Hitting the discomfort zone
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: The text from First Kings, chapter 17, verses 8 to 16, represents the spiritual emblem and theme of giving to God extraordinarily in times of scarcity to be extraordinarily blessed. The text shows Elijah fleeing from a king who wants to kill him and God providing for him through a complicated and zigzagging process. The primordial law of good stewardship is that the Lord must always be given first, and then everything else will come in addition. Giving to God must be done with a position of trust that God will provide for us in all situations, and so we can give to God with joy. The miracles of God's provision are not only for the anointed, but for every person who believes. God wants to show his people that he is their provider.
God chose to provide for Elijah through a poor widow in Sarepta to show that miracles of provision are not only for leaders, but for every believer. He also implemented the principles of faith and dependence on Him through the Year of Jubilee, where the land was left untreated every 7 years and debts were forgiven every 50 years. Giving to the Lord is a matter of discipline and legal transaction, and failure to tithe can result in spiritual debts and blockages. God may choose to work through unlikely sources, like the poor widow, to bring blessings and revival to communities.
In the story of Elijah and the widow of Sarepta, God tests the woman's faith by asking her to give him her last bit of food. This is a lesson that God often asks us to give in the zone of discomfort, where it hurts and requires sacrifice. It is in this uncomfortable zone that we are truly blessed and glorify God with our giving. Sometimes, God asks us to give irresponsibly or scandalously, but it is in these moments that he can do something extraordinary. We should not oppose logic when giving to the Lord, but instead trust in his provision and faithfulness. Giving generously and sacrificially releases God's blessings and glorifies him greatly.
The sermon discusses the importance of giving generously to God, even in the face of discomfort or financial struggle. The speaker emphasizes the biblical principle of giving to God first, recognizing his generosity and acknowledging one's blessings. The result of taking risks to give to God is a blessing beyond one's expectations, strengthening one's faith. The speaker encourages the congregation to break free from a mentality of lack and believe in God's provision.
The act of giving generously to God, even when it is uncomfortable or beyond our means, will result in blessings beyond our expectations and strengthen our faith.
God chose to provide for Elijah through a poor widow in Sarepta to show that miracles of provision are not only for leaders, but for every believer. He also implemented the principles of faith and dependence on Him through the Year of Jubilee, where the land was left untreated every 7 years and debts were forgiven every 50 years. Giving to the Lord is a matter of discipline and legal transaction, and failure to tithe can result in spiritual debts and blockages. God may choose to work through unlikely sources, like the poor widow, to bring blessings and revival to communities.
In the story of Elijah and the widow of Sarepta, God tests the woman's faith by asking her to give him her last bit of food. This is a lesson that God often asks us to give in the zone of discomfort, where it hurts and requires sacrifice. It is in this uncomfortable zone that we are truly blessed and glorify God with our giving. Sometimes, God asks us to give irresponsibly or scandalously, but it is in these moments that he can do something extraordinary. We should not oppose logic when giving to the Lord, but instead trust in his provision and faithfulness. Giving generously and sacrificially releases God's blessings and glorifies him greatly.
The sermon discusses the importance of giving generously to God, even in the face of discomfort or financial struggle. The speaker emphasizes the biblical principle of giving to God first, recognizing his generosity and acknowledging one's blessings. The result of taking risks to give to God is a blessing beyond one's expectations, strengthening one's faith. The speaker encourages the congregation to break free from a mentality of lack and believe in God's provision.
The act of giving generously to God, even when it is uncomfortable or beyond our means, will result in blessings beyond our expectations and strengthen our faith.
I want to start with a text from First Kings, chapter 17, verses from 8 to 16. And you know why, because I feel that this text, and this episode in the life of the prophet Elijah, represents the emblem itself, the theme itself spiritually speaking, the anointing, the energy, the purpose of God in which this time that we are living is unfolding. It is under this sign, under this spiritual sign that we are undertaking what we are undertaking, and I think you will see that quickly. And that is why I have chosen it, because I want… remember that what we are experiencing is simply an exercise for something much broader that God wants to do in your life.
The temple is ultimately even secondary and tertiary compared to the greater issue that God wants to unravel within you. And that is why I want this text to serve as the banner, to serve as the theme of giving to God extraordinarily in times of scarcity to be extraordinarily blessed. Give to God extraordinarily in times of scarcity to be extraordinarily blessed. 17, 8 says, “then came to Him, to Elijah, the word of Jehovah, saying: Arise, go to Sarepta of Sidon and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded there a widow woman to support you. So he got up and went to Sarepta. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow woman was there gathering firewood, and he called her and said to her: Please bring me a little water in a glass that I may drink. And when she went to bring it to her…” and you see, she could do that part well, she had enough water, apparently.
The temple is ultimately even secondary and tertiary compared to the greater issue that God wants to unravel within you. And that is why I want this text to serve as the banner, to serve as the theme of giving to God extraordinarily in times of scarcity to be extraordinarily blessed. Give to God extraordinarily in times of scarcity to be extraordinarily blessed. 17, 8 says, “then came to Him, to Elijah, the word of Jehovah, saying: Arise, go to Sarepta of Sidon and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded there a widow woman to support you. So he got up and went to Sarepta. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow woman was there gathering firewood, and he called her and said to her: Please bring me a little water in a glass that I may drink. And when she went to bring it to her…” and you see, she could do that part well, she had enough water, apparently.
