<TITLE>12. Par 40-43</TITLE>L-40 And he used to think of how he cherished the little Bible stories she would tell him before he went off to sleep, as she would finally pull him up in her bosom and rock him to sleep. And one of the stories that he used to like, was the story that I was just referring to awhile ago, of the little boy that Elijah raised up from the dead.
How his mother used to quote that story to him, and say, "Bartimaeus, there was a great woman; she was a Shunammite; and she lived down in Shuna. And she had faith in a servant of God called Elijah, that great mighty prophet. And he came by her house quite often."
"And one day, she said to her husband, 'We perceive that this man who comes by this way is a holy man. He's a great man, because God works great signs and wonders through him. So I pray thee, let us show favor to him by building us--on the side of our house (building for him, rather) a little house that he might stop and would rest.'"

L-41 Now I can imagine her saying to Bartimaeus, "You see, Bartimaeus, we are supposed to treat all people good. We're not supposed to be evil to any one, and especially we are to honor and respect the household of God. So this woman... She was sure that this man that visited with her was a great, mighty prophet of the Lord."
And so, her husband consented to it. And when Elijah and Gehazi, his servant, came by again, there was a nice little room built out to itself by the side of the wall, a little pitcher with some water in it, and a little bed, and a footstool, and a place for him to rest. He was on his road to a cave up at Mount Carmel, where he went to fast and pray during certain days like new moons and holidays, before the prophet spake in the streets.

L-42 And when Elijah came in and seen all this that this kind woman had done, why, he sent Gehazi in and said, "Go ask her 'What could we do for her?' I'm a personal friend to the chief captain, and I'll also speak with the king. Could I speak in her behalf?"
And when Elijah asked her this, why, she said, "No, I abide with my people." And oh, she was a wealthy woman; they had need of nothing. They'd... She'd just done it out of the goodness of her heart. And that's the way you're supposed to do anything when you do it for God: Do it from the goodness of your heart. When you give anything, give it from your heart. If you can't do that, then don't do it, 'cause your gift won't be respected to God. And just do it out of the goodness of your heart.

L-43 Well... And when the servant came back and said to the prophet, "Well, she needs nothing; everything's all right with her. But I'll tell you one thing: She's getting a little aged, and her husband is an elderly man, and they don't have any children."
No doubt but what the prophet saw a vision, because no prophet (or anyone else) ever done anything of the Lord, for the Lord like that, except it be by a vision. Now remember, that's right. Find any place in the Scripture or anywhere; it's always first, God tells them. If God... Man can't do nothing at random; he's a servant to God.
Even Jesus Christ said, "I do nothing in Myself. But what I see the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise." (Saint John 5:19.) And if the Son of God could do nothing without the Father showing Him first, how much less could we without God showing us first? Therefore, we boldly jump into things sometime not knowing what we're doing. But when God gives a vision, and speaks, and shows exactly what He's going to do, it's just a drama to act it out; that's all. Because God's going to do it; He's already said so, so that takes care of it.


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