“For they say that the widow of Obadiah, Ahab’s steward, came to him, and said, that he was not ignorant how her husband had preserved the prophets that were to be slain by Jezebel, the wife of Ahab; for she said that he hid a hundred of them, and had borrowed money for their maintenance, and that, after her husband’s death, she and her children were carried away to be made slaves by the creditors; and she desired of him to have mercy upon her on account of what her husband did, and afford her some assistance. And when he asked her what she had in the house, she said, “Nothing but a very small quantity of oil in a cruise.”
So the prophet bid her go away, and borrow a great many empty vessels of her neighbors, and when she had shut her chamber door, to pour the oil into them all; for that God would fill them full. And when the woman had done what she was commanded to do, and bade her children bring every one of the vessels, and all were filled, and not one left empty, she came to the prophet, and told him that they were all full; upon which he advised her to go away, and sell the oil, and pay the creditors what was owing them, for that there would be some surplus of the price of the oil, which she might make use of for the maintenance of her children. And thus did Elisha discharge the woman’s debts, and free her from the vexation of her creditors.” (Antiquities of the Jews, pg. 942)
Perfect Strength By Perfect Weakness
November 19, 1961 · Jeffersonville, Indiana
296One had just a vessel with a little oil in it. And she had nothing, her two sons was going to be sold for bondsmen. She had nothing else she could do with this little vessel of oil. Wasn’t very much, she was at the end.
Elijah said to her, said, “What have you got in your house?”
Said, “Just a little oil in a vessel.”
Said, “Go to your neighbors, borrow plenty of them.”
297There, look, getting ready before it even happens. Hmm? Get ready! David heard that sound in the mulberry bushes. Elijah saw a cloud just the size of a hand, said, “I hear the sound of abundance of rain.” If God can only get some empty vessels! That’s right.
He said, “Fill the house full of them.” Amen!
298See what God wants? God has got to have empty vessels. Listen! We’ve had so much doctrine, so much ecclesiastical nonsense, until we’re down at the end of the barrel. There’s only one thing left, turn to God and His Word. And if you’ll do that, get some empty vessels. Take out all the Methodist out of them, all the Pentecostal out of them, and all the Baptist out of them,** and just let them be vessels, and set them up in the house. And then take from this Vessel and begin to pour, amen, just begin to pour.**
299She had enough to take care of her and her kids, and everything else, and pay off all the debts. Why? Why? Just what little she had, consecrated to God, and following the word of this prophet, she come out right.
300God, send us a prophet that will take the Word of God, that will not take some something-else, but just get empty vessels. If God can just get empty vessels, and then take the Word of God and pour It into the person.
301Not some say, “Oh, I shook when I received It. I spoke in tongues when I received It. I danced in the Spirit.” Forget it, see, forget it!
302Just stay there until It comes, that’s all, till the vessel’s full. That’s it. That’s the way you do it. Yes, sir, the simplicity of It! “The vessels was filled up,” how we could stay on that!
“Be encouraged today. In your place of weakness, you will find your greatest strength.” —God