Message Recap - When the Brook Runs Dry

Yesterday's message was an insightful one as it looked at a man named Elijah.

1 Kings 17:1 -7 gave us an insight on the kind of preparation that God will put his servants through to train them for greater things.

The first impression of Elijah in the text is that he was a man who served God and God alone. His proclamation of his living God and the coming drought to an evil King showed just what type of moxie Elijah really had. Upon announcing the news of things to come, Elijah was then led, by God, to a ravine in Kerith - just off the Jordan.

Here at the ravine he was fed by ravens and the nearby brook. Everything was going well until the brook eventually ran dry (v7).

The question came up - What do we do when the brook runs dry? Do we blame God for taking away what he has given us? Do we look for alternate ways to fulfill our needs, using our own strengths?

God told Elijah to go and stay at the Kerith Ravine, and he did. God said he would provide for him a brook for water and ravens to bring food, and He did. Then God took the water away.

I've learned from Pastor Chuck Swindoll of the 4 areas of resistance that hinder a man or woman from living a godly life. Here they are:

1. Pride
2. Fear
3. Resentment
4. Habit

In order for us to truly serve God the way He wants us to, we must first release these areas of resistance. God helps by providing training. He breaks through our pride by removing us from the limelight. By taking us away from the center stage, we have no reason to be proud. He tackles our fear with removal of status. If we are afraid to lose something, He will take it. Then comes resentment. Our training there would be the removal of rights. God shows us that nothing is truly ours. Everything comes from Him. He provides all that we need. The hardest area of resistance - habit. We are creatures of habit. Having a routine helps us cope with the unknown - but it also hinders growth in the Lord. He helps us change by renewing the inner man.

There isn't a man who is used by God greatly who first wasn't hurt deeply. There will come a time when our brook will run dry. God isn't punishing us, he hasn't forgetten us, rather, he has taken us under His wing and is training us for His work.

Where are you in your Christian walk? Are you feeling the deep hurt of a dried up brook? Rejoice, for God is closer to you now more than ever. He is preparing you for some great work.

Message Recap - Give Thanks

Well, it was Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and millions of people are taking the time to give thanks for the many blessings they received in the past year.

This week's message recap is found in Psalms 107. The very heart of the message is in the very first line:

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

There are so many things that we should be thankful for. Nothing says it better than the psalmist when he says, "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!". But to add on, "For His mercy endures forever" as an additional reason to give thanks for is just icing on the cake.

A God who's mercy never ends is something we all can be thankful for. When we're down and out, he's there. When we are at our highest moments, he's there.

So, what have you given thanks for this year?