Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Setbacks.
We have all had them, It seems like you just get going then Bam, something happens, and you hit a brick wall.
It seemed like the perfect plan.
It seemed like things were on track, what happened?
It can happen with your career.
Things might be going well at the office.
Business is booming.
Then, suddenly the company is sold, and there are layoffs.
It could happen in your personal life.
Maybe you are married for 20 years, and one day just as you are looking to spend some quality time with your spouse, the marriage is over.
Or your health.
One day your life looks like everything is in order, then suddenly, you have a major health problem.
I could go on and on.
We have all had them sometimes huge, sometimes small, but they all lead to the same point discouragement.
These type of things are almost easier to explain if someone is ensnared in sin.
For example, if someone is involved in embezzlement, and they lose their job, even the perpetrator is likely to see that it is the result of their actions.
When you are not a Christ follower, you attribute the setback to luck or fate.
And setbacks are just part of your lot in life.
Sooner or later as life kicks you around, the discouragement builds.
And what happens when you are doing everything as best you can.
What happens when you have a sincere heart, and a major setback occurs?
What if you are genuinely praying and seeking God's will, and then bam, the spouse leaves, or the job is gone.
What happens then?
You get discouraged.
Most of us have been there, at least once, some of us more than others.
God uses Elijah in this short little passage in 1 Kings to teach us a bit about discouragement, who God is, and how we can get to know God better through discouragement.
Turn with me to 1 Kings chapter 19 beginning at verse 1.
It can happen with your career.
Things might be going well at the office.
Business is booming.
Then, suddenly the company is sold, and there are layoffs.
It could happen in your personal life.
Maybe you are married for 20 years, and one day as you are looking to spend some quality time with your spouse, they tell you that the marriage is over.
It could happen with your health.
One day your life looks like everything is progressing, then suddenly, you have a major health problem.
These things are almost easier to explain if someone is ensnared in sin.
For example, if someone is involved in embezzlement, and they lose their job, even the person who is involved is likely to see the just consequences for their actions.
But what happens when you are doing everything mostly right, and a major setback occurs.
What if you are genuinely praying and seeking God's will and then the major financial setback, or health crisis comes.
What happens then?
If you are anything like me, you might get discouraged.
I think most of us have been there, at least once, some maybe more than others.
But this short little passage in 1 Kings can teach us a bit about discouragement, and well encounter God in the process.
So lets' turn to 1 Kings chapter 19 beginning at verse 1.
Everyone has discouragement
Elijah’s discouragement
To understand why Jezebel is mad at Elijah we need some background.
King Ahab was a king in the northern half of the divided kingdom of Israel.
He was as is said in 1 King 16:30, the most wicked King in Israel.
Ahab was married to Jezebel.
Jezebel was horrible.
She worshiped a god named Baal.
Baal was the chief of the Canaanite gods and was also the storm god, and a fertility god.
Jezebel wanted to make Baal worship the national religion.
One of the ways she attempted that was to try and kill all the prophets of the Lord.
But the event we are concerned with happened after that.
It is recorded in .
The prophets of the two competing gods agree to a contest to determine which of theses gods, Baal or Yahewh is the true god.
It is Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh against 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets of Asherah.
The people of Israel gather to watch this contest.
The discouragement.
The contest is going to work like this.
Each side will prepare a sacrifice but not light it on fire, then they will pray to their god, either Yahweh, in the case of Elijah or Baal.
Whichever sacrifice is miraculously started on fire will determine which god is the true god.
The prophets of Baal cut up a bull and they placed it on top of a pile of wood on the altar.
All day the prophets of Baal are praying, and pleading to Baal.
They cut themselves, and are drawing blood.
They are trying every ritual they can think of, but fire doesn't come from heaven, and the sacrifice remains on the altar, unburned.
Then Elijah builds an altar to the Lord.
He uses 12 stones to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
He cuts up a bull and places it on wood on the altar.
Elijah even has them pour water on the sacrifice, on the wood, and in a trench around the altar.
Then he prayed.
1 King 16:30.
Ahab was married to Jezebel.
Jezebel was horrible.
She worshiped Baal.
Baal was the chief of the Canaanite gods and was a storm god, as well as a fertility god.
Jezebel was on a campaign to make Baal worship the national religion.
She attempted to kill all the prophets of the Lord.
In a dramatic showdown on Mt.
Carmel Elijah went against the pagan prophets to show the nation the power of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
It is in 1 Kings chapter 18.
You may remember the story.
Everyone gathers on Mt.
Carmel.
There are 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, and Elijah.
The prophets of Baal, and Elijah are to prepare a sacrifice.
They are to place the sacrifice on their altar, but not light it on fire.
If the fire comes down from heaven and burns the sacrifice on Baal's altar, the people will know Baal is god.
If the fire comes down and burns the sacrifice on Yahweh's altar, the people will know Yahew is God.
All day the prophets of Baal tried sacrificing.
Elijah even taunts them, yet nothing happens.
Then Elijah builds the altar of the Lord with stones to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
Elijah even has them pour water on the sacrifice and in a trench around the altar.
Then he prayed.
.
It is clear Yahweh is the God of Israel.
Then, Elijah has the prophets of Baal seized, and taken down to the Kishon Valley and killed.
To Elijah, it certainly appears that God is winning.
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