## Can God Really Meet My Need?

## I Kings 17:1-24

In just a few days we will gather together with friends and family to celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a time of love…because it is the reminder of the greatest expression of love that has ever been given. It is great because it was given to meet the greatest need of mankind. The Father gave His Son and the Son gave His life that we might be saved!

(John 15:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

In an expression of our love for others, we will give gifts as well. However, when we give gifts we sometimes are more concerned with the 'giving' than we are the 'need'. That is why we all have closets or cupboards with things that we do not need…or sometimes even want!

There is a common element that unites all peoples of the world. There is one thing that every person in this room has in common: we all have needs!

What are we to do when needs arise? The natural reaction is for us to worry, but we know from the Bible that this is not God's will for our lives.

(Phil 4:6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Should we try to meet our own needs? The simply answer is "Yes!" When we have is within our power to help ourselves then we do not really have a need, do we? What I am referring to are those times when we have reached the end of the line. We have done everything we know to do to meet our own need. We have exhausted every resource and we are left with the reality of our own inability staring us in the face. What do we do then?

The answer is at once simple, yet deeply profound. It is an answer given by the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. His answer to getting the needs of life met was this, "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22.

When our needs arise, so do our doubts! The enemy whispers to our hearts, "Can God really meet your needs?" If we aren't careful, we might find ourselves wondering the same thing! I would like to ask and answer that question this morning. "Can God Really Meet My Need?" The answer is "Yes, God can!" Let's look at our text today.

Read: 1 Kings 17:1-24

I. Needs Will Arise.

A. Elijah's Need. v1-7

1. Elijah's need arose from His obedience to the will of God.

2. He was just doing what he was told and then his need came.

a. There are times when you seem to be doing everything just like you are supposed to be doing it.

b. You are paying your tithes, you are going to church, you are living right and still there are troubles and problems that plague your life.

c. Why does that take us by surprise?

d. Jesus said it would be this way.

(John 16:33) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

e. When we come to Christ, our sin problem is resolved, but many other problems are just beginning.

f. The truth of the matter is that we can expect life to be a time filled with trouble.

(Job 14:1) Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

(1 Pet 4:12-13) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: {13} But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

3. So, even when we are doing what we are supposed to do…needs will arise.

B. The Widow's Need. V9-12

1. These verses reveal a widow woman who was suffering need because of the wrongdoing of others.

2. Because of the sin of the nation of Israel, God sent a drought that affected the area where this widow lived.

3. She was just caught up in an unfortunate situation.

4. There are times like that for you and me.

a. Through no fault of our own, we find ourselves caught up in unpleasant situations that bring trouble into our lives.

b. Sometimes we make our own trouble, other times it seems to be able to find us on its own.

c. This shouldn't take us by surprise either!

(Mat 5:45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

C. The Mother's Need. v17-18

1. In these verses, we find a woman who has given much to the Lord and she has received much from the Lord, yet she is thrown into a time of grief over the untimely death of her only son.

2. Her world, which seemed to be on track, derailed and filled her with sorrow and pain.

3. Ever been there?

a. It seems like things couldn't get any better.

b. The Lord has been blessing and you have been enjoying the best that God has to give and then the bottom falls out and all of your hopes and dreams come crashing down around you.

c. It hurts! But, we shouldn't be surprised when things take a turn in this direction.

4. Let's face it; our troubles have a way of overtaking us when we aren't expecting them.

a. They leave us dazed, hurting and confused.

b. I am thankful today that our troubles do not have the last word in this matter!

c. Even in the midst of trouble, God is still in control!

II. Our God Can and Will Meet Our Needs.

A. God's Past Preparations v3-4

1. Thousands of years before Elijah needed a drink of cool, clear water, the finger of God traced out the path of this little brook.

2. God knew that His servant would need this provision and God made away for Elijah long before the need ever arose.

3. Isn't it good to know that God provided a way to meet Elijah's need before he ever got thirsty?

4. Let's follow this thought and bring it up to our day.

(Rom 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

a. If God knows all about my troubles before they come, and if all things work together for my good…

b. That means that God has already taken all the steps necessary to meet my need before it ever arises.

c. He will manifest that supply in His own way and in His own time.

d. Our responsibility is to be patient and faithful to the Lord.

e. He will take care of us!

(Psa 84:11) For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

5. Nowhere is God's past provision more clearly seen that in our need of salvation!

a. Before there was ever a sinner to save, God had already given His Son Jesus to be the means of salvation for all who would place their faith in Him.

b. God met our salvation needs before we were even born.

c. If God can meet the greatest of all needs; He will have no problem taking care of our needs today!

B. God's Present Supply v6

(Phil 4:19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

1. The Lord has promised to meet our needs, but this promise in Phil. 4:19 is conditional.

2. It is not a blanket promise that anyone can claim no matter how they live.

3. The Philippian believers had sacrificed in order to give that others might hear the gospel message.

4. As a result of their faithfulness, God tells them that He will take care of all their needs.

5. That means that there may be needs arise in our lives that God allows because we are not living according to the principles in His Word.

6. That doesn't mean He doesn't love us, it just means that He may use needs in our lives to bring us back to Him.

(Mat 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

C. God's Promise For Tomorrow v14

1. Note Elijah's demand and the widow's response.

2. Elijah tells her not to worry, because the Lord will give her what she needs out into the future!

3. The future is always uncertain and we never know what kinds of needs may arise as soon as tomorrow, but we have the precious promises of the Lord.

(Heb 13:5b) for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

(Job 23:10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

4. I may not know what will come in the morning, but He knows what will happen and He has already made preparations.

5. No matter where the road of life leads, no matter what problems arise, God is always ready with the necessary means to meet the need of His children.

III. How We Can Get Our Needs Met.

(Mark 11:22) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

A. Faith In The Will Of God v3

1. Elijah had just confronted the King of Israel and now God is sending him into the wilderness.

2. It must have been a little confusing, but God's people must learn to place their faith in the will of God.

3. Often, God's will and our will are not in line.

4. The secret of getting our needs met by God is trusting that God knows what is best for our life and by being willing to submit to His will even when you don't understand it.

5. God can bless and use a surrendered life!

B. Faith In The Ways Of God v9

1. Imagine how Elijah felt when his brook dried up and the ravens quit bringing food and God comes along and sends him to a widow so she can keep him up.

2. Widows were poor, they weren't known for having a great deal of material things.

3. But, Elijah knew that God knew more about taking care of prophets than Elijah did and he just went.

4. We can't understand God and we certainly can't understand how He will choose to work in our lives.

5. We must have faith in the great truth that God knows what He is doing and we must learn to trust God's ways.

(Isa 55:8-9) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. {9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

D. Faith In The Work Of God v13-14

1. Let's put ourselves in this widow's place.

2. She is at the point of starvation, she and her son have enough food left for one final meal and they plan to lie down and starve to death.

3. Then, here comes the preacher!

4. He tells her to feed him first.

5. It must have been a real trial of faith for this woman to make that great a sacrifice, but she placed her faith in the Work of God.

a. Notice, verse 13, she is told to "go and do...", verse 15 tells us that "she went and did..."

b. This is key, but is often missed when we face a trial in life.

c. If we have submitted our life to the Lord and are faithfully engaged in carrying out His will in the world, we are His responsibility, and He will take care of us.

d. Too often we forget to Whom we belong,

E. Faith In The Word Of God v14

1. This widow woman entered this valley of testing with the greatest promise ever to be given to anyone.

2. Don't miss this!

3. Verse 14, the prophet gives her the promise in the form of a seven word statement, "thus saith the Lord God of Israel..."

4. When we have God's word on an issue, that issue is settled forever!

F. Faith In The Wonder Of God v17-24

1. This faithful widow's son died suddenly and she went to the man of God for help.

2. Here is one of the great keys to getting our needs met by God.

3. It is simply coming to the place where we believe God is big enough to handle our problem.

(Eph 3:20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

4. Faith looks beyond the present pain and sees a God who can and will.

Can God meet my needs? Yes, He can and He will!

If your need is salvation, come today and have faith in God, He will save you. If your need is strength, come today and have faith in God, He will give you strength. Whatever your need, come today and have faith in God, He will not fail you.