Lesson
Adult Lesson
Applying God’s Word
Someone has counted more than three thousand promises in the Word of God. Each of these promises comes from the heart of a loving God who “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20, NKJV). The promises of God are commitments that He makes to each one of us. As we claim these promises by faith and teach other people to claim them, the blessings of heaven flow into our lives. The apostle Paul emphasizes this divine reality in Romans 8: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32, NKJV). The apostle Peter clarifies this promise, declaring that “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3, NKJV). Through Christ’s death on the cross, and His victory over Satan and the principalities and powers of hell, He has provided everything necessary for us to live a godly, spiritual life. He also promises to provide for our basic, physical needs.
Compare 1 John 1:7-9 and Philippians 4:13, 19. Although these promises are quite different, what do they teach us about the character of God? How have these promises impacted your life?
The promises that we have read in these passages each speak of something different, but the picture of God they give us is very similar. They reveal a God of loving forgiveness, infinite power, and care for our basic needs. They give us the assurance that God cares deeply for us.
Read Hebrews 3:19; 4:1-3; and Matthew 13:58. What do these verses tell us about the need for faith?
There are so many wonderful promises of God in the Bible, and when by faith we claim the promises of the Word of God and believe them because Christ has promised, the blessings of those promises become ours. It is a lack of faith in God’s ability to do what He has promised in His word that limits the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives. Pray that God will lead you this week to someone who needs the hopeful promises found in the Word of God.
Kids Lesson
Elijah stayed in Zarephath where God had sent him. God had not sent rain for a long, long time because the people still worshipped the idol Baal.
Without rain the crops did not grow, and people everywhere were very hungry. But there was always food in the widow’s house, just as the Lord had promised.
Every day when the widow looked into her jar, she found enough flour to make bread. Every day when she looked into her jug, she found enough oil, too. Every day God kept His promise.
One morning the widow’s son whispered to his mother, “I don’t feel good, Mother. I hurt all over.”
The mother held her son and rocked him. She gave him cool water to drink. She sang soft songs to him. But her son didn’t get well. He got worse. And then he died. The widow woman cried and cried. Tears ran down her face as she told Elijah what had happened.
“Give me your son,” Elijah said. He carried the boy upstairs to the room the widow had given Elijah. He laid the boy on the bed. Then Elijah cried to the Lord. “Why has this happened to the kind woman who is sharing her home with me? O Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”
Three times Elijah prayed this prayer. The Lord did not answer Elijah with words. He did not answer Elijah’s question about why the widow woman’s son had died. But after the third prayer the boy began to breathe again. He came back to life!
Elijah shouted with joy. He picked up the boy and rushed down the stairs. “Your son is alive!” he shouted. “Your son is alive!”
The widow grabbed her boy in a big hug. She was so happy she laughed and cried at the same time. Then she looked up at Elijah through her tears. “Now I know that you are a man of God,” she said. “God loves us very much! I know He will always answer our prayers.”
God loves you very much too. He will always be with you and will always love you. Say, “I love You, Jesus” each day when you pray.
