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Make me a small cake first

Text: Ephesians 2:201 Kings 17
12 November 2006

(I) CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

1. Good Works cannot purchase salvation

“Not of works, lest anyone should boast” Ephesians 2:9

2. The place of Good Works after salvation

a) The good works we perform display the workmanship of God

b) The good works we do reveal the creative design of God

c) The good works we do- we were ordained to perform them

(II) CULTIVATING A HEART TO DO GOOD WORKS

“Finally, my brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.

The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me; these do, and the God of peace will be with you” Philippians 4:8-9

1. Cultivation is necessary

a) A caring heart that expresses itself in good works needs to be cultivated

b) It will not emerge by itself

2. Cultivation involves the following things:-

a) Meditation

b) Learning

c) Receiving

d) Seeing

e) Doing

(III) A CLASSIC STUDY

1. The seemingly unreasonable demand of Elijah

“Make me a small cake first” 1 Kings 18:13

2. The astonished reply of the widow of Zarephath

“As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we mat eat it, and die.” 1 Kings 18:12

3. A special word from the Lord

“Thus says the LORD God of Israel:

The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry,

Until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth” 1 Kings 18:14

4. Vital lessons

a) Of faith

b) Of obedience

c) Of blessing from the Lord