Please read II Kings 4:1-7 and the Women in Christ commentary The Wife of a Man from the Company of the Prophets to prepare for this study.

Part I The Example of the wife of a Man from the Company of the Prophets

1. II Kings 4:1; 2:9-14, 21-22, 24;3:15-20 Why do you think this widow went to Elisha with her problem?
 
 
 
 
 

2. Deuteronomy 10:18; Exodus 22:22-24 What specific promise did God make toward widows and orphans?
 
 
 
 
 

3. II Kings 4:3-6 What specific instructions did Elisha give the widow and her sons? How did she express her faith and hope? What was the result?
 
 
 
 
 

4. II Kings 4:7 After she had followed Elisha’s instructions, what further instruction did he give? What would require faith on her part in this instruction?
 
 
 
 
 
 

5. How could you apply what you learned from this account to your own life?
 
 
 
 
 
 

Part II Whatever You Ask in my Name

1. John 16:33; Matthew 5:10-12; Revelation 2:8-11; I Corinthians 10:12-13 What advantage does a Christian have in a world full of trouble?
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. John 14:15-18; John 3:3-8; I John 3:1-3 Who will Jesus not leave as orphans?
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. Matthew 6:25-34; 19:29; Romans 12:1-2 When God frees us from worry and anxiety over meeting our physical needs, on what does he free us to focus our attention?
 
 
 
 
 
 

4. Matthew 6:11; 7:7-12; Luke 11:5-13; James 5:13-20; James 1:5-8; 4:1-3; Isaiah 59:1-2; II Corinthians 12:7-10    Is “Ask and you shall receive” an unconditional promise? If you believe it is, explain why? If you believe this is a conditional promise, give your reasons. Please base your answers on the Scriptures.
 
 
 
 
 
 

5. John 16:23-28 By custom, we often close our prayers with, “In Jesus’ name we pray.” But Jesus meant something more by “whatever you ask in my name” than giving a form for prayer. What does “in Jesus’ name” mean? [Editors note: Looking up “name” in a Bible reference material such as, a Greek Dictionary of the New Testament included in The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible copyright 2001 by Thomas Nelson Publishers can be helpful.]
 
 
 
 
 

6. Luke 11:13; 12:22-34; II Peter 1:3-11; John 3:16-21 What does God long to give those who believe and accept Jesus as the Son of God and their Lord and Savior? How does God meeting your general physical needs or specific need of the moment bring about God’s ultimate spiritual goal for you?
 
 
 
 
 

7. James 1:9-11; 2:1-7; 5:1-11; I Timothy 6:6-11, 17-19 What is an appropriate biblical Christian perspective on riches and poverty?
 
 
 
 
 

8. Matthew 19:21-26; Proverbs 30:7-9 What obstacles to trust and obedience toward God do you see in both conditions of poverty and wealth? How can we avoid stumbling over those obstacles in either circumstance?
 
 
 
 
 

9. Hebrews 4:14-16; 11:6, 11; I John 4:16 Why can we fully put our trust in our Father in heaven to provide fully for our true needs?
 
 
 
 
 
 

10. Luke 3:14; Philippians 4:11-13; Hebrews 13:5-6; I Timothy 6:6; II Corinthians 10:5 Whatever our circumstances, what spiritually mature characteristic does God want us to develop? How can we allow God to build this quality into our attitudes and actions?