August 6th.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VII, Issue 1, 1 July 1916, Page 8

August 6th.

(Seventh Sunday after Trinity.) Subject— . THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH. Scripture Reference : i Kings .xvii. i - 16. " Inhabitants " should be " sojourners " : He had retired as a hermit to Gilead, " Ravens." Elijah m the mountain defiles would find ravens' nests aftd

would get the food he required from that which the birds brought home. Zarephath is Sa'repta, between Sidon. and Tyre. The widow woman recognises Elijah as a prophet of Jehovah and obeys him ; this act of faith makes her a fit instrument of God's purposes. Explain that God is the sole source of power and life. The 14 laws " of nature are His will ; we cannot know why the laws of nature sometimes bring famine, drought, pestilence ; m the case of AhaJb it is said to have been a punishment for his idolatry. God sends His rain on the just and on the unjust. Ahab and his people (following Jezebel) have forgotten that theiv owe all to Jehovah ; nothing but disaster will teach them— henoe Elijah is sent to proclaim the famine so as to. FORCE Ahab to recognise (i) his dependence on God and (2) the helplessness of his false Gods. The miraculous increase of the cruse of oil and of the barrel of meal show by contrast God's care for the faithful. Note that G o d uses MEANS and PERSONS to effect His will. He sends ELIJAH to give the message to Ahab, by Elijah He proclaims the famine, at Elijah's prayer He sends the rain. He uses the ravens and the widow woman to feed Elijah. So m our spiritual lives. God uses His ministers and teachers . to teach us, to baptize us, to confirm, to. give us the Bread of Life. The HUMAN MEDIUM is the tool of God's Spirit ; the material element of the SACRAMENT is used to convey the Divine grace. It is God's regular way of working to use human means. So m relieving the poor ; God uses the widow to. feed Elijah, and Elijah to feed the widow and her house. WE are the. instruments He wishes to use to feed others. WE must pass on our knowledge of Christian life and blessings ; we are all MEDIATORS and INTERCESSORS for others. No man can live to himself* — we all depend on God, and all owe help to one another. August 6th is the Feast pf the Transfiguration (See P.B. Calendar^, a rrd letter day m the American Church. Tell the story (M«tft - xvii., 1 - 10). ,4 EHa£ : " is

the ELIJAH spoken of m the lesson for this Sunday. Monday, August 7th, is the Festival af the Holy Name of Jesus, once a very important festival '■' m the Church of England.