c 2008 Staley Memorial Baptist Church

PASTOR- REV. BENNIE SMITH

Hello

This is Pastor Bennie Smith

I have recently started a series about the Prophet Elijah at church called on the road with Elijah.

This week I want to talk about Elijah’s travels to Cherith.

I Kings 17 verses 1 through 7 in the Bible tells us Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told the King Ahab, that surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God that I serve,there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

Then the Lord said to Elijah,  “Go to the east and hide by Cherith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”

 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.  The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.  But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.

In this scripture we can see the method that God spoke to Elijah. God spoke with clarity.

We know when God speaks to us because it never contradicts the Bible. We should base our walk with God by what the Bible has to say, not by our experiences. The Holy Spirit would never give you an experience that is contrary to the Word of God.

Elijah was obedient to God and went and told King Ahab some bad news.

That there would be no dew or rain for the next few years until Elijah gave the word.Even though the whole land had difficult days ahead; God would take care of Elijah.

God sent Elijah eastward to hide by the Brook Cherith because King Ahab was mad and blamed Elijah for bringing the bad news.

Elijah was devoted to God and did according unto the Word of God.

We do not always understand what God desires of us, but when we are obedient we don‘t have to understandwhat God is doing in our life only trust Him because He knows what is best for us.

While Elijah was at the Brook of Cherith God divinely provided for him in an unusual way. He sent ravens to feed him and he drank from the brook which usually was dried up during that time of year.

God not only provided divine provisions for Elijah, He provided for him daily in the morning and in the evening.

We can learn from Elijah how God will provide for us wheter it be by a brook (private) or in a city (public).

To have the faith we need to know that God will provide for us we must:

COME TO JESUS!

He invites YOU to love Him.

He urges YOU to love Him.

But in the end the choice is YOURS.

CHOOSE HIM TODAY!

(If you want to ask Jesus into your heart; click The Way on the left of this page to learn what the Bible tells us and then click the Sinner’s Prayer at the bottom left of this page and use the prayer to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and invite Him into your heart. You will never regret it!

Until next time,

Pastor Bennie Smith

1446 North Graham-Hopedale Rd., Burlington, NC 27217