Response To Your Miracle
Covid-19 God is Up to Something • Sermon • Submitted
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· 74 viewsMiracles often depend upon faith on the part of those who will benefit from them. Human responses to miracles take various forms. Some respond in faith and obedience, whilst others are confirmed in their unbelief and rebellion.
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Obedience and Faith are Required in the Working of Miracles
Obedience and Faith are Required in the Working of Miracles
1 Ki 17:13–15 The widow gave Elijah her last meal before she could be miraculously provided for.
A miracle is extraordinary events that manifest divine power, that are wonders to human understanding, and therefore what human beings perceive as signs from God.
8 The Lord told Elijah, 9 “Go to the town of Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I’ve told a widow in that town to give you food.”
God cannot move, if you will not move.
This is important because this is the set-up to move on to the next phase of His plan. We have the freedom of choice and God is a gentleman who will not force your obedience.
Your faith is based on the condition of your obedience to Gods will.
There are those who would say why would he do this, she has nothing and that so selfish! but look closely again “the Lord told Elijah” and he also told the widow.
So the next time the man of God ask for something form his flock, don’t roll your eyes and cop an attitude. The Lord will speak to whomever He pleases and it’s up to them to be obedient and not you if God has not spoken to you.
10 When Elijah came near the town gate of Zarephath, he saw a widow gathering sticks for a fire. “Would you please bring me a cup of water?” he asked. 11 As she left to get it, he asked, “Would you also please bring me a piece of bread?”
Elijah listens to the Holy Spirit and he activates the widows faith, there are two things happening here -
#1 The widow had a need for basic supplements - What you need, God wants to provide it for you.
#2 The widow was already exercising her faith - Faith requires action and action is faith in motion.
26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Faith, Childlike
When a father picks up his little daughter and tosses her all around in the air, she laughs and enjoys it, for she trusts—has faith in—her father. Even though she finds herself in unusual situations, like being upside down four feet above the floor with nothing supporting her (normally an uncomfortable circumstance), she does not fear, for she trusts her father. That is the sort of faith we should have toward our heavenly Father, too.
12 The widow answered, “In the name of the living Lord your God, I swear that I don’t have any bread. All I have is a handful of flour and a little olive oil. I’m on my way home now with these few sticks to cook what I have for my son and me. After that, we will starve to death.”
So here is where the miracle actually takes place, God at that point was given the option to move and or be bound up.
Struggles are real and heavy, but the action to overcome produces an uncommon strength in your faith
18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
13 Elijah said, “Everything will be fine. Do what you said. Go home and fix something for you and your son. But first, please make a small piece of bread and bring it to me. 14 The Lord God of Israel has promised that your jar of flour won’t run out and your bottle of oil won’t dry up before he sends rain for the crops.”
True faith amplifies the testing of your faithfulness at your most vulnerable point.
The widow could have denied Elijah and put into action what she had already started with her thoughts, her words and her doing. Which would have led to her and her sons demise.
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Witness, by Life
You are writing a Gospel,
A chapter each day,
By deeds that you do,
By words that you say.
Men read what you write,
Whether faithless or true,
Say! What is the gospel
According to YOU?
New Living Translation Study Bible Chapter 17
True faithfulness means placing God’s Kingdom ahead of personal concerns
1 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
A real miracle is giving God all you got to activate what you need.
15 The widow went home and did exactly what Elijah had told her. She and Elijah and her family had enough food for a long time. 16 The Lord kept the promise that his prophet Elijah had made, and she did not run out of flour or oil.
The widow had enough confidence in Elijah