When Nothing Short of a Miracle Will Do!

Missionary statesman Hudson Taylor had complete trust in God's faithfulness. In his journal he wrote: "Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning. He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years."

"We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all. Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply."  -Our Daily Bread, May 16, 1992

What do you need more of? What is it this morning that you find you have a shortage of? Maybe you don’t have a shortage of water or food, but you do have a shortage of patience, maybe you’re in a "hope" drought. You've lost all hope in the situation you find yourself today.

Or, maybe you’re saying, "I need more strength, I’m worn out, exhausted." For some of you, you’re greatest shortage, is a shortage of time. Perhaps, you’re greatest drought is in the area of finances. And, nothing short of a miracle will do!

Well, whatever the greatest area of drought in your life is today; whatever it is that you’re experiencing a shortage of; I want you to listen very closely. Because through the drought that Elijah experienced (see: 1 Kings 17:8-16), God wants to show us how He’s able to turn the little you have into a lot!

The miracle that I'm talking about today is strikingly similar to the miracle Jesus performed not once, not twice, but 3 different times when he took a few loaves of bread and a few fish and multiplied them for over 5000 people. Because this miracle is repeated so many times in the bible, I’m convinced that it’s not just something that God meant for us to read about and then put on a "shelf" somewhere; to be admired and dusted off occasionally.

In fact, I believe this miracle is meant to be repeated over and over again, in the lives of needy believers; to meet the problems and shortages that God’s children are faced with.This miracle keeps popping up in scripture, to emphasize a point! And the point is this, God is able to meet your impossible need!

If you’re facing a drought today, I want you to see 5 instructions the Lord gave to Elijah in order to provide for his need…(or 5 instructions to get out of your drought!) God tells Elijah, if he's going to survive, he's going to have to do the following:

1) Leave your comfort zone. Let's be honest here. Too many times, we've become passive with our pain. And until we realize how big the problem is, and how drastic the drought is in our lives, we won’t search for a solution. In other words, if you don’t think you have a problem, you don’t need a miracle! On the other hand, listen, the bigger the problem, the bigger the need; and the bigger the miracle God will provide to meet it!

2) Let go of your fear. When the fear of change overwhelms you, you need to remember these 3 things: God knows where you are, God knows where you're going, God has already prepared a place. Wherever God tells us to go, He’s already there taking care of all the "what if's." So, if you want God to perform a miracle in your life, you can’t try and position yourself by doing what you think will get you to your goal. You just have to go! Replace your fear with the faith that God has already taken care of the details!

3) Look for God's provision. If you’re going to get out of a drought, you need to know that God has already provided for everything you need. Just as God spoke to the widow ahead of time, God is speaking to someone right now about your need. And, at the proper time He’ll use them to meet it! But, it may not necessarily be in the way you think!

4) Lose your pride. Somehow (and I haven’t got this all figured out yet), God puts people together who need each other’s different gifts. Thus,  they help each other find a solution to one another’s personal droughts. Elijah and the widow needed each other. Elijah needed food, this woman needed faith. This woman had food, but it wouldn't last very long without Elijah’s faith!

5) Lend what you have left, to God. If you want a miracle in your life, you can’t hold anything back from God! You might think, "God, I’ll give you anything, except this relationship!" "God, I’ll give you everything, but this activity is mine!" "God, you can have it all, but I reserve this one little thing for me!" Know what? That "one little thing" may be keeping God from working a big thing in your life!

Jesus said, "All things are possible to him who believes, and with God, all things are possible!" So no matter how big your need, don’t worry about God, He can handle it. He’s not intimidated by it! Now, He won’t do what you can do for yourself, but He will pick-up where our human limitations end. Simply put, the point of today's message is: "What we want God to do for us… He waits to do through us!"

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7-8; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 10:17; Ezekiel 22:31; James 1:27; Isaiah 45:8

Prayer:  Lord, do not lessen any of my sufferings, Only give me strength to bear them. Do with me as You please, Lord, Only give me the grace to be able to love You, In every event and circumstances. Lord, do not lessen my cup of bitterness, Only give me strength That I may be able to drink it all. Amen.

God bless you all!

Heather