Obedience Is Required

Obedience is required, in order to allow God’s word determine the seasons of our life. The only way to transition from one season of our life to another as we receive the word is to act in obedience. Obedience can be likened to a key that unlocks the door of a season. Amen!

1 Kings 17:9a (NKJV)

So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.

Emphasis Mine

1 Kings 17:10a (NKJV)

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”

The principle of obedience is required as we rely on God to determine the seasons of our life.

Emphasis Mine

Elijah did not have a dispute with God. When the Word came, he did accordingly.

In order to experience the benefits, each season of our lives have to offer, we need to live in obedience. Meaning, we need to comply, carry out or behave in accordance with the instruction, direction or request given to us in scripture. What is the Father saying to you this season? Are you complying with the instruction, the direction or the request?

When it comes to obedience, the choice is yours. It is preferable to obey instantly – as soon as you receive the word from the Lord, you apply. Rather than debate with God on reasons why you cannot do what He has instructed. Amen!

When the word of the Lord comes to you and you implement the Word immediately, just as Elijah did, it is an expression of your faith in God and your trust in the character of God (as a Father who is faithful, responsible, and dependable).

As a child of God, your obedience will be tested. The Father Himself desires for you to handle more responsibilities and the obedience test will reveal to Him your capacity. Amen.

In 1 Kings 17, obedience to the word was the key that unlocked the next season of Elijah’s life. So it was with the Widow of Zarephath. It was her obedience to the Prophet Elijah that resulted in her and her son enjoying an inexhaustible supply of oil and flour.

1 Kings 17:16 (NKJV)

The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.

Emphasis Mine

How could she have known that although she was down to her last use of oil and flour, her obedience to the Prophet, by making bread for him first will result to a continuous supply of oil and flour? Obedience!

Most often, the next phase of our lives, or the breakthroughs we so much long for, are all wrapped up in obedience. Obey God’s instruction to you today and expect a great outcome. Do not let fear, unbelieve, discomfort, discouragement and all the negative aspects of life rub you. Amen.

Accommodation Is Guaranteed

When God’s word determines the seasons of your life, the people, the things, and the activities in that environment adjust in order to accommodate your presence. Amen! This is so because, His word goes ahead of you and commands the situations, the people and the things to do exactly as he has instructed pending your arrival. That was the case with Elijah. God himself commanded the ravens to feed Elijah even before he got to the brook Cherith. God also commanded the widow of Zarephath before Elijah got to Zarephath.

1 Kings 17:4 (NKJV)

And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

Emphasis Mine

1 Kings 17:8-9 (NKJV)

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

Emphasis Mine

When you step into a situation or person’s life accommodation is required. God in His faithfulness will make sure that your presence in that environment is not burdensome to the people nor the environment. This was evident in Elijah’s life – the Bible records that the ravens brought bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening.

1 Kings 17:6 (NKJV)

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening;

The widow at Zarephath, although she complained to Elijah that she was down to her last use of oil and flour, she still obeyed Elijah’s instruction by making bread for him first before making some for her and the son. As a result of her obedience, she did not run out of oil and flour.

So, the Ravens accommodated Elijah by feeding him, morning and evening for as long as that season of his life lasted. The widow at Zarephath also accommodated Elijah by providing for him for as long as that season lasted. In both cases, we see that his presence in each environment was not burdensome. Amen!

Expectations And Outcomes Are Clear

God’s word to you in every season of your life brings clarity to expectations. Amen!

When Elijah declared a drought – he expected dryness n the land.

When God’s word came to Elijah – Elijah expected to be fed by ravens and to drink from the brook.

1 Kings 17:4-6 (NKJV)

And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”  So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.

When another word came from God to Elijah – Elijah expected to meet a widow at Zarephath who will provide for him according to God’s word. Amen!

1 Kings 17:10-11

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

When Elijah met the widow, he did not anoint her to be a prophetess. Because that was not the instruction from the word that came to him. However, when he met Elisha, he anointed him to be prophet.

It suffices to say that the purpose of God’s word to our lives in every season, is to bring clarity not confusion. There is so much confusion in our world today. If we can just make up our minds to depend on God’s word, we will eliminate confusion in our lives. Amen!

Influence is Guaranteed

When God’s word determines the seasons of your life, your words will influence situations. Amen! Elijah declared

1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV)

“...there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

Emphasis Mine

A desire to influence situations with our words can be fulfilled when we allow God’s word to determine the seasons of our lives. We are looking at a case in point, the prophet Elijah. We should not overlook the fact that 1 Kings 17 is the very first chapter in the bible where Elijah is first mentioned. We are introduced to him communicating to Ahab and declaring what the land should expect – a drought. And so it was.

Sometimes we yearn for our voices to be relevant voices in our generation and in this dispensation. I believe one of the ways that such desires can be fulfilled is when we allow scriptures to guide us. If we do, the impact will be beyond what we expected.

Desire to be in a place in your life whereby you only speak what the Father tells you to say (John 12:49 NIV). This was a great example modeled by Jesus Himself.

One of the ways that we can make these truths our reality, is by living a purpose driven life. A godly life; a life dependent on the leadership of the Holy Spirit. By so doing, your presence in every situation will leave a lasting positive impact.

By this we mean, the words you speak will influence the situation and the people. Amen!

You Become A Source Of Encouragement To Others

From every indication, the effects of the drought were being felt by this family (the widow and her son). When Elijah asked her to make bread for him. She clearly stated that she had just a little oil and flour.

1 Kings 17:12 (NKJV)

So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

Now, because Elijah was confident that this season was being directed by God’s word, Elijah could boldly deliver a word of encouragement to the widow.

This was God’s word through Elijah to the widow;

1 Kings 17:14 (NKJV)

For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”

1 Kings 17:16 (NKJV)

The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.

When you permit God’s word to determine the seasons of your life, always remember that your obedience will benefit many as well. God is faithful enough to back His word. Amen!

Choose to avail yourself so that God can use you as a channel to reach out words of encouragements to His children here on earth. Amen!

God Is Glorified

1 Kings 17:24 (NKJV)

Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.”

God is interested in using you here on earth as a vessel that manifests His glory.

Elijah prayed for the widow’s dead son, and he came back to life. I believe this widow knew all along that there was something different about Elijah. When they first met, Elijah instructed the widow to make bread for him first before making bread for herself and the son.

1 Kings 17:13 (NKJV)

And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.

  

Secondly, the oil and the flour used in making the bread did not run out.

1 Kings 17:16 (NKJV)

The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.

Amazingly, there is no record of her acknowledging that these occurrences are only possible through God. I guess she was just watching and the enemy was looking for the slightest opportunity to steal her testimony. But remember, the ways of God always prevail. It was n’t until, her son died and God raised him from the dead through Elijah that she openly testified that Elijah was a man of God and that his God truly speaks – all for God’s glory. Amen!

When God Word determines the seasons of your life, it is all for His glory. Let God be glorified!

Service Is Guaranteed

When God’s word determines the seasons of your life, he strategically positions you to be a blessing to others through services. When Elijah went to Zarephath as instructed by God’s Word. He met the widow and her son and over a period of time of staying together, the widow’s son died. God used Elijah to pray for her son who eventually came to life. Amen!

This is very significant because the shift in the seasons of our lives could be for selfless reasons. Yet, we may never know the outcome of a season if we do not boldly step into it as instructed by the Word. So, when it comes to living in the right seasons of our lives, always remember that God has the bigger picture. He values your service to others so endeavor to avail yourselves.

In this case, it was raising the dead. In your case, it might be preaching the message of salvation, or feeding the hungry, or visiting the homeless, etc.

Another season might require that all the resources are directed towards you. Amen. When the word came to Elijah earlier in this chapter, the ravens brought bread and meat to Elijah every morning and evening. And a brook was available for his personal consumption.

I encourage you to remain vigilant to the Word and respond accordingly. Service is guaranteed; you will be served or you will serve. Amen.