SET THE TABLE!
TEXT: PSALMS 78:19 & PSALMS 23:5
Intro:
Mueller in his lifetime built 5 large orphan houses, housed over 10,000 orphans, a third of whom came to love the LORD, received almost 7 1/2 million dollars. Also, when most men slow down in their "twilight" years, Mr. Mueller-- between the ages of seventy to eighty-seven-- began 17 years of missionary tours travelling over 200,000 miles, in 42 countries, spreading the Gospel to 3 million people. In his life he preached well over 10 thousand sermons and read the Bible over 200 times-- on his knees. And this very humble man accomplished this all-- by placing his TRUST IN GOD ALONE.
Mr. Mueller testified that in his lifetime 50,000 specific prayers were answered. Years before he died, about the middle of his career, he affirmed that up to that time 5000 of his definite prayers had been answered on the day of asking.
One morning the workers came to Mueller early in the morning and informed him that there was no food at all to feed the children breakfast. There was no money to buy any either. Mueller just told them to go “SET THE TABLE”. The instructions were followed, and the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. The children were standing waiting for their morning meal, when Mueller said, "Children, you know we must be in time for school." Lifting his hand he said, "Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat." There was a knock on the door. The baker stood there, and said, "Mr. Mueller, I couldn't sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn't have bread for breakfast and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it." Mueller thanked the man. No sooner had this transpired when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the Orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.
What is our faith like? Do we have the faith to “Set the Table”?
I. The Water: Table of Provisions
I Kings 17:2-7
A. News from a Rich Redeemer vs. 2
“The Word of the Lord”
The Bible—what a provision is God’s Word!
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
B. Needed the Right River vs. 2-3
Specific Place with Specific directions to it
God has a specific table with specific directions on how to set it for each of us.
C. Nourished by the Right Raven vs. 6
But why ravens?
1. They are birds of prey.
2. Ravens neglect their own young.
3. They are unclean creatures. (Lev. 11:15)
You want to be fed by “God’s Ravens”. You might end up with rotten meat from any other! I Kings 18:19
God told Elijah to go “Set The Table”
II. The Widow: Table of Plenty
I Kings 17:8-11
A. It was a time of Economic Downturn 12a
She could have said “I have to take care of my own home”
II Kings 4:1-7
“Set the table”
B. It was a time of Endless Doubt 12b
“Set the table”
C. It was a time of Extreme Discouragement
No Job
No Food
No Money
And a preacher wanting what little you have!
“Set the table”
D. It was a time of Evident Death 12b
“Set the table”
E. It was a time of Exciting Deliverance 13-16
She had to step out by faith and “Set the Table” with nothing on it before God would step in!
We want the Exciting Deliverance but we don’t want to “Set the Table”!!!
She generously made one cake for the prophet, and was repaid with many for herself and her son.
Matthew Henry said this about the Meal and oil “The meal and the oil multiplied, not in the hoarding, but in the spending”
Elijah said, “Set the table!”
III. The Weak:
Table of Preeminence
Sometimes we don’t even have the strength to set the table-- God helps us!
II Samuel 9: VS 7-8 & 13
A. Lame in his Feet
2 Samuel 4:4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
The lame and the weak (us) have always been welcome at HIS table!
Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
B. Lowly in his Form vs8
Job 4:3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
C. Lacking in his Faith (was in hiding)
Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
D. LOOK who Found him! (the KING)
i. The King is looking vs 3
It had been a long time—he was just five years old when he was fleeing, but now he had a son himself.
ii. The King is Liberal—gives him all of his fathers estate—he becomes a “millionaire”!
“My Father is rich in houses and lands…”
iii. The King is Loving vs 7
Know why he was welcome at the Kings table—it was for his Father’s sake!!!!
David said, “Set the table!”
A missionary who was getting ready to embark and go away to a foreign country. As he was getting on the ship, just going up the gangway, a friend of his, who was a very wealthy person, came to him and slipped an envelope into his hand that was sealed.
His friend said, "You take this envelope, and if at any time while you are overseas you come to the place where you have exhausted every other possibility, and you don't where else to turn, and you have a need that you cannot meet anywhere else, open the envelope."
Well, the missionary took the envelope, thanked him, put it in his pocket, went up the gangplank and he stayed on that mission field for twenty years. At the end of twenty years he came back home, walked down that same gangplank, met by that same wealthy friend, and he returned the envelope back to the man, still sealed, still unopened, and he said, "Never did I come to a place where I did not know where to turn, nor what to do."
Have you “Set the Table” for God to do great things in your life?
