one woman he would have deemed great. Let’s work to be different, to be great in some small thing that will make a difference in eternity.