Keep Going
1 Kings 17:13, “And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.” [1]
I. Conduct
A. Fearless
B. Faithful
II. Connect
A. First
B. Furnish
III. Continue
A. Food
B. Family
Introduction: The church was told to disband and stay apart. No more congregating because we have to get through this thing together. It seems that when someone gives a directive like that which includes a direct discrepancy of ideas within the same sentence, people might at least examine the idea for a truthful reason. If the sincerity of the person who gives the edict is questionable then someone should question before jumping in blindly.
This morning we are looking way back to a time when Israel was a divided nation. There was a king who was over the northern kingdom of Israel while a drought was happening. King Ahab took over as king of Israel when King Asa had been king of Judah for twenty-two years.
Neither of the two nations was living for God anymore. Nobody! In fact both nations were doing things and worshipping things that they had been warned against. In 1 Kings 16:33b it says, “Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger ethan all the kings of Israel that were before him.”[2]
The prophet that we will mention today is one of the two people that the three disciples saw with Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration. Moses was one with Jesus that day and Elijah was the other. They were there present with Jesus in their glorified bodies. Elijah was one of only two people that left this earth without passing though death. It is important that we understand the significance of that glorious man. He was very important to God; a person to be trusted.
Somebody today needs to tell the world leaders the truth or they might come up with some nonsensical thing like “the big bang theory” was the beginning of all this stuff or mankind is bringing on such a change in the global climate that we ourselves will cause the world to end. Somebody needs to tell these so called world leaders the truth.
Back then there was such a man who had to tell the truth. He had no other choice. Would you have enjoyed being a prophet back then? Is there such a prophet in the world today? Elijah was the prophet tasked with telling King Ahab that he was messing up. Badly!
The king didn’t take it well but here is what Elijah told him in 1 Kings 17:1, “*And †Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, aAs the Lord God of Israel liveth, bbefore whom I stand, cthere shall not be dew nor rain dthese years, but according to my word.” [3] Elijah told Ahab that it was not for any king to say when the drought would end. Only Elijah would be allowed to bring the rain to the parched land. Elijah told Ahab the truth and then he left; apparently for three years.
Scripture: The scripture today is 1 Kings 17:13. Please stand if you’re able.
Prayer: Let us pray. Be seated.
Message: Sometimes when God has something for us to tell it might mean that we will not be allowed to stay to see what happens. This was the case for Elijah after he warned Ahab of the extended drought.
Read the events of how Elijah came to the place where he insisted the widow would give him the first cake. 1 Kings 17:2-7. "And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 And it came to pass †after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 17:2–7). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
We live in a time when so-called religious people tell others their demands and then if they are not met there is always a protest. They don’t simply prophecy to the leaders and then leave it to God. What would happen if we were to do what Elijah did? We just saw the result of fifty years of prayer.
Elijah knew that the drought was going to be until he got word from God to call for an end to it. He must have known that the brook was going to eventually dry up. He went any way! Elijah kept going even though he knew that he was not going to be treated like a hero.
Keep reading at verse 8-10. “8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,” [4] Did you catch that in verse eight? Elijah was in such a relationship with God that when God wanted to tell him something, God simply spoke a word to him. As we read on we learn that when God spoke to Elijah it was to tell him that he wasn’t there for long stay. When God spoke to Elijah is was to tell him it is time to keep going. What is it that you hear when God speaks?
Arise! Get up from where you are. It’s time to move. Go to Zarephath; a widow woman will be there to take care of you. God informed Elijah that He had already taken care of him. The widow woman would not refuse him.
She accommodated Elijah and was on her way to bring him a drink when he called her. Verse 11-12, "11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12 And she said, aAs the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am fgathering gtwo sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 17:11–12). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
This time she decided that enough was enough. She didn’t have enough for herself and her child. Elijah was asking too much. This brings us to our focal verse today.
Our outline again today has three parts; conduct, connect, and continue. We have seen in this today that sometimes God instructs us to go away from where we are. Sometimes when the going gets tough we want to say enough is enough. That is what the widow woman said. I’ve given you water and a place to rest but that’s enough. This is it. I give up. As soon as I eat and feed my son we will sit down and die. Elijah told her to conduct her life a usual. God had not told her that she was about to die. Things looked bleak but she was there to do and not die. Don’t fear the unknown trust the known. You have always been faithful even without a husband for yourself and a father for your son. Nothing has changed until God says it is time to change. Keep going! Don’t stop trusting. Remain faithful!
Read that part of verse twelve again. “behold, I am fgathering gtwo sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” [5] The it there was the meal and oil that she had left. She was going to take it and make a little cake which she planned to cook on the two sticks. Pay close attention for whom she was concerned. Behold, or to paraphrase, looky here! I am getting these two sticks to cook what I have left for me and my son. There is no Elijah in that list. It is for me and my son.
Have you ever felt that? “Rachael; just leave me alone so that I can either get better or die. I’ll be ready to go when I’m ready or then you can call somebody to haul me out.” Pastor wouldn’t ever say anything like that; right? Next thing I knew there were two EMTs in my bedroom. That used to be me! I was the EMT. What happened?
I have got to admit; I wanted to get ready and come here to church that evening. It was a relief when Rachael told me that she had already talked to Jerry and I wasn’t going to connect with anybody that night. Though we were at home I was right here with you.
We are not to disconnect from our church family when things are not going well. That is when we need to be connected. Rachael did good. I was sicker than I wanted to admit but my heart was not on staying at home that night.
Notice that Elijah didn’t let up on the lady. He insisted that she make him a cake and bring it to him first. Not only must she furnish Elijah with what she had left for her family, she had to give him his part first.
I hear people say this about tithing. “By the time we pay our bills there’s not enough left to tithe.” This is not a tithing message. It is a message about priority. If you trust God with the first fruits that He provides you with there will be an abundance so that you can help others with your left overs. Stinginess and being a Christian do not work together.
Once a believer begins to work out that which God has worked in and the needs of others have been met, then it is time to continue to take care of feeding yourself and your family. That is when tested faith becomes proven faith. Notice there that Elijah said, “and after.”
Prayer: Let us pray
Invitation: There is no place for greed in God’s kingdom. We just saw an overturning of a law which man instituted in this nation some fifty years ago. To kill another human being simply because the life of that other might be a hindrance to you has got to be the epitome of selfishness. Today’s message was written well before the decision that the court made.
The Holy Spirit continues to work. Today we have heard a message about a widow woman who loved her child so much that she was ready to share the last of what she had with her son. Instead God brought His representative for the woman to feed that which she thought was her last meal with her son. God, through Elijah, promised her that there would be plenty to last through the famine and she accommodated. The provisions lasted until God decided.
What shall we do as a matter of fact with the decision? Do we act like victorious idiots in the face of those we consider enemies or do we continue in quiet peace and love as the world sees His church revived with a new sense of faith that God is still watching and working after all.
In reading the account that we considered today I never saw any time that Elijah used the famous, “I told you so.” On the contrary; later on as we read the account we learn that the widow mother’s son got extremely sick to the point of death. He quit breathing! She was very angry with Elijah.
This is when Elijah questioned God. “ 20 And lhe cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?” [6] Three times Elijah seems to have used a type of CPR perhaps. Three might symbolize the Jewish number of completion saying that Elijah had exhausted himself through this process. Who knows? God knows. And we know now that life came back to the boy.
God knew all the time that He would use Elijah for this purpose. God knew that it was time for Elijah to be used in a one on one ministry so that he could see the result of his faith. God knows what you need too.
Sometimes it looks like a problem until later when God reveals the promise. He can be trusted. He is faithful to His church. I invite us to pray for revival this week as Lee’s Chapel hosts us for what God wants to be a unique opportunity to know Him more. Let us expect a miracle of faith that begins with each and every one who will follow God’s will. If God wills I will see you there tonight as we listen as God brings His word through our brother Greg Little.
Consider as we sing…
[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 17:13). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
e ver. 30.
[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 16:33). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
* About B.C. 910.
† Heb. Elijahu. Luke 4:25, he is called Elias. (As also Luke 1:17).
a ver. 12. ch. 18:10, 15. & 22:14. 2 Kin. 3:14. & 5:16. See Ruth 3:13.
b ch. 18:15. So Deut. 10:8.
c Ecclus. 48:3. James 5:17.
d See ch. 18:1.
[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 17:1). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 17:8). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
f Num. 15:32, 33.
g So Isai. 17:6. Jer. 3:14.
[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 17:12). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
l So 2 Kin. 4:33, 34, 35.
[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 17:20). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
