God's Catering Service

God's Catering Service At The Raven's Hotel 

1 Kings 17: 1-6

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.  And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherish, that is before Jordan.  And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.  So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord; for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherish, that is before Jordan.  And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook."

We are living in a day of shortages, every day, it seems.  They tell us that something else is in rare supply.  So it was with Elijah at the time of our text.  The grain crop had been cut off and there was famine in the land.  The rain had been cut off from the heavens and everything was drying up.  Here in a cave by the brook Cherith sat a man of God waiting for something to eat.

In that day there were no neighbors to go request some eggs from their chicken coup.  There were no corner grocers to go to.  There were no berries for the the picking.  But, Elijah was not looking toward the things of this earth.  He was looking up.  He was looking to Heaven. 

After Elijah had pronounced famine and judgement on the nation, Ahab and Jezebel,

 God said: go hide thyself, by the brook Cherith, for I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.  

Elijah obeyed God.  Now he sits at the mouth of the cave by the brook getting mighty hungry.  Looking up he is remembering what the Lord had promised him, "the ravens would feed him there".  Then - all of a sudden, Elijah saw on the horizon a flock of crow like birds on the wing.  It was like the time before when he saw a cloud the size of a mans hand.  He said, "here come the ravens"!  It wasn't long before they were fluttering over his cave.  Some brought bread and others brought meat.  

God was fulfilling His Word to Elijah.  

God was keeping His promise.  

Children of God,  you can depend on the Word of God.

Can't you just vision Elijah, by his cave, the brook close by with the ravens coming every morning and evening to make sure that Elijah was well taken care of?  Talk about a catering service, this was it!  

I want you to take notice that these crow like birds, ravenous caterers on the wing, came directly from God.  God says in the Scripture above, "I have commanded the raven that they feed thee".  God told those birds where to take Elijah's food.  He told them what to take, when to take it and how much to take.  Friends, that same God that supplied a catering service for Elijah will meet the needs of His people.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever!  The God of Elijah lives today.  Paul tells us in Philippians 4:19, " I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor their children begging bread".  

God meets the needs of His people.  Notice God did not allow Elijah to store up a surplus.  The raven did not bring enough on Monday to last all week.  Nor did they bring a days supply.  The ravens came "every morning and every evening".  There was just enough for one meal.  God knew that Elijah did not have a Westinghouse deep freeze in his cave. The fret of many today is that they need a great surplus, a 5 year supply.  Many folks have more confidence in Wachovia Bank or First Union than they do in the Royal Bank of Heaven. Yes, God wishes that we prosper and be in health, but sometimes, property and surplus have a way of causing a lack of dependence on God.  God has a way of making the brook dry up.  Verse 7 of this same chapter tells us that it "came to pass after a while that the brook dried up".  Be sure of this one thing......If you will be in the place God want you to be....you can be sure that God will keep His Word and meet your needs!

Note Verse 4 again - "I have commanded the raven to feed thee THERE.  Not somewhere else but right THERE by the brook Cherith.  If you stay in God's will, you will never be without!

There is a place of God's provision.  

There is a place of God's power.  

There is a place of God's purpose.

Notice also, that God sends help to His people from unexpected sources.  He could have sent the gentle Dove, the stately Robin or even the beautiful Swan.  Who would of thought that God would use such an unclean bird as a Raven to feed his servant?  A ravenous, fierce creature that loved to maul the sick and dying. Wow!  Unexpected sources.  And, thank God He still does today.  For those of use in this area, we are thankful when God sends us a bushel of crabs, right?  

Today it might not be the most generous person, the most consecrated or well to do but, many times the unbelieving, hard hearted or the unsympathetic are the ones that God sends forth to cater the needs of His people.  Sometimes they can't even explain why they do it them.  But - God knows!

The Lord spoke through a donkey.  He put money in a fishes mouth, He sent manna from Heaven, He sent food by Ravens.  Do not be surprised how God may decide to meet your needs!  The world will say, "I don't know how you make it, I can't figure it out.  I can.  It is God's catering service.  

God has ways you know not of.  He knows how to rescue your loved ones.  He knows how to straighten out their lives.  He knows exactly how to work out your every problem.  There is nothing too hard for our God!

If you TRUST God, you can depend on His catering service.  You can expect help from unexpected sources.  God will not let you down.  He will supply your needs.  God wants you to TRUST Him for the needs of your soul, your body, your mind, your material needs or any need you may have.  He says hide yourself in my will and I will meet you there.

You may be in the cave of need today.  The devil may be saying, "what about that rent, those taxes, etc?  Tell that deceiver, that destroyer, that liar, "get behind me"....and look up to God.  

There is help - for you - from Heaven.  

God has a catering service for His children.  

God meets needs, including yours, from unexpected sources. 

 Expect the unexpected to happen to you!

(Sermon notes of Rev. David Raynor Sr. - 11/13/1977 - Avon, NC)

Tidings of Great Joy

Luke 2: 1-7  (King James Version)

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men".

2000 years ago, God sent an angel to bring tidings of great JOY.  Angels have filled a very important place in the plan and purpose of God.  When God wanted to announce the coming of a Saviour, He sent an angel to do it.  When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness angels ministered to Him.  When He agonized in Gethsemane an angel cam and strengthened Him.  On the day of His resurrection an angel announced His triumph over death.  When He returns again in power and great glory, His angels will again be with Him.

The message of the angel at the time of Jesus birth was a universal proclamation.  "Behold I bring you good tidings of great JOY which shall be to all people".

Tidings of GREAT JOY.  

What were these 

tidings of great JOY?

First of all, there was Tidings of Salvation.  The gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ.  The good news that though sin drove man from fellowship with God, he now could be reconciled to God.  The good news of the gospel is that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.  That is GOOD news!  Good news of GREAT JOY!  The joy of knowing that we can have forgiveness of sin. Jesus was born to die that through His death we might have life.  He was rich yet for our sakes He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich.  If a person has Jesus in their hearts, they have all that really matters.  They are rich.  The individual who turns away Jesus and His salvation is poor indeed.

Divine Healing is included in The Good Tidings.  The good news of the gospel includes healing not only for the soul but also for the body.  The power, blessings and benefits of the gospel overflows the soul and makes provision for the whole man.  Jesus is not only the Saviour but, He is The Great Physician.  He encourages us to come to Him for healing and deliverance.  Though things are impossible with man, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.  There is no physical need too great for Him to heal.  He forgiveth all of our iniquities and He heals all of our diseases.  Certainly that is good TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY.

Let's not by-pass the good tidings of our blessed hope.  There remains a great event of God's calendar, His return, His second coming.  When Jesus, the Christ of Christmas, who was born in the flesh at Bethlehem, crucified on a cross and rose from the dead to live forever more and ascended to the right hand of The Father...this same Jesus... "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:" (1 Thessalonians 4:16).     The great air lift of the redeemed will be a reality!

If this even should happen today,

 would you be ready?

What great JOY there is in knowing that our sins have been forgiven.  What great JOY to experience the power, blessings and benefits of the gospel in every area of our lives. How joyous it is to have this blessed hope and comfort that He will one day return for His children.

How sad though, to be left behind on that great day.  How said to miss the trumpet call of good tidings . 

 Please don't turn a deaf ear to 

the good TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY.  

Be a wise man and seek Jesus until you find Him.  When the shepherds of old, "made haste" and found Jesus, they returned glorifying and praising God.  You will do the same when you really find Jesus.  GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY are yours when you find Jesus and embrace His gospel. 

We should never allow these 

good tidings to become and old story!

(Rev.David A. Raynor Sr.Originally preached on 12/20/1981 - Avon, NC) 

 

Upon All Flesh Saith The Lord

 

Upon All Flesh Saith The Lord

 

Joel 2:28-29

King James Version

" And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit".

Notice the words of Verse 28, "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh".

ALL FLESH.  Today's sermon is titled, Upon All Flesh Saith The Lord.

Peter quoted these words in his great sermon on the day of Pentecost.  But, keep in mind that these words were prophesied by the prophet Joel, almost 800 years before Jesus came to this earth clothed in human flesh.

Can you imagine the shock caused by this prophecy of Joel back in this day?  I can imagine some eyes popped and some mouths hung open.

Because you see, it was the Priests, the Kings and Prophets that God called and anointed by His Spirit in those days.  Setting them apart for service and giving them supernatural enablement, anointing and ability to perform and fulfill their calling.

They were few in number compared to the millions who were numbered among the children of God.

Now this prophet of God comes along and say, "thus saith the Lord....it shall come to pass in the last days I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh".  They were probably saying, "surely you missed the Lord this time Joel?  You can't possibly mean, ALL flesh.  Maybe upon some of the Prices?  Maybe some of the Levites?  But Joel, surely not upon ALL flesh. "Upon All Flesh Saith The Lord.  Servants and Handmaids. Son and Daughters.  Young and old".   "What about all the young children and teen-agers, Joel?  You can't possibly trust them with all this power"?  "Upon All Flesh Saith The Lord". 

They are many, yet today, that though God is lightly pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh all over the world, they find it hard to believe, hard to swallow and hard to accept.

Oh how broad the plan of God 

in this era of the Holy Spirit outpouring!

God is reaching out in love, mercy and power to whosoever will.

Verse 32 of Joel 2 says, "And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved".  

Jesus is coming soon.

Judgement is coming. 

Eternity is coming.

God does not wish that any should perish.  

He is pouring out His Spirit in these last days upon all flesh because of His great love and compassion.  He is pleading with lost souls.  He wants you to call upon His name so that you will not miss eternity living with Him.  

This message is not just for a select few.  The promise is unto you, to your children and to all that are afar off.  This is for everybody!  "Upon ALL Flesh Saith The Lord".

It was foretold

It is being fulfilled.

It is for you.

God is pouring out His Spirit in these last days!

God has a message and a mission, for you, His church, in this hour.  

He has sent the Holy Spirit because there is work that He is wanting to accomplish.

"...Not by might nor by power but by my spirit". (Zechariah 4:6-8)

In Acts 1:8, " But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth".   (Include where you are living)

Dear friends, if you have not given your heart to Christ, please understand, God is pouring out of His Spirit and giving His people, power to make Jesus real to you.  You can be delivered, redeemed, healed, and blessed of the Lord.  He will wash you and will meet your needs.  The River of Gods Spirit, love and power is flowing today.  It is flowing down through people of all walks of life, people of all religious beliefs and right down into your heart today.  God loves you and want to minister to your needs.

It is not just for a select few that God wants to empower with His Spirit.  He wants to use His whole body of believers to go out in the arenas of their daily involvements to witness and minister to the needs of those all around them.  He wants to use His whole body to see people brought into His Kingdom, be healed, baptized and miracles wrought in the name of Jesus.

I believe God is pouring out His Spirit upon All flesh, young and old, enduing them with power from on high to do exploits for God.  God is calling believers into all walks of life, all kinds of professions and occupations.  He is calling them in neighborhoods, school systems, government....into every conceivable section of society so that they may boldly proclaim Jesus Christ.

God has a work for ALL believers, no matter where you live.  He wants to control all our lives by His Holy Spirit and make us witnesses, workers and ministers for Him.  

Are you ready and looking for Jesus to come?

More important....have you given your heart to Jesus Christ?

A Prayer

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.

I ask for Your forgiveness. 

I believe You died for my sins upon the Cross and rose from the dead.

I invite You to come into my heart and my life.

I want to follow You.

In Jesus name, Amen.