The Barrel That Did Not Fail — Prophetic Sermon

For Online Church Broadcast

INTRODUCTION

There is a woman in this story. She is a widow — a woman who had lost her husband, a woman who had a son but no hope, a woman who was gathering sticks to prepare a last meal before she and her son would die. She was a Gentile, from Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon — a place outside the covenant, a place of idolatry, a place where a Jewish prophet would never normally go. But God sent Elijah to her. And I want you to know today: SHE IS YOU. You are the one who has been overlooked, the one who has been rejected, the one who has faced lack and loss, the one who has been gathering sticks for a final meal. But the Holy Ghost brought me to this passage for someone watching this right now. Before I preach, I want you to receive this word into your spirit:

YOUR SEASON OF "AFTER" HAS ARRIVED.

VERSE 8 — "And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,"
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

WORD.

The Bible says the word of the LORD came to Elijah. It was not a suggestion. It was not an idea. It was a word — a rhema word, a specific instruction for a specific situation. And I am sent to tell you today: God is speaking to you right now. He has a word for your situation. He has a word for your lack. He has a word for your barrenness. He has a word for your failure. That word is coming to you now, and it will not return void.

VERSE 9 — "Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee."
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

COMMANDED.

God did not say, "I will suggest to a widow woman." He said, "I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." God had already gone ahead of Elijah. He had already prepared the heart of a woman who did not know Elijah, who did not know the God of Israel, and He commanded her to sustain the prophet. And I prophesy to you today: God has already commanded your provision. He has already commanded your helpers. He has already commanded your destiny. Your provision is not coming — it is already commanded. Your healing is already commanded. Your breakthrough is already commanded. Your restoration is already commanded.

VERSE 10 — "So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink."
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

BEHOLD.

The Bible says, "Behold, the widow woman was there." She was not hiding. She was not far away. She was right there at the gate, gathering sticks. God had positioned her exactly where Elijah would find her. And I declare to you: your miracle is not far away. Your helper is not distant. Your answer is right there at the gate. God has positioned people, resources, and opportunities right where you are. You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. Your provision is staring you in the face.

VERSE 11 — "And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand."
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

MORSEL.

Elijah did not ask for a feast. He asked for a morsel — a small piece of bread. He was testing her faith. He was asking her to give out of her lack. And I tell you today: God is not asking you for what you don't have. He is asking you to give what you have. He is asking you to step out in faith with the little you have. That little job, that little income, that little strength — give it to God, and He will multiply it.

VERSE 12 — "And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

DIE.

She had already accepted death. She had already accepted defeat. She had already accepted lack. She said, "We may eat it, and die." But God had other plans. And I am sent to tell you today: the death sentence over your finances is cancelled. The death sentence over your health is cancelled. The death sentence over your marriage is cancelled. The death sentence over your children is cancelled. You shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD (Psalm 118:17).

VERSE 13 — "And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son."
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

FIRST.

Elijah said, "Make me thereof a little cake first." He was asking her to put God first. He was asking her to sow a seed of faith. And I tell you today: when you put God first, everything else falls into place. When you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Put God first in your finances, in your time, in your decisions, and watch Him open the windows of heaven.

VERSE 14 — "For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth."
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

NOT.

The barrel of meal shall NOT waste. The cruse of oil shall NOT fail. God did not say, "I will try to keep it." He said, "It shall not waste." And I declare to you today: your barrel shall not waste. Your oil shall not fail. Your health shall not fail. Your marriage shall not fail. Your children shall not fail. Your business shall not fail. Your ministry shall not fail. The Lord is your keeper; He shall not slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:3).

VERSE 15 — "And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days."
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

DID.

She went and did according to the saying of Elijah. She obeyed. She acted on the word. And because she did, she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). But when you act on the word, when you obey the prophetic instruction, when you step out in faith, you will eat many days. Your household will be sustained. Your generation will be fed.

VERSE 16 — "And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah."
Stop right there. Did you see that word?

ACCORDING.

It happened according to the word of the LORD. Not according to the economy. Not according to the bank account. Not according to the doctor's report. Not according to the circumstances. But according to the word of the LORD. And I declare to you today: your life shall align with the word of the LORD. Your finances shall align with the word of the LORD. Your health shall align with the word of the LORD. Your family shall align with the word of the LORD. According to the word of the LORD, your barrel shall not fail.

DECLARATIONS

Now I want you to say these declarations with me. Say it with me:

1. My barrel shall not waste, and my cruse of oil shall not fail.
2. I am the one God has commanded to be sustained.
3. My provision is already commanded by God.
4. I put God first, and He adds all things unto me.
5. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
6. My household shall eat many days.
7. According to the word of the LORD, my season of after has arrived.
8. I receive my miracle right now in Jesus' name.

PRAYER

Father, I thank You for Your word. I thank You for the story of the widow of Zarephath. I thank You that You are the God who provides, the God who sustains, the God who remembers. I pray for everyone watching right now: Lord, command their provision. Command their healing. Command their breakthrough. Let their barrel not waste, and their cruse of oil not fail. Let them put You first, and let them see Your faithfulness. I declare that their season of after has arrived. In Jesus' name, Amen.

CLOSE

Listen to me: the barrel that did not fail is your barrel. The oil that did not run dry is your oil. The God who commanded a widow woman to sustain a prophet is the same God who commands your provision today. Your famine is over. Your lack is ended. Your season of after has arrived. Go and do according to the word of the LORD, and you shall eat many days. God bless you.

DECLARATIONS