Faithful Sacrifice: Trusting God's Provision and Joy
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound theme of sacrifice and provision through the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath from 1 Kings 17. We began by celebrating God's faithfulness in providing for our ministry needs, acknowledging that while financial discussions can be uncomfortable, they are essential for understanding God's provision. Elijah's story illustrates that God often uses unexpected means to provide for us, and when one source dries up, He opens another. This teaches us to trust in God, not in the means of His provision.
Elijah's encounter with the widow at Zarephath is a powerful example of faith and obedience. Despite her dire circumstances, the widow was asked to make a great sacrifice by providing for Elijah first. In return, God promised that her jar of flour and jug of oil would not run dry. This narrative challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for God and reminds us that true joy often follows great sacrifice.
We also reflected on how Elijah's actions foreshadow Christ's call for sacrifice and promise of greater joy. Jesus invites us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, promising that those who lose their lives for His sake will find them. This call to sacrifice is not hidden in the fine print but is a central tenet of the Christian faith.
The story of Adoniram Judson, a missionary to Burma, further illustrates this theme. His willingness to sacrifice comfort and safety for the sake of the gospel serves as a powerful example of living out Christ's call. Judson's life challenges us to consider what we are asking of ourselves and our families in terms of sacrifice for the gospel.
In conclusion, we are called to examine our lives and consider how we can serve, give, and pray in ways that reflect our commitment to Christ. We are encouraged to trust in God's provision, to be willing to make sacrifices, and to seek the greater joy that comes from living a life fully surrendered to Him.
Key Takeaways:
1. Trust in God's Provision: Elijah's story teaches us to trust in God, not in the means of His provision. When one source dries up, God opens another, reminding us that He is the ultimate provider. [06:01]
2. Sacrifice Leads to Joy: The widow's willingness to sacrifice for Elijah led to God's miraculous provision. This illustrates that true joy often follows great sacrifice, as God honors our faith and obedience. [12:44]
3. Christ's Call to Sacrifice: Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. This call to sacrifice is central to the Christian faith and promises greater joy for those who embrace it. [15:28]
4. Modeling Sacrifice for Others: As leaders and parents, we are called to model sacrificial living for others, especially our children. This involves asking them to consider what they can do for God and encouraging them to live lives of purpose and commitment. [24:20]
5. Prayer and Expectation: We are encouraged to pray for God to do great things in our lives and in our church. By raising the spiritual temperature, we can leverage our full potential for the advance of the gospel. [35:58]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Gratitude and Health Warning
- [01:25] - Introduction to 1 Kings 17
- [02:12] - Elijah at Cherith
- [03:17] - The Drying Brook
- [05:21] - God's Provision in Zarephath
- [06:48] - Trusting God's Provision
- [08:16] - Moving from Cherith to Zarephath
- [09:06] - Elijah Meets the Widow
- [10:59] - The Widow's Sacrifice
- [12:44] - God's Promise to the Widow
- [14:36] - Christ's Call to Sacrifice
- [16:47] - Adoniram Judson's Story
- [19:55] - Taking Up the Cross
- [21:20] - What Can You Do for God?
- [23:59] - A Call to Fathers
- [27:01] - Serving, Giving, and Prayer
- [35:58] - Raising the Spiritual Temperature
- [39:52] - The Widow's Faith and God's Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Kings 17:1-16
2. Mark 8:34-35
3. Colossians 3:3
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial source of provision for Elijah, and what happened to it? How did God instruct Elijah to respond? [05:21]
2. Describe the widow's situation when Elijah met her. What did Elijah ask of her, and what promise did he give in return? [09:06]
3. How does the sermon describe Elijah as a "type of Christ"? What parallels are drawn between Elijah's actions and Christ's call to His followers? [13:41]
4. What was the response of the widow to Elijah's request, and what was the outcome of her obedience? [40:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the drying of the brook in Elijah's story illustrate the principle of trusting in God rather than the means of His provision? [06:01]
2. In what ways does the widow's sacrifice and subsequent blessing challenge common perceptions of giving and receiving in the Christian faith? [12:44]
3. How does the call to "deny oneself and take up the cross" in Mark 8:34-35 relate to the theme of sacrifice and joy discussed in the sermon? [15:28]
4. What does the story of Adoniram Judson add to our understanding of living a life of sacrifice for the sake of the gospel? [16:47]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when a "brook" in your life dried up. How did you respond, and what did you learn about God's provision during that season? [06:01]
2. The widow of Zarephath was asked to give from her scarcity. Is there an area in your life where God might be calling you to give or serve despite feeling you have little to offer? [12:44]
3. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. What does this look like in your daily life, and what specific steps can you take to live this out more fully? [15:28]
4. Consider the sacrifices made by Adoniram Judson and his wife. What sacrifices might God be calling you to make for the sake of the gospel, and how can you prepare your heart to say "yes"? [16:47]
5. As a leader or parent, how can you model sacrificial living for those around you, especially your children? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate this in the coming weeks? [24:20]
6. The sermon encourages us to pray with expectation. What is one specific area in your life or in the church where you can begin to pray for God to do great things? [35:58]
7. How can you raise the spiritual temperature in your life and in your community? Identify one practical step you can take this week to deepen your commitment to Christ and His mission. [35:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust in God's Unseen Provision
In the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, we see a profound example of God's provision through unexpected means. Elijah, a prophet of God, was directed to a widow during a time of drought and famine. Despite her own dire circumstances, the widow was willing to share her last meal with Elijah. This act of faith was met with God's miraculous provision, as her jar of flour and jug of oil did not run dry. This narrative teaches us to trust in God as the ultimate provider, even when the means of provision are not immediately apparent. When one source dries up, God opens another, reminding us that His ways are higher than ours. [06:01]
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you are struggling to trust God's provision? How can you actively choose to trust Him today, even if the means of provision are not clear?
Day 2: Joy Through Sacrifice
The widow's willingness to sacrifice her last meal for Elijah is a powerful testament to faith and obedience. Despite her limited resources, she chose to trust God's promise, and in return, she experienced His miraculous provision. This story illustrates that true joy often follows great sacrifice. When we step out in faith and obedience, God honors our sacrifices and provides in ways we could never imagine. This challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for God and reminds us that joy is often found on the other side of sacrifice. [12:44]
"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:25, ESV)
Reflection: What is one thing you feel God is asking you to sacrifice for His sake? How can you take a step of faith today to trust Him with that sacrifice?
Day 3: Embracing Christ's Call to Sacrifice
Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. This call to sacrifice is not hidden in the fine print but is a central tenet of the Christian faith. It promises greater joy for those who embrace it. By losing our lives for Christ's sake, we find true life. This call challenges us to examine our priorities and consider what it means to live a life fully surrendered to Him. It is a call to embrace the cost of discipleship, knowing that the reward is far greater than anything we could imagine. [15:28]
"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: Modeling Sacrifice for Others
As leaders and parents, we are called to model sacrificial living for others, especially our children. This involves asking them to consider what they can do for God and encouraging them to live lives of purpose and commitment. The story of Adoniram Judson, a missionary to Burma, serves as a powerful example of living out Christ's call. His willingness to sacrifice comfort and safety for the sake of the gospel challenges us to consider what we are asking of ourselves and our families in terms of sacrifice for the gospel. [24:20]
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you model sacrificial living for those around you, especially your children or those you mentor? What is one specific way you can demonstrate this in your daily life?
Day 5: Praying with Expectation
We are encouraged to pray for God to do great things in our lives and in our church. By raising the spiritual temperature, we can leverage our full potential for the advance of the gospel. This involves praying with expectation, believing that God is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. It is a call to seek God's guidance and provision in all areas of our lives, trusting that He will lead us in ways that bring glory to His name. [35:58]
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life or church where you need to see God's intervention? How can you commit to praying with expectation for His guidance and provision in that area?
Quotes
"Now what we learn from this very simply and very wonderfully is this: that God has more than one way of supplying what you need. When one means of supply dries up, God has other ways of providing. So what we learn here is to trust the God who provides, not the means of his supply." [00:05:47]
"God's Word comes to her and God's Word is calling this woman to make a great sacrifice and then notice that God also gives her a great promise. For thus says the Lord, verse 14, the God of Israel, the jar of flour shall not be spent and the jug of oil shall not be empty until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth." [00:11:37]
"Christ comes into our situation of great need, a dying world, dying people, and he calls for a great sacrifice, and it's right up as a banner headline. What else does he do? Well, Christ promises a greater joy because as soon as he calls for the great sacrifice, he says this: for whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever would lose his life for my sake and for the Gospel's, that person will save it." [00:15:36]
"Taking up the cross means that you consider yourself dead already. A person who's taking up the cross, they're going to the place of crucifixion. I'm as good as dead if you're carrying the cross, that's what it means. And this is at the very heart, friends, of what it means to be a Christian." [00:19:55]
"Some of you within the next few years will be making half the salary that you're making now, and you will have the opportunity to model what it is to show contentment and to love Christ in a much simpler lifestyle. And think of the power of that testimony in the suffocatingly materialistic world in which we live." [00:21:20]
"Leaders ask for great sacrifices. I want to give this challenge to all of you who are fathers today. What are you asking of your son? What are you asking of your daughter? What is the vision you are painting for them as to what life is all about? What are you calling them to?" [00:23:59]
"Every time you consider a major financial commitment, ask yourself this question: what would this mean for my giving to God? Ask yourself that question. If this is going to be the thing that matters to you first, if God is to be first in your life, if buying that new house would make it impossible for you to give 10% of your income, why would you buy that house?" [00:31:49]
"Tell them why. Tell them because it's because we have to have Christ first in our lives and in our family. Tell them, teach them to trade the American dream for a life that is laid down for Jesus Christ. Christ says whoever will save his life will lose it." [00:33:19]
"Now let's conclude here. Put yourself in the shoes of the widow of Zarephath. She hears this call to sacrifice. She thinks, oh, this is impossible. She hears the promise of God's provision, and she says, oh boy, if that could happen, that would be amazing. And the challenge is very simple for her: does she believe in the promise of God?" [00:40:06]
"Christ calls for great sacrifice, and he promises greater joy. If anyone would come after me, here's how it is: let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever will save his life, he's gonna lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it." [00:41:22]
"Oh God, in this culture of ease where it is so hard for us to know even where to begin in being a true follower of Jesus, teach us what it means to lose our lives for your sake, to lose our lives for the sake of the gospel, and in doing so to find that we gain them and keep them, and in the place of the greatest sacrifice find even greater joy." [00:43:51]
"Now you read a verse like that and you say, well, now this must be for the super committed. This must be for Peter and James and John and folks like that. No, the Bible says Jesus called the crowd to him, and he says to the crowd along with his disciples, to all the folks who are considering whether they want to put their faith in Jesus Christ, let me tell you what it means to be a real Christian." [00:14:49]
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