How much is God asking for?

How do you measure your faith?

Faith is the capacity to trust God with everything you are, everything you have. 

Do you trust God with all your weight?  Are you leaning on God?

How much is God asking for?
 
The scripture lesson is from I Kings 17 wherein we find Elijah as a guest in the house of a woman who was destitute due to famine, who had virtually nothing.

We must remember that God will always provide.

 When Elijah initially asked for water, the woman immediately "was going to get it."
Basic Hope:  When you do the little things with a sense of hope.
The woman perhaps was thinking, This is a man of God.  Maybe something good will happen.  This is a hope more than trust.

When Elijah asked for a "piece of bread" She didn't know how, but she trusted that God would come through as Elijah promised.
Obedient Trust:  When you do the right things that require trust.
Her basic hope was turned to obedient trust. She fed not only Elijah, but herself and her family.

When her son ceased breathing (v.17) the woman no doubt thought, What do you have against me, God? (v.18)  Elijah responded, Give me your son.
Sacrificial Faith:  When you do the hard things that require strong faith.
How much have you surrendered to God?  Would you be able to give as much as the widow gave?

Have you surrendered your whole life to God?  Is there something you are holding back?

Pray and ask God to forgive you, and help you trust and surrender to his will.

When God takes something from you He always wants to give you something better.
 God wants your all, your hopes; your dreams; your ambitions; your cars; your home; your land; your spouse; your children, just so He can have you. 


"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." -- Romans 12:1,2 (ESV)
   

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning