Sermons tagged #Zarephath

Here are two chapters on God's ministry through Elijah. "Elijah wasn't a polished preacher like Isaiah and Jeremiah, but was more of a rough-hewn reformer who challenged the people to abandon their idols and return to the Lord." Source: Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Responsible, "Be" Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 2002)

Here are two chapters on God's ministry through Elijah. "Elijah wasn't a polished preacher like Isaiah and Jeremiah, but was more of a rough-hewn reformer who challenged the people to abandon their idols and return to the Lord." Source: Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Responsible, "Be" Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 2002)

Here are two chapters on God's ministry through Elijah. "Elijah wasn't a polished preacher like Isaiah and Jeremiah, but was more of a rough-hewn reformer who challenged the people to abandon their idols and return to the Lord." Source: Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Responsible, "Be" Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 2002)

3 points to consider: The Condition A Planned Crisis A New Beginning

Verse by verse exposition through the book of 1 Kings. 1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." 2 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 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...

Sermon preached by Harry Fujiwara on Luke 4:22-30

A Significant Sign A Severe Test A Great Provision

It is one thing to understand God's revealed will, but we need to understand His mysterious will as well. He has given us His direction; but to perform it, herein lies the challenge!

CONGREGATIONAL READING: 1 Kings 17:1-24 * I. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Elijah and Ahab, 1 Ki 17:1-8 Word of the LORD to Ahab, v1 Provision of the LORD for Elijah, vv2-8 Elijah and Zarephath's Widow, 1 Ki 17:9-16 Elijah encounters the widow, vv9-10 Elijah entreats the widow, vv11-12 Elijah encourages the widow, vv13-16 Elijah and the Widow's Son, 1 Ki 17:17-24 Elijah blamed for the death, vv17-18 Elijah intercedes thru prayer, vv19-21 Elijah's LORD resurrects the child, vv22-24 II. HUMBLE OBSERVATIONS, 1 Ki 17:14 The Word of the LORD Elijah proclaims the Word of the LORD, vv8-12 --- a. sent to the widow in Zarephath --- b. speaks to the widow's lack --- c. says she must do the impossible --- d. seen is the work of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:8) The Supply of the LORD Elijah presents the power of the LORD, vv13-16 --- a. recognizing one's condition --- b. responding with one's actions The Hope of the LORD Elijah prophesies the mercy of the Lord, vv17-24 --- a. death during draught, but a resurrection's coming III. HOLY APPLICATION Are you as Elijah the Tishbite? or, Are you as the widow of Zarephath?

We met Elijah at the start of this lesson, a man who stood before the Lord and spoke for Him. Today we want to look at his prayer after the death of the widow's son. There are many lessons for us in this section. Why did God kill this child? Was it wrong? What did He want? Join us as we look at the death of the widow's son and search for the lessons that we can use in our own life.

Isa 55:8-9 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. This is the word of the Lord and we know it is true. Yet often we expect God to march to the beat of our own drum. We think that God has to work His answers in a way that we can plan out and help with. Tonight we will be looking at God sending Elijah to the widow of Zarephath. Here is a great example of how God's ways are higher than our ways. Join us as we learn more about what it takes to be a man or woman that God can use.

"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.' " (1 Kings 17:12)

Amidst God's judgment against Israel, his goodness shines forth in this passage about the widow of Zarephath. Specifically, we see God's goodness in three ways: God's goodness when there is nothing good in us; God's goodness that sustains us in our need; God's goodness that extends beyond the grave.

A Difficult Trial A Good Purpose A Prayer of Faith

This evening we are going to see that God is not limited in the use of means; He can provide ‎for Elijah just as well in Zarephath as He has at Cherith, and in the process He will show forth ‎the glory of His provision for a poor widow as well. We want to consider together 1st, the glory ‎of His provision in His electing love and grace. 2nd – The glory of His providing for our ‎greatest needs in relation to the exercise of our faith. And 3rd - The glory of His provision ‎never running out. ‎

Here Elijah performs a sign, not for the purpose of proving God’s power, or for the purpose of comforting the widow directly, but for the purpose of vindicating the word of God and the messenger of God, vindicating God as the God who lives and gives life, and vindicating God’s word to a Gentile. Remember, the last chapter ended with Israel rejecting the word of God. This chapter ends with a Gentile embracing the word of God! Truly, our God works in mysterious ways. We see these truths in the one-two punch of God’s revelation. The first part of this revelation consists in the death of the widow’s son; the second, in his resurrection to new life. Finally, of course, the point of the sign is revealed in the widow’s words to Elijah: the point was to vindicate God’s word and prophet. Jesus' resurrection vindicated the truth of God's word and the identity of His prophet. You won't be ready for the final resurrection unless you trust God's word and Prophet!

God showed mercy to a Gentile when His own people rejected Him. The church grows in China and Africa while it shrinks in the West. God demands everything from you, and provides everything for you. That is the promise of His word. Can you trust God’s Word? Dare you? It has never failed yet.

Tom Stegall begins a new series on a character study of Elijah and how he demonstrated courageous faith on three separate occasions.