Introduction

Warm greetings, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I am overjoyed to be standing before you today, basking in the warmth of our shared faith, and eager to share the divine wisdom found in the sacred pages of our holy scriptures. We gather in this place, not merely as individuals, but as one body, united in Christ, ready to receive His Word and allow it to transform our hearts and minds.

I am reminded of the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't." These words, though simple, carry a profound truth. Our strength, our resilience, our ability to weather the storms of life, are all found within the pages of our Bibles. It is the wellspring from which we draw our hope, our peace, and our courage. So, let us turn our hearts and minds to the Word of God today.

Believing in God's Bounty during Barrenness

In the story of Elijah and the widow, we see a woman at the end of her rope. She's preparing to make one final meal for herself and her son before they succumb to the harsh reality of famine. Yet, in this moment of despair, she encounters the prophet Elijah, who brings a message of hope and provision from God.

The widow's situation is dire. She has only a handful of flour and a little oil left. She's gathering sticks to make a fire to cook what she believes will be her last meal. It's a picture of utter hopelessness and despair. But then Elijah comes with a strange request. He asks her to make a small loaf of bread for him first, before she makes anything for herself and her son.

This is a test of faith. It's easy to trust in God's provision when we have plenty. But when we're down to our last handful of flour and a little oil, that's when our faith is truly tested. The widow could have refused Elijah. She could have said, "I only have enough for me and my son. We're going to eat this last meal and then die." But she didn't. She chose to trust in the word of the Lord, even in her barrenness.

This is the first lesson we can learn from this story: even in our moments of greatest need, we can trust in God's bounty. He is the God who provides. He is the God who sustains and makes a little go a long way. When we put our trust in Him, He can turn our scarcity into abundance.

The second lesson we can glean from this story is about obedience. The widow didn't just believe in God's provision, she acted on it. She did as Elijah instructed. She made a small loaf of bread for him first, before she made anything for herself and her son. She was putting God first, even in her desperate situation. It’s not enough to just believe in God. We have to live out our faith through our actions. We have to obey His commands and follow His guidance.

Next we learn about the power of God's word. Elijah didn't just make a promise to the widow. He spoke the word of the Lord. And when he did, something miraculous happened. The jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry. This was a direct fulfillment of God's word.

God's word is powerful. It has the power to create, to heal, to restore, to provide. When we believe in God's word, when we stand on His promises, we tap into that power. We open ourselves up to the miraculous.

The final lesson from this story is about the nature of God's provision. God didn't just provide for the widow in the short term. He sustained her and her family for the duration of the famine. The jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry until the day the Lord sent rain on the land.

God's provision is for the long haul. He doesn't just provide for our immediate needs. He sustains us through our trials. He carries us through our struggles. He sees us through our barren seasons.

Bearing the Burden in Barren Times

As we continue to reflect on this passage, we come to the part where the widow is faced with a seemingly impossible situation ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO