Sunday March 1, 2020

When do you think of Elijah what comes to mind? Probably the prophet standing on Mount Carmel challenging the prophets of Baal and trusting the Lord to bring fire from heaven. Or do you think of them a man of prayer as spelled out in James and chapter 5 verses 17 and 18 Elijah was a human being even as we are. Yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. because of his is prayer and again, he prayed and the heavens gave rain in the earth produced crops again. Have you ever thought I sure wish I had that kind of faith.

Did you pray father would you give me this kind of Faith to Faith of the light you had? Then sometime thereafter did you encounter? downturns in life things got worse and you begin to come under all kinds of pressure and suffering the pressures build up problems develop. Many of them without seeming solution at least not in the near future. And did you ever think what's going on here? I've I prayed. more importantly He was simply carrying out his purpose and the plan for his life. Even as you are carrying out the purpose and plan of your life. God is refining you even as he refined Elijah transforming him into the Mighty Man of prayer that he became in if we allow it. The Lord will transform you into the image of Christ. Before Elijah could stand. On Mount Carmel he needed to sit by the Brook. Before the more mature Faith inability to handle Mount Carmel in his life. There must be the maturing experience of the valley. that life

relinquish to God's control

These are the testing's that God put him through. Even sending them to a widow. the village of Zarephath testing's maturing growing his faith before he could stand before a half again. Of course, we don't like these experiences because experiences that test us. many times her.

As the author of Hebrews says all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful yet in those times. We have been trained by it and afterwards that yields a peaceful fruit of righteousness Hebrews 12:11. Would you turn with me if you have your Bibles? There are a few Bible in front of you to 1st Kings in chapter 17 1st Kings. in chapter 17

that we are going to be reading. about

this man Elijah

it begins by saying now Elijah the tishbite from tishbe in Gilead said to Ahab the king of Israel who in the world was Elijah. And what gave him this boldness to be able to stand before the king?

He came from a security and that's what

the author is trying to tell us here in First Kings chapter 17 out of nowhere Comes This Prophet Elijah onto the scene. Elijah a tishbite from tishbe in Gilead a no place And he was a nobody. But when he yielded his life to God. God used him mightily so I want you to have some encouragement this morning. Even as we are getting into our lesson that you may feel like nobody. How could God use me to achieve anything of note in this world that we're living in?

But if your heart is yielded to him. If Elijah's heart was yielded to his God. He could stand before the king because he had just been in an audience with the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. amen

Elijah the tishbite

frog fish be in Galilee

in Gilead He said to Abraham as the Lord. The god of Israel lives whom I serve.

There will be neither do nor rain in the next few years except by my word.

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah. Leave here and turn Eastward and hide in the uterus ravine. east of the Jordan and you will drink from the brook that I have directed you to go to and I will also Supply you with food there by the Ravens. That's what we saw the Ravens sweeping across the valley there. So he did as the Lord told him that that is an important part of scripture and if you don't grab that you miss it all so he did. As the Lord spoke to him the word of the Lord came to Elijah and he did what the Lord. Told him to do. First he received Direction.

Before he could receive provision. And there he stayed and they're the Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening and he drank from the brook the Lord provided for the prophet. And we need to know that the Lord will provide for us as we trust in him as we follow his Direction in our lives through his word. the word of God As we followed the game plan as he speaks into our heart in times of prayer and it gives us instruction. We follow his Direction and he gives provision.

The Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and again bread and meat. At night and he drank from the brook. Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

sometime later, the scripture tells us sometime later the brook dried up because there had not been any rain in the land. Why wasn't there any rain in the land?

Because the Lord told Elijah to pray earnestly that there wouldn't be any rain until the the evilness of Ahab the king of Israel and the people of Israel think would turn their hearts back to God.

And that didn't happen right away. In fact, it's James tells us it took three and a half years three years. Months and Counting for Ahab to come to his senses and for the people of God to turn back their ways from serving the gods of the land.

the bottles the false gods the statue I cannot get my mind around that.

How the people could have prayed to a God made by their own hands of stone. And place this job that they created out of stone and carved it and set it up there and bow down and prayed and said that this God the name was or the god of fire.

And they prayed to him.

and God was not pleased. and he said

tell King Ahab that there will not be any rain. Upon the land nor will there be any two upon the morning grass and leaves until? You pray again? And then he goes off to the valley. Securus ravine and they're the Lord provided for him and then the brook dried up. There are times in our lives when our resources fail us and it's time to turn to the Lord again and prayer him speak his Direction and its purpose and the word of the Lord came to him.

I underscored that because that's important to note. The word of the Lord came to Elijah Go at once to Zarephath it the waters dried up here. I'm not going to send the Ravens with the bread in the meat anymore your resources of dried up here. So I'm going to provide for you. I have directed a widow. To supply you with food. in the village of 0 path find you. That Village of Zarephath was not even in Israel. It was across the Jordan River probably into the area. We called Jordan now the country of Jordan. he left the area completely and went to a woman who was a Gentile woman who was not even a part of the nation of Israel and but God said she'll provide for you.

So he went and that's the next thing he followed the direction of the Lord and he went to the town gate and a widow. Was there Gathering sticks and he called out to her and asked if she would bring him a little water in a jar. Because he needed a drink. Would you please bring me a little water to drink in a jar? I'm thirsty and and there she was going to get the water for him. She was following his wishes this Gentile woman. knowing that this was a

a man from Israel

She was still going to offer him water, but then he asked. Even if she was going and would you bring me a piece of bread and it was a long journey from the Kiera's Ravine and coming all the way. Is there a path? And then we find her answer to him. And it's a statement that needs for our attention. as surely as the Lord your God Lives who's got your God She recognized that he was not from the area. He he was not one of her people. It surely his God. Should have told him this surely is your God Lives. She replied. I don't have any bread. I only have a handful of flour in a flour jar the handful. just a little bit

and I have a little bit of olive oil in a jug just a little bit. And I'm going home with these sticks to make a fire. But I might make a meal for myself and my son. That we might eat it and die. But I've been titled this the last supper. Is there a path will we all know about the Last Supper where?

Leonardo DaVinci hits painted a beautiful picture of the 12 disciples all around a table. Isn't it interesting that they were all on one side of the table? Jesus and the center and Jesus is serving them as we will have our communion. A little later. He was serving them. The Passover meal before he was to go to the cross. And we call that the Last Supper blow. This was the last supper. Is there a path in this poor widowed woman? With her only means of support her son. Who was still young?

had no other resources, but a little bit of flour in the bottom of the bottom of the jar and a little bit of olive oil in it a jug and if she was going to take that Last Remnant that she had and make a little cake little loaf of bread and they would have that with some water and that was going to be their last meal and hear the audacity of this man not even up their Village asking for her to give him some of that meal.

It must have just knocked her over. She replied I don't have any bread only a handful of flour in a jar a little bit of olive oil in a jug and I am Gathering a few sticks to take home to make a fire in a meal. Going to make a meal for myself and my son that we might eat it and die.

Elijah stopped her. And said to her don't be afraid. Sometimes we need to hear those kinds of words. Don't we when you're facing a difficult time? When you're standing. In a troubled time, you need to hear the words. Don't be afraid.

Peace be with you.

Elijah said go home and do his you said build the fire. But first make me a small loaf and then make one for yourself and for your son.

The instructions were given. I underscored this because it's important. This is a key verse in our lesson today. For this is what the Lord says the Lord God of Israel is saying this to you. The jar of flour will never be used up. The jug of oil will never run dry until the day God sends rain again on the

grab this so she went actually did as the Prophet Elijah told her.

And there was food that day for Elijah. and for the woman and for her son their family. And for the jar of flour, it was never used up. And the jug of oil did not run dry is keeping with the word of the Lord. The Lord has spoken to Elijah. Now I need for you to know right here. God never gave her sex a flower.

Did that happen didn't give her barrels of oil? Didn't happen every time she went to make a little cake a bread. For the profit for herself for her son the last little bit of flower came out. in the last few drops of oil poured out the last the little

and then it came back.

My wife and I had one of our favorite Christmas movies is The Bishop's Wife if you ever watch that. And there's this older man. in that story Who likes to have a little wine? In the evening. And toward the end of the story.

He asked the bishop if he would like to have a drink in the bishop said bow, that be nice.

And he poured a little into a glass for the bishop in the little in the glass for himself. Then he set the jar back that the bottle bag and all the sudden you could seed to produce. It don't back up. And he says every time I pour it out no matter how many times I pour it out. It returns. And as you'll note the bouquet and the taste. It's just the same. Nothing has changed. How does that even possible in the bishop says? I don't know. He was going through a troubled time in his life. I don't know what the bishop should have known, right? God was doing a miracle. God did a miracle here. There's no understanding of how that happened why it happened the way it did I ask myself if God tells Elijah I have prepared a widow. Is there a path to meet your needs wouldn't the Widow of known it?

And if he was sending her to anybody why a widow because many times the widows resources are the least. And that's where God said Elijah.

And the Miracle is that maybe God had provided her because of her willingness her openness. To help the prophet in to meet his needs. I'm almost done but I need for us to see the truth that is here. the god provided For not only the profit. But during this time of drought. He provided for the Widow and her son as well. And there was always water and there was always bread bread and water you can live on bread and water. We talked about the bread of life the other day. You can live on on bread and water and so they did for this and a half years and it never ran out always the last few grains a flower in the last few drops. but it never ran out of it was always just enough in God's provision for us may not be a bank full of money but he has told us that if we will trust in him. It'll be just enough to cover our bills. Just enough to get us by God will take care of you. trust in him believe in him now The next passage of scripture as we wind. This down is important. And it says sometime later the son of the woman who owned the house this this other person in the house. The profit was upstairs in a room for him in the weather when her son live downstairs.

But sometime later the woman who owned the house this Widow her son grew ill and got worse and worse and finally what? What does it say? He stopped breathing.

Now, I'm not the medical expertise.

I'm a pastor preacher. What do study theology in history? And I don't know a whole lot about medical science. Just enough to be dangerous, I guess. But when you stop breathing, I guess you're dead. Would you agree?

He died.

and it was at this time that the Widow carrying her young son in her arms comes to the prophet Legend says

What do you have against me man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin? But you might kill my son. Is that the reason you came?

I'm telling me what that probably broke the prophets heart. It would break my heart to have this woman standing in front of me with her lifeless son and saying it's all your fault. Have you ever been accused of something that you had nothing to do with but You got the blame. Especially fear Christian a lot of people will put the blame on God when something bad happens in their life it it's God's fault. And if you're a Christian, it's your fault. You serve that God.

And this little line I preached this before but I've never have to grasp the importance of these words and I underscored them. Elijah said in reply give be your son.

Give me your son out of your arms into my arms. And truthfully I'm going to leave you with this nugget. You cannot receive from God if your hands are already full.

If your life is filled with stuff. Good stuff, baby. You cannot have hands to receive what God wants to give you and when she gave the prophet her son her arms were open to receive him back again alive. That was her hope. That was Elijah's hope. Give me your son Elijah replied. He took him from her arms carried him to the upper room where he was staying and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the Lord. That's what I would do. Because I don't have the power and strength within me. Nothing within me to meet my own needs. I need to depend on God for everything true for you. He cried out to the Lord Lord by God. Have you brought tragedy to this Widow to this home? Because I'm staying with her by causing her son to die. Is it because of me?

He cries to the Lord.

for the Sun

then he stretched himself out over the boy once. Weis didn't happen no life. So a third time he's stretched himself out over the boy as a covering. The Lord our God is our covering over eyes. He is our covering. our help in times of trouble and as he stretched out a third time over the boy. He cried out to the Lord Lord my God. Let This Boy's Life returned to him. I told you Elijah came from obscurity. But I'm wanted you to know from the birth of Elijah. God had a plan for him read Psalm 139. If you want to know about God's plan for you. It's there some 139. your homework

so much is said about a person many times in their name. Do you know what the name Elijah means? Eli Eli

Jeff remember on the cross Jesus cried out Eli Eli Lama sabachthani

Or interpreted my God. Micah Why have you forsaken me many said he's calling for Elijah Eli. Eli Meets my God.

the name Elijah means my God is, isn't that interesting that God would send a man whose name was my God is Yahweh against King Ahab. Who was Leading the People?

In false worship because of his wife Jezebel who worshipped. Many times we don't realize that the person we marry sometimes can either make us or break us and he serve the Lord with his heart and tell he married Jezebel and she caused him to leave the worship of the one true. God to follow the god of her people.

to follow

b a a l

And this man Elijah the my God is God. My God is Yahweh. Praise to his God Lord. My God. Let This Boy's Life returned to him and his life returned How do you begin to breathe?

the Lord heard Elijah's cry and when you cry out to the Lord in earnest Jesus said if you ask the father in the name of the son Jesus and believe with all of your heart you have that what you asked for. He cried out to my God Yahweh.

And the boy's life returned to him and he lived lied. You picked up the child and carried him down the stairs into the room where the mother was with waiting arms and he gave to the mother with her open-arms her son. Alive look your son is alive. Then the woman this is key everything else building to this. Don't miss it. Then the woman said to Elijah now, I know that you are a man of God and that the word of God from your mouth is truth. literally, but she saying is now I know before when he asked her for the the bread to go with the water when he first met her she said

your God

Now she's saying your God is my God. Now, I know your God is be God. And he is worthy of my praise and worship that your words are true.

That you speak. Amazing amazing. I'm going to leave you with this.

I hope you can read this my goodness. I thought it was bigger than that. This is the take away from our our lesson this morning first when Elijah made a stand against the sins of King Ahab and the people of Israel the Lord promised to him what provision The Lord provides water from the brook and bread and meats from the Ravens twice a day and safety. That's what God did for him. Then when the brook dried up. The Lord provided a widow. Is there a path to provide bread and water for him to sustain him and it was a safe place for him to go to because he had was looking for him to put him to death. Because what he said came to fruition what he told King Ahab that there would not be any rain or Dew on the land came true. If you want to know whether a prophet is really a prophet. See if his words come true.

And you can test my word to you today if you'll pray and you'll believe and put your faith in the Lord. He will sustain you he will take care of your needs. He surely will. The prophecy comes true and you know that the prophet is truly the prophet.

Before he gets this provision.

Secondly when you are standing up.

for the Lord the Lord's provision will come by unusual sources, even if they did to Elijah. God said him and made provision for him with Ravens bringing him bread and food in the morning and at night and then he sent the prophet to a widow in Zarephath an unusual way of taking care of the man of God. So if God. When you're praying. And God uses unusual means to meet your need. Trusting that he knows what he's doing. I'm about done here. Thirdly. your life and your direction are being watched. Your actions your life and your actions are being watched and judged by others. So let the Lord be glorified in all of your ways and all that you're doing people are watching you. The sweater was watching everything about him.

To see if he was really the man of God. If God was real or not people watch you people judge.

About God if you were the only person that they only stayed you were the only person that they see. Who is the Christian make sure you represent Christ? Well Elijah prayed? To the Lord and his prayer was answered. God stop the rain and no do on the land and even is the Widow recognize that Elijah's God was the one and true God she gives God the glory when people watch your life if they see Christ Living in you they'll give God the glory. And lastly Elijah was a man just like you and I but he was a man of great prayer. He prayed earnestly and God stop the rain in the do in Israel. He prayed for the Widow's son and God gave The Widow back her son alive and you will see next week that when he prays again. God Returns the rain upon the land. To bring produce and life again to the land the land and the people are one. fun Morse live and that is if you want to make a difference in this world pick a stand for the Lord and be a prayer Warrior. God has enough prayer warriors. It's time for us to be a prayer Warrior.

Trust him take a stand for him. Let people know that you are. Trusting in God that you are a child of God. Would you stand with me?

Are gracious and loving heavenly father as we prepare to go? to the Lord's table to take this communion on this first Sunday in March.

Let us clear our minds and our hearts and be at peace with you. If we have not accepted you as our Lord and savior, would you come in to our hearts and make your home in our hearts? I confess that I am a sinner in need of a savior. Come in and cleanse my heart make me new and fresh. That I might be worthy of taking communion this morning. Our table is open to all who profess Jesus Christ as their lord and savior and father. We ask that all would be made Worthy. Is they confessed their need of you their hope in you their love for you their willingness to be a prayer Warrior for you? And father we give you thanks in the praise and all things in Jesus name and everyone said amen. You may be seated are ushers are going to come at this time.