Bible Studies

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ALLOWING PAINS TO EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES OF VISION

Reference: ‘Holy Bible’-I Kings 17: verses (v) 1-24.

In this passage, Lord took Prophet Elijah through a painful and challenging path. But every pain yielded both spiritual and material blessings to Elijah.

1. ACCEPTED THE CALL OF ALMIGHTY:
Elijah accepted the call of Lord to address the king with the word of God(v:1).As God’s messenger, Elijah spoke a word of judgement(there would be no rain) against disobedient Israel. Definitely Elijah would have faced many troubles (pains) for telling HIS word. Lord has a specific purpose for your life. Understanding HIS purpose for our life (vision) and obeying HIM is very important. Path of vision may be painful but accept to honour Almighty. Definitely HE’ll honour you.

2. A WONDERFUL ALTERNATIVE:
Elijah was in a critical corner. Everyone might have tried to attack him. So Lord asked Elijah to leave the place and to hide in the kerith ravine (v: 2, 3).Elijah immediately obeyed. There Elijah drank from the brook and Lord ordered ravens to feed him. Ravens brought Elijah bread and meat both in the morning and in the evening (v: 4-6).Lord cared Elijah wonderfully in pains. The experience further increased Elijah’s faith. You may face enemity, opposition, pains, challenges etc in the path of vision, but never turn back. Lord allows pains for our good and brings wonderful alternatives. Pains increase our faith.

3. IN LONELINESS:
Elijah hid in the kerith ravine and there he experienced loneliness (v: 5).Lord equipped Elijah by allowing loneliness (pain) and so it did not upset him but helped to near Lord. Your work for Lord (vision) may sometimes put you in loneliness. People may fail to understand the pains since the vision (you got from Lord) is specific and unique. But Lord is seeing your tears. HE allows pains (tears) to pull you more nearer.

4. IN DRYNESS:
Some time later the brook dried up because there was no rain (v: 7).Lord only directed Elijah to the brook so that he could drink water from it (v: 4).But there came an end to that water source.Although Elijah had no other water source, he didn’t murmur. He simply waited for the word of God. Lord directed him then to zarephath (v: 8, 9) and promised that HE would feed him there. Lord is with you in dryness. You may face acute dryness (pain) in the path of vision but Almighty will bring beautiful solutions. Wait for HIM.

5.IN HOPELESS SITUATIONS:
Lord said Elijah that HE had commanded a widow in zarephath to supply him with food(v:9).Again Elijah obeyed at once(v:10,11).But the widow had very little resources(v:12-little oil and flour) and she was planning to die.It might be a great shock(pain) to Elijah. But Elijah had a firm belief on the word of God. He strengthened the widow and applied the promises of Lord to her hopeless conditions (v: 13).It brought a great blessing both to Elijah and to the widow (v: 14, 15).Sometimes Lord may take you to hopeless land (Zarephath) in the path of vision. Accept joyfully to enjoy HIS miracles.

6.WONDERFUL PLANNER:
Lord could have commanded any other rich fellow to supply food or could have taken Elijah to another place other than Zarephath.Lord did not want the poor widow to die.So Lord took Elijah to Zarephath to meet her needs. HE fed both Elijah and the widow in a wonderful way. Lord allows adversities(pains) in our lives to save many perishing souls.HE is a wonderful planner(v:16).Our sacrifices(pains) in the path of vision brings many souls to light.

7. CHALLENGES IN MINISTRY:
All of a sudden, the widow’s son became sick and died. She blamed Elijah in distress(v:17,18).Elijah took the painful challenge to Lord, prayed earnestly and Lord gave life back to the boy.This incident made the widow to confess Elijah as a man of God(v:24).Lord allows painful challenges in your ministry zone and reveals HIS mighty power working in you to the world. So accept the challenges joyfully.

8. REWARD FOR OBEDIENCE:
Firstly Elijah was in an unsafe condition since he told the word of judgement(v:1).But Lord took him to the safe hiding place,kerith ravine(v:2-4).When there came dryness,Lord took Elijah from a open space(kerith ravine) to the upper room(in widow’s house)(v:19).The immediate obedience of Elijah in every step in the path of vision brought material blessings and also increased his faith. Learn to obey at every critical step.

9. CLOSE COMMUNION:
Elijah had a very close communion with Lord and HIS mighty word strengthened him at every irksome point(v:2,8,20).Elijah stood before Lord(prayer life-v:1).Unless and until we have a close communion with Lord, we cannot proceed forward in the path of vision.

10.INCREASE IN THE BOUNDARIES OF VISION:
Ultimately every hardship increased the spiritual boundaries of Elijah.Our Lord does everything for our good.Troubles and challenges bring new opportunities to serve Lord. Lord takes us to perishing souls through pains. Definitely Lord will change our grief into joy (John 16:20).Lord is faithful to meet all our needs. Let us just obey Lord and move forward in the predestined path of vision.

WISHES IN JESUS NAME

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