You ever been broke? I mean really broke? She was and she couldn’t believe her ears! She was at the end of her rope. Life was hard enough for a widow in that day and age, but the drought that they had been experienceing had been the straw that broke the camels back. Well she should have been lucky enough to have a camel with a broken back. She was out of food, out of money and was so broke that she couldn’t even afford to pay attention. She had enough food at home to make one last meal, and she figured hey if we’re going to starve might as well have a hot meal first. So out she went to collect some fire wood and it was at that point that into her life comes the prophet Elizah, who like a typical preacher was asking for something. Now the first request was fairly simple, he said "Would you please bring me a cup of water?" Well, that wasn’t all that tough, even she could afford to give someone a drink of water, but as she turned to walk away it got a little tougher because he said "oh by the way could you grab me a sandwich as well" Her response to this man of God would not only have an immediate impact on her life but it would ultimately be a life changing impact.
MOTHERS DAY AND MOTHERS. A JEWISH PROVERB SAYS, "GOD COULD NOT BE EVERYWHERE SO HE MADE MOTHERS." THE SPANISH SAY, "AN OUNCE OF MOTHER IS WORTH A POUND OF CLERGY"
THINK ABOUT IT MOTHER IS THE NAME FOR GOD IN THE LIPS AND HEARTS OF LITTLE CHILDREN. BUT SIMPLY HAVING CHILDREN DOES NOT MAKE YOU A MOTHER. HAVING A CHILD IS SIMPLY A BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION. BEING A MOTHER IS AN ACT OF THE HEART. NAPOLEON SAID, "THE FUTURE DESTINY OF A CHILD IS THE WORK OF A MOTHER". I BELIEVE THAT MOTHERS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEART OF GOD.
And although we know very little about the woman who was written of in the scripture that Greg read this morning we do know that she was a mother and a very devoted mother. And because today is mother’s day I thought it fitting that I should preach on a mother, and not just any mother but a very special mother. And even though my mother is a very special mother I thought that using a mother from the Bible would be more a little more appropriate for church.
1) SHE WAS AN APPOINTED WOMAN. 1 Kings 17:9 "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food."
HERE IS A WOMAN ABOUT WHOM WE KNOW NOTHING, WE HAVE NO NAME TO CALL HER BY, WE DON’T KNOW HER AGE OF HER LINEAGE. NOTHING AND YET GOD USED HERE AS HIS INSTRUMENT TO PROVIDE FOR HIS PROPHET.
THIS WOMAN HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH DESTINY! SHE WAS CHOSEN FOR A SPECIFIC TASK, ACTUALLY TWO SPECIFIC TASKS. THE FIRST TO RAISE A SON, THE SECOND TO PROVIDE FOR ONE OF GOD’S SERVANTS. SHE HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT TO BE A MOTHER, BUT SHE ALSO HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT TO BE A MINISTER OF GOD. IT WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT SHE WAS CHOSEN TO MEET ELIJAH.
JUST AS THE ANGEL GABRIEL SAID TO MARY, "You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you." JUST AS MARY WAS CHOSEN, JUST AS ESTHER WAS CHOSEN, JUST AS RUTH WAS CHOSEN, JUST AS SARAH WAS CHOSEN, JUST AS DEBORAH WAS CHOSEN, JUST AS PRICILLA WAS CHOSEN, JUST AS TABITHA WAS CHOSEN. IN THE VERY SAME WAY THIS NAMELESS WIDOW WAS CHOSEN TO SERVE GOD BY SERVING GOD’S SERVANT.
NOW THE FIRST APPOINTMENT, THE RAISING OF THE SON COMES WITH CERTAIN GROUND RULES, THE FIRST AND GREATEST BEING, Proverbs 22:6 Teach your children right from wrong, and when they are grown they will still do right.
AS PARENTS OUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR GREATEST APPOINTMENT IS THE SPIRITUAL TRAINING OF OUR CHILDREN. ALL ELSE PALES IN COMPARISON. IF WE NEGLECT THEIR HEALTH, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THEY WILL GET SICK, IF WE NEGLECT THEIR TEETH, THERE IS A GOOD
CHANCE THAT THEY WILL LOSE THEM, IF WE NEGLECT THEIR EDUCATION THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WILL END UP A BUM ON THE STREET. BUT IF WE NEGLECT THEIR SPIRITUAL TRAINING THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WILL GO TO HELL, AND HELL IS FOREVER.
NOW KEEPING THAT IN MIND REALIZE THAT THE ONLY RESPONSIBILITY IN PROVERBS 22:6 FOR THE PARENT IS THE FIRST PART, Teach your children right from wrong, DR. JAMES DOBSON A NOTED CHRISTIAN CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST SAID THAT THE MESSAGE OF THIS PROVERB WAS THIS , "DO YOUR BEST WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG AND HOPE FOR THE BEST WHEN THEY ARE OLD." DOBSON ALSO REMINDS US THAT THERE ARE TWO AGES MENTIONED HERE CHILDREN, AND OLD PEOPLE AND NOTHING IN BETWEEN, EVEN SOLOMON WASN’T GAME TO TALK ABOUT TEEN-AGERS.
WE CAN TRAIN UP OUR CHILDREN, WE CAN WALK A BLAMELESS WALK, WE CAN SEE THAT THEY ARE IN CHURCH EACH WEEK, WE CAN HAVE FAMILY DEVOTIONS, WE CAN READ THEM GOD’S WORD. BUT WE CANNOT, CANNOT, CANNOT MAKE THE DECISION TO FOLLOW GOD FOR THEM.
AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO DETERMINE THEIR SALVATION, WE CAN ONLY SHOW THEM THE WAY AND TRUST GOD TO BRING THEM INTO HIS FOLD. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE HIM DRINK.
PROVERBS 22:6 IS A PROVERB, The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language A short, pithy saying in frequent and widespread use that expresses a basic truth or practical precept. A PROVERB STATES A PROBABLILITY IT IS NOT A GUARENTEE. AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO YOU AS MOTHERS AND FATHERS, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN RIGHT, AND IF YOU DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS THEN YOU INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. YOU CAN’T HOWEVER ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FOR THEM, ANYMORE THEN YOU CAN EAT FOR THEM.
WE CAN BRING UP TWO CHILDREN THE SAME WAY AND ONE MIGHT CHOOSE TO BECOME A DEVOUT SERVANT OF GOD AND THE OTHER MIGHT CHOOSE TO BECOME AN AXE MURDERER, BUT IT IS THEIR CHOICE. DON’T FLOG YOURSELF AND CALL YOUR SELF A FAILURE. AND KIDS DON’T BLAME YOUR PARENTS FOR YOUR STUPIDITY.
IT REALLY BUGS ME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE TRACE ALL OF THEIR PROBLEMS BACK TO MOM. I’M THE WAY I AM BECAUSE MY MOTHER DID THIS OR BECAUSE MY MOTHER DIDN’T DO THAT. GIVE ME A BREAK. HEY, GET OVER IT AND FORGET YOU POOR POTTY TRAINING AND TAKE SOME RESPONSIBLITY FOR YOUR LIFE. THAT WAS FREE.
BUT LISTEN UP, IF AS A CHRISTIAN PARENT YOU FAILED TO DIRECT YOUR CHILDREN’S FEET INTO THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, IF YOU DIDN’T SEEK TO GIVE THEM THE SPIRITUAL TRAINING THEY REQUIRED, GOD’S GOING TO HOLD YOU TO ACCOUNT. AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK.
ALONG WITH HER APPOINTMENT TO RAISE A SON SHE HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS. GOD HAS USED WOMEN MIGHTILY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
AND MAYBE THAT’S THE REASON WHY HISTORICALLY THE CHURCH HAS HAD MORE FEMALE MISSIONARIES THEN MALES AND MAYBE THAT’S WHY THERE ARE MORE WOMEN IN THE AVERAGE CHURCH THEN MEN. COULD IT BE THAT WOMEN ARE MORE ATTUNED TO THE VOICE OF GOD AS HE CALLS THEM TO SALVATION. AND MORE ATTENTIVE AS HE CALLS THEM TO SERVICE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET US KEEP OUR HEARTS OPEN AS WE ENDEAVOUR TO HEAR AND KEEP THE APPOINTMENTS THAT GOD HAS FOR US.
2) SHE WAS A CARING MOTHER. 1 Kings 17:10-11 When Elijah came near the town gate of Zarephath, he saw a widow gathering sticks for a fire. "Would you please bring me a cup of water?" he asked. 11 As she left to get it, he asked, "Would you also please bring me a piece of bread?"
THE OLD ADAGE "MORE IS CAUGHT THEN TAUGHT" PROBABLY HOLDS TRUEST IN CHILD REARING. IF WE DON’T SHOW CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF OTHERS LET’S NOT EXPECT OUR CHILDREN TO. AND IF WE DON’T PRACTICE GIVING TO THE WORK OF GOD, THEN WE SHOULDN’T EXPECT OUR CHILDREN TO. AND IF WE DON’T EXHIBIT A CARING LOVING ATTITUDE TOWARD OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD, LET’S NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN OUR CHILDREN DON’T.
CHILDREN PICK UP MORE THEN YOU WILL EVER, EVER, REALIZE. THAT LITTLE COMPUTER BETWEEN THEIR EARS HAS AN UNLIMITED MEMORY. THEY HEAR EVERYTHING YOU SAY, AND SEE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND IT IS STORED AWAY IN THE MEMORIES OF YOUR CHILDREN FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. YOUR CAPACITY FOR CARING WILL BE MULTIPLIED THROUGH YOUR CHILDREN IF THEY CATCH IT. BUT YOU WILL NEVER TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO CARE UNTIL THEY SEE HOW YOU CARE. CARING NOT ONLY FOR OTHERS BUT ALSO FOR
THEM.
PARENTS YOUR CHILDREN WANT NOTHING MORE THEN YOUR LOVE, AND YOUR CARE AND YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT. TAKE AN INTEREST IN WHAT THEY DO, SHOW THEM THAT YOU ARE PROUD OF THEM. TELL THEM JUST HOW PROUD YOU ARE, TELL THEM HOW SMART THEY ARE OR HOW PRETTY THEY ARE. TELL THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND SHOW THEM WITH HUGS AND KISSES. AND REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN’T BUY THEIR LOVE WITH GIFTS. MONEY AND PRESENTS ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR LOVE.
1 Kings 17:11-12 As she left to get it, he asked, "Would you also please bring me a piece of bread?" 12 The widow answered, "In the name of the living Lord your God, I swear that I don’t have any bread. All I have is a handful of flour and a little olive oil. I’m on my way home now with these few sticks to cook what I have for my son and me. After that, we will starve to death."
3) SHE WAS A PRACTICAL MOTHER.
WHEN EVERYTHING IS SAID AND DONE I BELIEVE THAT THE CHIEF PRIORITY FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY. GOD DOES NOT TAKE FOOD OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF OUR CHILDREN TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF CHUCK SWINDALL, OR BENNY HINN, OR BILLY GRAHAM, OR DENN GUPTILL. OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO GOD IS THE TENTH, THE TITHE. AND GOD ISN’T GOING TO DEPRIVE YOUR FAMILY SO HE CAN GET HIS CUT. HOWEVER YOU AND GOD MAY VERY WELL HAVE TWO DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF BEING DEPRIVED.
GOD WANTS US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, GOD EXPECTS US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, AS A MATTER OF FACT GOD COMMANDS US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES 1 Timothy 5:8 People who don’t take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn’t have faith in the Lord.
PRETTY HEAVY WORDS AREN’T THEY. THIS WOMAN HAD NOT PROBLEM BEING KIND TO THIS MAN OF GOD, BUT WHEN THE RUBBER MET THE ROAD HER FIRST CONCERN WAS FOR HER SON.
4) SHE WAS A BELIEVING MOTHER. 1 Kings 17:13-14 Elijah said, "Everything will be fine. Do what you said. Go home and fix something for you and your son. But first, please make a small piece of bread and bring it to me. 14 The Lord God of Israel has promised that your jar of flour won’t run out and your bottle of oil won’t dry up before he sends rain for the crops."
THIS IS THE CRUNCH, NOW GOD IS OFFERING HER A CHOICE, "IF YOU BELIEVE IN ME, REALLY BELIEVE IN ME THEN PROVIDE FOR MY SERVANT FIRST AND YOU’LL NEVER WANT, BUT REMEMBER FIRST YOU HAVE TO TRUST ME."
NOW THINK ABOUT IT. GOD COULD HAVE FILLED THE JARS FIRST AND THAT WOULD HAVE MADE EVERYTHING A WHOLE LOT EASIER. IT’S EASY TO BELIEVE WHEN IT’S LAID OUT IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT THAT’S NOT FAITH, AT LEAST NOT LIKE THE BIBLE DEFINES FAITH IN Hebrews 11:1 Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.
YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOUR FAITH BEFORE GOD WILL SHOW HIS FAITHFULNESS. PETER HAD TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT BEFORE HE COULD WALK ON THE WATER. JOSHUA HAD TO MARCH AROUND JERICHO FOR SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE WALLS CAME DOWN, AND DAVID HAD TO FIRE HIS SLING BEFORE THE GIANT CAME DOWN.
IN II KINGS 4:1-7 WE READ ANOTHER STORY OF FAITH 2 Kings 4:1-7 One day the widow of one of the Lord’s prophets said to Elisha, "You know that before my husband died, he was a follower of yours and a worshiper of the Lord. But he owed a man some money, and now that man is on his way to take my two sons as his slaves." 2 "Maybe there’s something I can do to help," Elisha said. "What do you have in your house?" "Sir, I have nothing but a small bottle of olive oil." 3 Elisha told her, "Ask your neighbors for their empty jars. And after you’ve borrowed as many as you can, 4 go home and shut the door behind you and your sons. Then begin filling the jars with oil and set each one aside as you fill it." 5 The woman left. Later, when she and her sons were back inside their house, the two sons brought her the jars, and she began filling them. 6 At last, she said to one of her sons, "Bring me another jar." "We don’t have any more," he answered, and the oil stopped flowing from the small bottle. 7 After she told Elisha what had happened, he said, "Sell the oil and use part of the money to pay what you owe the man. You and your sons can live on what is left."
DID YOU CATCH VERSE 3, "Ask your neighbors for their empty jars. And after you’ve borrowed as many as you can, YOU KNOW WHAT HE WAS SAYING, YOU SHOW ME HOW BIG YOUR FAITH IS. HE WAS SAYING THE VERY SAME THING THAT HIS TEACHER ELIJAH HAD SAID TO A WIDOW WHEN HE TOLD HER TO FEED HIM FIRST AND THE FLOUR AND OIL WOULD NEVER RUN OUT.
WE DO THAT WHEN WE MAKE A FAITH PLEDGE FOR MISSIONS. WE ARE SAYING "I BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL PROVIDE X AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR ME TO GIVE TO MISSIONS." WE DON’T SEE IT FIRST, INSTEAD WE PROMISE IT IN FAITH.
5) SHE WAS AN OBEDIENT MOTHER 1 Kings 17:15 The widow went home and did exactly what Elijah had told her.
IT IS ONE THING TO BELIEVE IT IS QUITE ANOTHER THING TO TURN YOUR BELIEF INTO ACTION. ANYBODY CAN BELIEVE. SIMPLE BELIEF IS THE SIMPLEST CHORE IN THE WORLD. ACTING UPON THAT BELIEF IS ANOTHER KETTLE OF FISH. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR THE WIDOW TO SAY, "OK, I BELIEVE, NO PRODUCE." BUT INSTEAD SHE WAS WILLING TO GIVE HER LAST MORSEL AWAY IN ORDER TO PROVE HER FAITH AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.
HER ACTIONS SAID, "GOD, I NOT ONLY BELIEVE YOU, BUT I BELIEVE YOU ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING I HAVE" THEN GOD PRODUCED A MIRACLE.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST MIRACLE THAT CHRIST PERFORMED? IT WAS AT CANNA OF GALILEE? IT WAS AT A WEDDING AND CHRIST TURNED WATER INTO WINE. BUT YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHY DID HE NEED WATER, I MEAN COULDN’T HE HAVE TURNED AIR INTO WINE? SURE HE COULD OF BUT HE NEEDED THE OBEDIENCE OF MAN, HE NEEDED MAN TO DO HIS PART.
OUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO OUR FAMILY, UNTIL GOD ASSUMES THAT RESPONSIBILITY BY ASKING FOR MORE.
6) SHE WAS A REWARDED MOTHER, 1 Kings 17:15-16 The widow went home and did exactly what Elijah had told her. She and Elijah and her family had enough food for a long time. 16 The Lord kept the promise that his prophet Elijah had made, and she did not run out of flour or oil.
GOD IS FAITHFUL, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT HE PROMISES THAT HE WILL NOT FULFIL. THE ANGEL GABRIEL TOLD MARY, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD, AND WE NEED TO BELIEVE THAT. MOTHERS THERE ARE TIMES THAT YOU FEEL THAT YOUR CHILDREN MAY NEVER COME TO KNOW CHRIST. BUT DON’T QUIT PRAYING BECAUSE WE ARE TOLD IN THE BOOK Matthew 21:22 If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for." AND IN Mark 11:24 Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.
AND IN John 11:22 Yet even now I know that God will do anything you ask." AND John 14:13
13 Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask. This way the Son will bring honor to the Father.
THOSE AREN’T THE WORDS OF DENN GUPTILL THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF GOD.
WHAT CAN YOU GIVE MOM THIS MOTHERS DAY? HOW ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU KNOW CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOUR.
