Mother's Day Teaching - May 2016

Elijah and The Widow of Zarephath-
An Old Testament example of the Faith of a Mother in saving her HOUSEHOLD.




Hebrews 11: 1-3 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. 2. For by it the elders obtained a good TESTIMONY. 3. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are VISIBLE. (Not made with natural hands! Sounds like how God has made and is continuing to build up His Church!) Mark 14:58. 




Heb. 11:35 - Woman received their DEAD back to LIFE again. The reference to this scripture is the story of Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17:8.




Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath -




1. First, God knows the end from the beginning which requires faith on our part to do exactly what He says, when He says.




1 Kings 17: 8 - Then the word of the Lord came to him saying, 9. "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have COMMANDED a widow to PROVIDE for you."




The widow was preparing to eat her last meal and die. 
The word of the Lord came to her, through the Prophet Elijah, which confirmed what the Lord already told her.




1 Kings 17: 13-14 - And Elijah said to her, "DO NOT FEAR, go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it FIRST, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14. "For thus says the Lord God of Israel: "The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends RAIN on the earth."
(There was a drought in that land at that time). 




God's order in things is real important to obey, for His promises to come to pass. His order is God first, people second!




The widow needed to sow a seed in her famine, by giving to the Lord in helping His servant.
She could have eaten her last morsels of food (her seed) and died, along with her family.
Instead she chose to obey the command of the Lord to feed His prophet Elijah first. She received supernatural provision because of her faith and obedience in God.




1 Kings 17: 15-16 - So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her HOUSEHOLD ate for many days. 16. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD which HE spoke by Elijah.




1 Kings 17: 17-18- Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no BREATH left in him. (He died)
18. So she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?"




She's angry and sarcastic about the "Man of God." Her faith was being sorely tested. She listened and did what the Lord told her through the Prophet, and after the first blessing of provision, was in anguish over the death of her son.




This is where many in the body of Christ bite the bait of Satan's offense. After the death of a loved one, or any type of death, (i.e. Death of a dream, relationship, etc.) many get angry and begin to blame God. Many also may get angry with anyone associated with the Lord's service as well. 




Elijah's response was to take the son, and bring him to the Lord in prayer. Elijah took the boy to the UPPER ROOM, where he was staying in the widows house, and laid the boy on his own bed. He interceded and cried out to the Lord for direction and answers. 




1 Kings 17: 20 - 22 - Then he (Elijah) cried out to the Lord (intercession on her behalf) and said, "O Lord MY GOD, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?" 




God is not the author of death. He is the giver of life! He has, however, delegated authority to each of us in the Body of Christ. God needs our cooperation in praying out His will and plans for our loved ones. God needs His ministers to stand in the gap on behalf of His purposes as well.




1 Kings 17: 21- And he (Elijah) stretched himself out on the child THREE TIMES, (Jesus was in the belly of the earth, three days and three nights) and cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord MY GOD, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." 22. Then the Lord HEARD the VOICE of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he REVIVED. 




1 Kings 17: 23-24- And Elijah 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 LIVES!"
24. Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a MAN of GOD, and that the WORD OF THE LORD IN YOUR MOUTH IS THE TRUTH."




Sounds familiar doesn't it? Where did the Church first receive her power? In the UPPER ROOM, where they were filled with the Holy Spirit, The Breath of life. Acts 2. The Holy Spirit brings REVIVAL.




Look at how the faith of a mother blessed her entire household. She made it into the "Halls of Faith" in the book of Hebrews, along with other woman as well. 




Even though she struggled with lack and death, she overcame by listening and obeying God and honoring His Prophet.




I believe God wanted her story to be remembered, because there are two components to her blessing.




1. The first blessing was DIVINE PROSPERITY. This came through the commanded blessing of the Lord. This also came through Elijah the Prophet listening to God as well.




2. The second blessing was DIVINE HEALING. This came to the widow's son after he was brought back to life after he died. Again, this came through the Prophet Elijah praying to God.




Both of these blessings came through the cooperation of the faith and obedience of a mother, along with the prayers of Elijah, God's servant.




There must always be a cooperation between heaven and earth in HEARING and obeying the Spirit anointed WORD OF THE LORD. That is how faith comes.




It doesn't come by hearing with our natural ears, it comes by hearing with our spiritual ears. When we respond and take action on the Spirit anointed Word, breakthrough always comes. 




Matt. 13: 13-15- Therefore I speak to them (scribes and Pharisees) in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14. And in them the prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says;




Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not PERCEIVE: 15. For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing. And their eyes they have closed (spirit of stupor). Lest they should SEE with their (spiritual eyes) and hear with their (spiritual ears), Lest they should understand with their hearts (spirits) and turn, (repent or change) So that I should HEAL them.




These are major keys to healing in every area!




Many times, like with this mother in the "Halls of Faith,"things may appear worse before they get better. We cannot go by the natural sight of the eyes, but the spiritual eyes of faith in God's word revealed to us. 




There are so many nuggets and divine glimpses of what was coming in the Church age, wrapped up in this story. When I was seeking the Lord as to what to share this Mothers Day, however, the Lord put it in my heart to highlight the faith of this woman, and how she overcame her circumstances, which saved her HOUSEHOLD.




This scripture is also special to me because it's what the Lord gave me during the time my Granddaughter was in the hospital fighting for her life.




I had to declare what the Word says, rather than what it looked like in the natural. I had to declare that she would, "live and not die and declare the works or praises of God." Ps. 118:17




Elijah facilitated the miracle of the widows dead son being brought back to life.




This woman with no name, however, being one of many in the "Halls of Faith," was credited with bringing the dead back to life! Amazing!




Matt. 10:41 - "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophets reward."




Look at the partnership and cooperation between the Lord, this woman, and the Prophet or servant of the Lord, all working together. What a beautiful portrayal of the family of God using their faith and divine giftings in bringing blessings on earth and Glory to God.




Don't ever underestimate the power of a believing Mother who listens, follows her Lord, and does what He says!


Happy Mothers Day!