WHEN THE JAR IS LOW

5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 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.” 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.” 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. 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.’ ” 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 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.

I. SHRINKING SUPPLY

I SURVIVED THE BEGINNING OF THE FAMINE

BY GOD SUPPLYING MY DAILY NOURISHMENT

I RECEIVED TWO MEALS A DAY

BY SPECIAL DELIVERY

I COOKED AND DRANK WATER FROM THE BROOK

BUT AFTER AROUND 5-6 MONTHS

GOD’S PROVISION SEEMS TO BE FAILING

THE BROOK DRIES UP.

THE LORD SENT ME TO THE LEAST LIKELY PROVIDER

HE SENT ME TO PERSON WHO WAS SOCIALLY VULNERABLE

HE SENT ME TO SOMEONE WITHOUT PROTECTION OR PROVISION

HE SENT ME TO A WIDOW

IN THE MIDST OF FAMINE

YET, ALL I KNEW IS THAT THE LORD TOLD ME THAT

HE COMMANDED HER TO PROVIDE FOR ME.

SO I MADE THE JOURNEY

I HAD DIRECTION

BUT NOT CERTAINTY

SO I WENT

I HAD NO BACKUP PLAN—

ONLY GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO ME

II. SHAKIER SITUATION

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT FIRST THE RAIN STOPS.

THEN THE STREAMS AND THE BROOKS DRY UP,

AND THEN THE CROPS OF THE HOPEFUL FARMERS IN THE FIELDS FAIL.

AND THEN THE PEOPLE TURN TO THEIR STORAGE

AND FINALLY, PEOPLE PREPARE TO DIE.

IT IS AT THIS STAGE IN THE PROCESS

WHEN MY GOD SENT ME TO HER HOME

SHE WAS AT THE END OF HER STORAGE

SHE WAS NOT GUESSING —

SHE WAS COUNTING THE LAST HANDFUL OF FLOUR

AND A LITTLE OIL

SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS GOING TO COOK HER LAST SUPPER

SHE AND HER SON WOULD EAT AND THEN DIE

CAN YOU IMAGE HOW I FELT?

GOD SENT ME HERE!

I KNEW SHE WAS A WIDOW

BUT I DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS AT THE END OF HER ROPE

AND NOW I AM GOING TO ASK HER

TO DO SOMETHING THAT MAY SEEM

SELFISH AND IRRESPONSIBLE

I ASKED HER TO RISK HER LAST MEAL BY FEEDING ME FIRST

I ASKED HER TO GO AGAINST HER INSTINCTS

I ASKED HER TO DISREGARD HER REALITY

TO IGNORE HER TRUTH

AND FIX ME A CAKE FIRST

WHY?

BECAUSE GOD TOLD ME THAT SHE WOULD PROVIDE FOR ME!

NOW I HAD TO WAIT AND SEE WOULD THIS GENTILE WOMAN

BELIEVE GOD’S WORD

WHEN IT APPEARED TO COST HER EVERYTHING

I ASKED HER TO FUFILL THIS REQUEST

RATHER THAN FOCUS ON THE FACTS

WHEN I ASKED HER TO TO MAKE ME A CAKE FIRST

I IMAGINE SHE HAD TO

BATTLE WITH FEAR

SHE WAS NOT READY TO DIE

SHE SOUGHT TO PUT IT OFF AS LONG AS SHE COULD

SHE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THAT

PREPARING FOR THE WORST WAS WISDOM

SHE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THAT

MY WAS RISKY, AND ACTING IN FEAR FELT SAFER

MAYBE SHE WAS TRYING TO PRESERVE HERSELF

YOU KNOW SELF-PRESERVATION

I NEED TO SHE MAY HAVE TOLD HERSELF

I CAN’T GIVE WHEN THINGS ARE THIS TIGHT

I NEED TO HOLD ON TO WHAT I HAVE

I’LL BE GENEROUS WHEN I HAVE MORE

THAT COMPLIANCE WAS TOO COSTLY

MY SON AND I WILL DIE

YOU MAY NOT BE IN ZAREPHATH,

BUT YOU MAY BE STANDING BEFORE AN EMPTY JAR

YOUR PASTOR MAY BE TELLING YOU TO TITHE

AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT AN EMPTY JAR

YOUR MAY BE ASKED TO HELP OTHERS

AND YOU NEED HELP YOURSELF

YOU MAY BE LOOKING AT

LACK AND LOSS

SCARCITY AND SHORTAGE

YOU MAY BE LOOKING

POVERTY AND NEED

ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD’S WORD CLASHING WITH YOUR REALITY?

HAVE YOU ALLOWED

FEAR TO STOP YOU

FEAR OF LOSS OFTEN PREVENTS OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD.

ARE YOU CALLING FEAR

“BEING REALISTIC”

BECAUSE YOU TRUST WHAT YOU CAN SEE MORE THAN WHAT GOD HAS SAID

MAYBE

BECAUSE YOU WOULD RATHER EXPECT FAILURE THAN RISK TRUST

MAYBE

BECAUSE YOU THINK FAITH IGNORES REALITY, RATHER THAN REDEEMS IT

YOU ARE NOT BEING REALISTIC — YOU ARE LETTING CIRCUMSTANCES INTERPRET GOD.

• GOD DOES NOT CALL US TO DENY REALITY — HE CALLS US TO TRUST HIM IN IT

WHY ARE YOU CALLING SELF-PRESERVATION

“BEING WISE”?

BECAUSE YOU WANT SAFETY WITHOUT DEPENDENCE

BECAUSE YOU WANT GUARANTEES BEFORE YOU OBEY

BECAUSE YOU HAVE LEARNED TO PROTECT YOURSELF INSTEAD OF TRUST GOD

BECAUSE YOU ASSUME GOD UNDERSTANDS YOUR EXCEPTIONS

YOU ARE NOT BEING WISE — YOU ARE PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM TRUST.

• GOD DOES NOT CONDEMN WISDOM — HE CONFRONTS FEAR DISGUISED AS IT

ARE YOU CALLING CONTROL

“PLANNING”?

BECAUSE YOU FEEL ANXIOUS WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT

BECAUSE PLANS GIVE YOU A SENSE OF SECURITY

BECAUSE YOU CONFUSE ORDER WITH OBEDIENCE

BECAUSE YOU TRUST STRUCTURE MORE THAN SOVEREIGNTY

BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE SPACE FOR GOD TO INTERRUPT

BECAUSE YOU WANT GOD TO BLESS YOUR PLAN, NOT LEAD IT

YOU ARE NOT PLANNING — YOU ARE RESISTING DEPENDENCE.

• GOD DOES NOT FORBID PLANNING — HE OPPOSES PLANS THAT EXCLUDE HIM

ARE YOU CALLING UNBELIEF

“WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION”?

BECAUSE YOU WANT GOD TO PROVE HIMSELF AGAIN

BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO MOVE FIRST

BECAUSE YOU TRUST SIGNS MORE THAN PROMISES

BECAUSE YOU WANT CERTAINTY WITHOUT OBEDIENCE

BECAUSE YOU FEAR MAKING THE WRONG MOVE MORE THAN DISHONORING GOD

BECAUSE YOU HAVE REDUCED FAITH TO FEELING SURE

YOU ARE NOT WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION — YOU ARE WITHHOLDING TRUST.

RENAMING SIN PROTECT OUR HEART (IMPORTANT)

• RENAMING FEAR AS REALISM PROTECTS YOU FROM HOPE

• RENAMING SELF-PRESERVATION AS WISDOM PROTECTS YOU FROM RISK

• RENAMING UNBELIEF AS CONFIRMATION PROTECTS YOU FROM OBEYING

• RENAMING CONTROL AS PLANNING PROTECTS YOU FROM TRUST

RENAMING SIN MAKES IT FEEL VIRTUOUS SO IT CAN REMAIN UNCHALLENGED.

WILL GOD’S WORD BE TRUSTED WHEN IT APPEARS TO COST US EVERYTHING?

III. SECURITY IN THE SCRIPTURE

THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME SAYING

GO TO THE BROOK

THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME SAYING

ARISE GO TO ZAREPHATH

I HAD TO TRUST IN

THE CERTAINTY AND AUTHORITY OF GOD’S SPOKEN WORD

GOD’S PROMISES DEFINES WHAT WILL BE TRUE TOMORROW.

GOD’S PROMISE OF HIS PROVISION

The Lord supplies every need, not always every want, but everything necessary for life and godliness. Philippians 4:19 “19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:31–33 “31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Psalm 34:10 “10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

2 Peter 1:3 “3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,”

MY FAITH IN GOD’S WORD

HAD TO ACT BEFORE THE EVIDENCE APPEARED

GOD’S WORD,

NOT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES,

DEFINES REALITY.

GOD’S WORD IS COMPLETE –

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

THE WORD IS CONFIDENT –

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

THE WORD IS CHANGELESS –

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

THE WORD IS CERTAIN –

Psalm 19:7-8 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

THE WORD IS COMPETENT –

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

THE WORD IS CORRECTING –

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

THE WORD IS CUTTING –

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

DON’T HINDER THE WORD OF GOD

LET THE WORD DO THE WORK

Psalm 19:7–9

POWER TO CONVERT

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:

POWER TO CHANGE

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

POWER TO CHEER

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:

POWER TO CLARIFY

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

POWER TO CLEANSE

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:

POWER TO CONVICT

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

DON’T REJECT THE WORD RECEIVE THE WORD

DON’T BLOCK THE WORD BELIEVE THE WORD

DON’T FORSAKE THE WORD FOLLOW THE WORD

DON’T CRITICIZE THE WORD CONSIDER THE WORD

DON’T DENY THE WORD DELIGHT IN THE WORD

Become Skillful with the Word

Read it Enthusiastically

Study it Thoroughly

Search it Diligently

Absorb it Thoughtfully

Interpret it Carefully

Handle it Wisely

Apply it Precisely

Practice it Daily

Become Secure with the Word

Trust it Daringly

Accept it Fully

Believe it Entirely

Value it Highly

Regard it Reverently

Obey it Whole-Heartily

Honor it Continuously

IV. SURRENDERING TO THE SAVIOR

THE WIDOW OBEYED

THE JAR DOES NOT RUN OUT.

LIFE CONTINUES IN THE MIDST OF FAMINE.

OBEDIENCE OPENED THE DOOR TO

DAILY, SUSTAINING PROVISION

GOD MEETS TRUSTING OBEDIENCE WITH FAITHFUL, DAILY GRACE.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

SEEKING THE SUPPLIER NOT THE SUPPLY

TRUST BECOMES A DAILY PRACTICE.

“GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.”

SCARCITY IS NO LONGER A SIGNAL OF ABANDONMENT.

MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY BREAD ONLY,

BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE LORD.”

OBEDIENCE BECOMES THE NORMAL RESPONSE TO GOD’S PROMISES.

LIVE BY TRUST IN GOD, NOT BY VISIBLE SUPPLY.

Related Media

Related Sermons

Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.