Malachi Wholly Committed Series

Testing God

13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.

1 Kings 17:13

Testing God

14 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’ ”

1 Kings 17:14

Testing God

15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

1 Kings 17:15-16

In the 1 Kings 17 a prophet named Elijah came to a widow’s house and asked for some food. It so happened that she had just a handful of flour and the jug of oil had just enough in the bottom to make one small cake. She was going to make it for her and her son… then being that this was all they had they fully expected to die.

The blessings come ONLY after the gift!

One of my favorite stories is of a single mother who was struggling to take care of her teenage son. She faithfully attended church and one particularly tough

week she gave her regular offering to God that Sunday and then later in the week noticed that her funds were down to nothing.

On Friday night her son came home from school to his mom crying. When he asked what was wrong she said that there were out of TP and they were so broke they couldn’t even buy one roll. It was too much and she just broke down.

They had a bowl of tomato soup for supper watched a little TV and went to bed. Before they went to sleep they prayed for God’s help.

The next morning the boy got up, looked out the front window and started laughing. The mom got up looked out and she started laughing too.

The son’s friends had TP’d their house during the night and there was toilet paper draped over the bushes and hanging from the trees. They both went out and gathered enough TP to last three months!

When you test God… he opens the windows of the heavens and pours out toilet paper!

Ok… let’s go back and ask the question. So what? What does the oracle of God through Malachi teach me today?

Don’t weary the Lord with Words

The Lord has come… for you

It’s easy to spend your life saying it isn’t fair. God didn’t give you a square deal. Before you can hear what God has to say to you, you have to stop talking. Just quit whining for a while and start listening. Here is what you’ll hear.

You are the reason he gave up the glory, the power, and the prerogatives of God and became a flesh and blood human being. You are the reason he came with the message of life and hope. You are the one he loves.

Remember that! It’s personal.

The Lord comes to refine and purify you

What was true in the time of Malachi and the temple is true today in your walk as a believer and follower of Jesus.

Jesus coming is a day of hope that is also one of dramatic power in your life. When Jesus comes everything changes.