Abundance
1 Kings 17
God has intended for us to live life in abundance.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
What does abundance mean?
• dense
• thick
• abounding
• crammed full
• jammed
• jam-packed
• packed
• chock-full
Abundance speaks of increase.
Having more than enough.
How do we manifest abundance?
There are two perspectives we need to understand and flow in to manifest abundance – sowing and reaping
1 King 17:7-16
7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
There are some today, who are in a drought.
Your brook has dried up
There hasn’t been any rain in your land lately.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
Even in a dry season the word of the Lord will come.
9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."
Where He makes a commission, He will give a provision.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink."
11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."
Elijah was bold enough to lay-hold of what God promised.
Despite what things looked like, He did as the Lord instructed.
Here comes the word of the Lord to this woman. She can reject it or receive it.
12 So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
She begins to analyze her situation in the natural.
She can only see from her view point.
It causes her to question the word of the Lord.
It causes her to have no hope.
It causes her to speak death, instead of life.
13 And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.
Elijah wants to get her eyes off the natural circumstances.
Again Elijah exercises great boldness in ignoring her plea.
14 "For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ’The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’"
Elijah had a word of wisdom.
He didn’t have that word until that moment.
Because he was obedient and stepped out.
He was faithful, so God entrusted him with more.
This was a big word, it took great faith to speak it.
15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.
Now came her turn,
The ball was in her court.
She heard the word, not once but twice.
She obeyed the word and the blessing poured forth.
16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.
As the Lord promised there was abundance.
Abundance in a place of lack.
A pouring forth in a place of dryness.
Because of her obedience, she experienced abundance.
Elijah was obedient and stuck to his guns.
Because of his obedience, he was used to bring forth abundance.
3 principles about abundance illustrated here:
1. Receive the word of the Lord (faith)
2. Do not look at your circumstances (faith)
3. Be obedient (faith) This is the main key!
Hebrews 11:1 “…Faith is the evidence of things not seen.”
God is not moved by needs.
Yes he feels our pain (Hebrews 4) but is not always moved by it.
God is only moved by actions (faith).when we begin to take actions to line up with His word and put ourselves in a position to receive abundance.
We should not only be receivers of abundance
But speakers of abundance too.
Sowers of abundance.
Job 22:28 You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.
Ps 20:4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.
John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
I Jn 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Ps 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Mark 4:24-25
24 Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
25 "For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
