Faithful Obedience: Trusting God's Unconventional Provision
Summary
Summary:
Good morning, everyone. Today, we explore the profound truth that God can do anything, but the real question is whether we can follow His directions. Our focus is on Elijah from 1 Kings 17, who, despite the dire circumstances, followed God's instructions with unwavering faith. Elijah's declaration to King Ahab about the impending drought was not just a weather forecast but a divine proclamation. Ahab, known for his evil deeds, had provoked God more than any other king before him. Yet, Elijah stood firm, committed to God's word, even when it meant facing personal peril.
Elijah's obedience is a testament to his deep relationship with God. He didn't wait for circumstances to dictate his faith; he was already committed. This challenges us to examine our own relationship with God. Are we fully committed, or are we merely playing church? Elijah's story teaches us that true faith is not just about hearing God's word but also about acting on it, even when it leads us to unexpected places.
God's instructions to Elijah were clear: go to the brook Cherith, where He would provide for him through ravens. This unusual method of provision highlights God's sovereignty and creativity. It reminds us that God's ways are not always rational or predictable, but they are always purposeful. Elijah's obedience led to God's miraculous provision, demonstrating that when we trust and follow God's directions, He takes care of our needs.
However, the story doesn't end there. The brook eventually dried up, presenting a new challenge for Elijah. This teaches us that even when we follow God's directions, we may still face difficulties. But these challenges are opportunities for us to deepen our trust in God and wait for His next set of instructions. Elijah's story encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting that God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory.
Key Takeaways:
1. Commitment Before Circumstances: Elijah's unwavering faith was evident before the drought began. He was already committed to God, which prepared him to face the challenges ahead. This teaches us that our relationship with God should be strong before trials come, so we can stand firm in faith when they do. [11:33]
2. God's Unconventional Provision: God's choice to use ravens to feed Elijah at the brook Cherith shows His ability to provide in unexpected ways. This reminds us that God's methods may not always align with our expectations, but they are always sufficient and purposeful. [20:41]
3. Obedience Leads to Provision: Elijah's obedience to God's instructions led to miraculous provision. This illustrates the importance of not just hearing God's word but acting on it, trusting that He will meet our needs when we follow His directions. [25:52]
4. Challenges After Obedience: Even after obeying God, Elijah faced the challenge of the brook drying up. This teaches us that obedience doesn't exempt us from difficulties, but it does position us to receive God's continued guidance and provision. [35:33]
5. Trusting God's Timing and Methods: Elijah's story encourages us to trust in God's timing and methods, even when they seem unusual. By leaning not on our own understanding and acknowledging Him in all our ways, we can be assured that He will direct our paths. [31:18]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:18] - Introduction and Scripture Reading
- [02:41] - Elijah's Declaration to Ahab
- [06:10] - The Context of Ahab's Reign
- [07:49] - Ahab's Provocation of God
- [11:33] - Elijah's Commitment to God
- [14:49] - God's Instructions to Elijah
- [16:16] - The Brook Cherith and God's Provision
- [18:58] - The Significance of Isolation
- [19:53] - The Role of Ravens
- [20:41] - God's Unconventional Methods
- [25:52] - Elijah's Obedience and God's Provision
- [29:05] - The Importance of Hearing and Obeying
- [31:18] - Trusting God's Directions
- [35:33] - The Brook Dries Up: New Challenges
- [39:11] - Trusting in God's Provision
- [42:39] - Invitation to a Personal Relationship with Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Kings 17:1-7
- Proverbs 3:5-6
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions did God give to Elijah in 1 Kings 17:2-4, and how did Elijah respond to them? [16:16]
2. How did God provide for Elijah during the drought, and what unusual method did He use? [20:41]
3. What was the significance of the brook Cherith in Elijah's journey, and what happened to it eventually? [35:33]
4. How does the sermon describe Elijah's relationship with God, and what phrase does Elijah use to express this relationship? [11:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Elijah's obedience to God's instructions, despite the unusual circumstances, reveal about his faith and trust in God? [25:52]
2. How does the use of ravens to provide for Elijah challenge our understanding of God's provision and methods? [20:41]
3. In what ways does Elijah's story illustrate the importance of being committed to God before facing trials? [11:33]
4. How can Proverbs 3:5-6 be applied to Elijah's situation, and what does it teach us about trusting God's timing and methods? [31:18]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a challenging situation. How did your prior relationship with God influence your response? How can you strengthen your commitment to God before the next trial arises? [11:33]
2. Have you ever experienced God's provision in an unexpected way? How did it affect your trust in Him? What can you do to remain open to God's unconventional methods of provision? [20:41]
3. Elijah's obedience led to God's provision. Are there areas in your life where you feel God is calling you to act, but you have hesitated? What steps can you take to follow His directions more faithfully? [25:52]
4. When faced with a "dried-up brook" in your life, how do you typically respond? What can you learn from Elijah's experience about waiting for God's next instructions? [35:33]
5. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding. Identify a current situation where you are struggling to trust God's plan. How can you apply this scripture to find peace and direction? [31:18]
6. Consider the depth of your relationship with God. Are you fully committed, or are there areas where you feel you are "playing church"? What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God? [11:33]
7. How can you cultivate a habit of hearing, receiving, and obeying God's word in your daily life? What changes might you need to make to ensure you are attentive to His voice? [29:05]
Devotional
Day 1: Commitment Precedes Circumstances
Elijah's unwavering faith was evident before the drought began. He was already committed to God, which prepared him to face the challenges ahead. This teaches us that our relationship with God should be strong before trials come, so we can stand firm in faith when they do. Elijah's story challenges us to examine our own relationship with God. Are we fully committed, or are we merely playing church? His example shows that true faith is not just about hearing God's word but also about acting on it, even when it leads us to unexpected places. [11:33]
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your commitment to God, ensuring that your faith is strong before any trials come your way?
Day 2: God's Unconventional Provision
God's choice to use ravens to feed Elijah at the brook Cherith shows His ability to provide in unexpected ways. This reminds us that God's methods may not always align with our expectations, but they are always sufficient and purposeful. Elijah's experience at the brook Cherith highlights God's sovereignty and creativity in provision. It challenges us to trust in God's ways, even when they seem irrational or unpredictable. By relying on God's provision, we learn to let go of our own understanding and embrace His divine plan. [20:41]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where you need to trust God's unconventional methods of provision? How can you begin to rely on His sufficiency today?
Day 3: Obedience Leads to Provision
Elijah's obedience to God's instructions led to miraculous provision. This illustrates the importance of not just hearing God's word but acting on it, trusting that He will meet our needs when we follow His directions. Elijah's story teaches us that obedience is a pathway to experiencing God's provision. When we act on God's word, we open ourselves to His blessings and care. This requires a willingness to step out in faith, even when the path is unclear, trusting that God will provide for our needs. [25:52]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: What is one specific area where God is calling you to act in obedience today? How can you take a step of faith, trusting in His provision?
Day 4: Challenges After Obedience
Even after obeying God, Elijah faced the challenge of the brook drying up. This teaches us that obedience doesn't exempt us from difficulties, but it does position us to receive God's continued guidance and provision. Elijah's experience reminds us that challenges are not a sign of God's absence but an opportunity to deepen our trust in Him. When we face difficulties, we are invited to lean on God's strength and wait for His next set of instructions, knowing that He is faithful to guide us through. [35:33]
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV): "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: How can you view your current challenges as opportunities to deepen your trust in God? What steps can you take to seek His guidance in these situations?
Day 5: Trusting God's Timing and Methods
Elijah's story encourages us to trust in God's timing and methods, even when they seem unusual. By leaning not on our own understanding and acknowledging Him in all our ways, we can be assured that He will direct our paths. Elijah's journey teaches us the importance of surrendering our plans to God and trusting in His perfect timing. When we acknowledge God's sovereignty, we find peace in knowing that He is orchestrating every detail of our lives for His glory and our good. [31:18]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are struggling to trust God's timing and methods? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today, trusting in His perfect plan?
Quotes
Elijah tells Ahab, in verse number one, he says, Elijah tells Ahab, in verse number one, he says, before whom I stand and if you read that in the NIV it would say the Lord God whom I serve there shall be no dew nor rain in these years except at my word. [00:06:10] (21 seconds)
God can do anything and perhaps this morning my brothers and sisters you are in a seasonal life where you don't know what the Lord is doing you could even be be questioning his provisions and his ways and you're wondering to yourself why does God have me in this isolated place why does he have me by my brook chairs and you could be asking why are my provisions not coming through the usual channels and I say to you that perhaps all of this this is God's way of protecting you and caring for you in a unique manner just like he did for Elijah yeah God has a brook chairs with flowing water tucked away for your use and God has his own food delivery service that is certainly not the way which you and I would think that he would provide for our daily meals but know this he is indeed Jehovah Jireh our provider and I say to you my brothers and sisters that God can do anything God can do anything so having said all that now let's look at Elijah's response look at verse number two through four again let me reread that then the Lord God came to him saying get away from here and turn eastward and hide by the brook chairs which flows into the Jordan it will be that you shall drink from the brook and I have commanded the Ravens to feed you there and then look at the first part of verse number five so he went and did according to the word of God of the Lord just stop right there says that he went and did according to the word of the Lord let that sink in for a moment he went and did according to the word of the Lord [00:38:09] (141 seconds)
God can do anything. And sometimes when we find ourselves in that situation where it seems like things aren't happening the way that we think that they ought to happen, maybe we are struggling in our hearing and our receiving and our obeying of God's word. [00:31:18] (24 seconds)
Sometimes. Sometimes we put the things of God under too much analysis, and then we get paralyzed by our own analysis, because we're trying to figure it out. But God said, I don't need you to figure it out. I just need you to hear what I said and then go do what I said. [00:33:31] (20 seconds)
He delivered this word to King Ahab, and then he had to go and hide by the brook Cherith. Yeah, the brook Cherith, which is situated in an isolated place. But God says, don't worry, I've commanded the ravens to feed you and you will drink from the brook. [00:35:58] (20 seconds)
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