Two Sticks
Pastor Ken Crow
1 Corinthians 1:18 (King James Version)
18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
This morning we will refer back to our text from last Sunday found in 1st Kings chapter 17 concerning the miracle of the barrel of meal and the cruse of oil. In that scripture we find a statement that was made by the widow.
1 Kings 17:12 (King James Version)
12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
The two sticks in this message as I said last week represent the cross. Notice the specific nature of the Word of God here on the number of sticks.
With that in mind this morning let’s look at the importance of the two sticks in this account.
The two sticks were to serve multiple purposes.
1. The two sticks were essential for the preparing of the bread.
The cross this morning is essential for our miracle.
The cross this morning is essential for our victory.
The cross this morning is essential for preparing us for eternal life with Jesus.
In fact God made the way through the cross and the only way for our sins to be forgiven.
Many life experts may try to convince you and I that there is other ways to have a full existence in this life but truly the only way is to be prepared for life through accepting what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross at Calvary.
The uses for two sticks that the widow woman had in her hand were multiple but one thing they were for was to knead the meal. To break up the meal into a powdery state of which the cake could be made,
All preparation was made at Calvary for the perfect sacrifice. All preparation was made at the cross for our salvation, our healing, our peace and our transgressions.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ and his death on the cross as savior and truth then you are saved!
Isaiah 53:4-6 (King James Version)
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
2.The two sticks were for stirring the meal and what oil or water she would need to add.
To reconcile some moisture with the dry substance.
Colossians 1:20 (King James Version)
20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
We are reconciled to God by way of the cross.
God was setting up a way to reunite us with him by choosing the cross for his sacrifice.
Colossians 2:14 (King James Version)
14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Ephesians 2:14-16 (King James Version)
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
The cross made it possible that we can now have the Holy Spirit blended into this natural man or woman.
Matthew 27:51 (King James Version)
51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Before the cross man and God were separated for the most part. But now by a living and better way we can have access to God and he has access to us through the Holy Spirit.
Am I saying that without the cross there is no way God can communicate with me?
Without the cross there is no access to God. When the Holy Spirit deals with a lost person it is for one reason and that reason is to draw them to the cross where reconciliation can be made.
3. The two sticks in the widows hand were for scraping even the bottom of the barrel in an attempt to get every speck of meal she could garner.
I like that line in that song Brother Kevin often sings about reaching way down for me.
It even says something that pertained to me at one time, and that is he reached way, way down for me.
The cross made grace possible.
The cross still makes grace possible today.
The widow was planning to have to get every grain out of the barrel. She new that some of the meal would cling to the two sticks as she reached down into that barrel . Oh she thought if she could just get every speck.
If one little grain would cling to the sticks it would not be rejected!
Ephesians 2:7-9 (King James Version)
7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
4. Last but not least, the two sticks would kindle a fire .
There will be no fire of the Holy Ghost without the cross!
Matthew 3:11 (King James Version)
11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
God Bless and Amen
