Worshiping God in Times of Emptiness
Summary
### Summary
Good afternoon, everyone. It's a joy to be here today. I want to start by sharing some important announcements. Our Bishop and Pastor April will be back next Sunday, and we are excited about their return. We also have small group leader training starting, and I encourage you to consider joining a small group. First Serve Saturday is another opportunity to give back to our community, and our 21 days of prayer is coming up, which is a powerful time to seek God together. Lastly, we will be celebrating our dream team on August 30th, so if you serve in any capacity, we want to honor you.
Today, I want to take you back to the Old Testament, specifically 1 Kings 17, where we find the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Elijah declared a drought in Israel, and God instructed him to go to Zarephath, where a widow would provide for him. This widow was in a dire situation, gathering sticks to prepare a final meal for herself and her son before they died. Yet, Elijah asked her for water and bread, and despite her scarcity, she obeyed.
The central theme of today's message is "How do you worship God from an empty place?" We often find ourselves in situations where we feel empty, overwhelmed by crisis and circumstances, and distant from God. The widow's story teaches us that even in our emptiness, we can still worship and trust God. She obeyed God's word through Elijah, and every day, her jar of flour and jug of oil never ran out. It didn't overflow, but it was always enough.
We must learn to worship God even when we feel we have nothing to give. Worship is a sacrifice, an expression of what God means to us. It's not just about singing on Sunday but about living a life that honors God daily. We must cast out fear, recognize that our difficult seasons will pass, and trust God every day, even when it seems like we have nothing left.
### Key Takeaways
1. Worship from an Empty Place: Worshiping God when we feel empty is a profound act of faith. It means trusting Him even when our circumstances are dire and we feel we have nothing to offer. The widow of Zarephath obeyed God despite her scarcity, and her obedience led to God's provision. Worship is not just about singing; it's about living a life that honors God daily, even in our emptiness. [46:18]
2. Cast Out Fear: Fear often accompanies disappointment and loss. When we face situations that don't align with our expectations, fear can set in. However, we must remember that God has a good plan for us, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11. Trusting in God's love and His plan helps us to cast out fear and move forward in faith. [54:51]
3. Recognize the Season: Life is full of seasons, and difficult times will pass. God's timing is perfect, even when it doesn't align with our own. Understanding that our current struggles are temporary can help us maintain our faith and trust in God's plan. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything, there is a season." [56:45]
4. Daily Trust and Obedience: The widow's daily act of making bread from her limited resources is a powerful example of trust and obedience. Every day, she found just enough flour and oil to sustain her and her son. This teaches us that God provides for our needs daily, and we must trust Him one day at a time, even when we don't see an abundance. [01:01:21]
5. Encourage Yourself in the Lord: In times of despair, we must learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord. David did this while hiding in a cave, reminding himself of God's faithfulness. We must do the same, focusing on God's promises and His past faithfulness to lift our spirits and renew our hope. [01:04:34]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[36:36] - Announcements
[37:02] - Small Group Leader Training
[37:31] - First Serve Saturday
[37:59] - 21 Days of Prayer
[39:04] - Dream Team Celebration
[39:33] - Impact Christian Academy
[40:07] - Introduction to 1 Kings 17
[41:21] - Elijah and the Widow
[42:26] - The Drought and God's Provision
[44:01] - The Widow's Obedience
[46:18] - Worship from an Empty Place
[54:51] - Cast Out Fear
[56:45] - Recognize the Season
[01:01:21] - Daily Trust and Obedience
[01:04:34] - Encourage Yourself in the Lord
[01:10:46] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 17:8-16 - The story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath.
2. Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
3. Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "To everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
### Observation Questions
1. What was the widow of Zarephath doing when Elijah first encountered her? (1 Kings 17:10-11)
2. How did the widow respond to Elijah's request for water and bread? (1 Kings 17:12)
3. What promise did Elijah give to the widow regarding her jar of flour and jug of oil? (1 Kings 17:14)
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of worshiping God from an empty place? [46:18]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose a widow in Zarephath, a Gentile, to provide for Elijah during the drought? [44:35]
2. How does the widow's daily act of making bread from her limited resources illustrate trust and obedience? [01:01:21]
3. What does it mean to "cast out fear" in the context of worshiping God from an empty place? [54:51]
4. How can recognizing the different seasons in life help us maintain our faith and trust in God's plan? [56:45]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt empty or overwhelmed. How did you respond to God during that season? [47:56]
2. The widow obeyed Elijah's request despite her scarcity. Is there an area in your life where God is asking you to trust Him with your limited resources? How can you take a step of faith this week? [45:37]
3. Fear often accompanies disappointment and loss. What fears are you currently facing, and how can you cast them out by trusting in God's plan for you? [54:51]
4. Life is full of seasons, and difficult times will pass. How can you remind yourself of this truth when you are in a challenging season? [56:45]
5. The widow found just enough flour and oil each day to sustain her and her son. What daily practices can you implement to trust God for your needs one day at a time? [01:01:21]
6. David encouraged himself in the Lord during times of despair. What are some practical ways you can encourage yourself in the Lord when you feel discouraged? [01:04:34]
7. Worship is not just about singing on Sunday but about living a life that honors God daily. What specific actions can you take this week to worship God in your daily life, even if you feel you have nothing to give? [52:51]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship from an Empty Place
Worshiping God when we feel empty is a profound act of faith. It means trusting Him even when our circumstances are dire and we feel we have nothing to offer. The widow of Zarephath obeyed God despite her scarcity, and her obedience led to God's provision. Worship is not just about singing; it's about living a life that honors God daily, even in our emptiness. [46:18]
1 Kings 17:12-14 (ESV): "And she said, 'As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.' And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, 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 upon the earth."'"
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt spiritually or emotionally empty. How can you offer worship to God in that place of emptiness today?
Day 2: Cast Out Fear
Fear often accompanies disappointment and loss. When we face situations that don't align with our expectations, fear can set in. However, we must remember that God has a good plan for us, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11. Trusting in God's love and His plan helps us to cast out fear and move forward in faith. [54:51]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Identify a specific fear that is holding you back. How can you trust God with this fear and take a step forward in faith today?
Day 3: Recognize the Season
Life is full of seasons, and difficult times will pass. God's timing is perfect, even when it doesn't align with our own. Understanding that our current struggles are temporary can help us maintain our faith and trust in God's plan. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything, there is a season." [56:45]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: Reflect on a current struggle you are facing. How can recognizing this as a season help you to trust in God's perfect timing?
Day 4: Daily Trust and Obedience
The widow's daily act of making bread from her limited resources is a powerful example of trust and obedience. Every day, she found just enough flour and oil to sustain her and her son. This teaches us that God provides for our needs daily, and we must trust Him one day at a time, even when we don't see an abundance. [01:01:21]
Matthew 6:34 (ESV): "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more daily? How can you practice daily obedience in this area starting today?
Day 5: Encourage Yourself in the Lord
In times of despair, we must learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord. David did this while hiding in a cave, reminding himself of God's faithfulness. We must do the same, focusing on God's promises and His past faithfulness to lift our spirits and renew our hope. [01:04:34]
1 Samuel 30:6 (ESV): "And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."
Reflection: Think of a past experience where you saw God's faithfulness. How can you use this memory to encourage yourself in the Lord today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Pouring into the lives of others will forever change your life." [37:59] (4 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "How do you obey God when it looks like you have nothing? When the cabinet is empty, when your reserves are empty, when you're tired and you don't feel like speaking life into anybody because you're empty. How do we obey? How do we worship? How do we worship God in an empty place?" [46:18] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Gratefulness will keep us from that empty place. But if you find yourself there, if you find yourself like David, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? I need you to pause just for a moment. a second and know that the way out of that place is worship. It's worship." [50:43] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You have to encourage yourself. You have to remind yourself that God loves me, that he has a plan for me, and that his plan is a good plan. You have to encourage yourself, so we cannot be afraid. We have to push past fear. We have to remember, it's a season, and it will pass, and we have to choose every day to trust God, every day, because he is a good God." [01:05:00] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The same hand that sits empty, we lift it up to him. I got nothing. What do you need me to do with this? Because this is what I have to give you. I have disappointment. I have a broken heart. I have where I'm at right now. I have where I missed it. I have where I sinned. I have where I should have done A, and I did B, and you told me to do C. I have all of this, and this is what I have to give you." [01:06:08] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "How many times have you, I know I have, you obeyed the voice of God. You said what he told you to say. You did what he told you to do. And you look around. And where he told you to go has dried up. Lord, I obey. You obey. What is going on here? I should have a table set before me in the presence of my enemies. That's the word. The river dried up." [42:59] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "How do you worship God from an empty place? Now, oftentimes, as believers, we join a church and we think, oh, it's going to be fantastic. The sun's going to shine and everything's going to go well. And God is going to, Malachi would say, open the windows of heaven and pour me out a blessing that I won't have room to receive. And it's all going to be good. Ladies and gentlemen, that is not the case." [47:07] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The fastest way to walk into an empty place is through disappointment. And when we rehearse what God hasn't done, we grow weeds and we grow roots into that. Empty place. And we become stuck. Ladies and gentlemen, today, it doesn't matter what happened. Instead of rehearsing where you feel God hasn't come through, I need you to put yourself in remembrance of all the things he has done. Because he has been faithful." [50:08] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You need to be obedient to what he tells you to do and the rest will work. He works it out for your good. And I know this isn't tingling to your ears and I know you want to hear that new, fresh, good word. But the truth is we got to work, walk out the earth God gave us. So every day, a little bit of oil, a little bit of flour. Yes, Lord, I trust you." [01:01:21] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You have to remind yourself that God loves me, that he has a plan for me, and that his plan is a good plan. You have to encourage yourself, so we cannot be afraid. We have to push past fear. We have to remember, it's a season, and it will pass, and we have to choose every day to trust God, every day, because he is a good God. He's not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he needs to repent or take back what he said. If he said it, he'll do it." [01:05:00] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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