Seeing God's Provision, Part 1

Just because God is providing job tomorrow and Sometimes Things Dr., Doctor Tony evidences that will affect your situation.

Not your security job is not right is not your source, God must be your only source. This is the alternative media monitor speaker, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas Texas and president of the alternative, recent events have really disrupted our routines and circumstances. Dr. Evan says if we take a look back at the life of the prophet Elijah. There's a lot we can learn in times like these. Today he'll explore how we can recognize the things God provides for us even when they look like they're coming from somewhere else you want to turn to first Kings chapter 17 as we join you will remember the story the boy will give his father expensive gifts for his birthday on this particular year, he thought, well, my dad loves Birdsell I can find a unique virtually went around and he discovered a very exotic bird that was extremely talented. This bird could speak five different languages talking Bert it could do acrobatics on one way while singing the yellow Rose of Texas.

This bird was a beast so we package the bird up and had it sent to his father who lived in another city and excitedly he wanted to call dad to see what he thought about this unique, exciting, exotic gift – how did you like my gift is dad said it was delicious. Then miss the point. Something that was to be a long term benefit. He limited for short-term gain. We are looking at the life of Elijah to discover the supernatural.

Today we going to be introduced to him, and learn about a lesson about God supernatural provision. He appears in first Kings chapter 17 were told in verse one petition by who was on the settlers of Gilead to should be reviewed were from venue to be called a fish bite was the place Elijah was from now we know a lot about it just kind of breaks and on the same becomes like out of nowhere. His name means Yahweh is my God I felt was a little bit about his mother and father who named them there will be people of faith that they would name them that way profits as Elijah was showing up because that was a spiritual issue among God's people that needed to be addressed. Profits were better bring God's message in the midst typically of spiritual decline while the scenario that brings Elijah on the scene to summarize for us in chapter 16 verses 32 and 33 that is King Ahab record and alter for bail in the house of bail which he built in Samaria.

Ahab also made the this Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel, all the kings of Israel who were before him the context that brings Elijah on the scene is idolatry. The king has begun worshiping bail brings the rest of Israel to worship bail with him only Marshall's Bailey worships bail's girlfriend asked because Ballin asteroid, my boyfriend and girlfriend work together to bring fertility to Israel. They look to this I to bring fertility to Israel again so that you understand its meaning and title is that I now person, place or thing that you will to to meet the needs in your life you looking to it just it was you looking to that something that was abandoned something for you so and places around the world. People will worship the sun and the moon and the stars in the water and the trees worshiping that been doing open that worship of that thing bring something to them.

You and I overhear we don't worship those kind of idols. We worship American Idol we worship people in popularity, and an outlaw and prestige and possession because we look to it to me in when you went lives now lives now authorized way. You have an you only a train that could be an actress and entertainer.

It could be your bank account make a big house. I couldn't believe the people living in your house when you tune them and prescribed away from God you just created. So before we go any farther, and how it says that Dollar Tree gone.

All it said it provoke to get upset that may look to these lies feeding to meet their needs called on Elijah and he tells Elijah. I want you to go and speak to the king and to the nation and he says the king as the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand strongly that shall be neither dew nor rain these years except by my word. I got to tell you close note to know rain is not looking for day all year. This will be for years that will be a downturn in the economy.

Okay, who's your daddy now who is your God now messing with bail can do now messing with sugar can do now God's Israel at the place of the idolatry because they were looking for bail and Astro to bring about fertility, even in the land God says I will not going to want your looking at to take care of you because when I should have been down to pray to bail and ask then I will be able to grow your crops give you your foods is the cultural environment.

If there is no there is no problem. If there is no growth there is no food if there is no flows will be hungry so you looking at the right source shows no real God is the God is that you should be worshiping.

I'm going to no longer provide because Raymond you made provisions and cultural environment makes this prediction so let's get this right in your life will be at my God saw that what you are worshiping because of all the lies you worshiping lives wife surprise when God shuts it down to let you know that is an idol so we remove the provision. Now the word of the Lord comes to Elijah in verse to say go away from here and turn just south of the book of Sheriff which is in the Jordan shall be that you will drink of the break and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you, provide the chair where the child means to all cutaway so he says I want you to leave the crowds cutaway for masses come away from whatever God else is and I want you know that is private secluded solitude location and I will take care of you may be a downturn in the economy.

But I got you. I know the job situation looks bad but I got the nation, but Elijah you go to the place that you go and you have to be from the used to be in so Elijah, go here and I will take care of you and I will take care of you in two ways. I'm gonna first of all take care of you actually because the sheriff that's going to stream down that water water in your mouth you want to drink fresh water in a dry season sauce that only you know about only sending you there. As I break you away from the crown so I'm going to use the actual provision of a brook for you on the way supernaturally because I'm going to call on the rate catering service to supply you food, morning and evening going to give you Brad and me does call a sandwich to give you Brad and me morning and evening now that I know that you can drink from birds fly in what a sandwich twice a day. Waiters and on schedule day they will open his worst you see in Deuteronomy chapter 14 verse 1114 God tells his people don't mess with ravens. They are unclean birds.

Deuteronomy 14 1114 ravens are unclean, you may not eat them.

You don't mess with them because they are unclean, but with God, no unclean birds to twiddle the brand. Brad and Lee day unclean birds of Israel with you that God can use to bring you because while God does not sin and God does not tell you to send you sin and using sinful people to forgive people and ribbons will be right back with more example of how God uses band to do good first. So what you're hearing today is the first installment in his current series called Elijah. There weren't many biblical characters more deeply connected with God than this powerful profit.

That didn't stop them from struggling with discouragement and depression are facing obstacles in opposition with the deck stacked against him. If you can identify with some of those problems, you'll benefit from the answers. Dr. Evans delivers in this six part sermon collection. We want to help you learn how to apply these life-changing principles so we are offering the Elijah series both CDs and instant digital downloads is our gift to anyone who come alongside Tony's ministry with a contribution. We depend completely on your generosity to keep this program on the air. So this is one way we can support you as you support us and when you call right away to take advantage of this limited time offer will include a special bonus. The companion DVD Bible study kit that will equip you to get more out of each message.

Whether you're reviewing it on your own or with your Bible study group, or Sunday school class either in person or remotely get all the details and make your request online@tonyevans.org or give us a call at 1-800-800-3222 resource team members are standing by day and night to help you. That's 1-800-800-3222 with Dr. Evans will come back with more of today's message right after this. How do you share the gospel with confidence.

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That's Tony Evans training.org to get his people the way he wants them to be to put you in the place he wants you to be patient to get you where you want you to be God's provision of spiritual using ravens to address the need in your life. Birds.

But God is so that even the will has to be on the supernatural Raven feeding you in the birds listening to God to feed you. That means that God must be your only source.

Your job is not your source, your bank is not your source your implore you, is not your soul, God is your only source. Everything else is a mechanism that God uses free to use whatever resource he wants to use it whenever it comes from something you would normally from his chair into the drain drink and some fresh water.

I mean he's he's he's doing okay in a bad situation but now we come to verse seven, it happened after a while that the brook because there was no rain in the late things went wrong. Just because God is providing today doesn't mean you can't lose her job tomorrow. Sometimes things drive economics dry up income drives. The Dow goes down. He said things went wanted to go dry. Why wouldn't Raymond because he told Ahab that is not already so were from God, but now what society is affecting the way that was just one now becomes a reset judgment experiencing God actually in the land downturn in the dry so don't you serve the Lord and things to try new drinks serve the Lord, things will break down and saving the didn't plan you that if you will, was in God's will still try because that was jumping on the land and he lived in the history of adjustment to been laid off because the company cut back on the Jesus laid off in June got it all got pink slip like everybody else you would do the same thing that the nonbelievers went to the people don't place the people would do the same thing. Things brought up Percy and told him where to go for the catering service. Raven can tell he's sandwiches every day twice a day is one of all of a sudden what's happening in society is now affecting him. When God allows things to dry up in your life is because he's moving you to a different provider when God allows things in your life is because he has a different plan and because your balls is natural so you will go back to you. So let's also tell you to a different place in the context of because you know what it is will taste what you got to be close enough to word said he heard the word see because he was in God's will in a drought situation. So God says to him, go to sarafan arrives. Verse nine belongs to Sidon and stay there, behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you. God by sending you places you don't prefer to go because it doesn't make widow's down there last meal you will see more commanded the widow and she will be your new provide Sohio roles, because Elijah is a man of faith. So you not going to listen to God to say amen got up he arose and went to sarafan and when he came to the gate of the city. Behold the woman was there gathering sticks and called out there and said please get me a little water damage that I may drink.

She was going to get any called and said please bring me a piece of bread, but she has the Lord your God lives in the bowl and a little oil in the job and behold on gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may this woman is down her last meal. This woman needs a miracle to push his plan on back is the last meal. So what do is to move in faith is challenging art of faith from a preacher job once again to the beneficiary because she was a bread cake for him until you move in. You will not see the supernatural, open the blade because she's down to our last email because the word of God. God delivered to her choice.

More about the widow's choice how it turned out when Dr. Evans continues this message tomorrow. Right now though he's here with an important question for you. Do you feel like you to sinful to flawed to rebellious that you failed to much for God to ever forgive you.

Guess what you are a perfect candidate for salvation. Jesus said that he didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance and salvation so of your pink seven you got a bigger Savior. If you go to Jesus Christ. Now carry the boat load of sins with you to the cross acknowledge him to be your savior, acknowledge your sins needing to be forgiven and trust him to the forgiving that you desperately desire. He promises he will forgive you give you eternal life, and offer you a free gift of salvation. I don't care how big your basket of sins are carried of the Jesus is ready to empty them for you. Find out more about what it means to be a real Christian visit Tony have a start or click on the link. It simply says Jesus there.

Tony will explain everything you need to know. You can find some free resources to get your new life started right. And while you're there, a quick reminder, you can get the six lesson Elijah message collection on CD and downloadable audio as our thank you gift for your contribution to help us keep Tony's teaching on the station along with the audio package will send you the Elijah DVD Bible study kit as a special bonus to make a point of visiting us today at Tony Avenue and start or to make the arrangements before time runs out. Again, that's Tony Evans.org or reach out to our resource Center by calling 1-800-800-3222 were team members are available 24 hours a day to help you. That's 1-800-800-3222 tomorrow. Dr. Evans will bring us the conclusion of today's miracle story and explain the link between a miracle receiver and a miracle dispenser sure to join us, the alternative with Dr. Tony have made possible by the generous missions of listeners