And the Oil Stayed.
The reason for a dwindling supply of blessing in one's life is often due to a failure to bring vessels of need to God, resulting in unfulfilled promises and a lack of productivity.
F.B. Meyer reflects on the story of the widow and the oil in 2 Kings 4:6, emphasizing that the oil ceased to flow not because of a lack of God's power, but due to the limited number of vessels brought forth. He points out that many believers experience unfulfilled promises and diminished blessings because they have stopped bringing their needs to God, believing that He can no longer work through them as He once did. Meyer encourages the congregation to continue seeking God's provision and to expect His blessings to flow abundantly by bringing more vessels of need. He warns against complacency and urges believers to remain active in their faith and outreach, ensuring they are always ready to receive from God.
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And the oil stayed. 2 Kings iv. 6.
WHAT a sorrowful confession! There was no reason why it should stay. There was as much oil as ever, and the power which had made so much could have gone on without limit or exhaustion. The only reason for the ceasing of the oil was in the failure of the vessels. The widow and her sons had secured only a limited number of vessels, and therefore there was only a limited supply of the precious oil.
This is why so many of God's promises are unfulfilled in your experience. ‑‑ In former days you kept claiming their fulfilment; frequently you brought God's promises to Him and said, "Do as Thou hast said." Vessel after vessel of need was brought empty and taken away full. But of late years you have refrained, you have rested on your oars, you have ceased to bring the vessels of your need. Hence the dwindling supply.
This is why your life is not so productive of blessing as it might be. ‑‑ You do not bring vessels enough. You think that God has wrought as much through you as He can or will. You do not expect Him to fill the latter years of your life as He did the former. You can trust Him for two sermons a week, but not for five or six.
This is why the blessing of a revival stays in its course. ‑‑ As long as the missioner remains with us, we call look for the continuance of blessing. But after awhile we say, Let the services stop; they have run their course, and fulfilled their end. And forthwith the blessing stops in mid‑flow. Let us go on pleading with the unsaved, and bringing the empty vessels of our poor effort for God to fill them up to the full measure of their capacity.
Sermon Outline
- The Reason for the Ceasing of the Oil
- The Consequence of Not Bringing Vessels of Need
- The Solution to a Dwindling Supply of Blessing
- Limited Vessels
- Failure to Bring Vessels of Need
- Unfulfilled Promises
- Dwindling Supply of Blessing
- Continuing to Plead with the Unsaved
- Bringing Empty Vessels for God to Fill
Key Quotes
“This is why so many of God's promises are unfulfilled in your experience.” — F.B. Meyer
“You do not bring vessels enough.” — F.B. Meyer
“Let us go on pleading with the unsaved, and bringing the empty vessels of our poor effort for God to fill them up to the full measure of their capacity.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- Continuing to plead with the unsaved and bringing empty vessels for God to fill is essential for experiencing a continued supply of blessing.
- Bringing vessels of need to God is crucial for fulfilling His promises and receiving a full measure of blessing.
- A limited supply of blessing can result from a failure to bring vessels of need to God, so it is essential to continue bringing them.