Start Time:	8:23 AM
End Time:	9:24 AM
Date:	June 19, 2014

 

TITLE: Elijah Announces a Great Drought

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1 – 24

God’s Message / God’s Commands / God’s Promises:

→ Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe^[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah:  “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”  So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.  The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

NOTES:

Ø  God will always raise an Elijah whenever an Ahab and Jezebel are born!  Ahab was the king but completely surrendered to his wife, who worshipped Baal fully.  When there is increase in evil, God will not allow it to remain as it is.  God will find a way to put a stop to it and He will raise an Elijah who will battle up the forces of Baal in the persons of Ahab and Jezebel.  The question is, do you want to be an Elijah today?  Or would you be like Ahab who is completely surrendered to Jezebel? (Ahab is like a modern version of a man who is completely blinded in obedience to Jezebel).  Jezebel, could be a false prophet, a manipulator, someone with power but hides behind the person in the highest position.  Jezebel is a puppeteer and Ahab, the king, is her puppet.  Whenever the two combines forces, God will raise up an Elijah, who is fully obedient to God and God only.  Elijah, lives by the truth and will only walk in every instruction of the Lord.  Choose today who you want to be.

→ Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”  Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”  She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.  Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” “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, “Lordmy God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”  The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.  Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”  Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”

NOTES:

Ø  God knows our concerns and hesitations when He asked us to give up something for Him and He always repays it more than what we need!  When Elijah was instructed by God to go to the widow and asked the widow to supply him with food and drink.  Elijah obeyed even if he knew that it was the time of famine.  Elijah didn’t allow reason or logic to win over what God has told Him to do.  The widow even reasoned with him about their last meal yet again, Elijah, did not allow the widow’s own logic nor his own logic to contradict or stop the Lord’s plan for He knows God will do as He says He will.  Will you do the same?  Will you allow God to direct your path and not bother with logic?

Ø  When we obey without question to God’s words, then we will truly KNOW the truth and we KNOW that He is God.  When the widow obeyed what Elijah told her to do, she later on said “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth!”  Our knowledge will strengthen our faith.  When we have full knowledge of who GOD is and what He is capable of, our faith will be strengthened all the more so no matter what trials come our way, we will never forget that God is greater!  Our knowledge of God will not only strengthen but the people around us will know that we are of God.  So in all things, God receives the glory!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You because You hear us.  You know our questions, our hesitations, our worries and You set us free from it!  Thank You Lord because You speak to us and Your words are true and just.  Lord today I make my choice.  I choose to be “Elijah” who will fully obey.  This is my heart’s desire and my mind is set on this.  I am weak on my own and will not be able to pursue this but with Your help and my commitment to do so, I know I can do all things thru You.  Lord my hesitations and worries are trying to infiltrate my mind and my heart but let my heart beats for nothing but Your word, and my mind focus to no one but You.  Lord do not allow any diversions or hindrances such as logic and reasoning or feelings to cloud my perception and faith in what You have called me to do.  Allow me to see Your provision and Your miracles.  Know that I am willing and though my body sometimes says no, my heart and my mind is keep focus on Yes and AMEN to You today.  Lord let my words today be a living covenant with You and though I know that my words are not reliable, I know Yours are!  And You said that You know my concerns, my worries, my hesitations and You will always repay back what I am willing to give up for You, even more than what I need.  Let me hold on to that Jesus.  Let me hold on to You tight.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!