Hope For The Hopeless

Hope for the Hopeless

August 13, 2017 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Jesus Christ gives hope for those who have no hope.

Focus Passage: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Supplemental Passage: And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NASB)

Introduction: The school system in a large city had a program to help children keep up with their school work during stays in the city's hospitals. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child's name and room number and talked briefly with the child's regular class teacher. "We're studying nouns and adverbs in his class now," the regular teacher said, "and I'd be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn't fall too far behind."

The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, "I've been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs." When she left she felt she hadn't accomplished much.

But the next day, a nurse asked her, "What did you do to that boy?" The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. "No, no," said the nurse. "You don't know what I mean. We've been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He's fighting back, responding to treatment. It's as though he's decided to live."

Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: "They wouldn't send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?" Bits & Pieces, July 1991.

I. The Hopeless Situation

a. The widow and her son had nothing

b. In her mind, there was no hope; she and her son would soon starve to death

c. What is your hopeless situation? Are you only looking through your eyes and not the eyes of God? Are you looking at your situation instead of looking at God?

II. The Hapless Request

a. A stranger comes along and asks for water, then for a little bread

b. The widow wasn’t being snarky when she balked at his request; she was letting him know their situation

c. In the midst of your situation, has someone made a request of you that seems out of place?

d. Perhaps the request will have benefit for you, too.

III. The Hopeful Promise

a. Elijah shared what God had said about the situation

b. The widow believed and obeyed

c. What promise from God’s word can you cling to?

d. How can God get glory from your situation?

e. How can your situation help others?

Application/Invitation: When the widow obeyed, she and her son were saved from starvation. We may not understand our circumstances, but we always have HOPE! The hope we have in Jesus Christ cannot be taken away by the government, by thieves, by demons, or by any other means! NOTHING can separate us from the Love of Christ who gave Himself for us! When we think we are without hope, seek out what God’s word has to say about it. His Word is true and His promises never fail.