Give god first
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: In 1 Kings 17, Elijah is instructed by God to go to Sarepta and stay with a widow who will provide for him. When he arrives, he sees the widow gathering sticks and asks her for water and a little bread. The widow tells Elijah that she only has enough flour and oil for one more meal for her and her son before they will starve to death. But Elijah tells her to make him a cake first, and then make one for herself and her son.
The sermon focuses on the idea of "giving to God first," which means investing in the Kingdom of God before taking care of our own needs. The widow's act of serving the prophet Elijah is also an act of serving the Kingdom of God, and when we bless and serve others in the Name of the Lord, we are also serving God. The sermon encourages listeners to cultivate a sense of fragility and dependence on God, recognizing that we cannot rely solely on our own resources to navigate the challenges of life.
The story of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath teaches us the importance of giving God first priority in our lives, even when it may seem difficult or inconvenient. The widow, who was living in poverty and scarcity, was asked by Elijah to give him her first meal. Despite her own needs, she obeyed and was blessed with an abundance of food that lasted throughout the drought. This story shows us that when we prioritize God and His Kingdom, we open ourselves up to blessings and opportunities that we may not have even realized were possible. We all carry an embryo of greatness within us, and it is through obedience and faith that we can activate it and fulfill the mission that God has for us.
The importance of obedience is highlighted in the story of the widow who obeyed Elijah's instructions to provide him with food. The speaker shares his own struggles with obedience in his ministry and how he has learned to trust in God's guidance rather than his own emotions or rational thinking. He encourages listeners to live according to the Word of God and to discern His will before putting their hands to any task. The story ends with the promise of God's provision for those who obey His commands.
The sermon focuses on the idea of "giving to God first," which means investing in the Kingdom of God before taking care of our own needs. The widow's act of serving the prophet Elijah is also an act of serving the Kingdom of God, and when we bless and serve others in the Name of the Lord, we are also serving God. The sermon encourages listeners to cultivate a sense of fragility and dependence on God, recognizing that we cannot rely solely on our own resources to navigate the challenges of life.
The story of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath teaches us the importance of giving God first priority in our lives, even when it may seem difficult or inconvenient. The widow, who was living in poverty and scarcity, was asked by Elijah to give him her first meal. Despite her own needs, she obeyed and was blessed with an abundance of food that lasted throughout the drought. This story shows us that when we prioritize God and His Kingdom, we open ourselves up to blessings and opportunities that we may not have even realized were possible. We all carry an embryo of greatness within us, and it is through obedience and faith that we can activate it and fulfill the mission that God has for us.
The importance of obedience is highlighted in the story of the widow who obeyed Elijah's instructions to provide him with food. The speaker shares his own struggles with obedience in his ministry and how he has learned to trust in God's guidance rather than his own emotions or rational thinking. He encourages listeners to live according to the Word of God and to discern His will before putting their hands to any task. The story ends with the promise of God's provision for those who obey His commands.
First of Kings chapter 17 verse 8 onwards, says: "He came to him" to Elijah, and that later is because there is something that precedes, a few verses before Elijah has fled from Jezebel and Hacab because he has declared a drought in judgment against Israel Because of his sin and his corruption, God has told Elijah to escape into the desert and has hidden him there near a stream, and has sent ravens, you remember that famous story, ravens to feed him, and Elijah remains hidden there for a while in reserve but at the moment after God provided him in that extraordinary way he says that the stream dried up and then it was time to look for another solution, very interesting, we don't have time to discuss that so much, but the fact is that God gives him instructions to the prophet then to go to another place and here begins this narrative.
It says that: "He came" after drying up in the stream, "to him" to Elijah "the word of the Lord saying: Arise, go to Sarepta of Sidon, and dwell there, and behold, I have given orders there to a widow woman that sustains you So he got up and went to Sarepta.”
It says that: "He came" after drying up in the stream, "to him" to Elijah "the word of the Lord saying: Arise, go to Sarepta of Sidon, and dwell there, and behold, I have given orders there to a widow woman that sustains you So he got up and went to Sarepta.”
