Now ,not later.[ Isaiah 55 v 6-7 av ]

We move on in our consideration of the life of Elijah in 1Kings 17,he is staying at the widows,and then we read that the widows son dies, she sees it as a judgement for her sin, now she does not mention what that sin was. Now let me ask the question does your sin bother you?so many are sinning freely, and yet there is always a price to be paid as regards sin.Sometimes it is only when faced with death do we begin to be concerned about our sin and the consequences . What are the consequences of sin ,judgement, yes even in this life, and most surely in the next,as the word of God reminds us,it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement[Hebrews 9 v27 ]Let us remember there is no forgiveness for sin in the next life, only judgement,but there is forgiveness for sin in this life, behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation [2 Corinthians 6 v2]. God can and will forgive your sin, through His son Jesus,why not accept Him now,He will not turn you away, but freely accept and forgive you. [Dear God I acknowledge that I am a sinner,forgive me, I accept Jesus as my saviour now Amen ]

A throne of grace. [Hebrews 4 v14-16 ]

1Kings 17 commences with Elijah declaring that there would be no rain, and so it came to pass,it is in James 5 v17-18 we are told this came about as a result of Elijah praying. I remember reading of a situation in South Africa ,when there was a severe drought, a well known minister met with his church, and they prayed for rain, and as they prayed it began to rain, the minister ,spoke and said let us now give thanks for the rain. We must not see prayer as the last resort, nor should we look on our own weakness as an hindrance to our prayers. The scriptures tells us Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.So pray earnestly,pray with faith, God is listening, and God will answer, so pray , and when He answers give Him the Glory. [Dear God help me to come bodly unto Your throne of grace,in all my weakness, and trust you to hear and answer my prayer in Jesus name Amen ]

Let us pray.[ Psalm 34 v18 ]

Let us continue in 1 Kings 17, three people are saved from death, and then we read, that the son of the woman dies,in some way a strange turn of events. Was God playing with this woman?, she felt that she was being punished because of her sin, she turns on the prophet, asking why he had come,was it just to remind her of her sin.When grief hits us it causes us to think of all sorts of things,we may blame others, or even ourselves. I was told by a friend that it was reported in the newspaper in Ulster how 4 young people had committed suicide ,one as young as nine. One can only imagine what their families are feeling ,they will possible blame God, and even themselves. So today let us lift up our prayers for those who have been effected by such tragedies, there are no easy answers, even though God may get the blame, He is not at fault, but He is the only one that trully knows and understands how we feel, the one who can heal the brokenhearted, through His son Jesus. [ Dear God we lift up to You the families of those affected by the deaths of their children, have mercy upon then , in Your sons name we ask this . Amen ]

Miracles can happen. [ Matthew 21 v21-22 ]

Continuing on in 1 Kings 17, Elijah is sent to a poor widow woman, the situation for her was trully desperate, all she had was little bit of flour, and a little drop of oil. But suddenly she is faced with a prophet,who speaks a word of hope to her, the little she had would be miraculously blest, so that her need,her sons need, and the prophets need would be met. A miracle would take place,the natural would be suspended, and the supernatual would be experienced,I know we cannot make miracles happen,we cannot guarantee they will happen , yet they can happen. With God all things are possible,I look at so many situations and they are trully desperate, naturally speaking hopeless,but then I hear the words of my Saviour, that if we have faith, and doubt not, miracles will happen[Matthew 21 v 21- 22 ] [ Dear God there are so many hopeless situations, that no human resource can change,so dear Father help us to have faith ,for miracles to happen ,in Jesus name .Amen ]

Help of the helpless. [ Psalm 145 v19 ]

Elijah moves on from the dried up brook, to where God is now directing him, to a widow, so of he goes,he meets this women,only to discover that she was at the point of giving up.What little she had, was going to be her last meal, then she and her son would die of starvation,the situation was desperate, death stared ,and her son in the face she had come to end of her resources, no hope,but God had other plans. Can you identify with that women ?,I can, during our time living by faith,there were times when we had nothing in our home,no money no food, and three children to feed. I remember often we were in this situation,and all we had was the promises of God, who said He would supply our needs.We never did starve to death, nor did the widow women, or her son,God undertook.tomorrow we will see how,and what that means for you and me.[ Dear God help me to realise that You will not desert me in my hour of need,but will come to my aid in Jesus name Amen ]

Move on.[ Hebrews 11v 13- 16 ]

Following on with the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17, from the brook Cherith he is told by God to go to a heathen town, to a widow woman,this woman would sustain him, so Elijah obeyed.The brook had dried up there was not much point in staying there, it had served its purpose, it is an unfortunate trait in the children of God, that they refuse often ,to move on, many of them are sitting at dried up brooks. Today ,Gods word to you is move on, leave that dried up brook, it has served its purpose. As God spoke to Elijah to move on , so God may be speaking to you, to move on, move on to a new place of service, a new place of proving Gods faithfulness. This is called walking by faith,obeying by faith, and as we obey by faith, God will guide, and lead , and provide. Fanny Crosby wrote the following,/All the way my Saviour leads me, what have I to ask beside?. Can I doubt His tender mercy , who through life has been my guide?. Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell . For I know whate,er betide me Jesus doeth all things well./[ Dear God grant us grace to leave the dried up brooks,to move on ,in faithful obedience, in Jesus name .Amen ]

The brook dried up. [Proverbs 3 v 5 av ]

I was speaking on Elijah the prophet yesterday 1 Kings 17, in this chapter he declares a message of judgement to king Ahab, then he is told to go to the brook Cherith, there he would be supplied by God in a natural and unatural manner. He would have water from the brook ,and would be fed by ravens,but eventually the brook dried up,why? ,the natural explanation would be, because of the drought, but the more imporant explanation would be that God was teaching Him not to trust in the brook, but in God.What are we trusting in today?,has it dried up?,we are not meant to be trusting in our money, our jobs, our friends,or even our families, but in God. If we put our trust in the brook ,dont be surprised if it dries up,so today let us put our trust in God.[ Dear God help me to understand, that I must trust in You, not in myself or any means you bless me with, in Jesus name Amen]