Category Archives: Provider

Blessed, Faith / Trusting God, Hope, Loving / Kind, Money / Finances / Wealth, Provider, Submitted / Servant

There Are Rewards for Those That Follow Yeshua

There are rewards for those that follow Yeshua. We can be encouraged to know this, especially as we sometimes have to walk away from other things we value today. As a caution, I might also emphasize that should not be our primary motive for following Him. If it is, then we are following selfish motives and not really given our heart to Him.

Matthew 19:27-30

The Disciples’ Reward

      27Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30“But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

Scripture says we will receive many times as much as we had to leave behind to follow Him and inherit eternal life. What an encouraging reminder for those who face persecution or are having strife in their family because they choose to follow Christ and walk in His statutes and commandments.

As a side note, we also see that we should pay close attention to context to understand which promises apply to all believers and which apply to His closest disciples when He was in His earthly ministry. Notice not everyone is promised to sit on thrones of judgment. There are only twelve referenced here. Verse 29 is more broad, and emphasizes “everyone…”.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank you for encouraging me with knowledge that I will gain more than I lose by following you. It should be obvious to me, but often I can be so focused on my wants and desires and needs today, in the short term, that I can lose focus on eternity. I ask you to help me and all those who are called by your name to be encouraged by your word and promise of reward, but let us follow you out of love and not for personal gain. Please help me to live my life putting you first, above all other things and people. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Interceding for Others, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Repenting from Sin, Strong in Our Weakness

Trust in the LORD Alone to Be Your Shield and Provider

Almost every historical record about the prophet Elisha is intriguing. He was bold and passionate for the LORD. He asked for a double helping of what Elijah had, and received it from the LORD. His death was no less dramatic or impactful for Israel.

2 Kings 13:14-25

Death of Elisha

      14When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17He said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And he said, “The LORD’S arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them.” 18Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped. 19So the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.”

      20Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. 21As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.

      22Now Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.

      24When Hazael king of Aram died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from the hand of Jehoahaz his father. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

This chapter can be a bit confusing. There are actually two Kings that are referred to as Joash, one who ruled Judah and one who ruled Israel. (For more context, Who Was King Joash in the Bible? on GotQuestions.org.) Both did evil in the LORD’s sight.

I find it a bit challenging to understand why the LORD through Elisha granted victory to Joash over Aram as it is not mentioned that he was repenting or walking in the ways of the LORD. In fact, given how Elisha treated other kings of Israel who were wicked over the preceding chapters, there seems to be a significant difference in how he treats Joash of Israel. However we can see Joash humbled himself in desperation and came to the LORD’s prophet on behalf of the suffering people if Israel. In the end it comes back to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These are God’s people.

23But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.

I also think it is interesting that Joash was supposed to know how many times to strike the ground with the arrows. Maybe that was an indication of his heart not fully trusting in the LORD? However, scripture does not say that explicitly.

How about the miracle that is just seemingly thrown in on top of the rest of the action, where someone is thrown on the bones of Elisha and gets raised from the dead? Wow! Let us not get confused and put upon Elisha’s bones any supernatural power. It is always Yahweh who has the power and He must have done this for His glory by highlighting the importance and power shown through His prophet.

This is an action packed chapter.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help your people to turn to you in good times and bad. Help us to humble ourselves and bring our supplications before you. Lead us to give thanks as well. Bring forth more powerful leaders to help the people draw near to you and walk in your statutes and your commands. Let your people not rely on kings or presidents or congress (e.g. government of any kind), but upon You and You alone. For the sake of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, please restore righteousness to your people, all those who have been grafted into Israel through accepting Yehsua as Messiah. Let us not suffer at the hands of the wicked who wish to transform our nation to grow further from you. Cast out the wicked and lift up the righteous in those who govern and throughout the nation(s). 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Faith / Trusting God, Guide, Obeying God, Provider, Submitted / Servant

Are You Ready to Walk Away from What Is Important to You, If the LORD Asks?

Sometimes we may be instructed to walk away from all or some of what we have. Though it may be very hard, if we are sure we are hearing from YHWH, then we should try to embrace the instruction and do as we are told. He may not, but we know that He can, restore all that we walked away from back to us in His own timing.

2 Kings 8:1-6

Jehoram Restores the Shunammite’s Land

      1Now Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go with your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn; for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will even come on the land for seven years.” 2So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God, and she went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3At the end of seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went out to appeal to the king for her house and for her field. 4Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5As he was relating to the king how he had restored to life the one who was dead, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and for her field. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.” 6When the king asked the woman, she related it to him. So the king appointed for her a certain officer, saying, “Restore all that was hers and all the produce of the field from the day that she left the land even until now.”

Reflect on what it is that he LORD may be calling you to walk away from in order to serve Him or simply for your own good. Are you willing to trust and obey? Do not do it on a whim. You must believe you are hearing from the LORD.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Anger (unrighteous anger), Bitterness / Resentment, Consequences of Sin, Discipline / Guidance From God, Fear / Reverence for God, Murder, Patient, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Seeking God, Selfishness, Submitted / Servant, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

When Things Get Really Bad, Seek the LORD More Fervently!

Sometimes we face situations so dire, it seems hopeless. We call upon the LORD but His help does not come in the way or timing in which we expect or hope. We may grow desperate. Remain faithful. Do not turn from the way of the LORD.  In these situations it is Him and Him alone who can deliver us.  When things get really bad, seek the LORD more fervently and do not turn away from His ways!

2 Kings 6:24-33

The Siege of Samaria—Cannibalism

      24Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. 26As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27He said, “If the LORD does not help you, from where shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?” 28And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 29“So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” 30When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body. 31Then he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today.”

      32Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man from his presence; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” 33While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, “Behold, this evil is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

2 Kings 7

Elisha Promises Food

      1Then Elisha said, “Listen to the word of the LORD; thus says the LORD, ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’” 2The royal officer on whose hand the king was leaning answered the man of God and said, “Behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” Then he said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat of it.”

Four Lepers Relate Arameans’ Flight

      3Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? 4“If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, we will but die.” 5They arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Arameans; when they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no one there. 6For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.” 7Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents and their horses and their donkeys, even the camp just as it was, and fled for their life. 8When these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they entered one tent and ate and drank, and carried from there silver and gold and clothes, and went and hid them; and they returned and entered another tent and carried from there also, and went and hid them.

      9Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” 10So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and they told them, saying, “We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold, there was no one there, nor the voice of man, only the horses tied and the donkeys tied, and the tents just as they were.” 11The gatekeepers called and told it within the king’s household. 12Then the king arose in the night and said to his servants, “I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have gone from the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and get into the city.’” 13One of his servants said, “Please, let some men take five of the horses which remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who have already perished, so let us send and see.” 14They took therefore two chariots with horses, and the king sent after the army of the Arameans, saying, “Go and see.”

The Promise Fulfilled

      15They went after them to the Jordan, and behold, all the way was full of clothes and equipment which the Arameans had thrown away in their haste. Then the messengers returned and told the king.

      16So the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. Then a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. 17Now the king appointed the royal officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate; but the people trampled on him at the gate, and he died just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 18It happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, will be sold tomorrow about this time at the gate of Samaria.” 19Then the royal officer answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat of it.” 20And so it happened to him, for the people trampled on him at the gate and he died.

This is miraculous even if Elisha had not predicted it. How much more so that he prophesied that it would happed and then it did, just as he said!

We can certainly debate why the LORD did not act sooner or why it was only when Elisha’s life was in danger that he acted. That will lead us to speculation and more questions. It is fine to explore there. However, my focus for today is that, recognizing the LORD’s ways are different than ours and we may not always understand them, we should always put our faith and trust in Him. There is no situation for which He is not prepared or by which He is surprised. He knows all. He is all powerful.

I would point out that there was no message accompanying this miracle. Perhaps it was simply intended to bring about glory to the name and reputation of YHWH. Perhaps it was discipline for His people or their king. Elisha did not exactly compliment the king to call him a son of a murderer. Also, the king would not seek to kill or punish the prophet of God if he was close to God himself.

To recap where we began, when things get really bad we should seek the LORD more fervently and not turn from Him or His ways!

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Learning To Pray Effectively, Miracles, Provider

Miracles Are Not Reserved Only For Moments of High Drama and Danger

Elisha shows us how handy miracles can be even in every day life. Yahweh and His prophets do not need to have some massive conflict or war in order to perform miracles. Even in everyday life there is evidence of YHWH getting involved. How many of us would be tempted to cross off this situation in 2 Kings 6 as not important enough to ask for a miracle? I know at times in my life, I have felt that way about some “small” things.

The reality is that this was still important to this man and also then to Elisha and to Yahweh. Don’t feel you can’t ask for help just because the situation you face may seem manageable on your own.

2 Kings 6:1-7

The Axe Head Recovered

      1Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us. 2“Please let us go to the Jordan and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” So he said, “Go.” 3Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I shall go.” 4So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.” 6Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float. 7He said, “Take it up for yourself.” So he put out his hand and took it.

Reflect on this prayerfully. Think about what situations you face that you may be reluctant to ask Yahweh for help. Go ahead and ask Him. Think about Him as a loving father. Would a loving father only want to help His children when they face dire circumstances?

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Miracles, Protector / Deliverer, Provider

Our God Can Make a Way; Nothing is Beyond Him

It is easy to breeze by the miracle of feeding 4000 plus women and children at the end of Matthew 15. We have previously read about the feeding of 5000 and there is already a lot to absorb in this chapter. Don’t overlook it. Sometimes we face situations where there seems to be no way to accomplish something. Our God can make a way. It is never beyond His reach. Trust in Him.

Matthew 15:32-39

Four Thousand Fed

      32And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” 33The disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” 34And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; 36and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 37And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full. 38And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

      39And sending away the crowds, Jesus got into the boat and came to the region of Magadan.

Shalom,

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Loving / Kind, Miracles, Protector / Deliverer, Provider

Trust in the LORD to Provide, Not in Man or Government

We often find ourselves having an easier time to trust in man, or in government, to provide for us than in Yahweh. Ask our Father to help you in your faith and reliance in Him. Seek Him earnestly. Do not put trust in man.

2 Kings 4:1-7

The Widow’s Oil

      1Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. 4“And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” 5So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. 6When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. 7Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

To expound a bit around not trusting in man, but instead relying on Yahweh, consider Psalm 146. Who is man compared to God?

Psalm 146

The LORD an Abundant Helper.

1Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!

      2I will praise the LORD while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

      3Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.

      4His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.

      5How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,

      6Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;

      7Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free.

      8The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous;

      9The LORD protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.

      10The LORD will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Healer, Loving / Kind, Miracles, Provider

Yeshua Feeds 5,000… Consider it as if Reading of It for the First Time

Sometimes we may start to take for granted some miracles that Yeshua has performed, because we have heard it so much. Read this as if for the first time. Consider it as if you were there witnessing it. Imagine how amazing it really is that our Lord did this miracle.

Matthew 14:13-21

Five Thousand Fed

      13Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

      15When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” 17They said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, 20and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. 21There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.

Perhaps the first lesson for us in this scripture would be that Yeshua wanted to find seclusion to be alone, perhaps with the Father. The people were so desperate for Him, they followed. He felt compassion on them and put their needs above His own. There is a lot even there to unpack and we did not get to the miracles yet!

Do we choose the needs of others over our own? Do we feel compassion for others that strongly?

He healed their sick. Such a short, quick line to read. So impactful to dwell on. Don’t pass it up. He healed their sick so long it became evening. The people were getting hungry and the disciple were wanting to provide for them. The disciples were rightly concerned for the people, even if they did not anticipate the miraculous feeding of the 5000.

Yeshua then does the miracle of feeding so many that we have all heard so often. Consider it as if hearing it for the first time. It is truly amazing. There was more left over than when He started.

The next time you face an “impossible” situation, consider what the Lord is able to do. Ask Him to help you, to lead you, and to draw you into His plans rather than for you to bring your plans to Him and ask Him to make them happen.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Anger (unrighteous anger), Bitterness / Resentment, Courage / Fear, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Guide, Obeying God, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Share the Good News, Strife, Strong in Our Weakness, Submitted / Servant, Truth, Wickedness / Evil

Disciples of Yeshua Often Face a Hard Road

Do not expect a quiet and peaceful road when you boldly stand for Messiah and proclaim the truth of the gospel.

Matthew 10:16-23

A Hard Road before Them

      16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17“But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20“For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

      21“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22“You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

      23“But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

Recognize that this specific message was directed at His specific twelve disciples and not at all disciples for all times. However, the basic message applies still today. Do not expect an easy road because Christ is with you. You may (or may not) face significant hardship. If you do, it does not mean you are on the wrong path. In fact, often if you are on the path of boldly proclaiming the gospel or living it out it is then that you have more difficulty in a godless culture like the one we live in today.

We are to be shrewd, or clever, but we are also to rely on and be comforted by knowing the Holy Spirit will be with us. Once again we see that bringing the true gospel of Christ, not a watered down version, will offend people. Families in some cases will face turmoil as some accept Christ and others resist. This is reason to pray, but not reason to avoid boldly proclaiming the gospel. People will hate you for living for Christ. This, also is not reason to avoid proclaiming the gospel.

How much persecution we experience is largely related to the local culture and government. Those have very real impacts. Even in the USA in our current times we can find news articles documenting where people are attacking the church. You often will not see them on mainstream media, but if you look for more conservative or Christian news sources, you will see it more clearly.

We are to put our faith in Christ, ask for help from the Holy Spirit, and go where the LORD sends us. Wherever we are, we are to be living boldly and proclaiming the gospel through our lives if not from a podium or microphone.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Compassionate, Faith / Trusting God, Guide, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Loving / Kind, Obeying God, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Submitted / Servant, Through Prophets

Yahweh Provides for Those He Calls

Our Father may ask us to do difficult things. Sometimes it may seem hard to obey. If He calls us to do something, He will provide. There may be hardships associated with our experience, but so too will there be blessings when we walk with our Father. We can see this in the case of both Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17. Sometimes He may actually be answering our prayers when He challenges us to do something we think is really hard. This is the case of the widow.

1 Kings 17

Elijah Predicts Drought

      1Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2The word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3“Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4“It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” 5So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 6The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. 7It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

      8Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14“For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’” 15So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.

Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son

      17Now it came about after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18So she said to Elijah, “What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance and to put my son to death!” 19He said to her, “Give me your son.” Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed. 20He called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?” 21Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray You, let this child’s life return to him.” 22The LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. 23Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” 24Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”

Another perspective worth highlighting is that Yahweh knew the widow would lose her son. He provided a connection to Elijah even before it happened, but it only worked out because she obeyed the Father in taking care of Elijah.

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