Sermon Cloud

*Faith 246 *Hope 185

*Love 733 * Giving 2,285

"Then the LORD said to Elijah, "Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given her my instructions." So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, "Would you please bring me a cup of water?" As she was going to get it, he called to her, "Bring me a bite of bread, too." But she said, "I swear by the LORD your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die." But Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and cook that `last meal,' but bake me a little loaf of bread first. Afterward there will still be enough food for you and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!" So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil for many days. For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah." 1kings17/8>16nlt

7 Truths About Giving from 1 Kings 17:

1) God is asking Me To Give; Sometimes I Don't Want To Hear
"There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given her my instructions.'... But she said, "I swear by the LORD your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house.'" vs9, 12

2) I am Willing to give what I have,

but I am Asked to give what I lack
"he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, "Would you please bring me a cup of water?" As she was going to get it, he called to her, "Bring me a bite of bread, too." But she said, "I swear by the LORD your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house." vs10>12

Purpose: To Grow My Faith

3) I must have enough faith to give what I Don't Think I Can Give
"she said, "I swear by the LORD your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die."" vs12

Purpose: To Grow My Faith

4) My faith is Proved by what I Give
""Don't be afraid! Go ahead and cook that `last meal'" vs13

Purpose: To Prove My Faith

5) I must give to God First; Then He'll Secure My Provisions
""Don't be afraid! Go ahead and cook that `last meal,' but bake me a little loaf of bread first. Afterward there will still be enough food for you and your son.'" vs13

Purpose: To Show God's Priority In My Life

6) I'll Reap More Than I Sow
"...this is what the LORD... says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers... So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil for many days. For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers" vs14>16

Purpose: To Bless Those Who Live By Faith

7) I can trust God To Keep His Promises
"For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised" vs16

"If you are really eager to give, then it isn't important how much you have to give." 2corinthians8/12tb

"Remember the generosity of Jesus..." 2corinthians8/9ph

"We aren't saved from sin's grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can't and don't keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son... giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins." romans8/3tlb

"When you think of what He's done for you, is this too much to ask?" romans12/1tlb