Conclusion / Let Us Pray

In summary, we have seen some benefits when we allow God’s word to determine the seasons of our lives. In this series, we have seen that directions, supernatural provisions, satisfaction, protection, service, influence, accommodation are guaranteed when God’s word determines the seasons of our lives. We have also seen that God is glorified, we become a source of encouragement to others and our expectations and outcomes become clear.

Some of the requirements in order to be successful, include Love, Faith, Obedience, Understanding, and Vigilance. And lastly, we will not be discouraged because our challenges become stepping stones, we will encounter many aspects of His character in the process and we will function with confidence. And we will always remember that his word to us is very unique to us. Amen.

Therefore, Father, we say thank you for teaching us this season about the importance of your word in our lives using 1 Kings 17. I decree and declare that from this day forward your word to us is the final check before we proceed in any direction in life. We say “No” to confusion, “No” to stagnation, “No” to distractions, “No” to human opinions and “No” to being a non-entity in society.

Your word has been tested and proven to bring forth results therefore on the foundation of this truth about your word, we will guard every word received from you and implement it unaltered, protect it as we await the day and season of manifestation.

I decree and declare that your mind, your will and emotions will not get in the way when I receive the word from the Lord for me. I choose to surrender the directions of my life to you.

We receive grace, strength, wisdom, knowledge and understanding as we proceed.

We choose to allow your word to be the transforming tool of our lives.

As a way of expressing our agreement with you concerning your word to us, we will be prompt to obey at all levels.

Thank you Father. In Jesus Name we have prayed. Amen.

You Will Be Entrusted With More Responsibilities

I want you to see the progression of Elijah’s responsibilities from the time the drought was declared to the time He raised the widow’s son in verse 23. After the drought was declared, Elijah’s responsibility was to himself and no one else. But later progressed to the widow at Zarephath and her family.

Here is our emphasis. Can the Lord trust you? A word from the Lord through you to another is dependent on your submission and obedience to Him. This was clearly seen in Elijah’s life. 

It Is Unique To You

When you receive a word from the Lord about a situation, your best bet is to gain clarity from him and proceed by implementing. Some of the temptations that we may encounter in situations like this may include doubt, confusion, and comparison. When you interact with other sons and daughters of God, always remember that your relationship with the Father is very personal. Although you all may have a similar issue, the way the Lord will come through for you may not necessarily be the same way he will for the others.

A Man Born Blind

John 9:6-7 (NIV)

Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

The Two Blind Men

Matthew 9:29-30 (NIV)

 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”

Others got healed by being laid at His feet

Matthew 15:30-31 (NIV)

Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

Blindness is just one of many examples that can be used. Our point of emphasis is this, you and a circle of friends might be going through the same problem (for example, blindness). You all are candidates for healing, however, the word of the Lord to you as concerns your healing may not be the same for your friends although the end result is that you all will receive your sight. Amen.

So, do not allow comparison or doubt to rob you of the benefits that come with directions from His word. Amen

You Should Function With Confidence

Throughout scriptures, we see examples of men and women of God whom God spoke to and as a result, they stepped out in faith knowing that the God who spoke will deliver. Just to name a few;

Abraham

 Genesis 12:1, 4 (NIV)

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran

Emphasis Mine

What about Moses? He had a burning bush encounter (Exodus 3) after which he was given specific instructions on how to go and deliver the Israelites out of Egypt. He did exactly as he was told and despite the challenges, the end result was glorious.

Think about Noah; God told him to build the Ark, despite every challenge, he did s God had instructed and the end result was glorious.

Genesis 6:1, 5 (NIV)

The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 

 And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.

Emphasis Mine

Time will not permit me to tell you the details about all the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. This chapter contains a great list of individuals who permitted God’s word to determine the seasons of their lives and they prevailed. Amen!

These examples are necessary to let us know that we do have a cloud of witnesses. Men and women of God in the past allowed God’s word to determine the seasons of our lives and they succeeded. So, we can be learned from their experiences and be confident that because God’s character is unchanging we can be certain about our success if we permit Him to guide us. Amen!

You Encounter Many Aspects of His Character

In 1 Kings 17, many aspects of the character of our Father were demonstrated which are still relevant to us today.

When Elijah received the word from the Lord as seen in this chapter,

-The Faithfulness of God the Father was revealed in that Elijah saw the fulfillment of all that the Lord had specifically told him.

God told him to hide at the brook Cherith, drink from it and expect to be fed by the Ravens. It happened just as He said.

God told Him to go to Zarephath and a widow will provide for Him. It happened just as the Lord said.

-We see God in this chapter as a God of provisions. He provided for Elijah, the widow of Zarephath and her family. His provisions were not limited to food and water but also extended to protection and life.

-We see God demonstrate His resurrection power by raising the widow’s son from the dead.

-We also see His love being demonstrated. We understand that God is love and God has love and he demonstrates this love in many ways in this particular chapter. Love is patient and love is kind; these aspects are demonstrated when the Father patiently waited for the word he released to Elijah and the word He released to the widow through Elijah, to come to fulfillment. Amen!

When we do not allow Him to lead the directions of life, we rub ourselves from the one way of knowing His character. So, I encourage you to permit the Father to be all that He should be in your life.

Your Challenges Become Stepping Stones

This is so because you rely solely on God’s wisdom and direction. When you hear God, understand Him and do what he has asked you to do, you are simply operating in faith. It is faith because your operation, sustenance, and outcome of the assigned task are totally dependent on the word you received and implemented. So, when faced with a challenge or challenges, you can be confident that you will overcome and make it to the next level. Amen!

Let’s be very practical as we read these verses. There was a drought and Elijah was instructed to go meet the widow at Zarephath to provide his needs. The widow said she only had a handful of flour and a little olive oil. That statement was true yet very discouraging from a physical standpoint. How can you ask someone in that condition to go ahead and make bread for you first before feeding her family? Think about it.

Elijah could ask for his share of the bread first because he was not operating out of emotions but out of faith. Elijah understood the faith walk. He had received a word and his only responsibility was to implement that word and see results. Amen!

Another challenge was that, the widow’s son died, yet God raised him up from the dead and that action alone brought about a testimony. What was her testimony? 1 Kings 17:24 tells us…

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.”

From the brook Cherith drying up, to Elijah asking for bread from a widow who could barely feed herself and her family, to her son dying; all we see beyond the challenges are steps of victory. Amen!

So, my encouragement to you is this, when your faith is at work, challenges will come, however, do not grow weary in the process. Remind yourself of the word you received and have faith in the Father that you will see results. Amen!

Vigilance Is Required

We can say without a doubt that, indeed, God’s word to you is the best tool you can use to determine the seasons of your life. We previously examined that, He will speak to you directly or reveal Himself through the pages of scriptures. Amen! Let’s take this a step further. It is imperative to remain vigilant in order to recognize the vessels through which God will use to minister to us. We see this in the life of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. The Lord spoke to the widow through Elijah. Listen to what scriptures have to say;

1 Kings 17:13-14 (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.  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.’”

Emphasis Mine

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

It is noteworthy that,

1)     God did not speak to the widow through scriptures

2)     God did not speak to the widow directly

3)     God spoke to the widow through a vessel – the prophet Elijah.

Vigilance is very much required when it comes to allowing the word to determine the seasons of our life. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you on this journey. He is your helper. Be vigilant to recognize and know when God is using a vessel to bring His word to you. Amen!