When Little Becomes Much

WHEN LITTLE BECOMES MUCH

1 KINGS 17:8-16

1. THE TEXT: ELIJAH THE PROPHET HAD BEEN SITTING BY THE BROOK AT CHERITH, WHERE GOD HAD BEEN NOURISHING HIM. GOD COMMANDED THE RAVENS TO BRING HIM FOOD; AND HE HAS BEEN DRINKING WATER FROM THE BROOK.

a) ONE DAY THE BROOK DRIES UP BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN NO RAIN IN THE LAND, AND GOD COMMANDS HIM TO GO TO ZAREPHATH, WHERE HE WILL MEET A WIDOW WHO WILL PROVIDE FOR HIS NEEDS.

b) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, GOD WILL OPEN ANOTHER DOOR.

c) ELIJAH RESPONDS IN FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE TO GOD ALWAYS LEADS TO THE BLESSINGS OF GOD.

d) ELIJAH MEETS THE WIDOW WOMAN AND REQUESTS THAT SHE BRINGS HIM A DRINK OF WATER, AND MAKE HIM A LITTLE CAKE.

e) THE WOMAN RESPONDS BY SAYING THAT SHE ONLY HAS ENOUGH MEAL AND OIL FOR HERSELF AND HER SON.

f) ELIJAH SHARED THAT IF SHE WOULD TAKE CARE OF HIM, GOD WOULD TAKE CARE OF HER. ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS OBEY.

g) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, GOD HAS ORDAINED THAT WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF THE MAN OF GOD, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

2. THE WOMAN’S PLIGHT: THE WOMAN WAS AT THE POINT OF GIVING UP ON LIFE.

a) THE WOMAN STATED THAT SHE ONLY HAD ENOUGH FOOD FOR HERSELF AND HER WSON, AND AFTER THEY ATE IT THEY WERE GOING TO PREPARE TO DIE.

b) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DON’T EVER GIVE UP ON GOD.

c) DON’T EVER PUT A PERIOD WHERE GOD HAS PUT A COMMA.

d) GOD IS ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING.

e) HER SITUATION LOOKED BAD.

f) HER SITUATION LOOKED HOPELESS.

g) SOMEBODY HERE TODAY, YOUR SITUATION LOOKS DARK, DISMAL, DESTRUCTIVE, BUT I STOPPED BY TO TELL JUST HOLD ON A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

3. FAITH: THIS WOMAN HAD FAITH IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

a) GOD IS LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO WILL TRUST HIM EVEN WHEN THE MOUNTAINS GET HIGH.

b) GOD IS LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO WILL TRUST HIM EVEN WHEN THE DELIMMAS OF LIFE SEEM TO GET THE BEST OF YOU.

c) GOD IS LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO WILL HAVE FAITH EVEN WHEN THEY CANNOT TELL WHAT GOD IS UP TO.

d) JOB SAID, THO HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST IN HIM.

e) FAITH WALKS WHERE NO SIGHT IS NEEDED.

f) FAITH SAYS IF GOD TELLS ME TO WALK THROUGH A WALL WHERE THERE IS NO DOOR, I JUST BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL MAKE A DOOR IN THE WALL.

g) FAITH THE SIZE OF A MUSTARD SEED CAN PRODUCE SUPERNATURAL RESULTS.

h) THE QUESTION TODAY IS, ARE YOU TRUSTING GOD IN EVERY SITUATION?

i) THROUGH FAITH GOD CAN TURN ANY SITUATION AROUND.

4. TAKE A LOOK AT FAITH:

a) BY FAITH ABEL OFFERED UNTO GOD A MORE EXCELLENT SACRIFICE THAN CAIN, BY WHICH HE OBTAINED WITNESS THAT HE WAS RIGHTEOUS, GOD TESTIFYING OF HIS GIFTS: AND BY IT HE BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH.

b) BY FAITH ENOCH WAS TRANSLATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH; AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TRANSLATED HIM: FOR BEFORE HIS TRANSLATION HE HAD THIS TESTIMONY, THAT HE PLEASED GOD.

c) BY FAITH NOAH, BEING WARNED OF GOD OF THINGS NOT SEEN AS YET, MOVED WITH FEAR, PREPARED AN ARK TO THE SAVING OF HIS HOUSE; BY THE WHICH HE CONDEMNED THE WORLD, AND BECAME HEIR OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS BY FAITH.

d) BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO OUT INTO A PLACE WHICH HE SHOULD AFTER RECEIVE FOR AN INHERITANCE, OBEYED; AND HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHITHER HE WENT.

e) BY FAITH ISAAC BLESSED JACOB AND ESAU CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.

f) BY FAITH THE WALLS OF JERICHO FELL DOWN, AFTER THEY WERE COMPASSED ABOUT SEVEN DAYS.

g) BY FAITH THE HARLOT RAHAB PERISHED NOT WITH THEM THAT BELIEVED NOT, WHEN SHE HAD RECEIVED THE SPIES WITH PEACE.

h) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, HOW IS YOUR FAITH?

5. CONCLUSION/GOD CAN TURN THINGS AROUND.

a) LITTLE MONEY BECOMES MUCH WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

b) A LITTLE JOY BECOMES MUCH WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

c) A LITTLE HOPE BECOMES MUCH WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

d) A LITTLE LOVE BECOMES MUCH WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

e) A LITTLE FAITH BECOMES MUCH WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

f) A LITTLE STRENGTH BECOMES MUCH WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

g) BURDENS BECOME BLESSINGS WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

h) PRISONERS BECOME PARDONED WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

i) SINNERS BECOME SAINTS WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

j) GLOOM BECOMES GRACE WHEN YOU TRUST GOD.

k) GOD CAN AND GOD WILL DO WHAT NO OTHER POWER CAN DO!