<TITLE>04. Par 11-14</TITLE>L-11 And as he remembered one story in particularly that he loved so well, it was a story his mother used to read him about Elijah, the great prophet. He always liked Elijah, because he was bold, and had lots of faith. And he was an ordained of God a prophet. And his mother'd tell him the story of how there was a--a Shunammite woman who had a lot of confidence in this prophet, Elijah. And how that she was a rich woman, and she'd support Elijah, to help him.
One day she said to her husband, "Let us build just a little chamber on the side of our house. For I perceive that the man who passes this a way is a holy man of God. And let us do something for this holy man of God. And how that her husband was agreeable, that they should build him a little resting place for his weary tired body to lay down.
And how little Bartimaeus used to think, "That was so thoughtful of those people, to try to do something for God's servants. And not thinking for a reward, but just to do something."

L-12 So one day when Elijah and his friend Gehazi, the servant, passed by, there was a nice little house built, a little room on the side of the house. And it had a bed, and a water jar with fresh water, and a place to--little table to eat. And how things were just fixed so comfortable for the prophet, until it just blessed him in such a way, that the power of the Lord came on him, because of the blessing that the woman had showed and the man to him. And they were Shunammites.
So he said to his servant, Gehazi, "Go in and ask this woman..." I just love to come to that. "Go, ask this woman what she desires." Oh, my. "Go, ask her." It must have been a--a great anointing must have struck the prophet. And said, "Go, ask her what would she desire. Should I go speak to the king, or to the chief captain?"
And she said to Gehazi, she said, "I don't desire anything. We're wealthy people. We have our home, and we have our farms and lands, and I abide with my people. So I don't desire anything. I don't want any reward, not even as much as a thank you. The only thing, I just done that in respects of God, the God that you serve. And I know that He's with you. And I'm just paying that my tribute to the God of heaven."

L-13 And when Gehazi came back with such a message to his master, the prophet... And Gehazi kinda put a little secret in his ear, and said, "You know, she's old, and her husband is old. And they don't have any children. And I believe it would be a bless-full thing, while that anointing's on you, if you would just say to her she's going to have a baby."
So Elijah said, "Go call her."
And she stood in the door, and he said, "THUS SAITH THE LORD, you're going to embrace a child." And after the appropriate time of such things, God gave her a sweet little boy.

L-14 How little Bartimaeus' eyes would look up to mommy as she told of the power of God Who could give that barren woman a child. I just imagine that little Jewish mother put emphasis on that part, "How that the great Jehovah God, that gave that woman that sweet little boy to love, gave you to me, Bartimaeus." Oh, that's the way to teach them. "He gave me a sweet little boy, and it's you, Bartimaeus."
Oh, he'd put his little arms around that loving little mother and kiss her. And then she'd say, "Now, Bartimaeus, now, you try to go to sleep while I'm telling you the rest of the story." And she'd rock him back and forth in her arms.
And here he was now, old and wrinkled, and blind, and miserable, and an outcast to the public and societies, and seemed like no one cared for him. What a miserable place to get in. But remember, there's One Who cares. I don't care what condition you're in; there's One Who cares. He was watching Bartimaeus.


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