God's Limitless Power: Trusting in Miraculous Provision

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God can do anything, as illustrated through the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17. This narrative reminds us of God's limitless power and His ability to intervene in our lives in miraculous ways. Elijah's journey, from declaring a drought to being sustained by ravens and a widow, demonstrates God's provision and faithfulness. Despite the dire circumstances, Elijah's obedience and faith in God's word led to miraculous outcomes, including the revival of the widow's son.

The story begins with Elijah's bold proclamation to King Ahab about the impending drought, a consequence of Israel's idolatry. God then directs Elijah to the brook Cherith, where he is miraculously fed by ravens. This unusual provision underscores God's sovereignty and His ability to use even the most unlikely means to sustain His people. Elijah's obedience to God's instructions is a recurring theme, emphasizing the importance of trusting and acting on God's word.

As the narrative unfolds, Elijah is sent to Zarephath, where he encounters a widow gathering sticks. Despite her dire situation, Elijah asks her to prioritize his needs, promising God's provision in return. Her obedience results in a miraculous supply of flour and oil, demonstrating that God's blessings extend beyond individual needs to bless others as well.

The story takes a dramatic turn when the widow's son falls ill and dies. In her grief, she questions Elijah, but he responds by taking the child to the upper room and praying fervently. Elijah's persistent prayer and faith in God's power lead to the child's revival, affirming that God can indeed do anything.

This narrative challenges us to trust God in our own lives, to be obedient to His word, and to lift our voices in prayer, knowing that He hears us and can do the impossible.

Key Takeaways:

- Obedience to God's Word: Elijah's journey highlights the importance of obedience to God's instructions. Despite the unusual and challenging circumstances, Elijah's faithfulness led to miraculous outcomes. This teaches us that obedience is a key component of experiencing God's power in our lives. [06:10]

- God's Provision in Unlikely Ways: The story of Elijah being fed by ravens and sustained by a widow illustrates God's ability to provide in unexpected ways. It reminds us that God's resources are limitless, and He can use any means to meet our needs. [08:46]

- Faith in the Midst of Lack: The widow's willingness to prioritize Elijah's needs despite her own lack demonstrates profound faith. Her story encourages us to trust God with our limited resources, believing that He can multiply them for His glory and our good. [10:55]

- Persistent Prayer: Elijah's persistent prayer for the widow's son teaches us the power of fervent, continuous prayer. It reminds us to be relentless in seeking God's intervention, trusting that He hears and responds to our cries. [35:31]

- God's Sovereignty Over Suffering: The narrative challenges the notion that suffering is always a direct result of sin. It encourages us to trust God's sovereignty, knowing that He can use even our trials to reveal His glory and power. [23:32]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:16] - Introduction to Elijah's Story
- [02:03] - The Widow's Son Falls Ill
- [03:15] - God Can Do Anything
- [04:58] - Elijah's Obedience and God's Provision
- [06:10] - Ravens and the Brook Cherith
- [07:13] - The Importance of Obedience
- [08:46] - God's Command to Go to Zarephath
- [10:06] - Elijah Meets the Widow
- [10:55] - Faith in the Midst of Lack
- [12:11] - God's Provision for the Widow
- [16:28] - The Question of Belief
- [17:26] - The Return of Rain
- [18:32] - Tragedy Strikes the Widow
- [20:11] - The Widow's Anguish
- [22:37] - Sin and Suffering
- [23:32] - God's Sovereignty Over Suffering
- [25:29] - Elijah's Focus on the Main Thing
- [27:09] - The Power of No
- [29:17] - Elijah's Cry to God
- [33:27] - The Three-Time Blessing
- [35:31] - Be Persistent in Prayer
- [37:17] - Two Cries and Three Stretches
- [39:00] - Confidence in Prayer
- [40:07] - The Child Revived
- [41:06] - The Widow's Faith Grows
- [42:05] - Conclusion and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Kings 17:17-24

Observation Questions:
1. What were the circumstances that led Elijah to the widow's house in Zarephath, and how did God provide for him there? [08:46]
2. How did Elijah respond to the widow's son's illness and death, and what actions did he take? [02:03]
3. What was the widow's initial reaction to her son's death, and how did her perspective change after Elijah's intervention? [22:37]
4. How does the story of Elijah and the widow illustrate God's provision in unexpected ways? [10:06]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Elijah's obedience to God's instructions, despite the unusual circumstances, teach about the nature of faith? [07:13]
2. How does the narrative challenge the common belief that suffering is always a direct result of sin? [23:32]
3. In what ways does Elijah's persistent prayer for the widow's son demonstrate the power of fervent prayer? [35:31]
4. How does the story of Elijah and the widow encourage believers to trust God with their limited resources? [10:55]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a challenging situation. How did you respond, and what role did faith play in your response? [07:13]
2. Elijah trusted God's provision through unlikely means. Can you identify a situation in your life where God provided in an unexpected way? How did that experience impact your faith? [10:06]
3. The widow prioritized Elijah's needs despite her own lack. How can you practice generosity and faith in your current circumstances? [10:55]
4. Elijah was persistent in prayer for the widow's son. Is there a situation in your life where you need to be more persistent in prayer? What steps can you take to deepen your prayer life? [35:31]
5. The widow's faith grew as a result of witnessing God's power. How can you cultivate a deeper faith in your daily life, especially during times of trial? [41:06]
6. Consider the notion that suffering is not always a direct result of sin. How does this perspective change the way you view your own challenges and the challenges of others? [23:32]
7. Elijah's story shows that God can do anything. What is one area of your life where you need to trust in God's limitless power, and how can you take a step of faith this week? [03:15]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

Day 1: Obedience Unlocks Divine Power
Elijah's journey in 1 Kings 17 is a testament to the power of obedience to God's word. Despite the unusual and challenging circumstances, Elijah's unwavering faithfulness led to miraculous outcomes. His obedience began with a bold proclamation to King Ahab about the impending drought, a consequence of Israel's idolatry. God then directed Elijah to the brook Cherith, where he was miraculously fed by ravens. This unusual provision underscores God's sovereignty and His ability to use even the most unlikely means to sustain His people. Elijah's obedience to God's instructions is a recurring theme, emphasizing the importance of trusting and acting on God's word. This teaches us that obedience is a key component of experiencing God's power in our lives. [06:10]

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"

Reflection: In what area of your life is God calling you to step out in obedience, even if it seems unusual or challenging? How can you take a step of faith today?


Day 2: Provision Beyond Expectation
The story of Elijah being fed by ravens and sustained by a widow illustrates God's ability to provide in unexpected ways. After declaring the drought, Elijah was directed to the brook Cherith, where ravens brought him food. This unusual provision highlights God's limitless resources and His ability to meet our needs in ways we might not anticipate. Later, Elijah was sent to Zarephath, where he encountered a widow gathering sticks. Despite her dire situation, Elijah asked her to prioritize his needs, promising God's provision in return. Her obedience resulted in a miraculous supply of flour and oil, demonstrating that God's blessings extend beyond individual needs to bless others as well. This narrative reminds us that God's resources are limitless, and He can use any means to meet our needs. [08:46]

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: Can you recall a time when God provided for you in an unexpected way? How can you trust Him to meet your current needs, even if the means seem unlikely?


Day 3: Faith in Scarcity
The widow's willingness to prioritize Elijah's needs despite her own lack demonstrates profound faith. When Elijah asked her for food, she was preparing her last meal for herself and her son. Yet, she chose to trust Elijah's promise of God's provision. Her story encourages us to trust God with our limited resources, believing that He can multiply them for His glory and our good. This act of faith resulted in a miraculous supply of flour and oil that sustained them throughout the drought. It challenges us to consider how we can trust God with what little we have, knowing that He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. [10:55]

2 Kings 4:2-4 (ESV): "And Elisha said to her, 'What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?' And she said, 'Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.' Then he said, 'Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel you have limited resources? How can you trust God to multiply what you have for His purposes?


Day 4: The Power of Persistent Prayer
Elijah's persistent prayer for the widow's son teaches us the power of fervent, continuous prayer. When the widow's son fell ill and died, Elijah responded by taking the child to the upper room and praying fervently. His persistent prayer and faith in God's power led to the child's revival, affirming that God can indeed do anything. This narrative encourages us to be relentless in seeking God's intervention, trusting that He hears and responds to our cries. It challenges us to consider how we can cultivate a habit of persistent prayer in our own lives, especially in times of crisis or need. [35:31]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Is there a situation in your life that requires persistent prayer? How can you commit to praying consistently for this need, trusting in God's power to intervene?


Day 5: Trusting God's Sovereignty in Suffering
The narrative of Elijah and the widow challenges the notion that suffering is always a direct result of sin. When the widow's son died, she questioned Elijah, but he responded with faith and prayer. This story encourages us to trust God's sovereignty, knowing that He can use even our trials to reveal His glory and power. It reminds us that suffering is not always a punishment but can be an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power and faithfulness. This perspective invites us to trust God in the midst of our own suffering, believing that He is working all things for our good and His glory. [23:32]

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (ESV): "For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead."

Reflection: How can you trust God's sovereignty in a current trial or suffering you are facing? What steps can you take to rely on Him more fully during this time?

Quotes


And I've been kind of pouncing on that for the last couple of weeks saying that for us, we need some winting and some didding in our lives. In other words, we need to develop this habit of being obedient to the words, to the commands, to the directions of God. [00:06:34] (16 seconds)


So God can do anything, but can we follow his instructions? And that was the title from week number one. God can do anything, but can we follow his instructions? And that was the title from week number one. God can do anything, but can we follow his instructions? [00:07:31] (36 seconds)


And it reminded us of this scripture from Philippians chapter 419, where it says that, and my God shall supply all of your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Somebody say amen. And if you can't say amen, say hallelujah. [00:09:28] (18 seconds)


do not fear man you know when life is just it's just happening all around you it's easy for us to get into a posture of fear a posture of paralysis a posture of i just don't know what to do and our heart faints and we get weak in the knees and weak in our legs and weak in our mind and weak in our actions and elijah told her do not fear translated have faith in god trust him for all of what you need [00:12:11] (27 seconds)


See, God wants to take the little that you have and do great things with it. Remember our God can do anything. Now, prior to me even stepping into this pulpit and speaking on this topic, if you were here on Sunday, July 23rd, that was the last installment of Pastor Coyote's message. [00:16:28] (33 seconds)


In our finite human understanding and in our limited rationale, we often draw this one -to -one correlation, if you will, between our sin and tragedy or suffering. We oftentimes look back at our past sins when bad things happen. But this isn't necessarily how it works. Sin, sin is not always the immediate cause of suffering. [00:22:47] (33 seconds)


And when he healed him, it was such a marvelous thing that his neighbors and others would say, listen, isn't this the guy that used to be the baker, the guy that we know who couldn't see, and now he sees? How in the world did this happen? Who opened his eyes, they said. [00:24:31] (18 seconds)


And this is the classic response of, I'm not going to dignify your statement with a response. And my brothers and sisters, may I invite you to take Elijah's posture into your life on situations like this? Because if not, oftentimes we find ourselves wasting our time and our energy exchanging words and insults that ultimately amount to nothing much at all. [00:27:42] (28 seconds)


So Elijah took this son to his room, and then he looked to the Lord. See, Elijah's posture was, I'm going to focus on the main thing, and then I'm going to look to my Lord and to my God. His posture was to cry out to the Lord. Look at verse number 20, it says, then he cried out to the Lord and said, O Lord, my God, have you also brought tragedy on this widow with whom I lodged by killing her son? [00:28:48] (29 seconds)


And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know then that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. So Mount Olivet, whether you're here in this sanctuary or you're following us online, lift up your voice in prayer because God can do anything. God can do anything. [00:39:29] (27 seconds)


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Transcript
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