Podcasts about Zarephath

Today’s Topics: Father Thomas Koller, OCD, joins Terry 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – Luke 4:16-30 – Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had grown up, and went according to His custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, He handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at Him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His Mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the Son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,' and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'” And He said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl Him down headlong. But He passed through the midst of them and went away. Saints in Heaven, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Original Postdate: September 2, 2024 === Gospel Luke 4:16-30 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,' and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Reflection One of the most fascinating things about Jesus as a messiah, someone who came to change the entire world and free us from an excessive power of evil over us. He was so ordinary. He was of the house of David, but basically the fundamental thing was he was seen as an ordinary guy, from a little not so great town, that had a shady past because many thought maybe he was illegitimate. But you look at that and he is the voice of God. This ordinary human being on the surface. But what is it about him that's so powerful? Not him or his physical life on this planet, but the God that dwelled in him and did such extraordinary healing work. Closing Prayer Father, the gift of spirit to each and every one of us is beyond measure. Yet we often look for other qualities about us that we would be more like things that were honored by our culture, that were beautiful, that were wealthy, that we have a great education. None of that is really necessary for a human being to be effective in the world, if they allow God to work through them. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read OnlineA Holy ProvocationWhen the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Luke 4:28–30What a sobering beginning to our Lord's public ministry. Shortly after His baptism in the Jordan River and the establishment of Capernaum as the center of His ministry, Jesus began calling His disciples and performing powerful miracles. News of His preaching and healing spread rapidly, reaching His hometown of Nazareth.When Jesus returned to Nazareth, those who had known Him from His youth were not prepared for what they witnessed. In the synagogue, He stood and read from the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah. It was a messianic passage foretelling the One anointed by the Spirit to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. After reading, Jesus sat down and solemnly proclaimed, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” With these words, He revealed Himself to be the long-awaited Messiah.At first, the people were amazed at the gracious words He spoke. But their awe quickly turned to confusion, then to hostility. “Is this not the son of Joseph?” they asked, unable to reconcile the divine authority they had just encountered with the humble figure they remembered from years past. Their familiarity bred contempt. Their hearts, bound by human reasoning and pride, could not accept the divine mystery standing before them.Perceiving their thoughts, Jesus addressed the unspoken demand in their hearts—the desire to see in Nazareth the same wonders He had performed elsewhere. But He offered them no signs. Instead, He offered truth, recalling that in the days of Elijah and Elisha, God's blessings were extended not to Israelites, but to Gentiles—a widow in Zarephath and a leper from Syria. This comparison deeply offended their national pride and shattered their assumptions about divine favor. Rather than receiving His rebuke with humility, they were filled with fury. The crowd attempted to kill the very One they had once known as neighbor and craftsman. Yet Jesus, untouched, “passed through the midst of them and went away.”Jesus certainly knew this would happen. In His divine wisdom, He foresaw the reaction He would receive. And in a mysterious way, He even appears to draw it out. Why? Because this holy provocation was an act of mercy. In exposing the hardness of their hearts, Jesus gave them an opportunity to confront their pride, repent, and receive the Kingdom in truth.In the months and years ahead, many of the people of Nazareth likely benefited from this initial encounter. There is little doubt that after Jesus left Nazareth, He remained the talk of the town. There is no record of Him returning. However, as He continued His public ministry, the people who had rejected Him would have continued to hear reports of His authoritative preaching and miraculous works. Some may have even traveled to nearby towns, such as Capernaum, to witness Him for themselves. In doing so, their initial rejection would have confronted them anew—forcing a choice: Either repent and believe, or grow in bitterness and confusion. Either Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah or He was a false prophet. There could be no middle ground.Reflect today on the mysterious ways Jesus continues to provoke hearts—including your own. Sometimes His Word unsettles us not because it is harsh, but because it is true, and we are unprepared to accept it and change. The people of Nazareth teach us that we—like them—sometimes need our pride stirred up so we can see it and reject it. As you consider the people of Nazareth from that moment forward, see yourself in them. Recognize any ways that you respond with hostility to humbling truths that are hard to accept, and allow time and grace to heal you—helping you to repent and grow in gratitude for Jesus' humbling and holy provocation.My challenging Lord, You see into the depths of my heart. When I resist Your Word, provoke me in mercy. Confront my pride, reveal my blindness, and call me to repentance. May I never reject You, but always surrender with trust to the truth You offer. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: The Brow of the Hill near Nazareth, by James Tissot  Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Dig-A-Bit is a weekly mini Bible study with Cindy Colley. It supplements the Digging Deep Bible study for women. For more information about the Digging Deep Bible Study for Women, visit TheColleyHouse.org. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: 1 Kings 17:11-24 LINKS: PDF Transcript for this Podcast Digging Deep in God’s Word Bible Study for Women Bless Your Heart Blog West Huntsville church of Christ at Providence RESOURCES: The Colley House Music: “Podcast” by JD Sound at audiojungle.net

Zarephath was a Gentile city occupied by Baal worshippers. The chief of the city had a daughter named Jezebel, Elijah's...

It's easy to get discouraged when we're praying for a family member or a loved one and we just don't see God answering our prayers. In those times, we might tend to tell God how and when He should answer the prayer instead of having faith that His answer to our prayers might be in a way or at a time that is different than we imagine—but better!In this message, Jill gives us the example of Elijah and the widow and her son at Zarephath. Sharing her own personal stories, Jill encourages us to keep praying for our loved ones in any circumstances. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

It's easy to get discouraged when we're praying for a family member or a loved one and we just don't see God answering our prayers. In those times, we might tend to tell God how and when He should answer the prayer instead of having faith that His answer to our prayers might be in a way or at a time that is different than we imagine—but better!In this message, Jill gives us the example of Elijah and the widow and her son at Zarephath. Sharing her own personal stories, Jill encourages us to keep praying for our loved ones in any circumstances. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

Episode 4205 │ August 16, 2026 Jesus's first sermon named two outsiders as the only people God actually healed. His hometown crowd tried to throw Him off a cliff for saying it. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS  Scott Kesterson and Brad Cummings continue their series on faith and trust with a personal story from Brad — a detour through Los Padres National Forest that became an unplanned lesson in slowing down long enough to reflect God's heart rather than manipulate a corrupt situation into resolution — before returning to Luke 4, where Jesus stops mid-verse in His first sermon, deliberately omitting the "day of vengeance" language from Isaiah 61 and instead naming the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the leper, two outsiders from idol-worshiping nations, as the only people God actually healed in a time of national crisis. Brad traces the Old Testament jubilee command — every seventh year and every fiftieth year, debts canceled, slaves freed, inheritance restored — as a covenant Israel never once obeyed, and connects it directly to Elijah's showdown with Ahab and Jezebel, God sending him to hide by a drying brook, feeding him through unclean ravens, and then sending him into Jezebel's own hometown of Zarephath — a name meaning blast furnace, the place of refining — to be sustained by a widow with nothing left to give. The episode closes on the reframe Brad returns to throughout: God does not punish covenant-breakers out of insecurity but allows them to experience the consequences of what they actually trusted in, and the posture He is looking for is not manipulation or threat but immovable faith that reflects His heart even when justice has not yet arrived. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  Why did Jesus deliberately stop before finishing the Isaiah 61 passage in His first sermon, and why does citing the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the leper — both outsiders from idol-worshiping nations — as the only two people God healed in a national crisis explain why His hometown crowd tried to kill Him? What was the jubilee command in the Old Testament — debts forgiven, slaves freed, and inheritance restored every fiftieth year — and why does the fact that Israel never once obeyed it, even during Jeremiah's warning before Nebuchadnezzar's invasion, reveal something essential about the gospel's actual starting point? Why did God send Elijah to hide by a drying brook, feed him through unclean ravens, and then send him directly into Jezebel's hometown to be sustained by a widow with nothing left — and what does the meaning of Zarephath as "blast furnace" reveal about how God provides in the exact place designed to refine faith? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Spatial Terra Intelligence Methodology (STIM v5) — the analytical framework built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. BardsFM's archive includes hundreds of episodes on prayer, scripture, and walking the Way of Christ — available free in the full episode catalog. DOWNLOADS Citizen's Guide - Community Organizing Against Data Centers: click here Citizen's Guide - Auditing Automatic License Plate Readers: click here Citizen's Guide - Auditing Your State's Driver License Data: click here AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

How are the mighty fallen — and what can we learn from the life of one of the greatest prophets in Scripture? In today's Words From The Word devotion, Pastor Roderick Webster opens 1 Kings 19 (KJV) and takes us back through the stunning victories of Elijah before asking a sobering question: what happened after all those miracles?You might be asking — can a truly great man of God fall into despair? Why does God sometimes let us face our lowest moments right after our greatest victories? What does Elijah's journey teach me about my own faith walk today?In this first part of the series "How Are the Mighty Fallen," Pastor Webster walks us through three powerful moments in Elijah's ministry:- Elijah declares a drought and God's word comes to pass exactly as spoken- Ravens miraculously bring bread and meat to Elijah at the Brook Cherith- A widow's barrel of meal and cruse of oil never run out, just as God promised- The widow's dead son is raised back to life after Elijah cries out to GodThese were real, documented victories — and yet, as Pastor Webster reminds us, the story is not finished. Tomorrow's devotion will show us what happened next. Stay close.If this message blessed you, please like, leave a comment, share this video, and subscribe so you never miss a devotion.#WordsFromTheWord #KJV #BibleDevotion #ChristianLiving #GoodNewsBaptistChurchStay connected with GNBC:

Episode 4200 │ August 9, 2026 A widow threatens an unrighteous judge with a black eye until he gives her justice. Jesus asks one question after: will He find faith like that? WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS Scott Kesterson and Brad Cummings open with Luke 18's parable of the persistent widow and the unrighteous judge — a woman with no standing in her society who refuses to leave the judge's presence until justice is rendered, framed by Jesus not as a lesson in twisting God's arm but as a question of whether faith can hold its ground when the outcome looks impossible, closing with the piercing line: when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? Brad works through a live personal example of standing in that same gap — a broken promise, no legal leverage, and a decision to take the matter before God as the court of final appeal rather than escalate or walk away — before moving into Luke 4, where Jesus opens His ministry in Nazareth quoting Isaiah, is initially praised, then names Elijah's widow at Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian leper as evidence that God's mercy was never confined to Israel, a statement so offensive to His hometown crowd that they try to throw Him off a cliff. The episode closes on Naaman's radical simplicity — a foreign general who knew nothing of Scripture, obeyed one instruction, and left worshipping the true God on borrowed dirt — as the model for the kind of faith that doesn't need theological sophistication, only unwavering trust in who God actually is. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  What is the difference between persistent prayer as twisting God's arm and persistent prayer as standing immovable in a place of settled peace — and why does Brad argue that most people misapply the widow's persistence as a formula rather than a posture of faith? Why did Jesus's hometown crowd go from praising His gracious words to trying to throw Him off a cliff within the same sermon — and what does His deliberate reference to Elijah's widow in Sidon and Naaman the Syrian reveal about how offensive the scope of God's mercy was to a chosen-people mindset? What did Naaman's healing require that no religious knowledge or scriptural literacy could substitute for — and why does his simple recognition that this is the true God, without a single Bible verse memorized, represent the kind of faith Jesus says He is looking for when He returns? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Spatial Terra Intelligence Methodology (STIM v5) — the analytical framework built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. BardsFM's archive includes hundreds of episodes on prayer, scripture, and walking the Way of Christ — available free in the full episode catalog. DOWNLOADS Community Sovereignty Framework: click here AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

This Sunday we'll look at Elijah and the widow of Zarephath and explore how even our anger and questions for God can become the very doorway into deeper faith and unexpected provision.

This teaching from Pastor Elliot walks through 1 Kings 16 and 17, tracing Israel's kings from Baasha through Ahab and Jezebel while introducing the prophet Elijah. As each king turns further toward idol worship, the nation experiences the covenant curse of drought, just as God had warned centuries earlier through Moses. But even in judgment, God is working to draw his people back to himself. Elijah's time by the brook, his stay with the widow of Zarephath, and the raising of her son all show a God who provides daily bread, hears prayer, and holds power over life and death. Through famine and loss, the true character of God comes into focus as merciful, faithful, and utterly reliable, even when the surrounding culture worships gods who cannot deliver on a single promise.

If you were to sit in a quiet room with no distractions and honestly answer the question — what is your number one priority in life — what would you say? It is the kind of question most of us prefer not to sit with too long, because the honest answer is often more complicated than we would like. Children, careers, spouses, finances: these things are not wrong in themselves, but God does not compete for position in our lives. He simply waits, with long-suffering patience, for us to return to Him as our first love. The widow of Zarephath had reached the end of everything. One last meal for herself and her son, and then nothing. When the prophet Elijah arrived with what must have sounded like an absurd request — give me food first, before you feed yourself and your child — her decision to obey was an act of profound, costly faith. She put the man of God first, and as a result, the flour and oil did not run out for the entire duration of the famine. Her obedience was not a transaction. It was trust. Matthew 6:33 captures the principle her life illustrated: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Putting God first is not about earning blessings. It is about living in honest acknowledgment that everything we have comes from Him, and that He alone is worthy of the first and best of what we have to offer — our time, our finances, our attention, and our hearts. Today's Bible Verse "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."— Matthew 6:33, KJV Ponder Today God does not compete for first place — but He deserves it. Every good thing in our lives is a gift from Him. Giving Him priority is not a burden He imposes on us. It is the natural and right response to who He is and what He has done. Obedience is the practical expression of putting God first. The widow of Zarephath's faith was demonstrated not in words but in action. Putting God first shows up in how we spend our mornings, our money, our time, and our attention. Our motives for seeking God matter deeply. We do not put God first in order to receive blessing upon blessing. We put Him first because He gave His only Son for flawed, undeserving humans. Pure motives honor Him far more than calculated obedience. Putting God first means removing compartmentalization from our lives. God is not meant to occupy one section of our schedule or one category of our budget. He is meant to be first in every area — no exceptions, no separation. The goal is to hear "well done, good and faithful servant." True success in this life is not measured by what we accumulate but by whether we sought first His kingdom and His righteousness. That eternal perspective changes how we order our daily priorities. A Prayer for You Today Our Father and our God, thank You for Your goodness that extends from generation to generation. There is no one like You, and no one deserves the honor and glory that is Yours alone. Help me to put You first in every area of my life. May my love for You grow each day as I think of Your sacrifice. Remind me that You are always with me, so that when I win it is You, and when I stumble You are there. Help me to seek first the kingdom of God, and help me to die daily to my flesh so that I do not idolize myself or anything You have given me. Each day You give, I choose to honor You by making You first priority. In Jesus' name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer helped you reorder your priorities around the One who deserves first place in your life, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to keep your heart and your life oriented toward the kingdom of God every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

July 26, 2026 | Sunday AM Worship - The Widow Zarephath - Jordan Ware

Discover how the Lord wants to teach you prosperity beyond your natural limits! Jovan Smith explores biblical principles of provision through the exciting journey of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath.

“But I rejoiced in the Lordgreatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though yousurely did care, but you lacked opportunity.” Rememberwhere Paul is as he writes these words. He is under house arrest in Rome. Hehas been separated from the Philippian believers for several years. During thattime they had desired to help him, but because of distance, persecution, andlimited means of communication, they simply had no opportunity. Then God openeda door. The church gathered an offering and sent one of their own members,Epaphroditus, on the long journey from Philippi to Rome. It was a dangeroustrip of nearly eight hundred miles. Along the way Epaphroditus became seriouslyill and nearly died, yet he faithfully completed the mission God had given him.Through this faithful servant, the Philippian believers sent not only financialhelp but also encouragement, love, and fellowship to Paul. NoticePaul's first response. "I rejoiced in the Lord greatly." Hedid not merely rejoice because money had arrived. He rejoiced because he sawGod's hand behind the gift. His joy was centered "in the Lord." Thatlittle phrase appears throughout Philippians. Paul teaches us again and againthat our joy is never to be rooted in circumstances but in Christ Himself. Paulunderstood that people may give the gift, but God is always the Provider. Jamesreminds us, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, andcomes down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). David declared inPsalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Paulsaw every provision of life as coming from the loving hand of his HeavenlyFather. Noticeanother beautiful expression. "Your care of me has flourishedagain." The word "flourished" pictures a plant thatblooms again after winter. The Philippians' love for Paul had never died. Ithad simply lacked an opportunity to express itself. Now their concern hadblossomed into visible action once more. How encouraging that must have been! Sometimeswe wrongly conclude that people no longer care because we have not heard fromthem for a while. But circumstances often prevent people from expressing whatis really in their hearts. Paul quickly removes any misunderstanding by saying," though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.” In other words,"I know you have cared all along. You simply had no way to help."What grace! Paul refuses to criticize them. He refuses to question theirmotives. He gives them the benefit of the doubt. Wouldn't our relationships behealthier if we did the same? How many misunderstandings could be avoided if weassumed the best instead of the worst? Remember 1 Corinthians 13: Love "believesall things" and "hopes all things." Love looks forreasons to trust rather than reasons to doubt. Thereis another wonderful lesson here. God's timing is always perfect. The gift didnot arrive early. It did not arrive late. It arrived exactly when God knew Paulneeded it. Our Heavenly Father is never in a hurry, but He is never behindschedule. Abraham learned that on Mount Moriah when God provided the ram. Israellearned it in the wilderness when manna appeared every morning. Elijah learnedit beside the brook Cherith and later through the widow of Zarephath. Paul nowexperiences that same faithful provision in a Roman prison. Perhapstoday you are waiting on God. You have prayed. You have trusted Him. Yet theanswer has not yet come. Take courage. If God knows how to feed the sparrowsand clothe the lilies of the field, He certainly knows how to care for His ownchildren. Often God's delays are not God's denials. He is preparing both theprovision and the person who will receive it.  When our eyes are fixed on Christ, every blessing becomes anotherreminder of His faithfulness. When we recognize that every good thing comesfrom His loving hand, gratitude replaces anxiety, and joy replaces worry.

Luke 4:20-26 New International Version 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” 24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear people talk about little being much, when God is in it, yet many times when our circumstances seem bleak, we just throw up our hands in defeat. Join us in this program of Woman at the Well Ministries as Kim continues her discussion of God's presence in our problems. We will see that when God is added to the equation, things change. Things aren't always what they seem because God is not bound by natural laws. He is the law.   Scriptures Mentioned in this Episode John 6:1–14 (Feeding of the Five Thousand) www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A1-14&version=KJV Sea of Galilee / Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1) www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A1&version=KJV John 14:6 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A6&version=KJV Isaiah 64:6 ("all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+64%3A6&version=KJV Romans 3:10 ("There is none righteous, no, not one") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A10&version=KJV Ecclesiastes 1:9 ("there is no new thing under the sun") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+1%3A9&version=KJV Revelation 3:20 ("I stand at the door, and knock") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+3%3A20&version=KJV Hebrews 11:6 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A6&version=KJV Matthew 6:8 ("your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A8&version=KJV Matthew 14:22–33 (Jesus walks on the water; referenced as Peter and the disciples in the boat) www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A22-33&version=KJV Psalm 121:4 ("He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121%3A4&version=KJV 1 Samuel 17:47 ("the battle is the Lord's") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17%3A47&version=KJV 1 Samuel 15:22 ("to obey is better than sacrifice") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+15%3A22&version=KJV Matthew 7:7 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A7&version=KJV Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ...") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A13&version=KJV John 6:35 ("I am the bread of life") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A35&version=KJV Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (meal and oil) — 1 Kings 17:8–16 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+17%3A8-16&version=KJV Luke 6:38 ("pressed down, and shaken together, and running over") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A38&version=KJV Luke 15:3–7 (The Lost Sheep; "the ninety and nine...the one") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A3-7&version=KJV Acts 10:34 ("God is no respecter of persons") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A34&version=KJV 2 Corinthians 5:1 ("a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A1&version=KJV Psalm 121:1–2 ("I will lift up mine eyes...my help cometh from the Lord") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121%3A1-2&version=KJV 2 Timothy 1:12 ("I know whom I have believed...") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1%3A12&version=KJV Did you enjoy this episode? It would make a huge difference to us if you took a minute to leave us a review wherever you listen and share the episode on social media!  Have you listened to our new podcast, The Bible Bit Podcast? These short podcasts come directly from the Bible Bits Kimberly writes each week day and shares to our subscribers via text message. You can learn more about Bible Bits right here. Want the BIble Bits in print? Find them here:  Bible Bit books! Do you want to bring Kimberly Miller and Woman at the Well Ministries to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us!  Special thanks to the gospel group Fudge Creek for allowing us to use their song Happy Girl. Woman at the Well Ministries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving our Heavenly Father and it is through your loving and generous support that our ministry continues to bless others. To learn how to partner with Woman at the Well Ministries, please visit our website.  All of this and more is found on the Woman at the Well Ministries website.

Elijah confronts Ahab, provides food to a widow in Zarephath, and raises her son from the dead.

Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel by Autumn Dickson Do you ever feel like you're desperately scraping at an empty barrel? Maybe it's with physical resources to take care of your family, or maybe you feel emotionally or spiritually drained. Well this week holds a story that can give us the key to finding peace with our barrel. There is a huge famine in the land, and the Lord is providing for the prophet, Elijah. Elijah is living by a stream and getting water from it, and some birds are feeding him. When the stream dries up, Elijah is instructed by the Lord to go to Zarephath where a widow will take care of him. When he gets to Zarephath, he finds the widow. He requests water and a piece of bread. Here is where our story continues. 1 Kings 17:12-14 12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. Elijah requests bread. The widow said she only has enough for her and her son before they die. Elijah tells her to get him some bread anyway and promises that if she does, she will have enough flour and oil until it rains again. HERE IS WHY I LOVE THIS STORY AND WISH IT WERE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS STORIES IN THE BIBLE: There is always enough in the barrel. The widow of Zarephath chose to feed the prophet, and his promise was fulfilled. She had enough food for her and her son, and that food continued on. Absolutely incredible. But. What did the miracle look like? When the widow of Zarephath woke up in the morning and she lifted up the lid on her barrel, how much flour was there? Was the entire thing full? Did it always remain full? Did it empty over time and then one morning, she would awake to a full barrel again? Or…did it always stay almost empty? Was there always a slight tinge of fear that one morning, it would simply be gone? Every night when she used up the “last” of the flour, did it prick at heart and push her to pray for another day? How long did it take for her to trust the miracle? I'm going to highlight it again: There will always be enough in the barrel. But even more than always giving enough, the Lord is trying to teach us something important. I don't know how the Lord continued the miracle of flour, but I would feel pretty comfortable guessing that it was the last option. The barrel always had just enough. If we're going off of the Lord's past patterns in almost everything (not just physical and monetary resources but spiritually and emotionally), we see very clearly that the Lord likes to give us just enough. Here is my theory as to why I think the Lord chose the last option: that there was always just enough flour left. Let's say the Lord filled up the barrel and kept it perpetually full. There is not as much need, and therefore, there is not as much reliance upon the Lord. The widow always had plenty of flour. This is awesome, but there is an option that actually gives the widow more than just flour. Let's say the Lord filled up the barrel, let it empty, and then filled it up again. I don't know how big her barrel was, but let's say it took a week for her to empty the barrel. Once a week, the widow would go to bed with a prayer in heart that there would be more tomorrow. And then my personal theory: The Lord only ever gave the widow just enough. Every single time the widow opened the barrel, she was praying that there was enough. She had so much more need which meant there was more opportunity to rely on the Lord and learn to trust Him. There were way more opportunities to build trust, and so the widow had flour AND she gained trust. Some might argue it was cruel of a loving Father to not give her more flour and more security and confidence. I think the gift of trusting Him is one of the greatest gifts He can offer, and He's very limited in how He is able to build that trust. Hence, the withheld flour. So how does this relate to us? If He's withholding flour, it's not because He wants to torture you. It's because He wants a relationship with you. He wants you to trust Him, and giving you these repeated exposures builds trust even if it's stressful until you figure out that He's going to show up. So the solution? Trust! Trust that there will be enough. Perhaps the widow even had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to make sure there was enough, but the simple fact remained true: there was enough. Even if you're only ever receiving enough for your needs, your barrel might as well be overflowing because the Lord's resources are infinite. You don't have to worry about that part. The part you should really start to work on is trusting Him. Because even with a full barrel, there is never true security in this world. Everything could blow up tomorrow. But if you put your trust in the Lord instead of a full barrel, you never feel empty. In fact, I don't think scraping the barrel is the stressful part. I think worrying about whether you'll have enough is the stressful part. The real part that is killing you right now is not the physical motion of scraping the barrel; it's being terrified that there won't be enough tomorrow. If you can release that fear, the barrel will no longer feel tortuous. You'll see the miracle as it is. You will see infinite resources. If you can learn to trust, you won't feel empty. You will rejoice and trust in His infinite resources. You will feel confident as His heir. Your barrel will feel full. Every night, as you go to sleep, switch your thinking. Don't ask yourself, “Will there be enough tomorrow?” Instead, recount the many times there has always been enough. You will find that the worries begin to disappear on their own. The widow of Zarephath is one of my favorite stories because it teaches me that I don't have to be scared about what's in my barrel. I can look at my barrel and see the emptiness, or I can look up and see His infinite flour. Just because He's only giving me a scoop at a time doesn't mean I have nothing. It means I get as much flour as I need AND it means that I get to look up at Him everyday. I testify with all of my heart that there is enough for you. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – 1 Kings 12–13; 17–22 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes(00:00) An overview of these chapters. The kingdom of Israel divides when Solomon's son Rehoboam refuses to reduce the burden on the northern tribes.(06:55) A brief history of the Lost Ten Tribes in the north and Judah in the south.(10:48) Jeroboam, worried that his people will turn their hearts towards the leaders in the south when they go to the temple in Jerusalem, decides to build rival sanctuaries in Dan and Bethel.(13:25) Do not take counsel from your fears or be fooled by an imitation.(19:18) A man of God warns Jeroboam against false worship, prophesying of a future day when Josiah will destroy it.(22:17) What happened to the Ark of the Covenant? Could Shishak of Egypt have taken this treasure from the Jerusalem temple?(29:13) Elijah, an embodiment of great power, is a type of many prophets. All prophets are types of Christ. (31:49) Elijah seals the heavens and is fed by a raven. He goes to Zarephath and asks a widow woman for her barrel flour and jar of oil, promising they will never become empty during the famine.(40:30) Elijah raises the widow's son from the dead. Jesus duplicates the miracles of Elijah.(43:28) Obadiah, part of Ahab's court, saves 100 prophets from Queen Jezebel and also helps Elijah.(47:29) Obadiah and Elijah's “50” can be seen as part of a bigger picture, as members of a choral arrangement that were connected to the temple and the sacred drama in many ancient cultures.(52:37) Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to call down fire from heaven. They fail.(57:14) At times the Lord will manifest miracles to show his might and prove that he is God. The Book of Mormon is that proof for us today.(1:03:40) The famine ends and Queen Jezebel seeks the life of Elijah. In his loneliness, Elijah experiences deep sadness, believing that the prophets are dead. At times, we may feel as Elijah did. Being with the Saints and remembering the truth of the gospel message can bolster our resilience.(1:11:44) Elijah's experience with the still small voice of the Lord.(1:18:17) Ahab, king of Israel, is attacked by the Syrian army. A prophet tells Ahab that Israel will win. Ahab later desires the vineyard of Naboth, who refuses to sell his land. Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, orchestrates a conspiracy to frame Naboth for blasphemy, and Ahab acquires the land through deceit. Elijah comes to inform Ahab that Ahab’s line will cease, that Jezebel will be eaten by dogs, and that Ahab’s blood will be licked up by dogs in the very spot where Naboth was killed. Time vindicates the prophets. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 378 | 1 Kings 12-22, Come Follow Me 2026 (June 29-July 5) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

This powerful teaching invites us to examine the systems and atmospheres we've created in our lives and asks a critical question: Are they conducive to our divine design? Drawing from Ephesians 2:10, we're reminded that we are God's masterpiece, His handiwork, created with intentionality and purpose. The message challenges us to move from frustration to focus by understanding that we're not accidents or afterthoughts—God planned us with His fullest creative abilities. Through the stories of Elijah at the brook Cherith and his transition to Zarephath, we see that different seasons require different systems. What worked at the brook won't sustain us in Zarephath. The dried-up brook isn't a sign of failure; it's an invitation to our next phase. Similarly, when Peter, James, John, and Andrew left their fishing nets to follow Jesus, they didn't just change careers—they shifted their entire system of living to align with their assignment. This teaching urges us to examine our daily routines, our environments, and our habits. Are they supporting where God is taking us, or are they keeping us stuck in a previous season? The small shifts we make today—waking up earlier, creating space for prayer, reorganizing our physical environment—can bring the acceleration we've been praying for. We're called to walk by faith, not leap by faith, taking consistent daily steps that align with the path God has prepared for us long ago.

Join Lynne Hilton Wilson as she explores the powerful and complex stories of the Old Testament women in 1 Kings 12–22, including the wife of Jeroboam, the infamous Queen Jezebel, and the faithful widow of Zarephath. In this study, we examine how these women influenced kings, confronted prophets, and revealed themes of faith, idolatry, power, and God's provision during one of Israel's most divided eras. Join us as we uncover the lessons and spiritual insights hidden within these remarkable Old Testament accounts.

The path we each walk between our birth and our death is filled with all kinds of trouble and sorrow and suffering. So how do we handle all of this pain? The world offers many methods to escape and cope, but to really deal with our sufferings rightly, we need a savior. The true meaning of suffering can only be found in Jesus Christ. In this sermon on 1 Kings 17:17–24, in which the widow of Zarephath's son dies and brought back to life, Pastoral Intern Luke Lustfeldt teaches us that God's grace will meet you in your suffering and he will strengthen your faith in the supremacy of Jesus Christ, which is the only real source of healing for our suffering. Listen as Luke unfolds this idea in three main headings: Crisis in Suffering God's Grace in Suffering Faith in Suffering From Sunday Evening Worship, July 12, 2026. ------------------------------- allsoulspca.org All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.

In this Bible Story, A great drought fills the land of Israel, yet God continues to meet Elijah's needs. The drought is a symbol of Israel's spiritual state as they have strayed away from the Lord and worshiped other gods. This story is inspired by 1 Kings 17. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Kings 17:7 from the King James Version.Episode 122: As a drought was entering the land, Elijah looked around with sorrow. He received a word from God that this would be a lasting famine and was sent to King Ahab to share the message with him. After this Elijah followed God to a brook where he was miraculously provided for until the brook dried up. But God would not abandon His servant Elijah and He sent him to Zarephath to be provided for by a widow. Little did this widow know that she herself would experience God's miraculous provision in her obedience with what little she had.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This video provides teaching ideas, discussion prompts, and activities to support the 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Kings 3, 6-9, 11 lesson in the Come, Follow Me manual.It is designed to serve as a practical resource for teachers, parents, missionaries, and anyone preparing to teach this week's Come, Follow Me lesson.My hope is that these ideas will help simplify your preparation, increase student engagement, and strengthen your confidence as you teach. Lesson Resources and Links Link to WORDLE game instructions:Mosiah 4-6, Come Follow Me  Link to "Widow of Zarephath" Video :https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2016-12-0016-widow-of-zarephath?lang=eng Link to “Elijah and the Priests of Baal" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2021-11-1340-elijah-and-the-priests-of-baal?lang=eng Link to "You're Never Alone" Video:https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2009-08-33-youre-never-alone?lang=eng Teaching with Power ResourcesFor links to videos, lesson plans, subscriptions, weekly lesson materials, go to www.teachingwithpower.comTo sign up for a Full Old Testament Subscription, go to:  https://www.teachingwithpower.com/product-page/2026-old-testament-bundle-subscription-all-slides-handouts-and-lesson-plansContact: teachingwithpower@gmail.com Credits & NotesMusic provided by the YouTube Audio Library — Dancing StarSome illustrations in this video were generated using Chat GPT AI.Additional Bible illustrations are provided by Sweet Publishing( http://sweetpublishing.com) under the Creative Commons 3.0 Share-Alike License.All other images are in the public domain. DisclaimerThe content of this video reflects my personal insights and teaching ideas. It does not represent the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This video provides teaching ideas, discussion prompts, and activities to support the 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Kings 3, 6-9, 11 lesson in the Come, Follow Me manual.It is designed to serve as a practical resource for teachers, parents, missionaries, and anyone preparing to teach this week's Come, Follow Me lesson.My hope is that these ideas will help simplify your preparation, increase student engagement, and strengthen your confidence as you teach. Lesson Resources and Links Link to WORDLE game instructions:Mosiah 4-6, Come Follow Me  Link to "Widow of Zarephath" Video :https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2016-12-0016-widow-of-zarephath?lang=eng Link to “Elijah and the Priests of Baal" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2021-11-1340-elijah-and-the-priests-of-baal?lang=eng Link to "You're Never Alone" Video:https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2009-08-33-youre-never-alone?lang=eng Teaching with Power ResourcesFor links to videos, lesson plans, subscriptions, weekly lesson materials, go to www.teachingwithpower.comTo sign up for a Full Old Testament Subscription, go to:  https://www.teachingwithpower.com/product-page/2026-old-testament-bundle-subscription-all-slides-handouts-and-lesson-plansContact: teachingwithpower@gmail.com Credits & NotesMusic provided by the YouTube Audio Library — Dancing StarSome illustrations in this video were generated using Chat GPT AI.Additional Bible illustrations are provided by Sweet Publishing( http://sweetpublishing.com) under the Creative Commons 3.0 Share-Alike License.All other images are in the public domain. DisclaimerThe content of this video reflects my personal insights and teaching ideas. It does not represent the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Podcast Title:Take It Upstairs | Anchored in Troubled Waters | Season 9 Episode 25Podcast Description:After God sustained the widow of Zarephath through famine, tragedy entered her home and her son died. Elijah took the child from her arms, carried him into the upper room, and cried unto the Lord. In this message, we look at what to do when trouble enters a place God has blessed, when pain raises difficult questions, and when the burden is beyond our ability to repair. When we cannot fix it downstairs, we can still take it upstairs in prayer.Alternate Podcast Description 2:The widow of Zarephath had already seen God sustain her home through famine, but then tragedy came and her son died. Elijah took the child into the upper room and cried unto the Lord. This message explores honest prayer, persistent faith, and what it means to carry burdens into God's presence when human strength and understanding have reached their end.Alternate Podcast Description 3:What do we do when pain enters a house God has blessed? In 1 Kings 17, Elijah takes an impossible burden upstairs and places it before the Lord. This message reminds us that prayer does not require polished words, grief does not disqualify faith, and no burden is too heavy to bring before the throne of grace.

Faith isn't just about what you gain from God; it's about what you are willing to surrender. Like the widow of Zarephath, discover how letting go of your ultimate earthly security and trusting the Multiplier unlocks a supernatural overflow of provision today.

Podcast Title:When There's Only a Handful Left | Anchored in Troubled Waters | Season 9 Episode 24Podcast Description:After the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to Zarephath, where a widow had only a handful of meal and a little oil left. What looked like the end became the place where God revealed His sustaining power. In this message, we look at trusting God when resources are low, obedience feels costly, and what remains seems too small to matter. The barrel did not waste, the oil did not fail, and God proved faithful day by day.Alternate Podcast Description 2:What happens when you are down to the last handful? In 1 Kings 17, Elijah meets a widow in Zarephath who has only a handful of meal and a little oil left. She thinks she is preparing her final meal, but God is preparing to reveal His sustaining power. This message looks at faith, obedience, and the God who can do more with what remains than we imagined.Alternate Podcast Description 3:A handful of meal and a little oil did not look like enough to survive a famine, but God had already spoken provision into that place. In this message, we look at the widow of Zarephath, the obedience that touched her last little bit, and the miracle of daily sustaining grace. What looks small in our hands can become enough when God puts His word on it.

When the Brook Dries Up | Anchored in Troubled Waters | Season 9 Episode 23Podcast DescriptionElijah was exactly where God told him to be, and yet the brook still dried up. In this message, we look at what happens when a season of provision begins to change, how God sustains His people in unexpected ways, and why a dried-up brook does not mean God has abandoned us. The brook may dry up, but the God who provided it is still faithful.Alternate Podcast Description 2What happens when the place God used to sustain you begins to dry up? In 1 Kings 17, Elijah is sent by God to the brook Cherith, fed by ravens, and sustained in a season of drought. But after a while, the brook dries up. This message looks at trusting God through changing seasons, unexpected provision, and the next word that often comes after the brook runs dry.Alternate Podcast Description 3A drying brook does not always mean God has abandoned you. Sometimes it means He is moving you into the next season of obedience. In this message, we follow Elijah from Cherith to Zarephath and learn to trust the Provider more than the provision. The method may change, but the Source remains faithful.

Matthew Dowling, preaching minister for the Plymouth Church of Christ, preached a message titled "Faith When You Have Nothing Left: The Widow of Zarephath" from 1 Kings 17:7-16. The May sermon series is titled "Courage in Her Bones: Women Who Shaped Redemption."

In this powerful message, Pastor B.explores the incredible story of the widow of Zarephath and discovers how God works miracles through unlikely people, impossible situations, and simple acts of faith. During a devastating famine, God sent the prophet Elijah to a widow who had almost nothing left, just a handful of flour and a little oil. Yet through her obedience and trust, God provided daily miracles that never ran dry.This message reminds us that miracles often begin with a command from God, are sustained by His promises, and require us to take a step of faith even when resources seem limited. The widow's story teaches that surrendering what little we have into God's hands can lead to supernatural multiplication and provision.We also look at Elijah's journey during the drought, God's unexpected provision through ravens and enemy territory, and the resurrection of the widow's son as a powerful sign of God's authority over both physical and spiritual needs. Ultimately, this message points to Jesus Christ as the true and eternal provision, the greatest miracle of all.If you've ever wondered how God can provide in difficult seasons, strengthen your faith in uncertainty, or work through impossible circumstances, this message will encourage and challenge you to trust Him daily.

Don't let _________________, _________________, or _________________ set limits to your faith...

Share a commentThey invited Jesus to preach because he was famous. They tried to kill him because he told the truth. We open Luke 4 and follow Jesus back to Nazareth for what becomes his first sermon at home and his last one there, a moment that exposes how quickly “we love that verse” can turn into “we hate that message” when Scripture presses on pride.We watch Jesus take the Isaiah scroll and read a prophecy about the Spirit-anointed Messiah bringing good news to the poor, freedom for captives, sight for the blind, and God's favor. Then he makes the shocking claim that it is fulfilled as they hear him. The crowd initially marvels, but everything changes when they demand hometown miracles and special treatment. Jesus refuses to perform for applause, names their unbelief, and reminds them that no prophet is accepted in his hometown.From there we trace two explosive Old Testament examples Jesus chooses on purpose: Elijah sent to a Gentile widow in Zarephath and Elisha cleansing Naaman the Syrian. Both stories spotlight outsider faith and insider resistance, and both confront the idea that proximity to religion equals trust in God. Finally, we draw out the practical takeaway: how Jesus responds to rejection with calm, courage, and mission focus, giving us a model for handling ridicule, injustice, and disappointment without losing control, heart, or sight.If Luke 4 has ever confused you or unsettled you, this conversation will clarify why. Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with a friend who needs perspective on rejection, and leave a review with the line that challenged you most.Get instant, biblically faithful answers to your Bible questions. https://www.wisdomonline.org/ask Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

What do you do when God's instructions seem confusing, difficult, or even impossible? In this message, Pastor Jeff Schreve explores Elijah's surprising command to leave Cherith and travel to Zarephath—enemy territory—where a poor widow would somehow provide for him. Through this remarkable story, we learn that miracles begin when we step out in obedience, even when the path doesn't make sense. If you're facing a difficult step of faith, this episode will challenge and encourage you to trust and obey.

Share a commentThey invited Jesus to preach because he was famous. They tried to kill him because he told the truth. We open Luke 4 and follow Jesus back to Nazareth for what becomes his first sermon at home and his last one there, a moment that exposes how quickly “we love that verse” can turn into “we hate that message” when Scripture presses on pride.We watch Jesus take the Isaiah scroll and read a prophecy about the Spirit-anointed Messiah bringing good news to the poor, freedom for captives, sight for the blind, and God's favor. Then he makes the shocking claim that it is fulfilled as they hear him. The crowd initially marvels, but everything changes when they demand hometown miracles and special treatment. Jesus refuses to perform for applause, names their unbelief, and reminds them that no prophet is accepted in his hometown.From there we trace two explosive Old Testament examples Jesus chooses on purpose: Elijah sent to a Gentile widow in Zarephath and Elisha cleansing Naaman the Syrian. Both stories spotlight outsider faith and insider resistance, and both confront the idea that proximity to religion equals trust in God. Finally, we draw out the practical takeaway: how Jesus responds to rejection with calm, courage, and mission focus, giving us a model for handling ridicule, injustice, and disappointment without losing control, heart, or sight.If Luke 4 has ever confused you or unsettled you, this conversation will clarify why. Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with a friend who needs perspective on rejection, and leave a review with the line that challenged you most.Explore all of our Biblically Faithful Resources at https://www.wisdomonline.org Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

A weekly class at OAG taught by Chaplain Lou Parker.** Edited to remove personal information shared in the class and extended pauses **Title: Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath: Faith, Obedience, and God's ProvisionSummary: Through the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, we see how faithful obedience — even in desperate circumstances — opens the door to miraculous provision and lasting blessing.Approximate Lesson Outline:00:00 - Introduction03:26 - Reading from 1 Kings 1706:57 - Elijah's Obedience and the Drought09:59 - Into Enemy Territory13:37 - Why This Widow?18:27 - The Widow's Character23:02 - Confidence in God's Word27:26 - First Fruits and Faithful Giving30:52 - Long-Term Blessings of Obedience33:01 - Closing and Next Week's Preview

Life Transformations with Michael Hart Aired: May 04, 2026 on CHRI Radio 99.1FM in Ottawa, Canada. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Elim Counselling Services, call 1-877-544-ELIM(3546) or email mhart@elimcounsellingministry.com. Visit elimcounsellingministry.com for more information. For more CHRI shows, visit chri.ca

What happens when money, fear, or comfort takes first place in your heart instead of Jesus? In Week 1 of our Above All series, Pastor John S. Dickerson opens Matthew 6:33, Matthew 7:24-27, 1 Timothy 6, Ecclesiastes 5, and 1 Kings 17 to show what it really means to seek first the Kingdom of God and put Christ above all in every area of life. This message reveals why trust in God is the foundation for spiritual breakthrough. Through the contrast between building on rock or sand, the offerings of Cain and Abel, and the faith of the widow of Zarephath, Pastor John S. Dickerson shows that what we place first reveals what we trust most. When money, comfort, or control become our foundation, our lives eventually crack. But when Jesus is above all, God forms a deeper faith, a stronger foundation, and a life marked by peace, generosity, and joy. If you are wrestling with fear, uncertainty, finances, obedience, or the question of what it means to truly put Christ first, this sermon will challenge and encourage you to trust God with every part of your life. Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27, Mark 12:30, Genesis 4:3-5, 1 Timothy 6:9-19, Ecclesiastes 5:9, 19, 1 Kings 17:8-16, Matthew 6:33 #AboveAll #PastorJohnSDickerson #TrustGod #ConnectionPointeChurch NEXT STEPSHave you made a decision to follow Jesus and now wondering what your next step is? We want to help! https://www.connectionpointe.org/nextsteps/ ABOUT CONNECTION POINTEAt Connection Pointe, our mission is to connect people to Jesus and each other. Whether you've been around church your whole life or this is a brand new journey, we have a place for you and we hope your journey will include joining us at a Connection Pointe location or online at https://connectionpointe.org/live Find locations, videos, and more info about us at https://www.connectionpointe.org/ FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/connectionpointeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/connect_cp Find out more about our lead pastor, John S. Dickerson: https://www.connectionpointe.org/leadpastor

What does it mean for God to be your portion? In this powerful message from Dwelling House Church, Pastor Jeremiah Genin teaches on one of the most challenging and transformative areas of the Christian life: trust, surrender, and giving. Through powerful biblical stories—including the widow of Zarephath, the widow's offering, the Levites' inheritance, and the teachings of Jesus—this sermon reveals that biblical giving is not ultimately about money, but about the condition of the heart. Pastor Jeremiah explains how God uses worship, generosity, and obedience to draw believers into deeper trust and dependence on Him. In a culture driven by fear, possessions, success, and financial security, this message calls Christians back to the truth that God Himself is our inheritance, our treasure, and our portion. Whether you've struggled with trusting God financially, wrestled with fear about provision, or simply want to grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus, this sermon offers biblical wisdom, encouragement, and conviction rooted in Scripture. Dwelling House Church is a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered church passionate about the presence of God, biblical truth, worship, discipleship, and helping people encounter Jesus in a real and transformative way. If you're searching for sermons about trusting God, biblical giving, Christian generosity, tithing, worship, faith, or Spirit-filled teaching, this message will encourage and challenge you. This sermon answers: What does it mean for God to truly be your portion? Why does the Bible connect giving and worship so closely? How can Christians trust God instead of relying on money, success, or possessions?

Faith Under Fire – Week 31 Kings 17 | Pastor Craig TurnbullWhat happens when faith collides with heartbreak?In Week 3 of Faith Under Fire, Pastor Craig Turnbull continues Elijah's story through one of the most emotional moments in 1 Kings 17. A widow who had already experienced God's miraculous provision suddenly faces devastating loss when her son becomes sick and dies.This message wrestles honestly with the questions many believers carry in seasons of suffering:Where is God when life falls apart?Why does pain still come after obedience?Can faith survive disappointment and grief?Through Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, we see that real faith is not shallow positivity or pretending everything is fine. Faith wrestles. Faith cries out. Faith brings pain honestly before the Lord.And even in the darkest moments, God is still at work.If you've been carrying disappointment, confusion, loss, or unanswered questions, this message will encourage you to keep bringing your heart honestly before God.Because even in suffering… God is still faithful.If you need prayer or want to take a next step in your faith, we would love to connect with you:bannockburnchurch.com/prayer

Episode Summary Are you limiting what God wants to release in your life? This faith-filled teaching reveals powerful biblical examples of miracle provision—from Elijah being fed by ravens to the widow's oil that never ran dry. Learn how faith, obedience, and expectation expand your capacity to receive. This is essential for every Kingdom entrepreneur ready to trust God as their source and walk in supernatural provision. Key Moments 00:00 – Introduction to miracle provision00:45 – Elijah fed by ravens (1 Kings 17)01:20 – The widow at Zarephath and supernatural supply01:50 – Elisha and the multiplying oil (2 Kings 4)02:20 – Expanding capacity: nets and vessels02:50 – Faith activates provision03:10 – God supplies all your needs (Philippians 4:19)03:30 – Ask in faith and believe04:00 – Abundant life and prosperity promises04:30 – Stewardship and sustained blessing Get the book: Not Just Paper: Principles for Financial Success: https://www.chontahaynes.com/offers/JHF2dzZu Connect with Dr. Chonta Haynes Book a call https://chontahaynes.com/destiny YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ChontaHaynes Instagram: https://Instagram.com/ctahaynes LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chonta-haynes Support the Mission Heart 2 Heart Truth Foundation Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UZG5B9KX59U4S

RVL MENTALITY: GENEROSITY | A GENEROUS MENTALITY | SZN 2: Revival Through LovingMSG: GENEROUS MENTALITYSCRIPTURE: 1 KINGS 17:9–16 NLTFrom our founding pastor, Bishop Courtney McBath, this message establishes GENEROSITY as a defining RVL MENTALITY—where transformed thinking produces open hands, not closed fists. Through Elijah and the widow at Zarephath, we see that what feels like lack becomes overflow when placed in God's hands.A GENEROUS MENTALITY shifts us from consumers to producers, from keepers to givers. Scripture shows that generosity is intentional—and those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.OBEDIENCE UNLOCKS PROVISION. When we trust God with what we have, even when it feels small, He responds with more than enough.

This sermon draws profound spiritual insight from Elijah's time at Cherith, emphasizing that God's commands are personal, precise, and purposeful, even when they lead to seemingly isolated or inconvenient places. It highlights how God provides miraculously—through the ravens and a brook—not only to sustain but to prepare His servant through dependence, trust, and obedience. The drying up of the brook symbolizes life's inevitable trials, reminding believers that hardship is not abandonment but a divine invitation to rely on God rather than on temporary blessings. The message calls for gratitude for past provision, acceptance of life's impermanence, and unwavering trust in God's sovereign plan, which includes even greater provision—such as the widow at Zarephath—after the trial. Ultimately, it challenges listeners to remain obedient, trusting, and hopeful, knowing that God's care and purpose endure through every season of scarcity or change.

Today’s Topics: Father Thomas Czeck, OFM Conv., joins Terry 1) Gospel – Luke 4:24-30 – Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built,  to hurl Him down headlong. But He passed through the midst of them and went away. Memorial of Saint Frances of Rome, Religious Saint Frances, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry and Father Thomas discuss Saint Bonaventure, his spirituality and his role in the Franciscan Order  

Gospel Luke 4:24-30 Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Reflection When the people of Nazareth realized that Jesus had a gift, he spoke with authority and they recognized him as the young boy that grew up in their midst, and he was even by many, considered to be illegitimate. So they didn't have any way of accepting the uniqueness that he displayed. And their response was anger, because he simply said, You aren't listening to me. It's interesting how anger can be a response to a criticism when we're afraid of what it's demanding of us. Jesus demands we change. And when we are seeing in Scripture ourselves being examples of what we shouldn't be, we need to receive it generously, and open hearted desiring to change. Closing Prayer Father, our daily lives are often filled with situations where we are criticizing ourselves or being criticized by others, and let us always have an open heart to that. Make sure that we listen to see if there's any truth in that criticism and not be like the people of Nazareth who became angry and attacked the one who brought the criticism to light. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J.I. Packer once wrote, “What matters in life is not what you make of it, but what God makes of it for you.” That contrast becomes especially clear when it comes to money. When circumstances shift, and uncertainty rises, the quiet question surfaces: Will there be enough? Our culture tells us peace comes through self-provision—earning more, saving more, planning better. But Scripture invites us into a different posture: resting in a Father who provides. Look at the Birds: Provision Begins with Relationship In Matthew 6:26, Jesus directs our attention upward: “Look at the birds of the air…your heavenly Father feeds them.” Birds don't build financial models or stockpile reserves. Yet God sustains them. Jesus' point isn't irresponsibility—it's relationship. Behind every plan, paycheck, and effort stands a God who sees, knows, and provides. Throughout Scripture, this truth repeats like a steady drumbeat: Abraham climbs Mount Moriah in obedience, and God provides a ram (Genesis 22:13–14). The widow of Zarephath runs out of resources, and God sustains her jar of flour and jug of oil (1 Kings 17:14–16). Peter wonders how to pay the temple tax, and Jesus provides the exact coin in a fish's mouth (Matthew 17:27). From Genesis to Revelation, God's provision is precise, purposeful, and personal. Every Need, Not Every Wish Paul echoes this promise in Philippians 4:19: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Notice what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't promise every want, preference, or wish list. He promises to meet every need. And that supply doesn't flow from our economy, our income, or our investments—it flows from God's riches. Provision is not sourced in us. It's sourced in Him. Jesus Is Our Provision The truth goes even deeper. Jesus doesn't just provide—He is our provision. In John 6:35, He says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.” Peace, then, is not found in financial comfort or problem-free living. It's found in the presence of Christ. When we forget this, we drift into two familiar traps: Fear: What if there isn't enough? Self-reliance: I'll make sure there's enough. Both pull us away from trust. The Source Behind Everything We Have Scripture reminds us that God provides not only resources but the ability to obtain them. Moses tells Israel, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Our skills, opportunities, work ethic, and even our capacity to earn—all come from Him. When that truth settles in, something shifts. Financial security stops being something we manufacture and becomes something we receive. Trusting God as provider doesn't lead to inactivity. It frees us to work, plan, save, and give with joy. Our efforts become acts of stewardship rather than self-provision. Money becomes a place of spiritual formation rather than fear. That's why Jesus teaches us to pray for “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Not because God lacks resources—but because our hearts need daily dependence. Daily bread cultivates daily trust. Where Are You Looking for Provision? Take a moment to ask: Am I looking to my paycheck for security? My savings? My plans for the future? Or the hand of a Father who feeds the birds and calls me His child? Whether you're in a season of abundance or a season of need, Jesus doesn't just promise provision—He gives Himself. And He invites you to trust Him day by day. When we trade fear for faith, striving for surrender, and self-reliance for dependence, we discover the deep joy of resting in a Father who sees and provides. Go Deeper: A Daily Journey of Trust This is the journey explored in Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Devotional to Faithful Stewardship. It's an invitation to trust God as Provider, Owner, and Treasure in every financial decision. You can pick up a copy—or place a bulk order for your church or small group—at FaithFi.com/Shop. And if you're using the FaithFi app, you'll find excerpts woven into the first 21 daily Rhythms, helping you connect your financial decisions with your spiritual life each day. Start today by establishing a new rhythm—seeing your money not as your security, but as an opportunity to trust the God who provides. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I'm 65 and plan to work for another 5 to 6 years. I have $65,000 in a Roth IRA that hasn't been invested. I've heard suggestions ranging from corporate bonds and CDs to an ETF. How should I think about investing this money? I'm 60, with a $700,000 pension lump sum, and am considering a buffered-income variable annuity for a few years before taking withdrawals. Is that a wise move? My husband and I are pastors with small 401(k)s. We're curious about crypto—can we move funds directly from a 401(k) to invest in it, and is that advisable? When financing a car, is it better for a married couple to put the loan in one spouse's name or both—and does that change later in life? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship List of Faith-Based Investment Fund Families IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Fidelity® Wise Origin® Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.