“New Life Out of Old”

Scripture text: 1 Kings 17:17-24

As we began to see last week, the 17th chapter of 1 Kings is about a battle between life and death.
First, there is the drought that Elijah calls down on Judah. The rains quit falling, streams and wells dry up, and even the morning dew ceases to be. And it would go on for 3 years. Death becomes the watchword for the faithless king Ahab and his nation.

Next, we see life in the midst of the death. Elijah goes to a gentile widow in Sidon, and through God’s benevolence, her family, as well as the prophet, are fed, one day at a time, until the rains come again and renew the land.

Today, we see the victory of life in God’s grace, a blessing that overcomes the death of a child. The widow blames her son’s predicament on Elijah, who, without animosity, takes the boy and turns to God and asks Him directly – “Did you cause this boy to die?” And apparently, even though the Lord’s answer isn’t reported, we can assume that Elijah comes to know that this death is not the will of God. And so, in faith, Elijah cries out “O Lord, let this boy’s life return to him.” And after three pleas, the boy breaths again.

So what are we to learn from this passage? I believe that it contains four lessons for us:

The first lesson is this - that it is never wrong to ask the Lord if a particular situation is His desire or not! A sense of God’s will is always important in our efforts to know how to pray and what to pray for!

The second lesson is – ask the Lord for whatever you believe is His will. Elijah was very direct and intentional in asking that the boy’s life be restored! If this is what both God and you want to happen, don’t be afraid to ask! How can you loose?
“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14)
“Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
Never hesitate to ask!

The third lesson - the faithfulness of one person can bring God’s provision to another who does not yet know the Lord. Elijah’s trust in God sustained the woman and her family, and our faith in Christ can bring strength and healing to another who is still in that far off land. Ask on behalf of those who do not yet believe.

And the fourth lesson is this – never give up! Nowhere in scripture are we told to ask once, and if the prayer doesn’t seem to be answered, quit! Elijah asked for the boy’s life 3 times. The “persistent widow” in Luke 18 never gave up in her search for justice, and she must have been after the judge for a good, long time! Even if your desire doesn’t seem to be God’s will, keep asking until He either answers your prayer, or lets you know what you should be praying for!
Never, ever stop praying for God’s goodness!

The bottom line in our lesson for today is that our God is the only God who triumphs in life over death!
Life is God’s desire!
Healing is God’s desire!
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that the plan He has prepared for our lives is about prospering -not harm, not failure - and it is about a hope and a future that can never fail!

“You can ask anything in my name, and it will be given!”

Come, and we will ask together!

(At the conclusion of the message, a healing service was held.)