From The Mouth Of A Raven

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1 –

Title: “From The Mouth of A Raven”

Introduction: Elijah; what comes to mind when you hear this name?

· Elijah was the most exciting prophet of the Old Testament.

· He appeared suddenly as God’s spokesman during a time when there was a tremendous need for a great spirit but also great deeds!

· The people were experiencing a conflict between true worship of God and the worship of the idol god Baal.

· God displayed His mighty power through this prophet with one miraculous event after another to defeat the forces of Baal.

· Elijah predicts 3 1/2 years of drought and then God instructs Elijah to go and hid out from the enemy.

· Seldom does God tell us to hide.

· When God takes over and has to execute judgment His people often feel the same effect, as do the wicked.

· Even though Elijah went right to the very place where God told him to hide, he still felt the severity of the draught!

· God permits His people to go through things that cause them to have to go to Him in prayer and faith to be able to survive.

· IN Elijah’s case he began to feel the harshness of the draught!

· God told Elijah He would send the ravens to feed him during the draught. v. 4

· In Luke 12:24 Jesus said, “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”

· An unclean bird – a bird that fed on dead and decaying things – compares to the buzzard.

· Noah sent out a raven from the ark after the flood and it never returned. (Found something to eat)

· A raven was what God sent to bring food to Elijah to sustain him.

· What do you think was between the teeth of the raven that brought food to the man of God?

GOD CARES FOR RAVENS!

· If God takes care of ravens will He not take care of you? “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”

· How much more will God take care of you?

· Don’t worry; God will without a doubt take care or you!

· This ought to encourage you not to worry.

· Even though Elijah was where God wanted him the brook dried up!

GOD HELPS HIS PEOPLE WITH RAVENS

· God told the ravens to feed His people. (God sends ravens!)

· God uses ravens to feed His people. (God sends ravens)

· Out of the mouth of a filthy raven God sent sweet morsels to sustain the prophet Elijah.

· Abishai (one of the relatives of Saul), cursed King David as they traveled along the road. “Let me cut off his head”, said one of David’s soldiers. But David said to let him curse him for maybe the Lord would bless him for allowing him to curse him. 2 Sam. 16:12

· Think about the times you were driven to your knees in prayer because of the filthy buzzards that came against you.

· Think about the victories you have won as the result.

GOD USES RAVENS

· Many times God passes over the Robin Redbreast, the Blue Bird, the Dove, and chooses a Raven instead to do His bidding.

· When God gets hold of an old raven and begins to use him great things happens.

· “You can do it!” – “You can do it!” – “You can do it!”

· “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” `+Phil. 4:13