2 Kings 7:1
HUNGER FOR GOD!
Background: THERE WAS A SEVERE FAMINE.
-When we say FAMINE, it means Severe hunger! Suffering.
-Elisha profesied: “Tomorrow about this time a [a]seah of fine flour shall be sold for a
shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ ””
-Too severe famine that they sorted to cannibalism. See 2 Kings 628-29
-Sometimes, when we are in a severe famine of our lives, we resort to things unimaginable. We
lose our hope. We lose our humanity.
4 LEPERS – They are outcasts. The reason they are outside the gate is because they are
considered outcasts, sinners, forgotten.
-no names has been mentioned. No background. They were simply described as the 4 lepers.
No identity.
Verse 3: “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the
famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now
therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we
shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.
1. THEIR DESPERATION LED THEM TO REALIZATION:
o They came to a realization. Maybe they got tired being outcasted. Tired being
alone.
o They became desperate
o Their desperation led them to fulfil the promise made by ELISHA.
o Sometimes, the Lord’s answer to our prayers does not necessary come in our
own terms. Maybe you have been praying for an answer and the Lord has
already answered you, only that, It did not fit the answers you expected HIM to
give you.
o LET US NOT BOX WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH YOU AND THROUGH THE
PEOPLE SURROUNDING YOU.
2. THEIR REALIZATION LED TO A DESTINATION
o They did not stop on their realization, THEY MOVED!
o We do not stop being a Christian the moment we accepted Christ as our
personal Lord and Savior, we need TO MOVE! You need to read your bible, go to
bible studies, spend time with the Lord.
o Your VICTORIES does not end in REVIVALS! We need to be constantly reminded
to seek God on a daily basis.
“Your last victory should build momentum for more victories. The greater
the momentum, the greater the impact” – Ptr. Jentzen Franklin
o Your promises will not just fall from the heaven. You need to step a step to reach
it. Testimony on your life verse: I remember when the Lord gave me JEREMIAH
29:11 as my life verse. I was like 14 or 15 years old then. When I had my first
work, it was not EASY: I had to cry! Sweat! And even get sick in hardships as my
journey started. May time umiiyak ako dahil sa pagod and I will have to recite Jer
29:11 over and over again to encourage me. My point: HE HAS GIVEN US THE
ABILITY TO PRODUCE WEALTH (Deutronomy 8:18)! HINDI PO MAHUHULOG ANG
WEALTH SA LANGIT!
3. THEIR DESTINATION LED TO A PROVISION
o The Israelites then were much in need for their provision from Famine.
o Everyone who has been victimized for so long would die for a provision.
o V.5-“And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when
they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no
one was there. “
o V.6-7 - For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of
chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one
another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and
the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” 7 Therefore they arose and fled at
twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—
and they fled for their lives.
o GOD’S PROVISION COMES IN MANY WAYS, not only FINANCIAL!
Your wealth is a provision
Your health is also God’s provision.
Your opportunities is also God’s provision
Your wisdom, favor, your friends, your rest-They are all God’s provision
4. THEIR PROVISION LED TO RESTORATION
o Romans 2:4: Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance
and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to
repentance?
o V.9Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of
good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some
[b]punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the
king’s household.”
o Their redemption from cannibalism, redemption from hope.
A man can live about 40 days without food, about 3 days without water, about
eight minutes without air, but only for 60 seconds without hope!
o Their redemption made them realize the needs of the many.
o One of the amazing stories that we have heard growing up is the story of the
PRODIGAL son! We all know what happened, the son wanted his inheritance,
went to enjoy himself and when everything ran out, he started to fill his
stomach with the pods of the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything
- Luke 15:16
o Luke 15:17-18: 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my
father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death. I
will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you
o His HUNGER LED HIS TO THE RIGHT PATH! IT REMINDED HIM HIS IDENTITY! IT
CAUSED HIM REPENTANCE.
o WE ALL NEED RESTORAION IN OUR LIVES! Restoration from sin! Restoration from
broken dreams! Restoration from broken relationships! Restoration from
addiction, and once our needs that caused us to be like that ARE MET, then Our
journey of restoration starts!
5. THEIR RESTORATION LED TO COMPLETION
o God is in the process of completing what He has started. (1 Philippians 1: 6)-
GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF COMPLETING WHAT HE HAS STARTED.
o For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not
prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
-Habakkuk 2:3
o Joseph was 17 years old when he dreamt of a vision, he was 30+ when It got
fulfilled!
o Abraham was 75 when he was promised a son, he was 90+ when his wife
conceived!
o When the Lord COMPLETES, IT IS ALWAYS WHOLISTIC! It means if completing
your promise today will do you more harm than good, then it rather lingers!
o It is NEVER ABOUT HIM CAPABLE OF FULLFILLING OUR DREAMS, IS IT ALWAYS
about OUR readiness for the completion of the PROMISE!
o It is men’s nature to doubt what is unseen! So when God is about to
breakthrough/complete your dreams, DO NOT DOUBT! (V.12)
CONCLUSION
o This hunger that we are talking today is not just about physical hunger. There is
much more than physical hunger! Maybe you are having a severe famine
spiritually! Or maybe emotionally! None can seem to make sense! – MAKE YOUR
DECISION TODAY!
o Can you remember how the Ninevites, who are not even believers of Christ was
saved? -Through the hungering, which is also known as FASTING!
o Can you remember how Jesus was able to overcome His temptation? THROUGH
FASTING
o MARK 9:29 ; AND THESE THINGS CAN ONLY BE DONE IN PRAYER AND FASTING!
NOT OR, NOT PRAYER ALONE, BUT PRAYER AND FASTING!
o CAN YOU REMEMBER HOW ELIJAH OVERCOMED HIS FEAR/DEPRESSION? –
THROUGH FASTING AND PRAYER
o CAN YOU REMEMBER HOW THE LORD’S PROPERTIES WAS PROTECTED FROM
THIEVES IN THE TIME OF EZRA? – THROUGH FASTING!
o CAN YOU REMEMBER HOW PAUL WAS EMPOWERED BY GOD FROM BEING THE
SLAYER OF BELIEVERS? – FASTING AND PRAYER!
o CAN YOU REMEMBER HOW ESTHER SAVED A NATION FROM COMPLETE
ANNIHILATION? THROUGH FASTING!
o DID YOU KNOW WHAT JESUS’ FIRST COMPLETED VICTORY BEFORE THE HEIGHTS
OF HIS MIRACLES? – HE FIRST FASTED!
o FASTING IS DISCIPLINING YOURSELF ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER MORE THAN
FOOD! (Matthew 6: 16-18);
o THE REASONS WE FAST: Isaiah 58:5-14
o
