{"id":35029,"date":"2025-03-11T22:00:44","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T05:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?p=35029"},"modified":"2025-03-04T17:24:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T00:24:18","slug":"1-kings-17_1-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/1-kings-17_1-16\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Experience God\u2019s Supernatural Provision"},"content":{"rendered":"

1 Kings\u00a0 17:1-16 \u00a0(CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is 1 Kings 17:1-16.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.\u00a0 See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

1 Kings 17:1-6 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the\u00a0LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then the word of the\u00a0LORD\u00a0came to Elijah:
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0So he did what the\u00a0LORD\u00a0had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.<\/p>\n

On verses 1-6: \u00a0God is the star of 1 Kings, and here we meet God\u2019s best supporting actor.\u00a0 He is the prophet Elijah.\u00a0 Elijah boldly proclaims to Ahab that there would be no dew or rain in the next few years except when Elijah proclaims there to be (of course not by his own power but by God\u2019s).\u00a0 Knowing that Ahab wanted to coerce, manipulate and harm Elijah, God tells Elijah where to hide, tells him where he can find water to drink and provides ravens who send him food.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0God is committed to providing for His people who seek Him first<\/strong>.\u00a0 Twice in this passage God says to Elijah, “I have directed” (v4, 9), after which God describes an arrangement He has made to make sure Elijah’s needs are supplied.\u00a0 In other words, God was repeatedly and personally arranging for Elijah’s care.\u00a0 God cares for you too and wants you to experience His supernatural provision.<\/p>\n

1 Kings 17:7-9 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then the word of the\u00a0LORD\u00a0came to him:
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 7-9:\u00a0 When the brook dries up for lack of rain (v7),\u00a0the LORD tells Elijah to go to the country of Sidon.\u00a0 Keep this in mind: Sidon was where Ahab\u2019s prophet-killing wife Jezebel was from and where her dad had been king (1 Kings 16:31).\u00a0 So Sidon was likely one of the last places Elijah would want to go, seeing as his life could be in danger.\u00a0 Yet God tells Elijah to go to Sidon at once because there in Sidon, in a town called Zarephath, God had commanded a widow in that town to supply Elijah with food.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

First, don\u2019t put your hope in the brook, but put your hope in God.\u00a0 Brooks can dry up.\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t.\u00a0 Natural resources can run out, but God is supernaturally still in control and will find other ways to provide for you.<\/p>\n

Second, God will sometimes tell us to do something that doesn\u2019t make sense to us, not because He is cruel or playing games with us, but because He is up to something greater and is testing our faith.<\/p>\n

1 Kings 17:10-16 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?”
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“As surely as the\u00a0LORD\u00a0your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread–only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it–and die.”
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0For this is what the\u00a0LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the\u00a0LORD\u00a0gives rain on the land.'”
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the\u00a0LORD\u00a0spoken by Elijah.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 10-16:\u00a0 This is interesting to me:\u00a0 Earlier God told Elijah that God had commanded a widow in Zarephath, Sidon to supply him with food (v9).\u00a0 But notice that when Elijah first meets this widow, she is not volunteering to give anything to Elijah.\u00a0 Much the opposite, she is gathering sticks to prepare a last meal for herself and her son.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until Elijah approached this widow, asked her to prepare some food for him and gave her a promise from the Lord that this woman did anything to feed Elijah.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

–\u00a0Sometimes God commands, calls or destines us to do something, but we don\u2019t know it yet.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0It takes hearing the Word of God and the encouragement of God\u2019s people to help us see what it is that God wants us to do.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0God doesn\u2019t want you to practice generosity only when you are materially comfortable, but even when you yourself may be struggling.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0For it is when we combine faith, generosity and a willingness to serve that God can do amazing things in and through our lives.\u00a0 God wants to show His power in your weakness and His amazing provision in your lack.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0As in Elijah\u2019s case here,\u00a0sometimes we have to ask for God\u2019s provision<\/strong>.\u00a0 We can\u2019t always just sit there and expect God\u2019s provision to come to us.\u00a0 Sometimes we need to take a step of faith by making the ask, not just asking God but asking people to.\u00a0 \u00a0As James 4 says, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
\nLet me summarize today\u2019s lessons this way.\u00a0 Do you want to experience God’s supernatural provision even in the midst of discouraging circumstances?\u00a0 Here are\u00a0four keys to experiencing God’s supernatural provision\u00a0<\/strong>from this passage:<\/p>\n

1<\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0Respond to God’s word with faith.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Before Elijah or the widow of Zarephath could experience the supernatural provision God had for them, they each had to do what God commanded them to do.\u00a0 That’s why verses 5 and 10 say, “So\u00a0<\/em>he did what the Lord had told him” and “So\u00a0<\/em>he went”.\u00a0 That\u2019s why verse 15 says \u201cShe went away and did as Elijah had told her.\u201d\u00a0 Supernatural provision comes not just when you hear God’s Word, but when you go according to the word that you hear.\u00a0 How you respond to God’s Word will determine how much you experience God’s power.<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong>\u00a0Ask.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>God had promised Elijah that a widow in Zarephath would supply him with food (v9).\u00a0 So he goes to Zarephath and upon meeting a widow asks her for water (v10).\u00a0 But remembering God’s promise, in faith Elijah decided to ask the widow for more:\u00a0 “And bring me please a piece of bread” (v11).<\/p>\n

Years ago Pastor Shar and I would drive past a site that we thought would be great to do church in one day.\u00a0 I loved how the site was right in the heart of downtown Richmond, directly across the street from the Sky Train station.\u00a0 I liked its cool, modern feel and how there were lots of parking spaces available.\u00a0 So when we or our staff would drive by that site, we would stick out a hand at the site and pray, \u201cGod, we pray that we would be able to do church at this site one day.\u201d\u00a0 Several years ago we asked a number of times whether they were willing to let a church run in this venue.\u00a0 Each time they said \u201cno\u201d.\u00a0 Years later, when we were really in need of a new venue, we asked again and they said, \u201cWe\u2019d love to have you.\u201d\u00a0 Soon after that we were doing church at this very site called Lipont Place.<\/p>\n

If you want to experience God’s supernatural provision, boldly ask God.\u00a0 Faith is evidenced in our asking.\u00a0 So don’t be afraid to ask God for what you need.\u00a0 Say to God: “God, please provide me with [whatever it is you need].”<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong>\u00a0Don’t focus on your lack, but focus on the Lord.<\/strong>\u00a0 The widow from Zarephath was focused on her dire circumstances.\u00a0 Just listen to her in verse 12: “I don’t have any bread – only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug.\u00a0 I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it – and die”.\u00a0 This widow was focused on her lack.\u00a0 But Elijah pointed her to the Lord, comforting and encouraging her with a promise from God (see verse 14).\u00a0 Only after she focused on the Lord did she witness God do a multiplying work in her life.<\/p>\n

We see a similar scene play out when Jesus feeds over five thousand people with only a few loaves and fish. The disciples were focused on their lack (see John 6:7-9).\u00a0 But Jesus pointed them to God and made them into agents for a multiplying miracle.<\/p>\n

So when you’re in dire circumstances, don’t be like the widow and the disciples and focus on your lack.\u00a0 Instead, be like Elijah and Jesus and focus on the Lord.\u00a0 How much of God’s supernatural provision you experience depends on what you focus on.\u00a0 What are you focusing on today?<\/p>\n

4. Seek God’s kingdom first and He will add everything you need<\/strong>.\u00a0 Elijah tells the widow to exercise some faith by taking what she had and giving to God first (represented by Elijah) before taking for herself and her family (v13-14).\u00a0 The widow decides to put God’s kingdom first, just as Elijah said, and what was the result? “[T]here was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.\u00a0 For the jar was flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah” (v15-16).<\/p>\n

If you want to experience God’s supernatural provision, seek God’s kingdom first.<\/p>\n

Are you tithing the first part of what you have to God?\u00a0\u00a0When we choose to tithe to God first before taking for ourselves, God makes sure that we have everything we need, and we experience His supernatural provision (see Malachi 3:10-12).<\/p>\n

May you experience God’s supernatural provision by taking these four steps as well.<\/p>\n

Father, thank You that You are committed to providing for my needs.\u00a0 I pray that I would experience more of Your supernatural provision.\u00a0 Help me to respond to Your Word in faith.\u00a0 Right now I boldly ask You for [tell Him what you need].\u00a0 I choose not to focus on what I lack but to focus on the Lord.\u00a0 And please help me to seek Your kingdom first, for You will add everything I need.\u00a0 Thank You that Your supernatural provision is coming and by faith I say it is already here!\u00a0 In Jesus’ name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n

copyright \u00a9 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is 1 Kings 17:1-16.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.\u00a0 See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

1 Kings 17:1-6 (NIV)
\n1\u00a0\u00a0Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the\u00a0LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
\n2\u00a0\u00a0Then the word of the\u00a0LORD\u00a0came to Elijah:<\/p>\n

On verses 1-6: \u00a0God is the star of 1 Kings, and here we meet God\u2019s best supporting actor.\u00a0 He is the prophet Elijah.\u00a0 Elijah boldly proclaims to Ahab that there would be no dew or rain in the next few years except when Elijah proclaims there to be (of course not by his own power but by God\u2019s).\u00a0 Knowing that Ahab wanted to coerce, manipulate and harm Elijah, God tells Elijah where to hide, tells him where he can find water to drink and provides ravens who send him food.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35030,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35029"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35029\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35031,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35029\/revisions\/35031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}