Days of Elijah pt3 – A Miracle Message in a Mess
Days of Elijah pt3—A Miraculous Message in the Mess
[Jas 5:17 NASB95] 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
[1Ki 17:17-24 NASB95]
There is no message without a mess. Or a testimony without a test. Miracles usually involve confronting the forces trying to push us back or keep us from going forward.
There are times you will experience miracles in one area and a crisis in another.
The unnamed woman and Elijah experience a miracle of continual supply, and then her son dies. It is a crisis that both Elijah and the woman (mother) must face.
What does God want us to know about miracles in the mess?
Here are five lessons God wants us to know about miracles in the mess.
Do not think it strange to experience a setback amid a miracle.
V. 17… the miracle of supernatural continual supply continued when the boy died.
How can God do miraculous things on one side and other situations go wrong? It just does not make sense. It would make more sense that if God is involved, everything would be good.
[1Pe 4:12-13 NASB95]
Stay steady when troubles come. Remember the good God is for you.
Resist the blame game.
V. 18 – she was efficient with her blame. She blamed God through Elijah because of her sin.
We live in a fallen world.
[Jhn 9:1-3 NASB95]
[Luk 13:1-5 NASB95]
We all have sinned. We all deserve judgment. Judgment will come unless we repent.
The point is that while it is common to attribute our troubles as judgment because of personal sin, personal sin is not always the reason for the troubles.
Ultimately, sin is the cause of all trouble, so repent. But do not blame God’s wrath on your negative situations.
Learn to give it to God.
V. 19 – Elijah (in the place of God here) asks her to give him the boy.
[1Pe 5:7 NASB95]
God is asking us to do the same.
Elijah took the boy to his own bed. [Isa 53:4-5 NASB95]
Give “it” to God. He wants to take it and fix it.
PUSH – Pray until something happens.
V. 20-22…
First, Elijah does not accuse God.
He prays three times.
God heard him.
[Luk 11:1, 5-13 NASB95]
[Luk 18:1-8 NASB95]
Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking.
Practice the spiritual gift of being annoying in prayer.
Miracles might help others’ faith.
V. 23-24
Her faith was strengthened.
Miracles DO NOT ALWAYS cause people to believe. [Luk 16:30-31 NASB95]
If a person is a seeker, miracles help people. [Jhn 2:11 NASB95]
Allow miracles to strengthen your faith. Share with others what God has done and is doing in your life.
Bonus: Learn to honor those who are called into the five-fold leadership.
[Luk 4:22-27 NASB95]
In a cursed, sin-filled world, God wants us to keep trusting Him.
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