THE SHUNAMMITE WOMAN AND THE BENEFITS OF FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL

A story is told of a stingy man who once attended a church service. He was happy through the entire course of the church proceedings until the time of offerings came. As the offering tray was passed along from one person to the other under the watchful eyes of the church ushers, this man began to contemplate about what he should place in the offering tray. He thought about the coins and the fat wad of cash in his wallet. Being a miser and not wanting to be embarrassed, he decided to throw in a coin or two just to appease his conscience. He had forgotten that his monthly salary that he had just picked from the ATM machine the previous day was not fully secure in his wallet. Accidentally this wad of cash fell out of his wallet and out of his back pocket onto the floor behind him. Just as the offertory tray arrived in front of him, he reached into his jacket pocket and threw in two coins while smiling. Before he had time to pass the offertory tray, someone tapped his shoulder from the back. The brother behind him held out the wad of cash to him and the miser, thinking that he was beckoning to him to help him deposit his offering in the tray, did not hesitate to place the wad of cash into the offering tray. He placed the wad of cash into the offering tray without hesitation, knowing in his mind that he was just helping out the gentleman behind him. After the offering tray had passed to another aisle, the gentleman behind him explained that the wad of cash had actually dropped out of the man’s pocket and he was just handing it back to him. That is when it dawned upon the miser that he had glumly placed his own wallet’s contents into the offering tray. He thought of asking the usher if he could retrieve the money but decided against it. That is how the miser ended up becoming a bountiful giver, alas in an unwitting way.

True Greatness Comes From Financial Partnership

The story of this miser is in direct contrast to the story that we shall study here about the great woman from Shunem. Even today we have misers who make fun of God’s financial system. However when we understand that God’s system is superior to man’s system as far as the heavens are higher than the earth, then we shall surely stick to God’s way. We are introduced to the Shunammite woman in the second book of Kings.

“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was A GREAT WOMAN; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.” (2 Kings 4:8)

The story of the Shunammite woman is set in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. By this time the nation of Israel was divided into the Southern kingdom of Judah and the Northern kingdom of Israel. Shunem is situated 20 miles from Mount Carmel which was the headquarters of Prophet Elisha’s ministry. This woman is referred to as being great, which is not by coincidence. Jesus emphasized that the greatest among you shall be the servant of all (Matthew 23:11). This woman was called great and became great because she chose to financially partner with and support the ministry of the man of God. Today many people are striving for greatness while neglecting the very way to prosperity that lies in financial partnership. This woman was not a grudging giver but she sought out the man of God and literally had to force him to come and dine at her house. She constrained him to have a meal at her house whenever he was in the vicinity because she knew the blessing that rose out of supporting God’s work. Apostle Paul encourages us to give and partner not out of necessity but willingly (2Cor 9:7).

The Prophet’s Chamber

2 Kings 4:9-10

(9)  And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

(10)  Let us make A LITTLE CHAMBER, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

The Shunammite woman was so passionate about supporting God’s work that her passion became infectious to her entire household. Ideally her husband was a worshipper of Jehovah but he was stirred into supporting Jehovah’s cause financially by the influence of his wife. The Shunammite proposed that they construct a Prophet’s chamber that would be used by Prophet Elisha whenever he was ministering in that area. She even went ahead to furnish the chamber with all the furniture that would enable the man of God to spend his time there in comfort. This is in contrast to many believers today who even when they give, merely try to skim out the bare minimum to appear that they have also given or contributed to the fundraising activity of the church.

The Shunammite woman received God’s best because she was determined to give God her best. This was literally a gift that kept on giving because as long as the man of God was coming to that area to minister, his accommodation was always reserved. I heard one man of God called Dr. Leroy Thompson describing how he set up a prophet’s chamber attached to his mansion. He said that he had to make sure that he constructed a well-furnished residence for any visiting minister or Pastor who was coming to visit him or preach in his church. It is my conviction that every believer should put a Prophet’s chamber into consideration as they construct their houses to reap the benefits of financial partnership in the ministry both in this world and in the world to come.

The Harvest Must Come

2 Kings 4:13

(13)  And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; WHAT IS TO BE DONE FOR THEE? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

A time came called the “fullness of time” in God’s calendar. Prophet Elisha called forth the Shunammite woman on a certain day that he had come to stay at the Prophet’s chamber. He literally asked what kind of harvest she wanted, without mincing words. The Prophet’s chamber was the seed or financial partnership that the great woman in Shunem contributed towards God and His work. What happens when you sow a seed into God’s kingdom? Every farmer knows the answer. When you sow a seed you expect a harvest to come back to you (Gal 6:7). The woman did not ask for any specific favour from the man of God, but she did receive a harvest anyway. We are now going to examine the benefits of the financial partnership that the Shunammite woman reaped.

BENEFIT 1: Healing From Bareness

2 Kings 4:14-15

(14)  And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

(15)  And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

Even when the Shunammite woman did not present any specific request to Prophet Elisha, the man of God went on to probe further. His quick witted servant called Gehazi had already figured out that there was no child in the house. Gehazi also pointed out that her husband was old. This was a couple that had spent their entire youth together looking for a child but could not have one and was now in their old age. It is interesting to note that the woman herself did not ask for a healing miracle. Even today, when someone partners financially with the gospel, God automatically meets them at the point of their need without them having to present a whole shopping list in prayer. That is why you will discover that those who pray a lot but do not tithe or sow financially into the gospel are frequently in financial lack. This is not to say that prayer is wrong since Jesus does tell us to ask, seek and knock in prayer. However we see this principle repeated throughout the scriptures. King Solomon who became the richest man in his day had just made a sacrifice of a thousand bullocks to God (1 Kings 3:4). The very same night God appeared to him and asked Solomon what he wanted. King Solomon asked for wisdom but God still gave him riches because the law of seedtime and harvest could not fail. God was not moved by the Shunammite or King Solomon’s financial need but He was moved by their seed.

2 Kings 4:16-17

(16)  And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

(17)  And THE WOMAN CONCEIVED, AND BARE A SON at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

Elisha boldly prophesied to this woman who was past the age of menopause that she would have a child in the next year. The seed of financial partnership had spoken so loudly on behalf of the Shunammite in heaven that even her remonstrations could not stop her from being healed of bareness. She became pregnant in her advanced age and gave birth to a son just as the man of God had prophesied.

You may be surprised about the connection between the financial seed that the Shunammite had sown and the healing that she received. The financial seed that a believer sows towards the gospel is not a way of purchasing healing. Rather it is the method of opening the windows of heaven and acts as a point of contact to receive every other benefit of God’s covenant including healing, protection and financial provision among others. God promises in Malachi 3:10-11 that when His people are faithful to give Him the tithes and offerings he will pour out the blessing and also rebuke the devourer from their lives. Their offering was not a payment for healing, however since their offering removed the devilish devourer out of their lives, all the devourer’s afflictions including bareness and sickness had to go as well. Satan is the source of all sickness (Acts 10:38) and when God’s people obey Him by participating in the preaching of the gospel through financial partnership, they eat the good of the land including healing.

One of the pioneers of the seed principle who “re-dug the wells” after this principle lay in obscurity for hundreds of years was Evangelist Oral Roberts. He passed on to heaven a number of years ago but the University that bears His name, Oral Roberts University is still standing. He had a very powerful evangelistic and healing ministry that stretched from the late 1940s for many decades. He encouraged those who came seeking for healing in his tent revivals to sow financially as a point of contact to receive their healing miracles. Sure enough, as many of the sick gave in their seed of faith, they received instant healing miracles. God is ready to do the same today as His children obey Him by participating in the financial partnership ministry by faith.

BENEFIT 2: Resurrection Power

2 Kings 4:18-20

(18)  And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

(19)  And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

(20)  And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

Tragedy struck in the household of the Shunammite woman. After receiving a miracle child, the family was so happy but the devil had other plans. When the child was grown, he died suddenly of what appears to be a heat stroke. Their only child that they had begotten in their old age was dead. Most people who are not sowers would consider that to be the end of the matter. The Shunammite woman did not consider this to be a closed chapter. She knew that this child had been born as a harvest from her seed and she believed the seed was yet to bring forth a larger harvest.

2 Kings 4:21-22

(21)  And she went up, and LAID HIM ON THE BED OF THE MAN OF GOD, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

(22)  And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

Notice where she laid the dead body of her child. She did not go out to buy a coffin or dig a grave for her son but instead laid the body in the Prophet’s Chamber on the Prophet’s bed. She placed the child’s body by faith on her very seed that she had sown towards God’s work many years ago. As a sower whenever you are faced with a crisis do not panic. King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and started to remind God of the seeds he had sown towards His kingdom and that is when Prophet Isaiah turned back and declared that God had added 15 years to his life. The Shunammite woman set off on a faith journey to the dwelling of Prophet Elisha because she had faith for a resurrection miracle through the same ministry where she had sown her financial partnership seed.

Her husband was surprised that she was going to visit Prophet Elisha yet it was not a big holiday like “Easter” or “Christmas”. She simply assured him that, “It is well” with the eyes of faith (2 Cor 5:7). She never used the carnal vision and never told him that their child was dead. She told her servant to drive the donkey at the fastest possible speed to Mount Carmel. When Prophet Elisha saw her afar off, he sent Gehazi to inquire how everything was with herself, her husband and her child. Though the child was dead, she answered him by faith, “It is well”.  Finally Prophet Elisha got to know that her child was dead. He sent out Gehazi with a staff and instructions to lay the staff upon the face of the child. The unbelieving Gehazi failed to achieve any miracle. Prophet Elisha finally set off with the woman back to her home and straight to the location of the child’s body, in the partnership seed of the Prophet’s chamber.

2 Kings 4:34-35

(34)  And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and THE FLESH OF THE CHILD WAXED WARM.

(35)  Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and THE CHILD OPENED HIS EYES.

Finally the Shunammite received her miracle harvest and her son was resurrected from the dead. She never forgot that the child came as a result of her financial partnership with Prophet Elisha. Her child was resurrected and presented to her in the very room which she had constructed for the benefit of God’s work. I am convinced that even today many financial partners shall tap into the resurrection power through participating in the ministry of financial partnership. You will also remember that Dorcas was raised from the dead partly because she was a great giver when she was alive (Acts 9:36-40). The disciples at Joppa sent an express party to summon Apostle Peter upon Dorcas’ death. When Apostle Peter arrived, the first sight that he saw was the widows showing him the garments that Dorcas sowed into their lives while she was alive. Dorcas’ seed spoke for her even beyond the grave. This same resurrection power shall be seen in the world today as financial partners take their place in the ranks of God’s army.

BENEFIT 3: Prophetic Revelation

2 Kings 8:1-2

(1)  Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for THE LORD HATH CALLED FOR A FAMINE; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

(2)  And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

God knows the end from the beginning and is not surprised by events as they unfold. This knowledge of the future is not available to everyone. In the Old Testament in particular God would reveal his secrets and future events to the Prophets (Amos 3:7). Jesus Christ made it clear that anyone who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward (Mat 10:41). This means that since the Shunammite woman received Prophet Elisha and built him a Prophet’s Chamber, in God’s reckoning she was due to receive a Prophet’s reward. The best reward Prophet Elisha could give her was to release prophetic revelation about the future that God had already revealed to him.

Since this woman had taken the trouble of supporting the servants of Jehovah, He was obliged to reveal to her a way out of the impending famine. The Shunammite woman and her entire household were warned about the coming seven year famine and made adequate preparation by relocating for its duration to the land of the Philistines. Again we should not misconstrue this to imply that she bought a prophecy from the man of God. She was not the only one in the Old Testament who received prophetic revelation after sowing a financial seed. We see the case of Saul who was traversing the land in search of his father’s lost donkeys together with his servant. After looking in vain for the donkeys they finally came up with a plan to use the prophetic gift upon Prophet Samuel to help them recover the donkeys. “Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, WHAT SHALL WE BRING THE MAN? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I HAVE HERE AT HAND THE FOURTH PART OF A SHEKEL OF SILVER: THAT WILL I GIVE TO THE MAN OF GOD, TO TELL US OUR WAY” (1 Samuel 9:7-8). Today’s Christians first come with their entitlement mentality to receive prophecies and blessings from men of God. However note the contrast with Saul and his servant where the first thing they thought of before even speaking to the man of God was to present a gift or seed of faith in expectation of receiving a prophetic word. It is true that some unscrupulous men of God today have made merchandise of God’s gifts by demanding for money in exchange for prayer and releasing blessings. However, the presence of extremists does not negate God’s Word and the power of the seed in receiving the prophet’s reward. Every well taught Christian has to take this responsibility upon themselves to present a gift to the minister of God even before they come with their prayer requests and demands for miracles. However this should be done voluntarily and men of God should not demand this as a right but should teach the people to understand why this is important. If the people of the Old Testament had enough spiritual sense to prepare a financial gift for Prophet Samuel before expecting to receive prophecies, how much more those under the New Testament who have a responsibility to provide a living for those who preach the gospel (1 Cor 9:14).

As Edifire Ministries we have been holding Prophetic Partners Dinners where each of our ministry partners receives a personal prophetic Word upon their lives. This is in line with scriptures since anyone who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet should receive prophetic revelation which is the reward from the prophet (Mat 10:41).

BENEFIT 4: A Bountiful Financial Harvest

2 Kings 8:3

(3)  And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

We have seen in the previous section how the Shunammite woman and her household received a prophetic revelation concerning the coming 7 years famine. Her household relocated to the land of the Philistines but now the famine had elapsed and she had to return to her house. It is possible that encroachers had taken advantage of her absence to take over her house and land. Though it seemed that she was now in a lot of trouble, her financial partnership seed would speak on her behalf once again. Among all the benefits of sowing financial seed, the financial harvest is the one that many believers are familiar with. Thus it would be strange for us to see the Shunammite as a great sower but only receiving healing, resurrection and prophetic harvests. God has declared that every seed produces after its kind (Gen 1:12), likewise the financial seed of the Shunammite had to produce a financial harvest come hell or high-water.

2 Kings 8:4-5

(4)  And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.

(5)  And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, MY LORD, O KING, THIS IS THE WOMAN, AND THIS IS HER SON, WHOM ELISHA RESTORED TO LIFE.

What the carnal man may refer to as a coincidence, to a sower it is a divine appointment. The day that the Shunammite had chosen to appeal to the King for her property is the same day that King Joram of Israel was having a chat with Gehazi, the man at the centre of Prophet Elisha’s ministry. The King was having a wonderful time hearing about all the miracles that Prophet Elisha had performed straight from the inside source. The last miracle spoken by Gehazi just as the Shunammite’s feet hit the steps of the King’s palace was the resurrection of the Shunammite woman’s son. This was certainly no coincidence; the seed of the Prophetic Chamber was still producing a harvest. As the Shunammite walked into the King’s hall, Gehazi pointed to the woman and proclaimed that this was the living proof of Prophet Elisha’s miracle ministry. She could not have chosen a more appropriate time to present a petition to the King. This was certainly God’s divine timing to make sure that the sower receives their abundant harvest.

2 Kings 8:6

(6)  And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, RESTORE ALL THAT WAS HERS, AND ALL THE FRUITS OF THE FIELD SINCE THE DAY THAT SHE LEFT THE LAND, EVEN UNTIL NOW.

Wow! What a harvest! The king did not ask any further questions after the woman confirmed the tale, but simply commanded his minister to immediately restore the land and house of the Shunammite. All the power of the state was now at her disposal to drive off every encroacher from her property. I am sure any squatter on the property who saw the Shunammite woman and the King’s minister surrounded by horses and chariots coming from afar off packed their bags and fled in a hurry. The power of the seed will give you friends in high places as God’s favor descends upon your life. I believe many court cases are going to be won by financial partners in the ministry because of the favour released by the power of the financial seed towards the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Not only did the Shunammite recover her land and property, she got exceeding abundantly above her request. The King had his financial ministers to compute all the harvest that this woman had lost in the previous seven years. This is actually a harvest that she had not worked for but was granted to her by God’s financial anointing upon her life. The national treasury was now at her disposal as a sower in God’s kingdom. God promised to give the children of Israel houses and vineyards that they had not worked for (Deut 6:10-11) and this promise was being fulfilled in the life of a woman who chose to partner financially with God’s work. God says in His word that, “…the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” (Proverbs 13:22). I am confident that as financial partners rise up to stand with the great work of preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth that there shall be a supernatural wealth transferal into their lives from the hands of the wicked.

Stand in Financial Partnership and Believe God for your Harvest Today

Jesus Christ promised that anyone who sacrifices lands or resources towards the gospel shall receive a hundredfold reward, “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But HE SHALL RECEIVE AN HUNDREDFOLD NOW IN THIS TIME, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30). This reward is not just limited to heaven but will be manifested now in this time. As a financial partner in the gospel you should exercise faith in the words of Jesus Christ to believe God for your own hundredfold harvest. God is not moved by your need but He is moved by your seed. The Shunammite woman sowed a continuous seed into the life of Prophet Elisha and she received a continuous harvest even without praying and asking God for healing, resurrection, prophecies and financial breakthrough. Christians today ought to engage themselves more in the financial partnership ministry just like the Philippian church in the days of Apostle Paul.

The Philippian Church engaged in “koinonia” which is a Greek word translated as partnership or having a share in the ministry. The Philippians partnered on a consistent basis with Apostle Paul’s ministry (Phil 4:16). They made a conscious decision to give God their best and just like the Shunammite woman they constrained Apostle Paul to receive their partnership in distant cities by the hand of Epaphroditus (Phil 4:18). They even received spiritual benefits from Apostle Paul’s ministry just like the Shunammite received the prophetic anointing because Apostle told them that they were partakers of his grace or anointing (Phil 1:7). Since the Philippians were faithful to stand in financial partnership with his ministry, Apostle Paul assured them what his God would do, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). I believe in these last days God is raising up Christians who will follow in the footsteps of the Shunammite woman and the Philippian Church. Financial partners shall rise up who will not care about their current financial status but will boldly stand upon God’s promises to receive the hundredfold return.

I remember someone asking me how one of the brothers in our ministry had gotten a job in Bank of Uganda. The answer is that when he had come back from abroad after doing his Masters degree, he was broke, busted and disgusted. He met me one afternoon and told me his predicament and I prayed for him to get favour in getting a job. He did not stop at requesting for a blessing but chose to be a blessing to ministry. He decided to sow some of the little savings that he had come back with into the gospel as a seed. Sure enough within a short while his application at Bank of Uganda was accepted and he was given employment in the prestigious organization. He has continued to be promoted and is rising in the ranks because of the power of his seed and financial partnership. His testimony is among the many that we have received from our financial partners as God has opened financial doors for them around the world. Choose to be a part of what God is doing by partnering with the gospel today on a consistent basis. A ministry partner says, “I believe in what your ministry is doing and I want to be a part of it financially.” You will reap your hundredfold harvest rejoicing to high heavens!  (Psalms 126:6).

Yours in Christ,

APOSTLE EDWARD SSEWANYANA

Chairman Edifire Ministries,

Founder & General Overseer of Worldwide Apostolic Church