There

The message was brought by Rev. Eddie Foster on 10/01/23.

First Kings 17:1-14 is the background scripture for the message. Verse 9 has the word I’m using as the title of the message.  “Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.”  THERE.

This is a familiar story that always speaks to us.  Elijah declared there would be no rain.  James 5:17 tells us it didn’t rain for 3 ½ years.  Can you imagine!  A month of no rain causes grass to die. Wells begin to dry up. Other things begin to die. Gardens. Trees. The ground is parched. These were hard times in the land. The Lord told Elijah to go to the brook Cherith and there ravens would bring him food in the morning and evening and he could drink the water. Then the brook dried up. He was commanded to go to the widow woman, dwell there and a widow woman had been commanded to sustain him.

There:  a place of God’s purpose in our lives.  At the brook Elijah escaped Ahab and Jezebel. God withheld the rain.  There was a purpose. There was a place of God’s power, a place of protection, and a place of provision. The purpose: the Lord had a purpose for Elijah. It didn’t include dying at this time. He had a purpose for the widow to take care of Elijah and God in turn would take care of her and her son.  God has a purpose for us as well.  God told Elijah to go there–to the brook.  To go there–to Zarephath. The disciples were told by Jesus to go to a certain place and meet him there. The Lord wants us in the house of God. It’s his house and we can meet him.

The power:  there are two miracles here. The ravens. Elijah had plenty to eat. There at the widow’s house the oil and meal didn’t run out. If Elijah or the widow had not done as commanded both would probably have starved. They had to be where God said for God to work. You may not have much, but give it to the Lord and you’ll be amazed at what he can do.  Give him what you have. He’s the one who blesses and multiplies.

Protection.  In the hands of God we are in the best hands. We see signs of protection on homes: “beware of the dog” or a protection company sign. We have the best protection plan ever. We have THE Almighty as protector. It was on Elijah. He was God’s man; the Bible tells us that he was subject to the same passions as we are. God still used him. Don’t you think that God will protect us the same way?  God protected the children of Israel in the wilderness. They didn’t get sick. The three Hebrews refused to bow, but God delivered them even though they were put in the furnace. God went with them. Despite death threats Daniel continued to pray. And he was thrown into the den of lions. God’s protection was with him.  We’re in good hands.

Provision. God will provide for us as he did Elijah. Heaven is not bankrupt. God is sovereign. Sometimes he heals; sometimes not. He’s still God no matter how he chooses to work in our lives.  In the wilderness he sent manna, quail, and water. Their clothes and shoes didn’t wear out. Talk about provision!  He can still do the same today because he’s still the same. When it comes to his promises many are ignorant of them. They’ve never taken advantage of his promises or don’t know how to use them.  Some can’t trust them. They have stood the test of time and will get us to the other side. Some want fulfillment of the promises without meeting the conditions. Most of them are conditional. He requires that we do our part.  Some don’t want to claim the promises.  They belong to us as Christians.  God really can meet our needs.

Everyone needs a Savior. All people are sinners. All people need to be saved.  Don’t leave this world without Jesus as Savior. You’ll go to hell.  You cannot save yourself. It always has taken the blood of Jesus Christ to save sinners.  God provided the way in his Son Jesus Christ. You can choose not to accept him and go to hell or choose to accept him and go to heaven.  It’s your choice. He stands with open arms ready to accept whoever comes to him.