Who Dreamed Up This Plan for Survival?
God has a detailed plan for every one of His children to help them face the worst of times, and it requires obedience and trust in His direction.
David Wilkerson emphasizes God's unique and unexpected plans for survival as demonstrated in the life of Elijah. Despite the hopelessness of a drought-stricken land, God directed Elijah to a hidden brook for water and provided food through ravens, showcasing His ability to provide in miraculous ways. When the brook dried up, God instructed Elijah to go to a widow in Zarephath, illustrating that God often uses the seemingly insignificant to fulfill His purposes. Wilkerson encourages believers to trust in God's detailed plans, even when circumstances appear dire, reminding us that He is our adviser and survival expert.
Text
"And the word of the Lord came unto him [Elijah], saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan" (I Kings 17: 2-3).
As Elijah looked ahead to the coming crisis, things must have looked absolutely hopeless to him. But God had a specific survival plan in mind for his faithful servant. He instructed the prophet, "Go east to the Jordan River, and there you will find Cherith, a little tributary that runs off. You can get all the drinking water you need from that brook. In addition, I've arranged for food to be delivered to you daily, by my courier ravens!"
How could any person, in a million years, ever dream up this kind of a plan for survival? How could Elijah ever have imagined he'd be sent to a hidden brook to find water to drink, when there was nothing but drought everywhere else in the land? How could he ever have thought a daily supply of bread would be brought to him by ravenous birds that ate everything they sank their beaks into?
Later, times got hard for Elijah, because the brook finally dried up. But God stepped in again, giving the prophet another fresh word of direction. He said, "Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee" (v. 9). Again, I have to ask--how could anyone ever think a poor widow woman, in the midst of a depression, could feed a man for days, weeks, months on end? But the fact is, God uses the most despised, insignificant things of the world for his glory. And he told Elijah, "If you'll go to her and do what I tell you, you'll survive. Listen to me--heed my direction--and you'll make it through!"
The evidence is overwhelming: God--our adviser, counselor and survival expert--has a detailed plan for every one of his children, to help us face the worst of times!
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Plan for Survival
- A. God's plan is specific and tailored to our needs
- B. God's plan involves using unexpected means to achieve His goals
- C. God's plan requires obedience and trust in His direction
- II. The Nature of God's Plan
- A. God's plan is not based on human reasoning or logic
- B. God's plan is based on His sovereignty and power
- III. The Importance of Obedience
- A. Obedience is essential to surviving the worst of times
- B. Obedience requires trust and faith in God's direction
- IV. The Evidence of God's Plan
- A. God's plan is evident in the Bible
- B. God's plan is evident in our lives when we obey Him
Key Quotes
“How could any person, in a million years, ever dream up this kind of a plan for survival?” — David Wilkerson
“God uses the most despised, insignificant things of the world for his glory.” — David Wilkerson
“The evidence is overwhelming: God--our adviser, counselor and survival expert--has a detailed plan for every one of his children, to help us face the worst of times!” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Trust in God's sovereignty and power, even when things seem hopeless.
- Obey God's direction, as it is essential to surviving the worst of times.
- Remember that God uses unexpected means to achieve His goals, and to bring glory to Himself.