From Empty to Full: The God Who Helps Us

What Signs Tell Us

Slide:

Emergency Exit Sign.

Lifeguard on Duty sign.

24-Hour Pharmacy Sign.

Motorway Weather Warning Sign.

They all tell us, don’t be afraid, and don’t panic.

Walk in an orderly fashion away from the fire.

If you get into difficulties in the water, someone will be on hand to rescue you.

If you need medication, don’t panic - someone has what you need.

If driving conditions are difficult, don’t be afraid, don’t panic, just slow down and take your time.

Our Bible Stories Today Have Shown Us Several Signs

Do Not Enter!

Move to first sign.

At the time of Elijah, people often thought God was confined to just one place or land.

But Elijah knew God was more than that.

In the story we saw earlier, God sent Elijah to another country, Phoenicia, and God sent him, as his messenger, to the town of Zarephath, near a city called Sidon.

Elijah went to this foreign country, not afraid, or with a timid spirit, but trusting in God.

He was showing to those around him there is no place where God cannot go!

God was breaking any boundary that limited Elijah from fulfilling his purpose.

Rip up the Do Not Enter! sign.

Elijah trusted in God and this gave him the courage he needed.

We can discover the same in our own lives.

2 Timothy 1:7 NCV

God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

God says we do not need to be afraid, and we can share his love boldly.

No Bread Left!

Move to the second sign.

In our story about Elijah we saw that the woman and her son had almost run out of the ingredients needed to make their last loaf of bread.

Drought had affected the crops and they had failed.

This woman expected to die.

But Elijah reassured her that everything would be OK.

God had promised, and he always keeps his word.

What is more, God is all-powerful.

The woman did what Elijah said and there was always enough oil and flour to make bread for the woman, her son, and Elijah.

Elijah demonstrated both God’s power and his compassion.

Rip up the No Bread Left! sign.

Be Afraid!

Move to the third sign.

The woman was deeply afraid before she met Elijah.

But she discovered that an all-powerful God who keeps his word can be trusted.

Elijah’s miracle was a sign that she did not need to be afraid.

So instead of ripping up this sign, we can change it to read:

Amend sign to say DO NOT BE AFRAID!

1 Kings 17:13 NCV

“Don’t worry,” Elijah said to her. “Go home and cook your food as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread from the flour you have, and bring it to me. Then cook something for yourself and your son.

No Wine!

Move to the fourth sign.

In the second Bible story we watched, at the wedding that Jesus attended, the hosts ran out of wine.

It was a complete and utter disaster for the man in charge of the wedding festivities.

It could have brought shame on the family.

But Jesus, who is God, and therefore has power, authority, and compassion too, did something to change everything.

What did he do?

Rip up the sign NO WINE!

Panic!

Move to the fifth sign.

Several people, including the servants, and Jesus’ mother, were panicking that they had run out of wine at the wedding.

But because Jesus did something to make a difference, they no longer needed to be sad.

Add DO NOT to the PANIC! sign.

What We Must Do If We Trust in God

Hold up DO NOT BE AFRAID! and DO NOT PANIC! signs.

What we are left with are two signs that tell us what to do if we trust in an awesome, powerful God.

We do not need to be afraid, and we do not need to panic.

There is no place where God cannot be.

There is no place where God cannot go.

So he is with us all the time.

There is no need he cannot meet.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Prayer Activity

Water pot pictures and pens for everyone.

God works through ordinary people who trust him.

Often it’s in the actions we take that God shows his power and compassion.

It was through Elijah that God showed his care for the woman.

God is active in ordinary situations too, such as a wedding.

So how might God want to bless someone else through you this week?

The water pot you are holding is empty.

Draw a line where the liquid would be if the pot was full up.

Now write or draw something you will do to help someone this week so that their life doesn’t feel empty.

You might think of someone you know who’s sad or afraid or sick or alone in some way.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you that you are great and powerful. Yet you choose us to bring your love.

Help us to share what we have in love.

Help us to share our homes, our hospitality, our possessions, our toys and our time.

Lord, you are great and powerful yet you choose us to bring your healing.

May we give our time to bring help to those in need and those who face a crisis in their life.

Use us, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.