Participants: Pr. Walter Pearson
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000309
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00:01 Announcer: BREATH OF LIFE PRESENTS RELENTLESS PURSUIT WITH
00:08 PASTOR WALTER L. PEARSON, JR. 00:11 (theme music) WP: FIRST KINGS, CHAPTER 00:25 19 IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION. 00:29 I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED ALL WEEK LONG. 00:32 WHAT DO YOU SAY ? 00:33 I THINK I PROMISED YOU AT THE BEGINNING I'D 00:35 HAVE FUN ALL WEEK LONG. 00:37 I HAVE. 00:38 I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU. 00:41 I HOPE YOU'VE BEEN BLESSED, BUT WHENEVER I OPEN THIS BOOK, 00:46 SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME. 00:49 AND I COUNT IT A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY 00:52 TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. 00:54 FIRST KINGS, CHAPTER 19, AND I DIRECT YOUR 00:58 ATTENTION TO VERSE 7. 01:02 FIRST KINGS, CHAPTER 19, STARTING WITH VERSE 7, AND 01:04 HERE'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, "AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD 01:08 CAME AGAIN THE SECOND TIME AND TOUCHED HIM, AND SAID, 01:13 'ARISE AND EAT, BECAUSE THE JOURNEY IS TOO GREAT FOR THEE.' 01:20 AND HE AROSE AND DID EAT AND DRINK AND WENT IN THE 01:23 STRENGTH OF THAT MEAT 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS UNTO 01:27 HOREB THE MOUNT OF GOD. 01:31 AND HE CAME THITHER UNTO A CAVE AND LODGED THERE. 01:36 AND BEHOLD, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO HIM AND 01:38 SAID UNTO HIM, 'WHAT DOEST THOU HERE, ELIJAH ?'" 01:45 I BORROWED THE WORDS--WHAT DOEST THOU HERE ? 01:50 SHALL WE PRAY TOGETHER ? 01:52 FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE TRUTH 01:57 THAT IS IN THE WORD OF GOD. 01:59 OUR MINDS ARE BOMBARDED ALL DAY LONG EVERYDAY WITH THINGS 02:04 THAT ARE NOT TRUE, BUT WHEN WE OPEN THIS BOOK, WE ARE 02:09 ASSURED THAT THIS IS THE TRUTH. 02:12 WE ALSO HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT THE ONE THAT GUIDED IN THE 02:16 WRITING OF THE BOOK CAN BE WITH US AND GIVE US THE POWER 02:21 TO UNDERSTAND AND TO COMPREHEND. 02:24 BE WITH US TONIGHT. 02:26 GIVE US THAT POWER AND WE SHALL GIVE PRAISE, GLORY 02:30 AND HONOR TO THY NAME. 02:32 IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN. 02:36 THE BIBLE IS CLEAR. 02:37 THERE IS A TIME WHEN GOD DIRECTS, WHEN GOD TELLS 02:43 YOU WHERE TO GO, AND I HAVE DETERMINED BY EXPERIENCE 02:49 AND BY WHAT I'VE READ THAT IF GOD SAYS GO AND YOU DO 02:53 IT, YOU CAN BE CERTAIN THAT HE WILL BE WITH YOU. 02:58 THERE IS A WONDERFUL FEELING WHEN YOU KNOW 03:02 THAT GOD IS WITH YOU. 03:04 YOU REMEMBER THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE ON THAT TRIP; 03:07 I HAVE PREACHED ABOUT IT A FEW TIME, WHEN JESUS SAID GO 03:10 AND THE STORM AROSE, BUT SOMEBODY REMEMBERED THAT WHEN 03:16 JESUS GOES WITH YOU, YOU NEED NOT BE AFRAID OF STORMS. 03:22 IF THERE IS DIVINITY ON THE TRIP WITH YOU, YOU HAVE A 03:27 DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SECURITY. 03:31 WHEN YOU BEGIN TO READ ABOUT ELIJAH, PARTICULARLY AS WE 03:34 BEGIN IN VERSE 17 OF FIRST KINGS, HE IS NOT ANNOUNCED 03:40 AS MANY PROPHETS ARE. 03:42 THERE ARE PROPHETS WHO CAME WITH A LONG DESCRIPTION OF WHO 03:45 THEY WERE--THEIR FORBEARERS AND THEIR CREDENTIALS. 03:51 ELIJAH COMES WITH NOT A LOT OF FANFARE. 03:54 IN FACT, WHEN YOU FIND HIM AT THE BEGINNING OF CHAPTER 17, HE 03:59 IS DIRECTED TO GO TO THE PALACE OF KING AHAB AND QUEEN JEZEBEL. 04:07 FORGIVE ME IF WHEN I SAY THAT DOUBLE NAME, THAT THOSE PEOPLE 04:13 WHO BECAME A COUPLE, FORGIVE ME IF I TREMBLE A LITTLE BIT. 04:17 AHAB AND JEZEBEL. 04:20 BUT IF GOD TELLS YOU TO GO SEE THEM, YOU OUGHT TO GO SEE 04:23 THEM, BECAUSE A VISIT IN GOD'S NAME OUGHT BRING NO FEAR. 04:29 SO ELIJAH SHOWS UP UNINVITED. 04:32 I'M SURE THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE TO GREET HIM AT THE PALACE DOOR 04:35 AND TO ASK, "WHO ARE YOU ? 04:38 DO YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ? 04:40 YOU LOOK STRANGE. 04:41 YOU'RE DRESSED LIKE THE PROPHETS OF OLD. 04:44 WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE ?" 04:47 AND HE SKIPS PAST ALL THE NORMAL CHITCHAT AND GOES DIRECTLY TO 04:52 THE KING AND QUEEN AND SAYS, "THERE WILL BE NO RAIN UNTIL I 04:58 BRING YOU THE WORD FROM GOD. 05:00 THE HEAVENS WILL BE SEALED UP LIKE BRASS. 05:04 THERE WILL BE NOTHING TO WATER YOUR CROPS. 05:08 YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE A CHANGE THAT YOU CANNOT 05:11 EXPECT, AND I DECLARE IT TO YOU BY THE WORD OF GOD." 05:15 AND JUST AS QUICKLY AS HE CAME, HE WAS GONE. 05:18 THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME RESPONSE FROM AHAB. 05:22 THERE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A RESPONSE FROM JEZEBEL. 05:26 SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE STARTED BY GIVING A CRITIQUE ON HIS 05:30 WARDROBE, BUT BEFORE SHE COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT HE 05:33 WORE, HE WAS GONE. 05:35 AHAB PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ASKED, "IN WHOSE AUTHORITY 05:38 DO YOU COME ?" 05:39 BUT WHEN YOU COME IN THE POWER OF GOD YOU 05:42 DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN. 05:44 SO HE SAYS WHAT GOD SAYS FOR HIM TO SAY, AND THEN HE DISAPPEARS. 05:49 HE CAME IN THE POWER OF GOD; THERE WAS NO QUESTION 05:53 THAT HE HAD AUTHORITY. 05:54 HE GOT IN, HE GOT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE, HE DELIVERED THE 05:57 MESSAGE, AND HE WAS GONE. 05:59 IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT SERMON. 06:02 GET IN, SPEAK UP, GET OUT. 06:07 SO NOW HE'S GONE, AND I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT TO SAY THAT HE 06:13 CAME BECAUSE GOD DIRECTED HIM, AND EVERY TIME ELIJAH MOVES WHEN 06:19 GOD DIRECTS, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT GOD WILL BE WITH HIM. 06:23 IN FACT, WHEN THE AFFECTS OF THIS DROUGHT BEGAN TO SHOW 06:29 UP--ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS SAYS THAT WHEN ELIJAH WENT TO 06:34 THE PALACE TO TELL THE KING THERE WILL BE NO MORE RAIN, 06:39 IT TOOK A LOT OF FAITH, BECAUSE AS HE TRAVELED HE 06:43 PASSED BY WELL-WATERED PLACES. 06:47 HE PASSED BY LITTLE BODIES OF WATER THAT WERE POETIC 06:49 AS THEY TRAVELED. 06:51 HE PASSED BY TREES THAT WERE VERDANT AND SPREADING. 06:55 HE PASSED BY FLOWERS THAT GREW BY THEMSELVES. 06:59 HE PASSED BY PLACES THAT SAID EVERYTHING EXCEPT THERE 07:02 WILL BE NO MORE RAIN. 07:04 BUT MY FRIENDS IF GOD DECLARES SOMETHING, YOU DON'T NEED 07:09 EVIDENCE FROM NATURE. 07:11 GOD IS ABOVE NATURE; SO WHEN HE DECLARES IT, YOU 07:15 DON'T NEED EVIDENCE, JUST SAY WHAT GOD SAYS. 07:20 AFTER THAT HAPPENED, THEY BEGAN TO SEE IMMEDIATELY 07:25 WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED. 07:27 IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR NATURE TO RESPOND TO AN 07:32 IMBALANCE OF THIS SORT. 07:34 WHEN YOU GET TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A 07:39 LAWN--I PRAYED AND PRAYED AND PRAYED THAT I WOULD HAVE A LAWN. 07:45 YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE AMERICAN DREAMS--THAT YOU 07:49 WILL HAVE A HOUSE AND A LITTLE LAWN--NOT TOO MUCH. 07:54 YOU DON'T WANT TOO MUCH BECAUSE THEN YOU'VE GOT TO 07:56 GET A TRACTOR; YOU'VE GOT TO CALL IN HELP--BUT JUST ENOUGH. 08:00 AND WHEN I WAS FINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A LAWN, I BEGAN 08:04 TO DETERMINE SOMETHING--THAT IF RAIN IS NOT REGULAR, IF 08:10 THERE ISN'T SUPPORT FOR THE LAWN, YOU CAN SOON BECOME 08:15 THE NEIGHBOR THAT IS HATED. 08:20 PEOPLE PASS DOWN THE STREET AND THEY LOOK AT ALL THE 08:22 REST OF THE LAWNS--AND YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE QUITE 08:25 OSTENTATIOUS, NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL LAWN, 08:28 BUT THEY PUT LITTLE OBJECT D'ART OUT ON THE LAWN. 08:32 THEY MAKE IT SO PRETTY. 08:33 THEY'VE GOT THINGS THAT SPARKLE AND THINGS THAT LOOK 08:35 LIKE THEY WERE BOUGHT IN EUROPEAN PLACES, AND THERE YOU 08:40 ARE WITH A LAWN THAT'S BEGINNING TO TURN THE WRONG COLOR. 08:45 AND I'VE BECOME QUITE SENSITIVE TO WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP 08:50 A LAWN LOOKING GOOD. 08:52 MY LAWN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE LANDSCAPE THAT BEGAN TO 08:58 TURN BROWN, THAT BEGAN TO LOSE ITS VERDANCY WHEN GOD SAID, 09:05 "I WILL SEAL UP THE SKY. 09:08 I WILL SEAL IT UP LIKE BRASS. 09:12 I'LL LOCK UP THE HEAVENS SO THAT A DROP OF WATER 09:16 CAN'T GET THROUGH." 09:18 BRASS, SOME PEOPLE TELL ME, IS STILL THE METAL YOU WANT 09:21 TO USE TO CONVEY LIQUID. 09:24 GOD SAYS, "I WILL SEAL UP THE HEAVENS SO THERE WILL BE 09:26 NO CONVEYANCE OF LIQUID." 09:29 AND VERY SOON YOU BEGAN TO SEE IT HAPPEN. 09:31 NOW, GOD HAD ALREADY MADE A PLAN FOR ELIJAH. 09:36 IF GOD SAYS YOU'LL HAVE NO MORE RAIN AND THERE WILL BE A TIME 09:39 WHEN IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO GET FOOD--I'VE TRAVELED TO SOME 09:43 PLACES--I CAN'T MENTION THEM, THE PEOPLE GET EXCITED, BUT I'VE 09:46 TRAVELED TO SOME PLACES IN THE CARIBBEAN WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE 09:50 TO HAVE ANYBODY GIVE YOU FOOD. 09:54 THERE ARE FRUITS THAT SPRING UP ON THEIR OWN. 09:59 IN FACT, THEY HAD TO WARN ME. 10:00 I WAS IN ONE OF THOSE PLACES CONDUCTING A MEETING AND THEY 10:03 TOLD ME, "LOOK ON THE GROUND. 10:06 SEE THAT RIGHT THERE ?" 10:07 AND I PICKED UP SOMETHING--AND THE THIN-AND CHEWED, AND 10:10 THEY WERE WONDERFUL ! 10:12 I SAID, "IS THIS STUFF EVERYWHERE ?" 10:14 THEY SAID, "EVERYWHERE; EVERYDAY YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING." 10:18 SO IF ANYBODY'S HUNGRY HERE, THAT MEANS THAT MEANS THEY 10:21 DON'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR. 10:23 THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU CAN JUST FIND TO EAT, BUT 10:25 WHEN THE WATER STOPS, WHEN THERE'S NO MORE IRRIGATIONS, 10:31 THEN WHERE DO YOU EAT ? 10:33 WELL, SINCE GOD TOLD ELIJAH TO SEND THE MESSAGE, HE OUGHT 10:36 TO TAKE CARE OF THE MESSENGER. 10:39 OH, EVERY PREACHER OUGHT TO SAY AMEN ON THAT ONE. 10:42 IF GOD SENDS YOU WITH A MESSAGE, PARTICULARLY ONE 10:45 THAT IS NOT WELL RECEIVED, THEN GOD OUGHT TO HAVE A 10:48 PLAN FOR YOU WHEN YOU FINISH PUTTING THE MESSAGE FORTH. 10:52 IN FACT, I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT HE NEVER IS LEFT WITHOUT A PLAN. 10:57 SO ANYTHING THAT GOD TELLS YOU TO SAY, YOU CAN SAY WITH 11:00 AUTHORITY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED, GOD WILL SUSTAIN YOU. 11:05 AND SO NOW GOD SAYS, "ELIJAH, GO TO THE BROOK CHERITH, AND 11:11 WHEN YOU GET THERE YOU WILL FIND PURE WATER THAT WON'T DRY UP 11:15 QUICKLY; AND I WILL MAKE A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT FOR FOOD. 11:21 I WILL GIVE DIRECTIONS TO RAVENS AND BIRDS WILL BRING YOU FOOD." 11:30 CAN YOU IMAGINE ? 11:32 MOST OF THE TIME BIRDS SEEM LIKE A NUISANCE. 11:36 MANY TIMES THEY DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT COMPLETELY IN CONSONANCE 11:40 WITH YOUR PARTICULAR TASTES. 11:43 BUT WHEN GOD TELLS A BIRD WHAT TO DO, A BIRD CAN BRING 11:47 YOU BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AND DINNER, AND MAYBE EVEN A 11:52 SNACK IN THE AFTERNOON. 11:55 SO HERE IS ELIJAH, WHO HAS PREDICTED THERE WILL 11:59 BE NO MORE RAIN. 12:00 AND IT WAS A TERRIBLE MESSAGE ! 12:03 IN FACT, IN THE PALACE OF AHAB AND JEZEBEL, THEY 12:07 SAID, "FIND HIM !" 12:09 THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE GOD OF HEAVEN 12:13 WHO HAD SENT THE MESSAGE, SO THEY BLAMED THE MESSENGER. 12:17 WELL, IF YOU'RE EVER GOING TO TALK FOR GOD, YOU'VE GOT TO 12:20 LEARN THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL BLAME THE MESSENGER. 12:24 THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD GOD PROTECTS MESSENGERS. 12:27 WHAT DO YOU SAY ? 12:29 SO GOD SAYS GO DOWN BY THE BROOK CHERITH, AND WHEN YOU 12:33 GET THERE, YOU'LL FIND WATER. 12:34 PERHAPS, ELIJAH THOUGHT FOR JUST A SECOND-OKAY, WATER, 12:38 FINE, ANYTHING ELSE ? 12:41 AND SOON HIS ANSWER CAME. 12:44 A RAVEN COMES FLYING AND STOPS IN THE RIGHT PLACE 12:49 AND BRINGS FOOD, ENOUGH FOOD TO SUSTAIN HIM. 12:53 YOU KNOW, THAT HAD TO BE SOMETHING. 12:55 I KIND OF WISH I HAD BEEN HERE TO SEE THAT. 12:58 AND SO HE EATS A MEAL AND THEN THE RAVEN COMES AGAIN--WHETHER 13:01 IT WAS THE SAME OR NOT, I WOULDN'T REALLY CARE. 13:04 I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I'D GET TO KNOW HIM THAT WELL. 13:06 I JUST WANT TO KNOW--DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING WITH YOU ? 13:10 AND THE MEALS CAME. 13:11 NOW HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU. 13:14 IT WAS GOD WHO SAID GO TO THE BROOK CHERITH. 13:17 WHEN YOU FOLLOW WHAT GOD SAYS, YOU HAVE NO 13:19 QUESTION IN YOUR MIND. 13:21 IF YOU GO AT HIS BIDDING HE WILL EMPOWER YOU AND 13:26 HE WILL SUSTAIN YOU. 13:28 YOU'RE GOING TO PICK UP A LITTLE RHYTHM IN THIS IN A MINUTE. 13:31 SO IF GOD SAYS GO, GO KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE HANDLED 13:38 BY THE POWER OF THE ALMIGHTY. 13:41 SO AS LONG AS HE'S THERE, THE LITTLE STREAM DOESN'T DRY UP. 13:45 EVERYWHERE ELSE IS GETTING DRY, THERE ARE TREES THAT ARE 13:48 BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE SKELETONS, THERE ARE BUSHES THAT 13:52 HAVE NOTHING ON THEM THAT'S GREEN, FLOWERS HAVE DISAPPEARED. 13:56 THERE ARE PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT HAVE 14:01 NOTHING ON THEM ANYMORE. 14:03 IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE FIRE HAS COME. 14:07 THEY ARE COMPLETELY BURNED AWAY BY THE HEAT OF THE SUN. 14:12 AND YET THAT LITTLE BROOK, THE BROOK CHERITH, STILL 14:15 HAS WATER, AND THE RAVENS STILL ARRIVE ON TIME. 14:20 SOMEBODY OUGHT TO SAY, "AMEN," FOR THE POWER OF GOD TO SUSTAIN 14:24 YOU WHEN HE DIRECTS YOU. 14:25 WELL, THERE CAME A TIME WHEN THE BROOK CHERITH DRIED UP. 14:29 I LISTEN TO PREACHERS ON AN ECLECTIC BASIS. 14:34 I ENJOY WHEN PREACHERS PREACH WITH AUTHORITY, AND I HEARD A 14:38 PREACHER WHO SAYS THAT WHEN GOD SHUTS A DOOR, HE OPENS A WINDOW. 14:44 IF GOD EVER ALLOWS ONE SOURCE TO DRY UP, YOU CAN 14:49 JUST LOOK AROUND, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER. 14:53 GOD DOES NOT LEAD THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM WITHOUT 14:56 SOME WAY TO BE SUSTAINED. 14:59 SO WHEN GOD SAYS, "LOOK, YOU SEE YOUR BROOK ?" 15:04 I JUST SAY, "YEAH, I SEE MUCH BROOK LEFT-KIND OF DRY." 15:10 HE SAID, "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. 15:12 GO OVER TO A PLACE CALLED ZAREPHETH--IN THE 15:15 NEW TESTAMENT, ZEREPTA, "WHEN YOU GET THERE YOU WILL 15:18 FIND A WIDOW AND HER SON. 15:21 I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN HER INSTRUCTIONS." 15:23 THE WOMAN WAS NOT A WOMAN WHO CONSIDERED HERSELF PART 15:26 OF THE FAMILY OF GOD, BUT I HAPPENED TO KNOW THAT GOD 15:29 MOVES ON PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE FAMILY. 15:34 I HAVE SEEN GOD DO MIRACULOUS THINGS THROUGH PEOPLE WHO 15:38 DIDN'T EVEN CLAIM TO KNOW WHO GOD WAS, BUT HIS POWER 15:42 IS SO GREAT THAT HE CAN ACCOMPLISH MIRACLES THROUGH 15:46 PEOPLE WHO SEEM UNLIKELY. 15:49 THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BEING WHERE GOD SENDS ME ! 15:54 SO HE GOES TO THIS WIDOW. 15:56 I COULD GET EXCITED ABOUT THIS, SO I'VE GOT TO MONITOR MYSELF. 16:00 THIS WOMAN IS OUT WITH HER SON. 16:03 SHE HAS DECIDED THAT THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF NUTRITION. 16:10 SHE LOOKED IN HER MEAL BARREL AND SAW ONLY ENOUGH LEFT 16:14 FOR ONE MORE CAKE OF BREAD. 16:18 SHE LOOKED IN HER OIL CRUSE AND THERE WAS ONLY ENOUGH OIL LEFT 16:22 FOR ONE MORE CAKE OF BREAD. 16:24 SOME OF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN 16:26 POOR ENOUGH TO BE TRULY HUNGRY. 16:30 I GREW UP IN A HOUSE WHERE WE KNEW THE LORD, BUT EVERY NOW AND 16:33 THEN, THE LORD WOULD SHOW US HIS POWER BY LETTING THINGS RUN OUT. 16:38 I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW GOD UNLESS YOU'VE 16:42 RUN OUT--UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD 16:47 PLACE--BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, 16:50 AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE, DOWN TO YOUR LAST DIME. 16:53 IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN WITHOUT, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW GOD. 16:57 YOU ARE CULTURALLY DEPRIVED, BECAUSE THE WAY YOU REALLY COME 17:02 TO KNOW GOD IS TO RUN OUT. 17:05 THIS WOMAN HAD RUN OUT, AND SHE SAYS TO HER SON, "LET'S GO 17:09 GATHER ENOUGH TO MAKE A FIRE, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK 17:13 AND EAT OUR LAST CAKE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DIE." 17:19 AND IN THE MIDST OF THAT TRAUMA COMES A PREACHER WITH A PLAN. 17:28 PLAN DOESN'T SOUND GREAT AT THE BEGINNING. 17:31 PREACHER SAYS, AND I WISH YOU COULD CONTEXTUALIZE 17:35 THIS TO YOUR OWN SITUATION. 17:38 SOMETIMES WE BACK AWAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD, SO WE THINK 17:41 EVERYTHING TO BE NORMAL. 17:43 HERE YOU ARE WITH YOUR ONLY SON, AND YOU'RE GETTING READY TO EAT 17:46 YOUR LAST MEAL, AND A PREACHER SHOWS UP AND SAID, "WOULD 17:50 YOU DO ME A FAVOR ? 17:51 WOULD YOU MAKE THAT LAST CAKE FOR ME ?" 17:56 I'M GIVING YOU TIME, I'M GIVING YOU TIME, BECAUSE YOU CAN SOUND 18:02 AS HOLY AS YOU WANT TO IN YOUR HEAD, BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU 18:06 WHAT YOU WOULD SAY IF THAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW. 18:10 "SIR, I KNOW YOU'RE A MAN OF GOD AND EVERYTHING. 18:15 MAYBE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I TOLD YOU. 18:17 I SAID WE'RE GETTING READY TO EAT THE LAST CAKE OF 18:19 MEAL THAT WE'VE GOT. 18:21 DID YOU SAY COULD YOU HAVE IT ? 18:24 I DON'T THINK SO." 18:28 SOME OF YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE SEEN THE MIRACLE BECAUSE 18:30 YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH TO DO WHAT THAT WOMAN DID. 18:33 IN FACT, YOU'VE GOT TO FORGIVE ME, I GET WAY INTO THE STORY, 18:38 AND I FEEL THE HEAT RISING FROM THAT SON'S HEAD. 18:45 "MOM, MOM, CAN I TALK TO YOU A MINUTE ?" 18:52 "NAW." 18:54 COME ON, COME OVER HERE. 18:58 YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THAT PREACHER OUR LAST FOOD ? 19:02 COULDN'T YOU SPLIT IT ? 19:07 I TRY TO BE RELIGIOUS, TOO, BUT MAMA, IT'S THE 19:11 LAST THING WE'VE GOT. 19:12 I FIGURED WE HAD ONE MORE MEAL; YOU'RE NOT GOING TO 19:15 GIVE IT TO HIM ARE YOU ?" 19:17 SHE SAID, "WELL, GOD HAS MOVED ON MY HEART AND GOD IS SAYING 19:22 TO ME THAT I OUGHT TO TAKE THE CHANCE, TRUSTING NOT IN 19:26 THE PREACHER, BUT IN GOD. 19:30 AND SO, YES, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE LAST CAKE OF MEAL 19:35 WE'VE GOT AND I'M GIVING IT TO THE PREACHER." 19:38 "I DON'T UNDERSTAND. 19:40 WISH I COULD BE OVER THERE WHEN YOU GET IT COOKED, 19:43 BECAUSE I SURE WOULD BREAK ME A LITTLE PIECE OFF OF 19:44 IT, I'LL TELL YOU THAT." 19:47 BUT SHE DOES IT. 19:49 YOU KNOW, FORGIVE ME, BUT I REALLY ENJOY THE BIBLE. 19:54 I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN PLACES AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE 19:58 SAT THERE WITH THAT MOTHER AND THAT SON AND WATCHED THAT 20:01 MAN EAT THAT CAKE OF BREAD. 20:08 CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THOUGHTS ARE GOING THROUGH 20:11 YOUR HEAD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT WIND SHIFTS. 20:17 YOU COULD CATCH THE AROMA OF THAT THING. 20:20 THINGS START HAPPENING PHYSIOLOGICALLY THAT YOU 20:24 CAN'T CONTROL, YOU KNOW. 20:28 "MAMA, IT LOOKED GOOD. 20:30 YOU DID A GOOD JOB. 20:32 SMELLS GOOD, TOO. 20:34 BUT THAT'S THE LAST ONE, RIGHT ? 20:35 YOU DIDN'T MAKE ONE FOR ME." 20:37 YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. 20:39 AFTER EVERYTHING WAS GONE, THE MAN OF GOD SAID EVENTUALLY 20:45 "LET'S MAKE ANOTHER CAKE." 20:48 "AH, SIR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THERE WAS NO MORE MEAL AND 20:56 THERE WAS NO MORE OIL, SO WHAT YOU SUGGEST IS PREPOSTEROUS. 21:01 WHY DON'T WE JUST ALL BAND TOGETHER AND DIE 21:05 WITH FAITH IN GOD." 21:07 HE SAID, "YEAH, BUT YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME. 21:09 WHY DON'T YOU GO CHECK YOUR MEAL BARREL ? 21:12 WHY DON'T YOU GO CHECK YOUR OIL CRUSE ?" 21:15 I WISH THEY'D SENT THE BOY, BECAUSE I LIKE THE FACT OF A 21:19 YOUNG PERSON LEARNING FIRST HAND WHAT IT IS WHEN YOU TRUST GOD 21:24 WHEN THERE SEEMS LIKE NOTHING. 21:26 I WISH YOUNG PEOPLE COULD KNOW. 21:28 THERE WOULDN'T BE SO MANY TEEN SUICIDES IF YOUNG PEOPLE COULD 21:33 COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU OBEY WHAT GOD SAYS, IF YOU JUST 21:37 TAKE GOD AT HIS WORDS, YOU WILL NEVER RUN OUT OF RESOURCES. 21:43 I WISH THE YOUNG MAN HAD GONE TO CHECK THE MEAL BARREL, 21:46 BECAUSE I CAN HEAR HIM IN THERE-"HEY, MAMA !" 21:49 AND HE CHECKS IN THERE AND SEES WHAT HE KNOWS CAN'T BE AND THEN 21:53 GOES TO THE CRUSE OF OIL AND SEES WHAT CAN'T BE THERE, BUT 21:56 GOD MAKES THINGS HAPPEN LIKE THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS. 22:04 SO NOW THIS WOMAN AND HER SON EAT WHILE THE DROUGHT 22:11 GOES ON, AND THEY EAT WITH THE MAN OF GOD. 22:14 CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT ? 22:16 IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH FAITH IN GOD TO EXPECT THE IMPOSSIBLE, GOD 22:21 WILL MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPEN AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ON A 22:25 TEMPORARY BASIS, IT HAPPENS FOR AS LONG AS YOU NEED IT. 22:29 I WISH I HAD TIME TO TELL YOU THAT NOT ONLY DID GOD PROVIDE 22:32 MEAL FOR THEM TO MAKES CAKES OF MEAL, BUT ONE DAY THE SON 22:38 DIED, AND THE MAN OF GOD, WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE LEFT THAT 22:43 HOUSE, TOOK THE BOY UP TO HIS PLACE THAT WAS IN A HIGH PART OF 22:48 THE HOUSE, AND BY THE POWER OF GOD RESURRECTED THAT CHILD. 22:53 I TELL YOU THAT IF YOU OBEY GOD IN SMALL THINGS, GOD WILL REWARD 22:59 YOU IN UNBELIEVABLE THINGS. 23:02 ALL THEY WERE PROMISED WAS FOOD, BUT GOD GAVE THEM BACK 23:07 LIFE-RESURRECTION CAME BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH. 23:11 I WISH I HAD TIME TO PREACH ! 23:15 SO NOW WE LEARN SOMETHING ELSE. 23:19 IF GOD SAYS TO GO TO ZEREPHETH, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF 23:24 YOU IN ZEREPHETH. 23:26 I WISH THE WIDOW COULD HAVE BEEN HERE TONIGHT. 23:28 SHE WOULD HAVE SAID, "OH, YEAH ! 23:30 IN FACT, THAT MEAL GOT TO TASTING BETTER LATER ON. 23:35 THE OIL QUALITY MAY HAVE IMPROVED. 23:38 I'M NOT SURE, BUT IT SURE TASTED LIKE IT." 23:40 WHAT MUST YOU THINK WHEN YOU ARE EATING FOOD THAT DOES NOT EXIST? 23:47 AH, YOUR BRAIN ISN'T FAST ENOUGH. 23:49 YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO RESPOND QUICKER TO THAT. 23:52 BUT IF GOD SENDS YOU TO ZEREPHETH, THEN YOU WILL BE 23:54 BLESSED AT ZEREPHETH. 23:56 "NOW," GOD SAYS, BEGINNING CHAPTER 18, "ELIJAH, IT'S TIME 24:01 FOR YOU TO GO AND TELL THEM I'M READY TO MAKE RAIN COME." 24:06 HERE IS WHAT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND. 24:10 THE PEOPLE OF GOD, NOT THE PEOPLE IN THE STREET, THE PEOPLE 24:14 WHO CLAIM THE CLAIM THE GOD OF HEAVEN, THE PEOPLE WHO SAID 24:21 THAT HE WAS THEIR SOVEREIGN, HAD COME TO BELIEVE IN OTHER GODS. 24:29 THEY CAME TO BELIEVE THAT RAIN WAS CAUSED WHEN BAAL, A GOD 24:35 THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM, WHEN BAAL WAS RESURRECTED, 24:41 THE RAIN CAME. 24:43 THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE WORSHIPED BAAL. 24:47 LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING GOD WILL GET STRAIGHT. 24:50 GOD IS JEALOUS FOR HIS OWN NAME. 24:54 IN FACT, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE FREE HINT ON HOW 24:56 TO GET A PRAYER THROUGH. 24:59 IF YOU CAN EVER CONVINCE GOD THAT HIS ANSWERING YOUR PRAYER 25:06 WILL BRING GLORY TO HIS NAME, YOUR PRAYER HAS A GREAT 25:11 CHANCE OF BEING ANSWERED. 25:14 SO NOW HERE IS THE QUESTION. 25:16 GOD MUST CONVINCE HIS PEOPLE THAT THE POWER THAT BRINGS RAIN 25:21 IS NOT FROM SOME STRANGE GOD; IT IS FROM HIS OWN HAND. 25:26 IT IS GOD WHO CAUSES THE RAIN TO FALL. 25:29 IT IS GOD WHO TAKES THE WATER UP FROM THE BODIES OF WATER 25:33 THAT ARE PULLED UP BY THE SUN. 25:35 THEY TURN FROM ONE SUBSTANCE TO ANOTHER. 25:38 THEY CHANGE INTO A GAS AND ARE PULLED UP INTO THE AIR. 25:42 AND THEN GOD REDISTRIBUTES THEM AND THEY COME DOWN IN RAIN, 25:45 AND THE CYCLE GOES OVER AND OVER--IT'S CALLED 25:47 A HYDROLOGIC CYCLE. 25:50 GOD DIDN'T NAME IT THAT, HE JUST MADE IT HAPPEN. 25:54 SCIENTISTS NAMED IT, BUT IT IS GOD WHO TAKES UP MOISTURE AND 25:59 THAT MOISTURE COMES DOWN TO WATER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN 26:03 YOUR FIELDS, TO WATER THE CROPS. 26:05 PRAISE GOD, SOME COLLARD GREENS SOMEWHERE ARE NURTURED BY 26:12 MOISTURE THAT COMES FROM GOD. 26:14 IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, THEN ASK SOMEBODY TOMORROW AND THEY 26:17 WILL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU. 26:19 SO HERE IS MY QUESTION--WILL GOD GET GLORY FOR HIS NAME ? 26:23 ABSOLUTELY. 26:25 Announcer: JOIN US NEXT TIME ON BREATH OF LIFE FOR 26:28 MORE OF PASTOR PEARSON'S MESSAGE ON ELIJAH. 26:36 Announcer: LIFE IS FULL OF QUESTIONS. 26:38 SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO OR WHERE TO TURN. 26:41 WE HAVE DOUBTS AND FEARS AND WE WONDER WHAT IT ALL MEANS 26:43 AND WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IN THIS WORLD. 26:46 BUT THERE ARE ANSWERS, AND THERE IS HOPE WAITING FOR YOU IN GOD'S 26:49 WORD, THE BIBLE, AND THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO START EXPLORING 26:53 THE PLANS HE HAS FOR YOU THAN IN THE DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDES. 26:57 IT'S THE BREATH OF LIFE GIFT OFFER THIS WEEK, AND YOUR 27:01 TICKET TO THE HEART AND SOUL OF GOD'S WORD. 27:04 THESE EASY-TO-READ AND ILLUSTRATED BIBLE STUDIES 27:06 GET TO WHAT'S ON GOD'S MIND FOR YOU, QUICKLY AND CLEARLY. 27:10 YOU'LL BE ENLIGHTENED BY STUDIES SUCH AS "IS GOD FAIR ?" 27:13 "WHEN JESUS COMES FOR YOU." 27:16 "THE SECRET OF ANSWERED PRAYER," AND "BRIDGE 27:18 TO A SATISFYING LIFE." 27:20 IF YOU'VE EVER WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE, BUT DIDN'T 27:22 KNOW WHERE TO START, OR IF YOU'VE READ THE BIBLE FROM COVER 27:25 TO COVER, BUT SIMPLY YEARN FOR MORE, THEN THE DISCOVER BIBLE 27:28 GUIDES ARE ESPECIALLY FOR YOU. 27:31 THE GUIDES ARE ALSO GOOD FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS WHO 27:33 MIGHT BE SEEKING SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND HAVE QUESTIONS 27:36 OF THEIR OWN. 27:38 JUST CALL OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER AT 1-877-BOL-OFFER. 27:41 THAT'S 1-877-265-6333, AND ASK FOR YOUR COPY OF 27:48 THE DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDES, OR YOU MAY WRITE TO: 27:51 BREATH OF LIFE, P.O. BOX 97192, 27:54 WASHINGTON D.C., 20077. 27:59 THE DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDES. 28:01 DISCOVER FOR YOURSELF. 28:07 (music) |
Revised 2015-02-05