The Days of Elijah

1. The Days of Elijah

2. Introduction
• Two of the greatest PROMISES in GOD’S Holy
WORD concern His PROVISION and
PROTECTION. God PROTECTS and PROVIDES
for His people. But there is a condition: we must
TRUST and OBEY GOD’S WORD. If we SEEK the
LORD and BELIEVE and OBEY His WORD, He
will SUPPLY our every NEED. “But seek ye first
the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew
6:33). “But my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ JESUS”
(Philippians 4:19). If we SEEK the LORD and His
righteousness first, He PROMISES to provide our
NEEDS- food, clothing, and shelter.

3. Introduction
• He also PROMISES to PROTECT us through all
the TRIALS and DIFFICULTIES of LIFE, through
all the hardships and misfortunes, the temptations
and seductions. Note that His PROTECTION is
not from the hardships or trials but through them.
As His children, we have an assurance, GOD- our
Father- will be WITH US every step of the way
(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). He will hold our
hands, hold us up, and carry us through every
circumstance; as well as, He will supply our every
need. This is the CLEAR PROMISE of GOD’S
Holy WORD. “And God is able to make all grace
(charis- supplies, provision) abound toward you;
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians
9:8).

5. The Miracle of Flour and Oil
• In the DAYS of ELIJAH, he had to LEARN and
DISCOVER the PROVISION and protection of
the LORD God. The PROPHET had to GROW in
FAITH and the KNOWLEDGE of the LORD and
His Kingdom. We must learn that the LORD is
our “DAILY BREAD” (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3;
Exodus 16). This LESSON ELIJAH learned, he
was FED by: (1) The RAVENS (30-fold) (1 Kings
17:6); (2) The WOMAN (60-fold) (1 Kings 17:9);
and (3) The ANGEL (100-fold) (1 Kings 19:5-6).
When we get COMFORTABLE with our own
PRIVATE BROOK (revelation of the SPIRIT and
WORD in a time of DROUGHT), it will DRY UP.

6. The Miracle of Flour and Oil
• God’s PROVISION was not only SUPPLIED in
the WILDERNESS but also in the CITY through
the WIDOW (1 Kings 17:7-16). Eventually the
BROOK DRIED UP, and the LORD instructed
ELIJAH to go and stay in the CITY of
ZAREPHATH (refinery, a place for smelting
metals). This was a Phoenician coastal city
situated between the cities of TYRE and SIDON,
just NINE MILES south of JEZEBEL’S home turf.
It was an INCONVENIENCE to move from the
EAST to the NORTH, from one end of the land to
another. There he would MEET a WIDOW whom
the LORD had already instructed to SUPPLY
FOOD for him (vv. 8-9).

7. The Miracle of Flour and Oil
• Immediately, ELIJAH OBEYED the LORD and made
the trip (1 Kings 17:10). When he entered the CITY
GATE, he saw a WIDOW GATHERING STICKS.
ELIJAH decided to TEST the WOMAN to see if she
was the WIDOW APPOINTED by GOD. He asked
her for a DRINK of WATER and, as she was going
to get the water, he called out and asked her to
please bring him a PIECE of BREAD as well (vv. 10-
11). Turning back toward ELIJAH, the WIDOW
responded by sharing her desperate situation: she
was POVERTY-STRICKEN, having NO FOOD,
whatsoever, only a LITTLE FLOUR and OIL. In fact,
she had been GATHERING the STICKS to COOK
her LAST meager MEAL, expecting to STARVE to
DEATH along with HER SON after they had EATEN
this final meal.

8. The Miracle of Flour and Oil
• Hearing the desperate PLIGHT of the WIDOW,
ELIJAH challenged her to TRUST the LORD for His
PROVISION (1 Kings 17:13-14). He told her to GO
HOME and BAKE the BREAD, but to GIVE him the
FIRST part. She could THEN MAKE BREAD for
herself and her son, for the LORD would
REPLENISH the FLOUR and OIL miraculously. He
would PROVIDE for ALL THREE of them until the
DAY that it RAINED (v. 14). Note this was a
PROMISE based on the authority of GOD’S WORD,
for ELIJAH declared that this is what the LORD
Himself had PROMISED. This became a TEST of
FAITH for the WIDOW. This also became a TEST of
AUTHENTICITY of the PROPHET- Elijah.

9. The Miracle of Flour and Oil
• The WIDOW believed and OBEYED the
PROPHET of GOD, doing exactly what
ELIJAH had instructed her to do (v. 15). Note
BELIEVING and OBEYING the PROPHET is
EQUATED to BELIEVING and OBEYING the
LORD and His WORD (2 Chronicles 20:20).
And the result was astounding: the LORD
miraculously PROVIDED FOOD every day for
the woman and her family and, of course, for
ELIJAH the prophet (1 Kings 17:16). The
FLOUR and OIL never ran dry, just as the
LORD had PROMISED through His faithful
prophet (v. 16).

11. The Miracle of the Resurrection
• Sometime later, the exact time is not given,
TRAGEDY befell the HOSTESS of ELIJAH (1
Kings 17:17-24). The WOMAN who OWNED
the HOUSE was the WIDOW. Her SON
became SICK and eventually DIED (vv. 17-
18,20,22-23). It seems the WIDOW had a
GUILTY CONSCIENCE, immediately
concluding that GOD was PUNISHING her for
her SIN by KILLING her SON (v. 18). What
sin she was referring to is not stated. Once
again, this became a TEST of the woman’s
FAITH. And once again, it was a TEST of
AUTHENTICITY for the PROPHET- Elijah.

12. The Miracle of the Resurrection
• Sensing guilt, the WIDOW accused ELIJAH
of causing the DEATH of her SON. She felt
that she was being JUDGED because of
some SIN in her LIFE and that the
PRESENCE of the PROPHET had
EXPOSED her SIN. In response to the
widow’s accusations, ELIJAH simply TOOK
her SON in his ARMS and CARRIED him UP
to his own room, laying him on the bed (1
Kings 17:19). Many HOMES in PALESTINE
at that time had GUEST ROOMS built on their
ROOFS. It was referred to as an UPPER
ROOM, guest room.

13. The Miracle of the Resurrection
•ELIJAH stayed in the UPPER ROOM.
Glory! Note ELIJAH’S first recorded
PRAYER in the UPPER ROOM (v. 20)
simply expressed his COMPASSION
and CONCERN for the WIDOWED
WOMAN who, in addition to the TRIALS
of FAMINE, now also had to bear the
TRAGEDY of her SON’S DEATH.
Implicit in the PRAYER was the DESIRE
that GOD RELIEVE her of this added
BURDEN.

14. The Miracle of the Resurrection
• After crying out and expressing his puzzlement,
ELIJAH stretched himself over the boy THREE
times. He cried out in PRAYER each time, asking
GOD to let the BOY’S LIFE RETURN to him again
(1 Kings 17:21). Note PERSISTENCE in PRAYER is
FUNDAMENTAL to obtaining one’s petitions
(Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:1-13; 18:1-8). Immediately,
ELIJAH witnessed the astounding POWER of the
LORD (1 Kings 17:22). The LORD God miraculously
RESTORED the BOY’S LIFE (v. 22). This is the
FIRST RECORDED instance in Scripture of a
RESURRECTION to LIFE. Picking up the child,
because he was weak, ELIJAH carried him to his
MOTHER with the wonderful, amazing news: “Your
son lives” (v. 23).

15. The Miracle of the Resurrection
• Taking the child into her arms, no doubt weeping,
the WIDOW made a CONFESSION of FAITH
declaring THREE proven TRUTHS: (1) the LORD
God is the AUTHOR of LIFE, (2) ELIJAH was truly a
MAN of GOD, and (3) The WORD of the LORD is
TRUE. This miracle solidified the AUTHENTICITY of
the PROPHET- Elijah. He was CONFIRMED as a
MAN of GOD (v. 24). It was also CONFIRMED that
the TRUE WORD of the LORD was “IN” his MOUTH
(v. 24). Note THREE TIMES the WORD of the
LORD was TESTED in his MOUTH: (1) TESTED to
CREATE FAMINE- no rain; (2) TESTED to
RESIDUAL SURPLUS- flour and oil; and (3)
TESTED to RESTORE LIFE- raising the widow’s
son.

16. The Miracle of the Resurrection
• There are eight recorded resurrections throughout Scripture:
1. The resurrection of the son of the widow who lived in
Zarephath (1 Kings 17:22).
2. The resurrection of the son of the Shunammite woman
(2 Kings 4:35).
3. The resurrection of the dead man who touched Elisha’s
bones (2 Kings 13:21).
4. The resurrection of the daughter of Jairus (Matthew
9:25; Mark 5:42).
5. The resurrection of the son of the widow of Nain (Luke
7:15).
6. The resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:44).
7. The resurrection of believers at the time of the LORD’S
crucifixion (Matthew 27:52).
8. The resurrection of the widow named Dorcas (Acts
9:40).

18. The Revelation of the Flour and Oil
• As the MIRACLES of JESUS are FILLED with
KINGDOM PRINCIPLES and REVELATION, so are
the MIRACLES of ELIJAH. As a matter of fact, the
MIRACLES of ELIJAH reveal GOD’S PROVISION,
PROTECTION, and POWER unto the NEW
TESTAMENT CHURCH. For instance, the MIRACLE
of the RESIDUAL SURPLUS of the WIDOW’S
FLOUR and OIL demonstrates GOD’S
RESTORATION and PROVISION. The “FLOUR”
represents the WORD of the LORD in SEED FORM.
The “OIL” denotes the PRESSED SPIRIT of the
LORD. The word “WIDOW” (’almana) means
“DEFICIENCY, a woman with a deceased husband;
metaphorically, a CITY STRIPPED of its
INHABITANTS and RICHES”.

19. The Revelation of the Flour and Oil
• Symbolically, the CHURCH is seen as a
WOMAN and the BRIDE-CITY. The term
“WIDOW” describes how the WORLD has
VIEWED the CHURCH- without Husband
JESUS, barely surviving (Isaiah 54:5-10).
“She said, ‘As surely as your GOD lives, I
don’t have so much as a biscuit…’” (1
Kings 17:12, The Message). It also shows
the PRESENT CONDITION of the
CHURCH without HUSBAND and
FATHER ministry (seed-carriers).

20. The Revelation of the Flour and Oil
•In the LAST DAYS, the LORD declared,
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the
prophet before the great and awesome
day of the LORD comes. And he will turn
the hearts of fathers to their children and
the hearts of children to their fathers, lest
I come and strike the land with a decree
of utter destruction” (Malachi 4:5-6). This
means LORD will HEAL the PRESENT
CONDITION of the CHURCH restoring
the SEED-CARRIER MINISTRY of the
husband-father.

21. The Revelation of the Flour and Oil
• The LORD God sent ELIJAH to ZAREPHATH,
the place of REFINING and SMELTING,
BEFORE he met Ahab again. The PROPHET
needed to TESTED and PERFECTED before he
could call FIRE down from HEAVEN. So ELIJAH
was SENT (apostolic ministry) to ZAREPHATH to
OPERATE the WORD that he ATE at the Brook
Cherish. He had been CHANGED that he might
bring CHANGE to someone else whose WORD
and SPIRIT were scarce. The LORD God is
commissioning an ELIJAH MINISTRY to the
CHURCH to bring the RESTORATION of
FINANCES and the HOME LIFE.

22. The Revelation of the Flour and Oil
• To the world, the WOMAN (the CHURCH)
and her SON (the KINGDOM realm) are
but TWO STICKS (the balance of BOTH
Brideship and Sonship) (1 Kings 17:10,12;
Ezekiel 37:15-28). Note the prophet’s
INSTRUCTION was: “Do what you can’t
do!”, “Give what you can’t give!” Remember
ALL she had was a SEED. But in the
FULLY FERTILE, EVER-INCREASING
KINGDOM of GOD, you do NOT need a
LOAF when you have a SEED (Matthew
15:27; Mark 7:28). SOW the SEED!

23. The Revelation of the Flour and Oil
• “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap” (Galatians 6:7). Based upon the
PROMISED WORD of the LORD, the WIDOW
SOWED the FLOUR and the OIL into the
FULLY FERTILE, EVER-INCREASING
KINGDOM of GOD. The FLOUR and the OIL
were to REMAIN “Until the DAY” of the
LORD’S RAIN (Hosea 6:1-3; Joel 2:23;
Zechariah 10:1). This points to the THIRD of
the CHURCH of JESUS Christ and the
SEVENTH DAY of the LORD (they are the
same day) (Joel 2:23; James 5:7).

24. The Revelation of the Flour and Oil
• The “SAYING of ELIJAH” in verse 14 is the
“WORD of the LORD” in verses 15 and 16.
The WOMAN (the CHURCH) will receive the
“PROPHET’S REWARD” (Matthew 10:41-42)-
what the prophet SAYS! This is the FIRST
recorded MIRACLE of a SUPERNATURAL
and inexplicable MULTIPLICATION of FOOD
(1 Kings 17:15-16). Compare the MIRACLES
of JESUS regarding the multiplying of the
LOAVES and FISHES (Matthew 14:15-21;
15:32-38), and the continual supply of the
WINE at the wedding in Cana of Galilee (John
2:1-11).

26. The Revelation of the Resurrected Son
• The LORD God has the POWER to RAISE the
DEAD just as He has the POWER to CREATE
LIFE and the process or law by which every child
is born into the world. Whatever processes are
involved in the formation of a child from inception
to birth- the laws that create life- have been
established by God Himself. The RAISING of the
WIDOW’S SON is the FIRST RECORDED
MIRACLE of a RESURRECTION in the
Scriptures. Even more interesting, it occurred
during the DAYS of ELIJAH. This SEED took
ROOT in the PHYSICAL DAYS of ELIJAH and
bears FRUIT in the SPIRITUAL DAYS of ELIJAH.

27. The Revelation of the Resurrected Son
• Verses 17-18 picture what has happened to the
BIBLICAL TRUTHS concerning our SONSHIP
and MATURITY “IN CHRIST”, but the DAYS of
ELIJAH will REVIVE it! This vital reality was
pushed to the side because of tradition, but the
LORD God has begun to RESTORE this
UNDERSTANDING to His people (Joel 2:25).
Verse 18 reveals the typical OLD ORDER
(classical Pentecostal) reaction to adversity and
contrary winds (SIN-consciousness). She had
apparently committed some secret sin- it is
mostly in times of adversity that we quickly
consider our moral state.

28. The Revelation of the Resurrected Son
• The prophetic ELIJAH MINISTRY will
STRETCH the WOMAN (the CHURCH) to
BELIEVE GOD for ALL that He has
promised. Note the PROGRESSION of the
TESTING of the WIDOW and ELIJAH.
Note HER TEST was also HIS TEST.
o“FETCH me” the water in the vessel (v.
10).
o“BRING me” the morsel of bread (v. 11).
o“MAKE me” a little cake first (v. 13).
o“GIVE me” your dead son (v. 19).

29. The Revelation of the Resurrected Son
• The UPPER ROOM was a “LOFT” (something
elevated, roof-room, roof chamber). It signifies
an ASCENDED DWELLING PLACE. If he
DWELT (lived) in an ASCENDED PLACE, this
means he obtained an ASCENDED LIFE
(Philippians 3:12-14). Note he carried his
PROBLEM to the ASCENDED PLACE. He
carried DEATH up to the ASCENDED PLACE.
Many times we seek to keep problems and
death from our secret place. But ELIJAH,
along with Psalm 91, reveals that ASCENDED
PLACE is the PERFECT PLACE for
RESURRECTION and TRANSFORMATION.

30. The Revelation of the Resurrected Son
• Carry your BURDEN to the ASCENDED
PLACE to experience the POWER and
PRESENCE of the LORD God. Note
ELIJAH PRAYED and STRETCHED
HIMSELF (to measure by stretching a line;
extend oneself full-length) THREE times in
the ASCENDED PLACE. This THIRD
STRETCHING, the THREE-FOLD
MEASURE of ELIJAH’S TOUCH or
INFLUENCE, the “MEASURE of the stature
of the FULLNESS of Christ”, brought
RESURRECTION LIFE to the SON!

32. Conclusion
• In these LAST DAYS, the TRUE CHURCH will be
TESTED and RESTORED. Its apparent current
STATE WIDOWHOOD is due to its DETACHMENT
from her HUSBAND-JESUS. Nevertheless, the
LORD promised that He would RETURN and TAKE
AWAY her WIDOWHOOD (Isaiah 54:5-10). As a
matter of fact, He promised never again to PUT
HER AWAY. He gave an UNCONDITIONAL
PROMISE, like He gave in the DAYS of NOAH. The
LORD has PRESERVED the OIL and the WINE as
He promised in Revelation 6:6; He is also
RESTORING the GRAIN, WINE, and OIL (Joel
2:21-27). The LORD is SENDING the APPOINTED
RAINS. You shall EAT in PLENTY and BE
SATISFIED. The LORD is EVER-PRESENT GOD.
Let all the people PRAISE HIM!

33. The Days of Elijah