THE MESSAGE OF HOPE—I Kings 17:8-24

1-      A vital need of every person is Hope—A better day coming

2-      Man can live 40 days without food, 4 days without water, 4 minutes without air—But not even 4 seconds without hope (SUICIDE)

3-      Romans 8:24 teaches us “For we are saved by HOPE”

4-      In our Text—We see the “HOPELESSNESS” of this widow—How Elijah helps her.

5-      Picture of a lost sinner---Ephesians 2:12—“Having no hope, and without God in the world.”

I.           HIS COMING MEANT HER SALVATION—vs. 8-12

A-Desperate Situation—Famine (ch. 18:1)—“many days”

            God had allowed drought—To cause them to seek God

                        1-Dry Brooks

                        2-Depleted Barrels

B-Demeaning Situation—Starvation—Down to her last meal, oil, and sticks—All pride gone (What was her prior Social Standing?)

C-Doomed Situation—Already been to cemetery—Buried her husband—Now it was like sitting on Death Row—Hope was gone.

D-Point—That’s When Elijah came—“He came to me.”

II.      HIS COMMAND MEANT HER SURRENDER—vs. 13-16

            A-Complete Surrender Required

                        1-God First—Must do it God’s way—Can’t dictate to God

                        2-Obedience—Had to give—Only thing of value she had

                        3-Faith—“She went”

            B-Complete Supply Received

                        1-Ate-God never fails to reward Faith

                        2-Many Days-God never disappoints Faith

                        3-Drought all around—House where every need was met—

“until”—God never Shortcuts faith.

III.    HIS CONTROL MEANT HER SATISFACTION—vs. 17-24

A-He Controlled Life—Getting saved does not mean there will be no

conflicts, troubles, crisis. Thank God—By her obedience Elijah was

there when the crisis arose.

B-His Compassion for Life—God cares—God wants us to live—But

He also wants us to know He cares—Beyond our Control—Our Elijah

can carry them up to the loft.

C-His Conquering for Life—Brought boy back.

CONCLUSION: Christ came to give the Hope of Salvation to whosoever will accept His plan. In order to be saved, we must be willing to Admit that we are a Sinner. We must also Believe that Jesus shed His Blood for an atonement, and died to Pay our sin debt. We must also Confess Jesus as Lord and Repent of our Sins. THERE IS HOPE BECAUSE HE CAME. THERE IS HOPE BECAUSE I SURRENDERED. ONCE YOU ALLOW JESUS TO CONTROL YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL HAVE COMPLETE SATISFACTION.

HAVE YOU LOST HOPE IN THIS WORLD?

JESUS CAN GIVE YOU THAT HOPE.