Participants:
Series Code: ILL
Program Code: ILL230005S
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00:13 Praise the Lord everyone, welcome to Imperative Life
00:17 Lessons. I'm Pastor Ryan Johnson 00:20 I'd like to examine an aspect of our experience with Christ 00:25 that is often overlooked, downplayed, something that we 00:29 don't always appreciate. 00:32 Let's begin with a little review of I Kings, chapter 17. 00:37 Elijah the prophet is on the run from Queen Jezebel, 00:41 why, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 00:45 Hey, isn't that also why John the revelator was exiled 00:50 on Patmos in Revelation chapter one? 00:52 But, but, we're discussing I Kings 17, where Elijah 00:58 has spoken against worshipping images. 01:01 So God declares to King Ahab who has sanctioned the idolatry 01:07 that there would be no rain upon the land and Elijah 01:11 boldly said king, Worship God for the hour of His judgment 01:15 has come and the queen didn't like that and caused Elijah 01:20 to enter a time of persecution, a time of trouble. 01:24 Man this story does have a revolutionary sound to it 01:27 doesn't it? Well maybe we can pull on that thread another time. 01:31 But again, in I Kings chapter 17, Elijah is pursued 01:36 by Queen Jezebel for delivering the word of God 01:41 and he goes into hiding. 01:43 At first, Elijah is fed by birds, (ravens), and he gets his water 01:49 from a creek. That's I Kings chapter 17, verse 6 01:52 but when the brook evidentially dries up, God sends Elijah to 01:58 a widow in a city called Zarephath and this is where 02:03 our narrative begins so friends why don't we pray. 02:08 Father in Heaven, be with us as we examine the phenomena 02:12 of having a God who is wise enough give us enough. 02:18 Save us, in Thy name we pray. Amen and Amen. 02:22 The widow enters the Biblical scene in a similar fashion 02:26 to the way the Samaritan woman enters the well scene with 02:30 Jesus and John, chapter 4. 02:32 In fact, there are many similarities between those two 02:36 accounts and both stories the women have no husband 02:40 though for different reasons. 02:42 In both stories their encounters with the word of God 02:46 are ordained, both encounters begin with a simple physical 02:51 request and both end in an offer of everlasting 02:55 sustenance from God. 02:57 Let's read it for ourselves in verse eight. 04:11 Notice that verse eight begins. with the declaration 04:15 that the word of the Lord sends Elijah to the widow for aid 04:21 Is it not for the word of the Lord that got Elijah into 04:24 trouble with the King and Queen in the first place? 04:28 Yes, it is. You know God may send you into difficult places 04:32 to speak the word of truth, and doing so may lead to 04:36 persecution but the same word chuckles, the same God 04:40 He will sustain you. 04:42 Oh, Amen! So now, I ask you to take a moment here 04:46 just put yourself in the story, in the very place 04:51 of this widow...I realize that the scripture was written 04:55 a few thousand years ago in Hebrew no less... 04:59 and then my version is translated into an old form 05:03 of English, the thee's and thou's which we don't really use 05:06 in everyday conversation anymore. 05:08 But the time and lingual distance don't matter, do they? 05:12 Because this is a cry of desperation, the lady said 05:17 we have all but run out of food, we have just enough 05:21 for today. We will eat what we have then we will starve 05:26 to death. These are words of necessity, 05:29 they cross all languages and cultures and even time no matter 05:34 who you are or when you are you can understand 05:38 where this lady is coming from because everybody has been there 05:43 before, whether it was food or money, or patience, 05:49 or your health, or strife at home, whatever. 05:53 Elijah, prophet, pastor, this is all I got, 06:00 I've labored all I can, I've held it together 06:03 as much as possible but I'm afraid you caught me 06:07 at the worst of times preacher, I don't have any more. 06:11 Is that you? Are you this widow? Hmm. 06:19 Let's continue. It says in verse 13... 07:21 I know many of you heard the story before, but even if you 07:26 are super familiar with this scripture, there's a little 07:30 lesson about God's provision that we need to remember 07:34 right about now. Now in the midst of this chaos, 07:41 now in the middle of our crazy. 07:44 The widow only had enough meal for herself and for her son 07:50 correct? But she took what she had and gave it to the prophet. 07:56 She wasn't sure how it was going to work but she trusted the word 08:00 of the Lord. I wonder how she felt that first day 08:04 as she made the cake for Elijah watching as the flour 08:10 and the oil dwindled to almost nothing, would there be 08:14 enough provisions for tomorrow? 08:17 How would they even eat that day? 08:20 My friends, to those of you who are trying to survive 08:25 hour by hour, you been praying haven't you for our finances 08:30 yeah, depression, hmm, anxiety, been in prayer for our 08:35 marriages, for our children, beseeching God, Lord we've given 08:41 all we have but we barely made it through yesterday. 08:45 Tomorrow is not promised, how are we going to make it 08:49 today? How indeed? 08:52 Please notice how the Lord provides for this 08:58 starving widow and her boy. 09:02 He doesn't send a Walmart truck to the little house, 09:06 and have two strapping young people unload a three-year 09:10 supply of oil and flour. No, rather when she goes to 09:14 the cupboard every morning she finds that she has enough 09:19 for that morning. Listen now, every evening as the 09:25 sun went down, she might have looked in the cabinet 09:27 and it appeared as though she wouldn't have what she needed 09:31 but every time she went back in and the sun came up, 09:34 there was enough flour and oil, enough, enough tuition for 09:39 church school. Come on friends, provisions for the 09:42 lights to stay on that day at home, food for the family, 09:48 bread on the table every single day but, but, day by day. 09:55 See friends, here's the point regarding how the Lord 10:00 blesses us in times of need. 10:02 If you were to quantify all of the oil and all of the flour 10:07 that the widow invested in her family and in Elijah's ministry 10:11 over those three years, it would add up to more than she 10:15 should have been able to provide. 10:17 Bushels, barrels even, but if you would have asked 10:22 that widow on any given day, how much oil and flour 10:27 did the Lord give you? Her answer would be 10:30 today, the Lord has provided enough. 10:35 [Chuckles] And that's how He often blesses friends. 10:38 We may not be given the surplus, the riches, the unshakable 10:43 certainty of the next few years, the next few weeks, 10:46 or even the next few days but when we trust Him 10:50 we will always have enough. 10:54 Let's not play around here, let's cut right to the difficult 11:02 question, why does God do that? 11:04 Huh. Is God messing with us? Is He playing with us? 11:10 What's the deal here? Is He just leading us on like 11:14 a carrot dangling from a stick? where the carrot is our 11:18 daily needs, our strength for the day and religion is 11:22 the stick and God's just dangling it in front of us? 11:25 A little every day just to get us to do what He wants. 11:29 Just to get us to go where He wants. Here's a little oil, 11:32 here's a little flour, here's some health for ya 11:35 here's a dollar, that's all you get, see ya tomorrow. 11:39 Is God like that? Is He like that? 11:42 This is an important question, does Jesus sometimes give us 11:49 just enough so that we'll keep us hanging on? 11:52 And as long as we keep reaching for that carrot, 11:56 He can use the stick to lead us wherever He wants us to go. 12:00 That's terrible, isn't it? 12:02 Especially if you're hungry right now, if you're hurting 12:07 right now. But you know that's the kind of question 12:13 one asks if one does not know God. 12:17 No, no seriously, if one doesn't know Him, one doesn't trust Him 12:22 and if one doesn't trust Him, one wonders stuff like 12:26 Hey God, are you just leading me on? 12:29 You trying to manipulate me God? 12:32 And this friends is at least one reason that it is important 12:38 to take time to know Him. 12:41 Because knowing Him in this context literally means the 12:46 difference between understanding His love for us or thinking 12:51 that He doesn't really like us that much. 12:54 You ever heard somebody talk about God who doesn't 12:57 even know God? It's rough isn't it? Angry, disrespectful, 13:01 and you know why Satan doesn't want you to study, 13:05 doesn't want you to go to church to pray, hang out with 13:09 church folk, because as long as you don't know God 13:11 you will think God is your enemy and that's been Satan's 13:17 argument all along from the very beginning. 13:21 But, I'm going to say something crazy, can I do that? 13:24 Now don't go tell on me but I'm going to say something 13:26 controversial. If you've had thoughts like this, 13:31 if you've been feeling like God has just been leading you on, 13:36 don't feel bad, God isn't even mad at you. 13:41 It is normal to feel that way sometimes. 13:44 We are not the first people to wander, you're not the first 13:48 my friend, to ask why sometimes God only gives us just enough. 13:54 The problem comes in when we don't take time to ask 13:59 and get to know Him for ourselves or we do know Him 14:04 and we discredit Him anyhow. 14:09 We see it throughout the entire Bible 14:11 God giving His people exactly what they need and we His people 14:18 wondering why, 14:20 In the book of Exodus, chapter 16, we find a perfect 14:25 example, you know what? let's look at it. 14:27 Exodus 16 verse 3 it says... 14:52 Okay, just stop right there, I'd like you to appreciate this 14:56 God has delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt 15:00 by bringing 10 plagues, by parting the Red Sea, 15:04 they have seen God work but now they're hungry in the desert. 15:10 They are uncomfortable, they're scared, 15:14 and they say why didn't the Lord just kill us in Egypt? 15:19 Wait a second, the Lord! God wasn't the one who 15:22 had enslaved them and doomed them to death. 15:26 He's the God who freed them, gave them a chance at life. 15:30 How easy for trials cause us to forget and blame God. 15:35 But look further, they say we sat by fleshpots and ate bread 15:41 to the full, we had so much food they say 15:47 that we could eat all-day they say and not worry about 15:52 tomorrow. We had enough for today, we had enough for 15:55 the next day, the next week, the next month, 15:59 none of this day-by-day stuff. 16:01 But they were slaves, they had bellies full enough to think 16:08 they didn't need God. The Egyptians had them pacified, 16:13 brainwashed even, hey Israel we got a deal for ya 16:17 you're going to love this one, we'll trade you bread 16:20 for bondage, food for your freedom. 16:25 Are we like that? Satan offers us stuff for our salvation 16:32 mercy, mercy. Now, who is it that is dangling the carrot? 16:38 The devil is the dangler, God, He's the Saviour. 16:44 God needed to break that mentality even as he taught 16:49 Israel who He is. So, look at what He does in response. 16:55 Look at verse 4, it says... 17:27 Did you see that? God said I'm going to give them bread 17:31 from the sky, I'm going to break open a case of miracle 17:35 on these people, I will provide but He says at a certain rate 17:43 every day, except on Friday, so they can keep the Sabbath. 17:49 I want them to learn to gather day by day what they need. 17:54 I want them to have enough. But why? 18:00 Why Lord, can we never have the comfort of having more than 18:05 enough? What's wrong with having more than just enough? 18:10 Well, nothing. Job had more than enough. 18:13 Abraham had more than enough, Joseph of Arimathea had 18:18 more than enough, Joseph, the son of Jacob built up 18:22 the storehouses of Egypt so that during famine they would 18:26 have more than enough so what's the problem? 18:29 In the book of Revelation chapter 3, verse 17, 18:35 you're familiar with this, John whom we mentioned earlier 18:39 writes what Jesus Himself says of the last church 18:44 called Laodicea, listen to this. 18:53 Laodicea says I have more than enough Laodicea says, 19:02 I don't need God, I don't need church, I'm going to worship 19:09 on my own, in my way. Listen, guys, let's be honest 19:15 if God gave us everything we needed all the time, 19:19 some of us would turn away from Him. 19:21 It's not that He doesn't want us to be happy but some of us 19:26 need a day-by-day experience with God or else we wouldn't 19:31 know Him at all. 19:32 It's hard, I know, but that doesn't make God the enemy, 19:37 It makes Him a Father. Huh, listen, you got kids? 19:45 I have kids, I have two beautiful kids. 19:50 Now in this country, a person is considered an adult 19:53 at the age of 18, so follow me, what if when my oldest was born 19:58 I bought the little baby, I brought the little baby. 20:02 into the kitchen and I sat her in the basket 20:05 and I said okay Jaylyn here goes 18 years of food 20:10 knock yourself out, girl. 20:12 Now, imagine me standing before the judge and explaining 20:18 your honor, I don't know what happened, I provided her with 20:22 everything she needed, I didn't want her to think 20:25 I'm a bad father for holding back or for interfering 20:28 and preparing her daily needs so I gave her everything she 20:32 needed at once. Now that's crazy. 20:34 But let's break it down. A good or sane father knows 20:38 what his children can handle at the time. 20:42 Now maybe your kids were master chef, dieticians when they 20:46 were born, but my kids weren't and father knows best, 20:49 father knows best, I should take all those provisions 20:56 and meal by meal prepare what she needs since she can not 21:03 provide for herself and doesn't understand for herself. 21:07 As she grows, I should give her enough and through this 21:13 interaction she learns who her father is and maybe one day 21:18 she can handle the surplus. 21:19 So when we pray and God provides for us 21:25 not with everything we will ever need all at once 21:28 but with just enough, it's a blessing. 21:31 It is an indicator of a loving Father a thinking, caring, God 21:38 and not a tyrant, let's not overlook the blessing of enough. 21:44 And yeah, so and so may have more than enough [chuckles] 21:50 but every child is different aren't they? 21:54 Don't worry about so and so this is about you and your walk 22:01 with your Father, He will bless you in ways that are good 22:06 for you. Still not convinced? 22:09 In Matthew chapter 6 and in Luke chapter 11, 22:15 we find the amazing Lord's prayer for Jesus teaches His 22:20 followers to pray. You know let's review it and see 22:23 the blessing of enough. He says... 22:27 Our Father who art in heaven, you see that? 22:31 God is our Father, it goes on, 22:34 Hallowed it be thy name. Thy kingdom come, 22:37 Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 22:42 And then look at what Jesus says next. 22:46 Give us this day our daily bread. 22:50 Give us today O' Lord what we need for today 22:55 give us the strength O Lord that we need for today 22:59 give us enough. For thine is the kingdom and the power 23:03 and the glory forever, Amen. 23:05 Oh friends, out of Jesus' own mouth, don't neglect the power 23:12 of when God gives us just what we need. 23:16 That power saves us from sin, so as you awake each morning 23:24 under a cloud of anxiety and depression, as you pour over 23:31 your finances, as you realize you barely made it through 23:34 yesterday and tomorrow don't look so good. 23:37 Know that the God who brought you through yesterday 23:42 and the God who will take care of tomorrow is the God 23:48 who will give you today exactly what you need for today 23:55 and you'll make it because God gives because God is enough. 24:02 The morning was quiet in the little town of Zarephath 24:09 the soft clinking of earthen vessels, the crackle 24:14 of a little fire, the muted sound of oil being poured 24:18 and dough being needed, the soft scrape of that dough 24:23 being slid into the oven, a little water is poured 24:28 into a cup, maybe a dried herb for visual appeal 24:32 and then the whispered prayer of thanks as the widow 24:38 appreciated how yet again God had provided enough. 24:45 It's a blessing, God does the same for you. 24:50 I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I don't know if you can see it 24:58 in my hands at this point from where you are 25:01 but when it first showed up, it showed up angry, 25:07 it completely crippled me. Within the space of a month 25:13 I was in a wheelchair. A little bit after that 25:18 I was completely bound to the bed, I got decubitus ulcers, 25:23 bedsores on my elbows, you know those things go to the bone 25:27 all the way to the bone, but I was still trying to preach 25:32 so you gotta imagine the preacher getting up in church 25:38 on a cane walking like this and I'd lean that cane 25:44 against the pulpit and lean this elbow right here 25:48 to shake like this and I would preach 25:51 the best I could. 25:52 I remember this one Sabbath I was up there preaching 25:56 and while I was preaching the cane fell down 25:59 and I didn't have the strength to come away from the pulpit 26:03 and pick up the cane. 26:05 Somebody had to get up from the congregation, 26:08 make their way up front, Pick my cane up, lean it against 26:12 the podium right there...There are people who go through this, 26:15 you know this pain...I remember going through the supermarket 26:20 and angering people as they came around and saw 26:25 they had to wait behind a crippled man. 26:27 And one day I told my wife, I can't live like this anymore 26:32 Oh, my woman and my momma began to pray, they prayed, 26:36 they prayed, now I will allow the fact that I am standing here 26:39 like this...tell the rest of that testimony 26:42 God brought me up, He brought me out but He did not remove 26:46 the arthritis, I still got it and I still have hard days. 26:51 But you know what? Whenever I need to stand and preach 26:57 I have enough strength to stand and preach, God had the wisdom 27:02 to keep me on my knees by not taking the illness 27:05 and the greater wisdom to give me exactly what I need 27:09 when I need it, I have enough, and I praise Him for it. 27:14 He will give you enough, praise Him for it, that is the mark 27:22 of a good father. 27:25 Oh, our father, give us enough our daily bread, 27:31 our daily strength, and help us to appreciate that you are 27:36 leading us all the way, save us in your kingdom 27:39 in thy name we pray, Amen, and Amen! 27:41 You know God has plans for you 27:43 you just walk with your hand in His hand and He will lead you 27:48 to His destination. May He bless you, friends 27:51 and as always, be encouraged. |
Revised 2025-06-09