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13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf 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 NIV

Fear Not Friday – Obedience Dispels Fear

BUT FIRST

This is a great story of provision in the Bible.  First, the famine dries up the brook where Elijah has been hanging out.  Then he goes to this town and asks a widow for water and food. She is down to the last of her supplies and she receives a request to give it to this stranger?

He tells her to serve him first and God says her supply will be supernaturally replenished throughout the famine. She does as he says and God is faithful to complete His part.

Now let’s focus for a moment on the “But First” part of the equation for “Be not afraid or Fear not!” 

  • Obedience or lack of obedience are factors in “fearing Not”
    • She had no outward signs of God’s provision UNTIL she followed through in obedience
      • Question – Are there any clear words from God that you have hesitated in following through in obedience?
      • This is not about sinning, but rather failing to act in faith to the words God has spoken. Has God told you to give, go, do something, make things right?  Follow through
    • Obedience requires faith in a received word from God
      • She was not just hoping things would work out…she was doing what Elijah had asked
    • Obedience brings a reward with it.  She had enough to feed Elijah AND her family
  • Obedience in the natural opens the door to the supernatural
    • Go home and do as you have said.  She was doing regular house work, when God broke into her world.
    • Serving others with the right heart attitude opens the door to God’s kingdom invading yours.
  • You don’t have to understand everything to follow the next step of obedience
    • Her full revelation of God’s purposes came after her son had been raised from the dead….now i know
  • Fear’s shouting quiets itself in the presence of obedience
    • Just because you have anxious thoughts, don’t stop following through with what God has shown you.
    • Great joy grows as you carry out your assignment
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On the Fear Not Friday, enjoy your acts of obedience to dispel fear.  May God help you overcome your paralysis of moving forward on the clear words He has spoken to you.  God’s provision is sufficient and on time.

Blessings Love y’all