Miracle in the Upper Room
Northwest Bible Church – June 25, 2006 – Worship Service – 1&2 Kings Series – Alan Conner
1 Kings 17:17-24
Miracle in the Upper Room
Intro
- Why is the widow’s family afflicted (v. 17)?
1) Theology 101 class continues.
2) God’s people are not sheltered from trials.
- a) God’s gracious provision of food for her family.
- b) The widow is now a believer.
- c) She is caring for the prophet of God.
But then out of the blue, tragedy strikes a cruel blow upon the widow.
3) The glory of God is the end of every trial. Cf. Jn. 9:3; 11:4.
- The widow’s response to the death of her son (v. 18).
1) Being a young believer, her faith is small and immature.
2) She vents her grief against the prophet.
- Elijah’s response to the widow (vv. 19-23).
1) “Give me your son” (v. 19).
2) Elijah’s first prayer (v. 20).
3) Elijah’s strange actions (v. 21).
4) Elijah’s second prayer (v. 21).
5) God answers Elijah’s prayer (vv. 22-23).
- The growth of the widow’s faith. (v. 24)
1) How did the widow do on her test? Did she pass or fail? Cf. Heb. 11:25 -
“Women received back their dead by resurrection.” “
2) Her renewed faith in God and His prophet (v. 24).
- Lessons learned from the upper room.
Lesson #1: Christians are not exempt from suffering, pain, and death.
Lesson #2: We should learn to hold our temporal blessings loosely.
Lesson #3: God is sovereign over life and death. Ps. 139:16.
Lesson #4: Trials for a believer are not necessarily a sign that God is displeased with us (sin, cf. widow).
Lesson #5: Our God is a prayer hearing God and nothing is too difficult for Him. He delights in using the prayers of the saints to accomplish His will.
Eph. 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think
1John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Conclusion