Trusting God's Timing: Elijah's Journey of Provision
Summary
Summary:
Today, we explored the life of Elijah, focusing on the theme "When God is 1 Hour Ahead of You." Elijah lived during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, a time marked by great wickedness. Despite the challenges, God was always ahead, preparing and providing for Elijah in unexpected ways. This narrative reminds us that God is always ahead of us, orchestrating events for our good even when we don't see it.
Elijah's journey began with God sending him to the Brook Cherith during a famine, where ravens miraculously fed him. This unusual provision highlights God's ability to use the most unlikely means to sustain us. However, the brook eventually dried up, prompting Elijah to move on. This drying up wasn't a test of Elijah's faith but a call to rest in God's faithfulness. It was a transition to a new chapter, where God had already prepared a widow in Zarephath to sustain him. This widow, the least of the least, was in desperate need, and Elijah's presence brought life and hope to her family.
The story culminates with the promise of rain, symbolized by a small cloud, indicating God's provision and the coming abundance. This progression from the brook to the widow, and finally to the cloud, illustrates God's plan to move us from personal provision to impacting others and ultimately reaching the nations. As a community, we are called to move beyond our comfort zones, trusting that God is ahead, preparing the way for greater things.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Unlikely Provision: God often uses unexpected means to provide for us, as seen with the ravens feeding Elijah. This teaches us to trust in God's provision, even when it comes from unlikely sources. We must remain open to God's creative solutions in our lives. [13:05]
2. Resting in God's Faithfulness: The drying up of the brook was not a test of Elijah's faith but a call to rest in God's faithfulness. In our lives, we must learn to rest in God's sovereignty, trusting that He is always working for our good, even when circumstances seem dire. [19:24]
3. God's Purpose Beyond Ourselves: Elijah's journey to the widow in Zarephath shows that God's plans often extend beyond our personal needs. We are called to impact others, bringing life and hope to those in need. Our obedience can be a catalyst for transformation in the lives of others. [24:07]
4. The Power of God's Timing: God's timing is perfect, as seen in the progression from the brook to the widow and finally to the cloud. We must trust that God is always ahead, orchestrating events for His purposes. Our role is to remain faithful and obedient, trusting in His timing. [33:27]
5. From Personal Provision to Global Impact: The story of Elijah illustrates a journey from personal provision to impacting the nations. As a community, we are called to move beyond our comfort zones, trusting that God is preparing us for greater things. Our faithfulness can lead to a broader impact for God's kingdom. [37:40]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:42] - Introduction to Elijah's Story
- [04:08] - Personal Story of God's Promise
- [06:21] - God's Unexpected Directions
- [08:31] - Assurance of God's Promises
- [10:54] - Elijah at the Brook Cherith
- [13:05] - God's Unlikely Provision
- [14:48] - The Role of Ravens
- [16:57] - From Death to Life
- [19:24] - Resting in God's Faithfulness
- [21:36] - The Brook Dries Up
- [22:36] - The Next Installment of God's Word
- [24:07] - God's Purpose Beyond Ourselves
- [25:30] - Journey to Zarephath
- [28:52] - Moving Beyond the Church Walls
- [30:19] - Unlikely People, Unlikely Places
- [33:27] - The Promise of Rain
- [37:40] - From Personal Provision to Global Impact
- [39:46] - Conclusion and Invitation to Faith
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "When God is 1 Hour Ahead of You"
Bible Reading:
- 1 Kings 17:1-16
- 1 Kings 18:41-46
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Observation Questions:
1. What unusual method did God use to provide for Elijah during the famine, and what does this reveal about God's provision? [10:54]
2. How did Elijah respond when the brook dried up, and what was God's next instruction to him? [21:36]
3. Describe the significance of the widow in Zarephath in Elijah's journey. Why was her role important in the narrative? [24:07]
4. What was the symbol of God's promise of rain, and how did Elijah react to it? [33:27]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Elijah at the Brook Cherith challenge our understanding of God's provision in unexpected ways? [13:05]
2. In what ways does the drying up of the brook serve as a lesson in trusting God's faithfulness rather than testing our own faith? [19:24]
3. What does Elijah's journey to the widow in Zarephath teach us about God's purpose extending beyond our personal needs? [24:07]
4. How does the progression from the brook to the widow and finally to the cloud illustrate God's timing and plan for greater impact? [37:40]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision in an unexpected way. How did it change your perspective on trusting God? [13:05]
2. When faced with a "drying brook" in your life, how can you shift your focus from the test to resting in God's faithfulness? [19:24]
3. Consider someone in your life who might be like the widow in Zarephath—someone in need of hope and support. How can you be a source of life and encouragement to them this week? [24:07]
4. Think about a situation where you felt God was leading you out of your comfort zone. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [30:19]
5. How can you remain open to God's timing and orchestration of events, especially when the outcome is not immediately visible? [33:27]
6. Identify a "cloud" in your life that symbolizes a promise or hope. What steps can you take to remain faithful and expectant as you wait for its fulfillment? [37:40]
7. As a community, how can we collectively move beyond our comfort zones to impact others and reach the nations, trusting that God is preparing us for greater things? [37:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust in God's Unlikely Provision
In the story of Elijah, God uses ravens to provide food for him during a time of famine. This unexpected means of provision demonstrates God's ability to use the most unlikely sources to meet our needs. It challenges us to remain open to God's creative solutions in our lives, even when they come from places we least expect. Trusting in God's provision requires faith and a willingness to see beyond our limited understanding. When we encounter situations where resources seem scarce, we can be assured that God is already ahead, orchestrating events for our good. [13:05]
"And the word of the Lord came to him: 'Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.'" (1 Kings 17:2-4, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you received help from an unexpected source. How can you remain open to God's provision in unconventional ways today?
Day 2: Resting in God's Faithfulness
Elijah's experience at the brook Cherith teaches us about resting in God's faithfulness. When the brook dried up, it wasn't a test of Elijah's faith but a call to trust in God's sovereignty. In our lives, we often face situations where resources or opportunities seem to vanish. These moments are not necessarily tests but invitations to rest in the assurance that God is always working for our good. By trusting in His faithfulness, we can find peace even when circumstances appear dire. [19:24]
"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." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel resources are drying up. How can you practice resting in God's faithfulness in this situation today?
Day 3: God's Purpose Beyond Ourselves
Elijah's journey to the widow in Zarephath illustrates that God's plans often extend beyond our personal needs. By obeying God's direction, Elijah became a source of life and hope for the widow and her family. This story reminds us that our obedience can be a catalyst for transformation in the lives of others. We are called to impact those around us, bringing God's love and hope to those in need. Our lives are not just about personal provision but about being vessels of God's grace to others. [24:07]
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life might God be calling you to impact today? How can you bring hope and encouragement to them?
Day 4: The Power of God's Timing
The progression from the brook to the widow and finally to the cloud in Elijah's story highlights the perfection of God's timing. We often struggle with impatience, wanting things to happen according to our schedule. However, God's timing is always perfect, and He is always ahead, orchestrating events for His purposes. Our role is to remain faithful and obedient, trusting that God knows the best time for everything. By aligning ourselves with His timing, we can experience the fullness of His plans for our lives. [33:27]
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling with impatience? How can you practice trusting in God's perfect timing today?
Day 5: From Personal Provision to Global Impact
Elijah's story is a journey from personal provision to impacting the nations. As a community, we are called to move beyond our comfort zones, trusting that God is preparing us for greater things. Our faithfulness can lead to a broader impact for God's kingdom. By stepping out in faith, we can be part of God's plan to reach the nations and bring His love to the world. This requires courage and a willingness to embrace the unknown, trusting that God is always ahead, preparing the way. [37:40]
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to move beyond your comfort zone and impact others for God's kingdom? How can you trust God to prepare the way for you?
Quotes
1. "Have you ever been assured of God's promise in your life? Maybe it's the salvation or healing of a spouse or a child. Maybe it's building a business or getting a promotion or sharing your faith overseas or impacting multitudes with the word of God. Have you ever received a promise from God? And you felt like that? Every mile that you drove, you were driving away from your promise rather than toward your promise? Have there been times in your life that you felt like that God spoke to you and you were completely obedient to him? And yet in the obedience, there was this sense, God, I don't understand why I seem to be driving away from your promise rather than toward it." [08:31] (72 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Can I just assure you of the fact today that God is always ahead of us, that God knows us better than we know ourselves, that God loves us more than we love ourselves, that God completes us more than we complete ourselves, that we are some sufficient. But God is all sufficient. And if we're faithful to God, he's faithful to us. And if we're faithful to God's house, he's faithful to our house. And if we're faithful to God's word, God's word is faithful to us, that God is always ahead of us." [10:54] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Sometimes it's easy to think the famine is about testing our faith, when most of the time it's really about resting in God's faithfulness. I'm going to say that again. Sometimes it's easy to think the famine is about testing our faith, when most of the time it's really about resting in God's faithfulness. The famine is not so much about our faith, but about God's faithfulness, God's sovereignty in the struggle, God's food in the famine, God's provision in the problem." [19:24] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Some of you thought that what's been going on really has to do with testing your faith. But maybe it's about learning how to rest in the test because the test will provide you with an opportunity to rest if you turn your attention not toward your test, but God's faithfulness in the midst of the test. Some of you may have thought this was about you, but maybe, just maybe, it wasn't about you and it was about God. Maybe he was wanting to see will you trust me?" [21:36] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We need the brook to dry up so we can trust God a little bit greater, a little bit deeper, a little bit more profound. I know I'm preaching to somebody in here today. You haven't understood why the brook dried up. Maybe God is getting ready to downpour give you a downpour of his word that will transform your life and your family. Then the word of the Lord showed up and said, arise and go into Zarephath because it's really not about you. There's someone there that it's about. There's a widow." [22:36] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "God somehow knew he had to move us out of our comfort zone because he uses the most unlikely people in the most unlikely places in the most unlikely ways to do the most unlikely things. My wife and I were sitting right over there minding our own business. We were in a comfort zone in a comfortable place. Nobody knew who we were. We could just slip in and out. We had a comfortable job. We were being fed by the comfortable uber birds and the babbling brooke until God decides to tap us on the shoulder and say, I've given you this people in this place, and you won't be able to close your heart on it until I prove that I am 1 hour ahead of you." [30:19] (74 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "When God is 1 hour ahead of you, he prepares a brook, he prepares a widow, and he prepares a cloud, a cloud the size of a man's hand, that he has to send a servant up there seven times just to see it. But we read in chapter 18, verse 41 41, then Elijah said to Ahab, go up and eat and drink. Elijah is talking to the evil king, and he tells him, get ready. The sound of abundance of rain is on the way. Can I just declare to the demonic forces over this region that the cloud the size of a man's hand is forming?" [33:27] (78 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "When God is 1 hour ahead of you, he'll provide a brook to nourish you. He'll provide a widow to sustain you. He'll provide a cloud to bless you. When God is 1 hour ahead of you, the promise will be greater than the problem. When God is 1 hour ahead of you, you'll build an ark in the dark for 120 years and God will still save your family. God is 1 hour ahead of you. You'll take your son up to the mountaintop to sacrifice him, and Jehovah Jireh will show up and provide for you. When God is 1 hour ahead of you, he'll take a shepherd boy and turn him into a shepherd king, into a giant killer." [39:46] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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