1. All Tied Up In “Nots” I Kings 17:8-16 05/07/2006 Dr. Dane Boyles

2. All Tied Up In “Nots”
We find the word “not” used three different ways in our passage this today:
“Have Not”,
“Fear Not”,
“Waste Not”.

3. All Tied Up In “Nots” Background Information The Drought in Israel.
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word. (1 Kings 17:1)

4. All Tied Up In “Nots”
But notice the provision for Elijah, the prophet of God.
2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah:
3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.
4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.” (1 Kings 17:2-4)

5. All Tied Up In “Nots”
5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. (1 Kings 17:5-6)

6. All Tied Up In “Nots” 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him:
9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” (1 Kings 17:8-9)
The Widow Thought She Was Going to Die.

7. All Tied Up In “Nots” Consider the “Not’s” of this passage.
“Have Not.”
10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. (1 Kings 17:10)

8. All Tied Up In “Nots”
9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” (1 Kings 17:8-9)
10 “Would you bring me a little water so that I may have a drink?” (1 Kings 17:10)
11 “Bring me a piece of bread” (1 Kings 17:11)

9. All Tied Up In “Nots”
12 “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” (1 Kings 17:12)

10. All Tied Up In “Nots”
Focus on what you don’t have and depression will follow.
“Fear Not.”
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. (1 Kings 17:13)

11. All Tied Up In “Nots”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” (Gen 3:10)

12. All Tied Up In “Nots” So many kinds of fears may beset us.
Fears about our families
Fears about health
Fears about money
Fears about the future

13. All Tied Up In “Nots” Look at Elijah’s advice to the worried widow.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mat 6:33)
In giving God priority, we can overcome our fears.

14. All Tied Up In “Nots” “Waste Not.”
14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’” (1 Kings 17:14)

15. All Tied Up In “Nots”
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:15-16)

16. All Tied Up In “Nots”
Things turned out better than the widow expected.
We have all feared things that didn’t happen.
The widow put God’s will first and He provided for her.

17. All Tied Up In “Nots” Lessons to be Learned:
We are to believe God’s promises regardless of the circumstances.
12 “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” (1 Kings 17:12)

18. All Tied Up In “Nots”
God’s promises are intended to remove fear from our lives.
13 Elijah said to her, “Don”t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. (1 Kings 17:13)

19. All Tied Up In “Nots”
Believing God’s promises may seem to involve some personal risk.
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. (1 Kings 17:15)

20. All Tied Up In “Nots”
When we live by faith in His promises, God will always supply.
16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah. (1 Kings17:16)

21. All Tied Up In “Nots” Are we trusting His promises today?
Are we trusting Him today or are we tied up in “not’s”?
Are fears robbing us of the joy of living?
We need to trade our fears for faith.
We need to give Christ first place in our lives.
His promises will not fail.

22. All Tied Up In “Nots” I Kings 17:8-16 05/07/2006 Dr. Dane Boyles