1 Kings 17:1-16 on November 3rd, 2024
Above is audio of the sermon pulled from the video and amplified.
Below is transcript pulled from the video and formatted by artificial intelligence. There may be inconsistencies or errors.
Sometimes God comes through in the most unlikely of places, through the most unlikely of people, and then the most unlikely of ways. It's easy to say that. It's hard to trust it. And that is the theme of today and today's scripture passage about Elijah.
God will work even when things are at their worst. Elijah had a couple instances of that just in these verses. First, God commands Elijah to go east of the Jordan River to hide out for a while. Elijah was saying some pretty harsh things to the powers that be. He needed to lay low for a bit. But to head out to the middle of nowhere, no people, no bed, no cell service, trust God. Easy to say, hard to do.
God promises to provide food from Ravens and water from a brook. God provides in the most unlikely ways. But eventually the brook dries up because of drought. It was probably less easy for Elijah to trust God at this point. All the provisions are evaporating. So God tells Elijah to go to Zeraphath where a woman will feed him. God comes through again. Except when Elijah shows up, the woman is about to use her remaining resources to make one final meal for her and her son. How is this woman going to provide food for all three of them? Trust God. Easy to say, hard to do.
God promises that the flower and the oil will not run out before God sends rain to end of the drought. And it's so. God's promise was fulfilled to the letter exactly as Elijah said. They all had daily food and enough to eat. This is our reminder that God comes through. Even when it seems like God didn't or doesn't or won't. We trust that God will and does work even when things seem the worst. The brook runs out of water. Yet God comes through. The woman runs out of flower and oil. Yet God comes through.
The story shows that God provides. So here I am saying to you to trust that God will keep coming through in the most unlikely of places, through the most unlikely of people and in the most unlikely ways. It's easy to say it. It's hard to trust it. And it's hard to trust because we see lots of examples where it seems like God isn't coming through where there isn't protection. There are wars and shootings and accidents where there isn't provision. There is hunger and greed and scarcity mindsets where there isn't unity, contentious elections and falsehoods and fear of the other, where there isn't relationship. There is death and there is grief and there are funerals.
And despite all the heaviness in our lives, despite all the reasons that the world gives us a question, do we still say God comes through? God will provide. God will not leave us or forsake us. It might be easy to say it. It is so hard to trust it.
Today is a day where we proclaim the audacity that God does indeed come through despite everything. Today is all Saints Sunday. When we remember and we celebrate the whole baptized people of God who are the body of Christ. We remember the saints who have died in Christ, especially those dear to us and those who have passed on in the last year. Today is not marking a Christian hall of fame of sorts. Rather, all Saints Sunday is about remembering that we are all made holy, not through our own achievements, but by the free grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And with that, we announce the good news that Jesus Christ has passed from death to life and because he lives, we too shall live a new life.
Not the Lord's table, we gather with a faithful of every time and every place trusting in the promises of God and that they will one day be fulfilled and every tear shall be wiped away. Today we proclaim God comes through. When the water ran out, God provided. When the flower ran out, God provided. When our life runs out, God still provides. This is the day that we remember God's promises, promises to provide, promises to come through for us and promises to be with us in all things. And while every Sunday is a day that we remember that, but today, especially, we focus on that promise that in it and through it all, God comes through.
When our earthly life runs out, God comes through. It's true. It is true even when it is hard to trust it, even if it's hard to say it out loud. And it's true because it's not up to us. If it were all on our shoulders, we'd dry up fall off and run out like the brook, like the flower, like our life. The thanks be to God that everything is in God's hands, not our own. And God always comes through. God provides what we need, ultimately in, through and despite everything. God takes care of us. God provides for us. God keeps us safe. God brings us together and God gives life.
God comes through in the most unlikely of places, through the most unlikely of people and in the most unlikely of ways. It's easy to say it. And yet by God's grace, we will grow and trusting it. Because today isn't just about remembering those who have died. It's about all the saints of God. And that includes those around you right now and it includes you and me. God works in the most unlikely of places, people and ways. And that includes us. Because we don't become a saint upon our death. God has made us saints for now to provide for those in need, to keep others safe, to bring unity, to point to the life that God gives. We are God's hands and feet. And we are the saints of God.
Because on our very best of days, we trust God's promises. And we work to take care of others, reminding them of who they are in Christ, reminding them of who has us, who truly cares for us and who ultimately is the Savior of the world. God gives us opportunity and blessing in the Holy Spirit. God provides for us. God provides for that we can work to come through for others to live out the good news of Christ and to help others trust that even in unlikely places, people and ways God is present. God is here and God is bringing life.
And yeah, it is sometimes still so hard to trust. And how can we trust the God who chooses people like you and me? And yet, and yet God keeps proving faithful through each of us, unlikely people, though we may be. God reminds us, shapes us, feeds us, forgives us, provides for us. Also, that we grow in that trust. And even when it's hard, we see how God has come through in the lives of those who've gone before us, how God is at work in those around us and how by God's grace, God is coming through in us too.
And every time and every place, God is present, giving us life and drawing us all into the fullness of God's promise. God comes through in unlikely places, unlikely ways, and unlikely people. And thanks be to God. That includes me and you. Amen.