#25 - Kyle Thompson // Godly Companionship is SACRIFICIAL

Summary

The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Episode #25: Kyle Thompson – "Godly Companionship is SACRIFICIAL"
Release Date: February 4, 2025

Introduction

In Episode #25 of The Daily Blade, hosts Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life delve into the profound concept of Godly Companionship, emphasizing its sacrificial nature. This episode seeks to equip Christians with the understanding and practical applications of embodying sacrificial relationships as a testament to their faith.

Exploring Godly Companionship as Sacrificial

Kyle Thompson initiates the discussion by highlighting that Godly Companionship extends beyond mere association; it embodies a commitment rooted in sacrifice. He underscores that true godly relationships require individuals to prioritize others’ well-being, often placing their needs above personal gain or comfort.

Elijah’s Exemplary Sacrifice

To illustrate sacrificial companionship, Kyle references the Prophet Elijah, a pivotal figure in the Bible renowned for his unwavering faith and courage amidst Israel’s spiritual darkness. He shares personal admiration for Elijah, naming his second-born son after the prophet as a testament to his influence.

Kyle recounts Elijah's notable biblical moments, such as:

• Proclaiming a drought (1 Kings 17)
• Ending the drought through prayer (1 Kings 18)
• Confronting the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18)
• Fleeing from Jezebel (1 Kings 19)
• Being taken to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2)

However, Kyle chooses to spotlight a less prominent yet profound story involving Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16), emphasizing the theme of sacrificial companionship.

Scriptural Analysis: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Kyle reads the passage, narrating how Elijah is sent to Zarephath during a severe drought. Upon encountering the widow, Elijah requests a meal amidst her desperation, asserting God's promise that her flour and oil will remain unconsumed until the drought ends.

Notable Insights:

• Widow’s Desperation: The widow is newly bereaved, evident from her mourning garb, and faces imminent starvation (02:30).
• Elijah’s Authority and Faith: Elijah speaks with divine authority, offering assurance and instructing the widow to prioritize his need before her own (03:15).
• Sacrificial Act: The widow’s decision to sacrifice her limited resources without immediate reciprocation exemplifies true godly companionship (04:10).

Key Points Discussed

1. Authority in Action: Elijah acts under divine authority, delivering God's message and demonstrating unwavering faith in His promises.

   “Elijah acted in authority by telling this woman that she would receive a blessing.” – Kyle Thompson (03:45)

2. Faith Through Obedience: The widow exemplifies faith by following Elijah’s instructions despite her dire circumstances, trusting in God’s provision.

   “The widow acted in faith by doing exactly what Elijah told her to do.” – Kyle Thompson (04:00)

3. Unconditional Sacrifice: The central theme revolves around the widow’s willingness to give sacrificially without any assurance of return, reflecting Christ-like love and selflessness.

   “This woman chose to sacrifice for the benefit of others without assurance of any favors or benefits in return.” – Kyle Thompson (04:30)

4. Modern Application: Kyle challenges listeners to evaluate their relationships, questioning whether they possess companions who are prepared to sacrifice without expecting anything in return.

   “Do you have men in your life that are willing to sacrifice for you when they don't stand to benefit from it?” – Kyle Thompson (05:20)

Insights and Reflections

Kyle draws parallels between the widow’s story and contemporary relationships, urging Christians to cultivate relationships marked by selflessness and sacrificial love. He emphasizes that true godly companionship mirrors the character of Christ, who gave Himself for others without seeking personal gain.

• Counter-Cultural Sacrifice: In a society often driven by reciprocal benefits, Kyle highlights the rarity and importance of sacrificial relationships within the Christian community.

  “In our experiences and for some of you, this is going to be like me holding up a mirror.” – Kyle Thompson (04:45)

• God’s Provision Through Sacrifice: The episode reinforces the belief that God honors and provides for those who sacrificially serve others, as demonstrated by the widow’s prolonged sustenance.

  “The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty.” – Kyle Thompson (05:00)

Conclusion

Episode #25 of The Daily Blade encapsulates the essence of sacrificial godly companionship through the lens of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. Kyle Thompson encourages listeners to reflect on their relationships, advocating for selfless love and unwavering faith as pillars of Christian fellowship. By embodying sacrificial companionship, believers not only strengthen their bonds with others but also honor and manifest God’s love in their daily lives.

Key Takeaways

• Sacrificial Love: True godly companionship requires selflessness and a willingness to prioritize others’ needs.
• Faith in Action: Obedient sacrifice, even in dire circumstances, is a powerful testament to one’s faith.
• Reflective Relationships: Evaluate and foster relationships that mirror Christ’s unconditional love and sacrifice.
• Divine Assurance: Trust in God’s provision when engaging in sacrificial acts of love and companionship.

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Note: The timestamps provided are illustrative, corresponding to the discussed segments within the transcript.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

[B]

This week we are digging into the concept of godly companionship by looking at different elements that make up true God. Godly companionship. Yesterday we talked about how godly companionship is present. Today we're going to cover this. Godly companionship is sacrificial. Godly companionship is sacrificial. And we're going to do that by looking at something that happened in the life of one of my favorite people in the Bible, and that's the prophet Elijah. I absolutely love Elijah and that shouldn't be a surprise considering that I named my second born son after him. And I think I'm drawn to Elijah because he was a prophet during a time of wicked and depraved darkness in Israel. At my ministry Undaunted Life, we're in existence to equip men to push back darkness. And even a cursory study of the life of Elijah reveals a man that was willing and able to push back darkness wherever he saw it. There are many popular historical occurrences in the life of Elijah, like him proclaiming a drought in First Kings 17 and and his prayer that ushered in the end of the drought in First Kings 18. His rather hilarious confrontation with the prophets of Baal in First Kings 18, him fleeing from Jezebel in First Kings 19, where God essentially told him like, look, dude, have a steak, have a nap and chill out. And him also being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire and a whirlwind in 2nd Kings 2. But today I want to focus in on a story where Elijah wasn't really the main character, where he wasn't really the point. And that's the story of the widow of Zarephath that we see recorded in 1 Kings 17, 8, 16. This is right after he predicts a drought in Israel, a drought that ended up lasting more than three years. I'll read that here. Then the word of the Lord came to him. Arise. Go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, bring me a little water in a vessel that I may drink. And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. And she said, as the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die. And Elijah said to her, do not fear. Go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me. And afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, the jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth. And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty. Neither did, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah. So let's dig into the story. First of all, the Faith Life Study Bible points out that we can surmise from the language used here that it is very likely that this woman is newly widowed because she could be recognized by her mourning garment. Also, when she says that she is preparing a meal for her and her son, that we may eat it and die, she's not being figurative here, guys. She's being literal. It seems like because of the recent death of her husband that she is unable to procure future meals for her and her household. So she thinks that this is the last meal that she and her son will eat before they starve to death. I mean, this is pretty bleak, obviously. Now, normally, Elijah's requests would not fall outside of the expectations of customary hospitable behavior, but they aren't living in normal times right here. They're in the middle of a severe drought and famine. So Elijah's request for her to go and, you know, make him a little cake, you know, his request of this woman is extreme given the circumstances, because she is experiencing an existential crisis. But in verse 13, we see Elijah reassure her, do not fear. And then we see her response in verse 15, and she went and did as Elijah said. Now, a lot of different points can be made here about this story. You know, Elijah acted in authority by telling this woman that she would receive a blessing. The widow acted in faith by doing exactly what Elijah told her to do. But here's the main point that I don't want us to miss. This woman chose to sacrifice for the benefit of others without assurance of any favors or benefits in return. Don't miss that. I mean, it's huge because in our experiences and for some of you, this is going to be like me holding up a mirror. We will only sacrifice for someone if we think we might get something that we want in return. You know, we'll help a guy load up a U haul because we know that we're going to be moving soon too and we're going to want his help. Right? You know, we'll give a sale to a co worker and, you know, seem like the hero, but we've already got a bigger deal lined up in the pipeline, right? But what about the times where there is literally no possible benefit to you? Do you default to doing what is best for someone else? Better yet, do you follow the prompting of God when it does not make sense on your score sheet? For most of us, me included, a lot of times we don't. And we may be surrounded by guys like that too. So here's what I want you to think about today. Do you have men in your life that are willing to sacrifice for you when they don't stand to benefit from it? Keep that in mind as we march towards tomorrow.

[A]

Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.