A New Testament Truth from an Old Testament Struggle [ 38:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (52)
A NT Truth from an OT Struggle, 1 Kings #19. An exposition of 1 Kings 17:17-24. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 26, 2015.
Intro:
There is a common misconception about our faith. Some think that to trust in Jesus is to be delivered not just from sin but from all trouble. There are those who urge folks in the midst of deep, dark struggles to just, “Trust Jesus” and all will be well. That’s fairytale language. That’s not the language of biblical faith. To genuinely trust Christ is to be delivered from sin; its penalty and its power. However, we have no assurance that it will bring in end to sorrow and suffering. Quite the opposite. Our Lord said, “In this life you will have tribulation…but take heart I have overcome the world.” The Christian life is a life of both joy and sorrow. It is a life of victory and defeat. There are times when you enjoy the view from the mountain top and there are periods of darkness in the valley. Our assurance is that we never face life alone. That we are not left to depend on our wisdom, our strength or even our faith. We are to rest in the presence, the power and the grace of our God. Assured that He who began the good work in us will complete it. There are times when we “feel” alone. When we are convinced that rather than being for us, God is against us! Oh, don’t give me that “spiritual look” like you have no idea what I’m talking about. There are times when life is hard and you wonder where is this “good life” people talk about? Times when you wonder if God is on vacation and you didn’t get the memo.
She was a lowly widow minding her own business down in Zarephath. Famine had come to the land and she was at the end of her rope. She was out one morning gathering sticks to make a fire for her last meal. She had a son at home and there was just enough food for one final snack. She was resigned to the fact that today would be their last day. A man approached and demanded a drink of water. As she approached him with the water he then demanded something to eat. She explained her predicament and he said, the God of the Hebrews had other plans. She was to make him a meal and then fix something for herself and her son. If she would obey the word of Yahweh, He could supply. So, she did and He did! Day after day He supplied. There was no great storehouse. Just enough for the day. Yet He never failed. She came to believe and trust in this God. Then it happened. Her son got sick. He grew worse until there came the day that, yes there was flour and oil but no son! Listen to her response, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” Our text this evening is found in 1 Kings 1 Kings 17 begin with 1 Kings 17:17.
Text: 1 Kings 17:17-24
Do you ever find yourself questioning God? Wondering why in the world He does what He does? Do you sometimes think, “I would have handled that differently. I don’t think I would have been that cruel.”
His ways are not our ways neither are His thoughts our thoughts.
Ours is a questioning faith.
We are not told to “blindly” trust.
We are called to reason with the Lord.
We are called to search out His ways.
We are called to relationship.
Our faith is not in a doctrine or a system of belief or some code.
Our faith is in the person of God.
While we cannot ultimately wrap our minds around Him. Though there will always be unanswered questions and mystery we learn to trust Him. His character. His goodness. His grace. He has proven himself trustworthy. As we explore our text we are going to find a New Testament truth in the heart of this Old Testament story.
That truth is this…
Thesis: Our God works all things for His glory and our good.
That is the promise of Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. The good in Romans 8:28 is described in Romans 8:29 – being conformed to the image of His Son. To make us like Jesus. Forming Christlikeness in us.
There are three principles I want us to note from this brief text.
- The troubling ways of our God bring both profound joy and immense heartache. (17:17-18)
- Providential darkness works to remind us that at the end of the day hope is found in God alone. (17:19-22)
- Heartache and struggle in the hand of our Sovereign God serve to deepen our faith. (17:23-24)
Conclusion:
Your life, as a believer, is not one of all sunshine and no rain. It is not a life of perpetual blessing but a life of both joy and sorrow. Yet the darkness leads us to trust ultimately in God alone which in turns serves to deepen our faith.
Our God always works for His glory and our good.