May 10-11, 2003         AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE! 1Kings 17:8-18

BETTER THAN MARTHA STEWART LIVING!

*** 1 Kings 17:8-16 “Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah, "Go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you." So Elijah went to Zarephath. When he reached the town gate, he saw a widow gathering wood for a fire. Elijah asked her, "Would you bring me a little water in a cup so I may have a drink." As she was going to get his water, Elijah said, "Please bring me a piece of bread, too." The woman answered, "As surely as the Lord your God lives, I have no bread. I have only a handful of flour in a jar and only a little olive oil in a jug. I came here to gather some wood so I could go home and cook our last meal. My son and I will eat it and then die from hunger." "Don't worry," Elijah said to her. "Go home and cook your food as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread from the flour you have, and bring it to me. Then cook something for yourself and your son. The Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'That jar of flour will never be empty, and the jug will always have oil in it, until the day the Lord sends rain to the land.' " So the woman went home and did what Elijah told her to do. And the woman and her son and Elijah had enough food every day. The jar of flour and the jug of oil were never empty, just as the Lord, through Elijah, had promised.” (New Century Version)

TO BE THE MOTHER/PERSON GOD CAN USE:

1. BE AWARE OF GOD’S CALLING!

*** 1 Kings 17:8-9 (NCV) “Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah, "Go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you."

! GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE!

*** Eph. 1:11 “It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” [Message]

ØWE WERE PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE – WORSHIP!

ØWE WERE FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY - FELLOWSHIP!

ØWE WERE CREATED TO BE LIKE CHRIST – DISCIPLESHIP!

ØWE WERE SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD – MINISTRY!

ØWE WERE MADE FOR A MISSION – EVANGELISM!

*** Eph. 4:1 “God chose you to be his people, so I urge you now to live the life to which God called you.” [NCV]

! YOU WERE MADE BY GOD AND FOR GOD!

UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE WON’T MAKE SENSE!

*** Proverbs 11:28 (Msg) “A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.”

 2. BE CONCERNED FOR OTHERS!

*** 1 Kings 17:10-11 (NCV) “So Elijah went to Zarephath. When he reached the town gate, he saw a widow gathering wood for a fire. Elijah asked her, "Would you bring me a little water in a cup so I may have a drink." As she was going to get his water, Elijah said, "Please bring me a piece of bread, too."

*** Pr. 31:20 “She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.”

*** Acts 9:36 (NLT)“There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.”

!WE CAN’T DO EVERYTHING, BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING!

*** 1 John 3:17 (Msg) “If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.”

*** 1 Tim. 5:10 “She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers? Has she served other Christians humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?” [New Living Translation]

*** Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” [New International Version]

*** Luke 9:48 “Your care for others is the measure of your greatness." [Living Bible]

3. BE CARING FOR YOUR FAMILY!

*** 1 Tim. 5:8 (Msg) “Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That's worse than refusing to believe in the first place.”

*** 1 Kings 17:12 (NCV) “The woman answered, "As surely as the Lord your God lives, I have no bread. I have only a handful of flour in a jar and only a little olive oil in a jug. I came here to gather some wood so I could go home and cook our last meal. My son and I will eat it and then die from hunger."

*** Luke 9:47 “But Jesus…stood a little child beside him and said to them, "Anyone who takes care of a little child like this is caring for me! And whoever cares for me is caring for God who sent me." [Living Bible]

A. SHOW!

B. TOE! - 1 Tim. 4:12 (NIV) “Set an example…in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

C. GROW! - Proverbs 22:6 (NLT) “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.”

D. NO! - Proverbs 13:24 (NLT) “If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don't love them; if you love your children, you will be prompt to discipline them.”

*** Proverbs 31:28-29 (Msg) “Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!"

4. BE TRUSTING OF GOD!

*** 1 Kings 17:13-15 (NCV) "Don't worry," Elijah said to her. "Go home and cook your food as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread from the flour you have, and bring it to me. Then cook something for yourself and your son. The Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'That jar of flour will never be empty, and the jug will always have oil in it, until the day the Lord sends rain to the land.' " So the woman went home and did what Elijah told her to do.”

! FAITH CONQUERS FEAR!

*** Matthew 6:33 (NCV) “The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.”

! THREE WAYS THIS WOMAN DEMONSTRATED HER FAITH:

j TIME!kTALENT!l TREASURE!

5. BE ACCEPTING OF GOD’S REWARDS!

*** 1 Kings 17:15-16 (NCV) “So the woman went home and did what Elijah told her to do. And the woman and her son and Elijah had enough food every day. The jar of flour and the jug of oil were never empty, just as the Lord, through Elijah, had promised.”

*** Matthew 25:21 (NLT) “The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'”

*** 1 Cor. 15:58 (Living) “So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord's work…!”

 “Charm can be deceptive and beauty doesn't last, but a woman who fears and reverences God shall be greatly praised. Praise her for the many fine things she does. These good deeds of hers shall bring her honor and recognition….!” Proverbs 31:30-31 (Living)