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Running On Empty

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Zyrel Liraazan
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9 views

Running On Empty

Uploaded by

Zyrel Liraazan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

RUNNING ON EMPTY

PHILIPPIANS 4:19
“But my God shall supply all
your need according to His
riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
1 KINGS 17:7-16
THE STORY OF THE WIDOW OF ZAREPATH
Let me ask, how do you handle it when
you’re running on empty? There are times

LET’S REFLECT!
when we feel like we are running out of
something and going on fumes. Maybe
you’re about to run out of ideas to save
your business, or you’re about to run out
of ways to get through to your kid. You’re
about to run out of patience, desire,
passion, time. You’re about to run out.
Instead of running out or burning out try
turning your ears to the story of
Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. In the
story, we find that we can have peace of
mind when we trust that God will provide
enough.
EGW, CONFLICT AND COURAGE P. 206

No greater test of faith than this could have been


required. The widow had hitherto treated all strangers
with kindness and liberality. Now, regardless of the
suffering that might result to herself and child, and
trusting in the God of Israel to supply her every need, she
met this supreme test of hospitality....
EGW, CONFLICT AND COURAGE P. 206
The widow of Zarephath shared her morsel with Elijah, and in return her
life and that of her son were preserved. And to all who, in time of trial
and want, give sympathy and assistance to others more needy, God has
promised great blessing.
That God who cared for Elijah in the time of famine, will not pass by one
of His self-sacrificing children. He who has numbered the hairs of their
head, will care for them, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
While the wicked are perishing all around them for want of bread, their
bread and water will be sure.
ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF
ZAREPHATH
GOD. . .ARE YOU SURE?
IN OUR LIVES…

It may sometimes look unreasonable to


the eye of the crowd nor it might be
irrational to yourself but when God says
“DO IT.” You need to do it.
LIDS REPRESENT LIMITS
There are times in life when we are called upon
to take the lid off. Lids represent the limits of
what we think God can and cannot do. Lids can
be the extent to which we trust God. Lids can be
seals the keep us from letting our real selves
come out.
TAKE THE LID OFF A LITTLE
WHAT SEEMS BIG IS LITTLE FROM
ABOVE
Here’s the thing about taking the lid off and entering into a
spirit of praise and trust in God. It lifts you higher and you
know from taking off in an airplane that the higher you go the
smaller everything below appears. Some of you are standing
next to some big ole’ problems this morning. But the higher you
soar, the more in perspective those problems are going to seem.
The more you offer your sincere praise the more you will trust
that God will see you through.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
We may think all we have is a little. Our efforts are not significant. Have you ever
watched a time-travel movie like Back to the Future? The premise is always that a
small change in the past could have enormous repercussions in the future. If George
Mcfly doesn’t meet his future wife there would be no Marty Mcfly. We buy the
premise that a small thing in the past can have a huge impact on the future. Then why
don’t we buy into that premise in our everyday life? A small thing you do now can
make a huge difference down the road. Your small increase of faith, your small step in
becoming more Christ-like in your daily walk, you’re speaking up for something
important to you. Taking the chance to meet someone new. Now it’s not much but it
makes a huge impact on the future.
THE TRICK OF THE TREAT
It’s an amazing lesson about God’s care. God
provides more than enough. This is the God of
abundance. When Jesus turned water into wine
there were about 180 gallons. When he fed the
multitudes there were 12 baskets of leftovers. God
somehow gets it done.
FAITH AND RISK
It’s also an amazing lesson about faith. This woman trusted in God, took a
risk, and found she had all she needed. That’s the way it is with faith. You
have to take risks to be faithful. You have to step out in faith to receive all
that God wants to provide for your life. You will find you have what you
really need, daily bread, a community of support, a God who loves. Are you
ready to do that? Is there something that you feel tugging at your heart,
something you sense God wants you to do, but it makes absolutely no sense?
Maybe you need to be like this widow and believe in the promises of God for
your life and take a step of faith.
FAITH AND RISK
Today the people of God are called to see the needs around us and respond
with faithful generosity. God’s miraculous supply comes not from magic
vessels, but from the miracle worked on our hearts that those who can
afford to eat will give sacrificially, that those who can afford shelter will
give from their hearts. The ministry is helping those that are lost and
forgotten and downtrodden in our society. When we get miserly and hold
back counting how little is in the jar, people do die of hunger. We don’t
unlock the blessings, we are not faithful.
FAITH AND RISK
It would be my prayer that those who are going through a
wilderness time will pay attention and learn the lessons of
relying on God’s grace like Elijah and the widow did. I would
pray that we’d all take a look at ourselves and figure out
what it would mean to take a step out in faith so that we
might experience the abundance of blessings that God would
unlock in our lives.
I would pray that we’d respond to the needs
around us and be sources of hope and strength.

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