I Kings17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."
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I Kings 17:10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?"
11 As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
12 "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don’t have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.
14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ’The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’"
This morning I want to speak to you about serving God in the uncertain times.
Let’s pray
The story is told of a man who was walking across the road when he was hit by a car. The impact knocked him on his head which caused him to be in a coma for a couple of days before he finally regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes, his loving wife was there beside his bed holding his hand.
He said, "You know, Judy, you’ve always been right by my side. When I was a struggling college student, I failed again and again. But you were always there with me, encouraging me to go on trying."
He said, "And when I got out of school and went for all of my interviews and failed to get any of the jobs, you stayed right there with me, cutting out more classifieds for me to check on..."
“Then I started work at this little firm and finally got the chance to handle a big contract. But I blew it because of one little mistake, and yet you were there beside me all the way. Then I finally got another job after being laid off for sometime. But I never seemed to be promoted and my hard work was never recognized. And so, I remained in the same position from the day I joined the company until now... And, through it all, you were right there by my side."
Her eyes are starting to fill with tears as she listens. He says, "And now I’ve been in this accident and when I woke up, you’re the first person I see. There’s something I’ll really like to say to you...."
He said, "Judy, I think you’re just plain bad luck!"
God places us in specific places for specific moments in time.
Sometimes those places are great & those moments are great.
God placed me to work at the hitching post while a young girl named Candie worked there.
God placed you & me in a place where we heard the gospel & we made the decision to live for him.
Thank the Lord when he places us in desirable places during desirable times!
But what do we do when God decides to place us in a place where the timing is questionable & uncertain.
I believe it is no accident that you are here at this place for this time!
• I felt within my heart that God challenged me to look at the life of the Elijah.
• If you understand the life of the Elijah you realize that he was called to ministry during a very difficult period of time.
• The king & Queen that reigned during that time were the most ruthless rulers in all of Israel’s history.
• Ahab & Jezebel where devout baal worshipers.
• God called Elijah to proclaim to the king & Queen and all the people of Israel that there is going to be a drought where there’s going to be no dew or rain for several years.
• This was it difficult task for Elijah because he not only had to proclaim this terrible message to all the people but he also had to live during this tough time.
• God told Elijah to turn eastward & hide by a brook in kerith.
• Elijah was on the run and was desperate for food and water but God cared of him during that period of time.
• Every day God would send ravens with bread and meat to give to Elijah.
• In the morning Elijah got bread and meat
• At night he got bread & meat.
• He was also able to be sustained by the brook that flowed nearby.
How many of you know that when you are faithful to god he’ll sustain you?
1. God has a purpose for your life. Your birth, life, and death are at God’s discretion and mercy. He is not trying to play hide-and-seek with His will for your life. There are no accidents in His plan for your life.
2. God is in control.
3. God is sovereign.
4. God’s Word is without error and fully dependable.
5. Christ’s work on the cross has provided for your life, future, inheritance, and destiny. His blood forgives.
His blood protects.
His blood has bought you and canceled all the works of the enemy against you.
When you find yourself being supported by a bird & a trickling stream... you need to praise God because he’s sustaining you.
Something happened one day however……
• The raven didn’t show up
• & the stream dried up!
Its panic time!
What do we do?
God gives Elijah some clear directives.
9 "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food."
• This morning you may be here & you may feel like your stream has dried up
• You may sense that there is something in your life that is about to perish
• You may have a dream in your life that is on the verge of being given up on.
• You may even think that Gods best is too far for you to grasp.
• What do you need more of?"
• "What is it this morning that you find you have a shortage of?
• "Maybe you don’t have a shortage of water or food… but you DO have a shortage of patience, maybe you’re in a ’hope’ drought. You’ve lost all hope in the situation you find yourself today. OR…
• Maybe you’re saying…"I need more strength, I’m worn out....
• For others , you’re greatest shortage, is a shortage of time.
• maybe greatest drought is in the area of finances
• Whatever the greatest area of drought in your life is this morning…
• Whatever it is that you’re experiencing a shortage of…
• I want you to listen very closely... because through the drought that Elijah experienced, God wants to show us how He’s able to turn the little you have… into a lot!
• You got to understand that when one source is dried up another is waiting to refresh you.
• Just when you think you’ve seen the best….God wants to blow your mind away!
Elijah went from being fed by birds & streams to now looking to a poor widow.
Like Elijah you may wonder what to do during uncertain times.
4 things to do when faced with uncertain circumstances
1. Don’t fear the enemy!
I Kings 17:10 So he went to Zarephath.
Zarapath was in sidon,…..sidon was the home to Jezabell the one who wanted to kill every prophet of Jehovah.
Before Elijah could enter the town to get his provisions he had to lose the fear of his arch enemy.
Church we have an enemy!
• He’s ruthless!
• He’s slick!
• He goes undercover!
• He loves to see you frustrated
• He loves to see you anxious.
• He wants you to doubt
• He wants you to lose hope
• He wants your family to be destroyed.
• He wants this church to be held captive by the past & all of its hurts.
• He wants to see me fail & you fail.
• But let me tell you this morning I have a God who has a plan for me
• A plan for you
• Wherever I go He goes.
• He has given authority to bind ever element of evil that comes against his church in the name of Jesus.
• Be aware of the enemy but don’t fear him!
• The town was called Zaraphath which means, “Refinement”.
Refinement is to bring out the brilliance
To burn out the disbelief
It’s to make pure
Refinement is for the serious
Church, we need to get serious
• We got to pray serious
• Fast serious
• Evangelize serious
• & serve serious.
Elijah walked into zarapheth & immediately saw the woman who was appointed to serve him.
…When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?"
11 As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
2. Claim that which was promised to us.
I’m not into the name it claim it stuff.
I believe we have to face trials
But when God tells us he’s going to do something, we got to have the guts to go get it.
At this point Elijah was starving & thirsty & he looked beyond the widows need because he knew she was going to get on the blessing too. (I’ll get to her in a second)
Pride & self sufficiency will keep you from receiving.
“I’ll be a nuisance”
“She needs it more than me, Ill back off.”
“I don’t need her help.”
Church….
• God still provides
• He still heals
• Still saves
• But here’s what the lord says to us…..
”You got to go get it!”
It’s no longer going to come to you from birds & right next to you from stream that comes from who knows where.
How’s God going to save & heal people through this church?
By us as a corporate body reaching out…..
We have to receive the unclaimed provision of God.
The story is told of an aged silver miner who spent all his life
Searching for silver in the mountains of the Old West. He had become
So obsessed with his search that his wife and children had left him.
When he died the handful of people who came to bury him found in his
Possessions a note instructing them to bury him under his cabin. As
The earth was overturned a lustrous gray material began to appear. It
Became known as the largest silver vein in California history. The
Miner had been a millionaire all his life, but he had never been able
To claim his wealth.
12 "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don’t have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.
3. Do all things to glorify God.
Your first impression might be….
“Gosh, Elijah aren’t you being self centered & rude?”
“I would never help a man with an attitude like yours.”
But Elijah understood something that the widow understood also.
By giving to Elijah first, the widow was putting God first which was in turn Glorifying God.
I’m amazed at how much we do in the name of, “glorifying God” that is actually glorifying us.
Let me tell you, God is looking for a people who will worship him in spirit & in truth.
The widow stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Bringing water from the village well was one thing! But she had an empty barrel of flour and a jar that needed a spatula to scrape the remnant of oil that had almost evaporated.
She must have felt put out by the request because she protests immediately: “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread.” (Verse 12) Elijah was asking her to exhaust all of her resources. It would only lead to one result - death.
There you have it, the Christian life summed up in one truth:
God wants to exhaust all of our resources and that will lead to death.
Paul knew this truth when he wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20).
14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ’The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’"
4. Return to the never ending jar & the bottomless jug.
Let me tell you church, the Lord has spoken to me to let you know.
The bread which represents the work of Jesus Christ in you life will never end.
• It will never be used up!
• It may look like you may have taken you last bite but he’s commanding us to look into that jar & you find that his power has not diminished.
• His presence doesn’t depend on you usage
• Or your consumption.
• You can feast on Jesus & when you return for more of him he’ll be there!
The oil which I believe represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit will never run dry!
Just when you thought you received the last touch or the last miracle all you have to do is look in that jug & you’ll find that it hasn’t run dry for you.
I’ll tell you, you put the never ending Grace of Jesus Christ with the always present anointing of the Holy Ghost you will find sustenance until the day where God ends the drought & restores prosperity to the land & end the uncertain time in your life!
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
You see in uncertain times you need to remember to…
• Don’t fear the enemy
• Claim his promises
• Do everything to glorify him
• Return to his never ending recourses.
