I Kings 17: 8-13
1. For the past 5 Sundays I have been preaching a series on Elijah and the Lessons learned
Remember the Apostle James says Elijah was a man subject to like passions just like we are- yet God used him to turn a nation back to God…
Some time ago I preached a message on Elijah titled a little piece of cake
I want to conclude our series on Elijah with this same scripture but perhaps in a different way
2. Notice the line in vs 13…“Make me thereof a little cake first.”
That short line says it all. ….It contains a spiritual lesson for all generations forever
In vs 8 God told Elijah I have commanded a widow woman to sustain you..
God spoke it but notice the Widow Woman didn't know that God was going to use her...
She would be the vessel God used to sustain Elijah….and she & her son would receive blessings also for 2 years
Right now God may be intending to use you to accomplish something outstanding
I think of the church FOM are building in Africa….who knows what will come from that church….another great man or woman of God….a revival that will shake the nations
...Who knows how God will sustain his work by using you right now…right where you are….with what you have in your hand
3. And Elijah wasn't even sure if the woman he was talking to was indeed the
woman God was sending him to
Elijah sees a woman there gathering sticks to cook her last little meal
He asks her for a drink of water….no one denied a stranger a drink of water in those days….(Elieazar asked Rebecca to draw water for his camels when he was seeking a bride for Isaac)
She responded favorable and went to get Elijah some water…while she was going Elijah says...Oh and by the way give me the bread that is in your hand
4. Her reply lets Elijah know she knows God…She says: As the Lord God Liveth…
Then Elijah learns about her poverty……..I don't have a cake….
A little handful of meal in a barrel And a little oil is all I have
..As she goes on she mentions her son….no husband
ELIJAHA KNOWS IT IS HER BY HER OWN TESTIMONY AND PROMISES THAT GOD GAVE TO HIM THAT GOD HIMSELF WILL BLESS HER …IF SHE GIVES HIM FIRST THE WATER AND SMALL CAKE
Notice something here ….because it is how God always works…..Without faith it is impossible to please God
1. There was more than appeared on the surface in this request,
But it was not revealed until the request itself was acted upon
A great miracle came to the woman who heard and then acted upon what she heard.
And this story is a miniature picture of how God so often works in the lives of his people
And the miracle that this woman received hundreds of years ago….still repeats its self repeatedly again today .
2. Look at the situation in which this great miracle unfolds
It was a time of great depression
The preacher, Elijah, had been miraculously provided with food by the birds of the air, (Ravens)
He was given drink from the cool waters of the brook.
One day both these sources of supply closed and God sent His servant to a widow.
3. It wasn’t an easy journey for Elijah.
Ahab, the wicked king had placed a reward upon the prophets head.
It was a gloomy situation at best ….
The widow had collected the last of her supplies.
It was to be a farewell meal for herself and her son.
Starvation was in the land.
How could she possibly feed another mouth?
The demand seems unreasonable.
A grown hungry man, weary from travel, would take all she had…knowing it was
her last meal
4. I think she eyed Elijah really closely
Is this man really a prophet of God…Am I being foolish to trust him
Really….how dare he ask for me and my sons last bit of food
He doesn’t have that right to make such a demand?
She and her child needed the food even more than he.
5. Notice that Elijah never gave her a word of sympathy or sorrow.
Instead, he says, “Make me thereof a little cake first.”
Sounds a little arrogant …..What man could look at a starving child and his widowed mother, and make such a demand.
6. She had to make a decision……She faced a command that required obedience!
And in the end it was her obedience that saved her life.
What lessons are there in this incident for us today? I believe there many …but I want to look at three.
First, he asked for a cake.
He might have made many requests.
He might have asked for venison. …..She would have replied: “I cannot supply it. I have no means to secure it.”
Had it been me I would have asked for steak and potatoes
Elijah might have asked for fruit. She could have pointed to the withered orchards and wasted vines.
He made no request for luxury or delicacy or for something she couldn't produce…He asked for what she had
7. Nothing was required except simple obedience.
She could not say honestly: “I cannot do it.
She could not say "I don’t have the means. ….I don’t know how.”
She could refuse and give her reason, but his request was within her ability to grant.
She could wrestle with her fear.
She could form her own opinion of the person who dared to ask.
She could show shock at his request.
She could comment on the conditions of the nation.
She could gripe and complain about her misfortune. These were her prerogatives.
But she could not say that she did not have oil and meal.
God will only ask you to do what is possible for you to do… Remember that!
So many refuse the call of God on the grounds of inability.
# The man who hid his one talent said “I knew thee that thou art an austere (hard) man, reaping where thou hast
not sown, and gathering where thou has not strewed: and I was afraid” (Matthew 25:24, 25).
What was he saying is…God your to hard….you’re an austere man
You expect far to much of me….you reap where you didn't sow….your hard and unfair So I hid my talent
That is a smear upon God….that is your unbelief talking….
God never asks a person to do what they are not capable of doing
He may shake you and move you outside your comfort zone….but He’s just trying to show you…………… the YOU he knows you can be
...
Christ does not make an unreasonable claim upon you, ….God simply asks you to use what you have. …He asks you to give it to him and let him use it for His glory
# God asked Moses "What's that in your hand"
# Sampson had a jawbone of an ass….he gave it to God and slew hundreds
of Philistines
# A small boy had a little lunch…he gave it to Jesus….they fed thousands
and 12 baskets full were left over
# This widow woman gave he last meal to God and she was feed for 2 full
Years
# Peter gave Jesus his boat to preach in along the shore….He got it back
with fish over-flowing a short time later
# Joseph gave Jesus His costly tomb…but guess what …he got it back again
GIVE GOD WHATEVER HE ASKS OF YOU…..AND HE WILL GIVE IT BACK
And you will never be on the short end of the stick…never!
God asks for your love. That is something you have. You are bestowing it every hour of the day.
You love your television set….You love your job….You love your favorite sports team…You love your dog……You love your cat…. You love your kids ….You love to hunt & fish. So, God asks for your love. GOD SAYS LOVE ME…
God asks for your trust. That is something you have.
Some will tell you how hard it is to trust God
You trust your body to the doctor. ….You trust your letters to the mailbox.
You trust your health to the water department of your city.
You trust your life to the pilot of some jet aircraft (that you have never me).
So, God asks for your trust.
God asks for your repentance. That is something you have.
You can say, “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
You say it when you dial the wrong phone number. ..ooops I'm sorry I have the wrong number
When you have a fight with a loved one you say I'm sorry…I was wrong
You say it when your late for an appointment…
So, God asks you for repentance.
God knows what you can do and what you can not do ….. judgment will be on that basis.
Before God makes a demand on you, He knows what you can do and what you cannot do.
II. Second, he asked for a little cake. …God is never greedy.
That is a lie that hell peddles with a great deal of success…-that heaven is greedy.
Elijah measured his request by the size of the widow’s possessions.
1. Look at that dollar in your hand! How much does God ask?….
He asks for ten percent…..the smallest part of it…… ‘a little cake.”…..that is in your hand…He gives you 90%
2. Look at that calendar on your wall! How much does God ask? He asks for just
one full day out of every seven to come together to worship him….“a little cake.”
God is sympathetic. …God cares about your welfare
That is a marvelous discovery.
Listen to this in Matthew 6:33 Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all “These things shall be added unto you”).
Is that so difficult ….There are no outrageous demands.
Listen to I Corinthians 10:13
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able-, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”). There is always a solution.
God never makes unrealistic demands
God knows what we have. …..He asks only for “a little cake.”
III. Third, he asked for the little cake first. …..The emphasis is here, first.
I'm sure this woman was awe struck by the word FIRST
It would be coming to visit you at your house
You tell me all you problems…how tight it is in your house-hold
How you lost you job and the electric is off and the phone has been disconnected
How you have one little piece of fish left for you and your children and then its all over
THEN I say to you…Go fix it really nice and bring it to me first…before you or your family eats….insensitive or what…….Wow…what will you do
God asks you to give to him the little you have FIRST
1. But wait a minute You ask, “I’m on social security-how can I give?”
The answer is in this text: “Make me thereof a little cake first.’
You ask: “I work six days a week and Sunday is the only day I have for my family-why should I go to church?” …The same answer applies.
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching
2. You ask: “The children's schedules are so tight, with school and music lessons and extra assignments-how can I find time for a regular family altar?”
Put God first! There’ll always be enough time for other things-…..always.
3. The triumph of the gospel lies here. The victory is won when selfishness is buried.
It is when we trust; that God will never let you down,
He is able to provide for you and me ……He is abundantly able to take care of you.
4. This woman faced a crucial decision. ….think about it
We say now with much hind-site what’s the big deal…..obviously she should have known God would supply her every need
But the real question here was Should she hand over her entire life?
Should she place in trust her entire life to God.
5. This unknown simple widow woman, obscure and worried about her tiny,
shrinking personal world, might have moved on, unknown.
But she made the biggest decision of her life in handing over to Another,… in an act of complete trust, what seemed absolutely necessary to keep her alive a little longer. …………… That decision brought her fame.
Her experience has blessed millions.
That is what God wants you to do with your life and opportunity-…place it in trust to Him.
6. There is only one way to secure divine favor. Place God first.
Business is important, but God’s claim is more important.
Accumulation and investment are needful, …..but regard for God’s demand is more needful.
An argument or procrastination will only destroy you.
The widow obeyed and found security. …There was always enough.
She exchanged a life of worry for a life of praise-
A life of scratching out a living ….for God’s care and provision.
God gave her far more than she had ever given to Him. You will find that it works that way.
Bow your heads
1. God is asking you today to give him FIRST
He created you and set his spirit within you…it is calling to you now
Will you yield your life to him and let him have complete control
Will you stop running and let Jesus take total control of your life
Please come to this altar and say…Lord I give you what I can…me
Just as I am with all my problems and such I give you me…take control
2. he is not asking you to give what you can not give
..Your life…your trust….your repentance…saying I'm sorry
..Your Time ….
3. Your investment into his Kingdom First
Will you trust him….It's up to you
