The Voice, It's Not a TV Show.

The Called: Life Lessons from Elijah • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Theme: God's Voice Provides Perspective on our Purpose. Purpose: That we spend more quiet time listening to the Lord. Gospel Connection: The Holy Spirit is given specifically to speak to us. Mission Connection: In order to serve well, we need to serve with God's perspective.

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1 Kings 19:9-18

But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lordtold him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.

16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi[b] to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.

17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!

18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

Introduction: Re-cap of last week.

Elijah was depressed, Resistance from Jezebel’s threat, Exhausted, wanted to die, but a messenger restored his strength.

This is really phase I of restoration from Depression - Re-gain strength to deal with issues - counseling, friends, rest, medication.

Questions not answered last week, but are for this week.

And the first question is...

Where do you go when you are down?

40 days/40 Nights to the Mountain of God

Elijah is going to seek God, One could say, he has a beef with God.

Is this where you go for restoration, to get answers?

We might seek friends, we might seek counselors, but ultimately they are only truly messengers of God. They should be pointing you to God, or facilitating your discussion with God.

Why don’t people go to God to share their frustration, depression, struggles.

1. We think that God is too busy to mess with your problems - It is simply not true - scripture

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 11

Ask, Seek, Knock

5 And he said to them, “Who of you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I do not have anything to set before him.’ 7 And that one will answer from inside and* say, ‘Do not cause me trouble! The door has already been shut and my children are with me in bed! I am not able to get up to give you anything.’* 8 I tell you, even if he does not give him anything* after he* gets up because he is his friend, at any rate because of his impudence he will get up and* give him whatever he needs.

9 And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 But what father from among you, if his* son will ask for a fish, instead of a fish will give him a snake? 12 Or also, if he will ask for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 Therefore if you, although you* are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

2. We think that God does not care - Christ died for you, sent his Holy Spirit - (See Scripture Above)

2. We think that God does not care - Christ died for you, sent his Holy Spirit - Ask whatever you want scripture

3. We think God will be offended - Is God insecure? Does God not know what you are thinking already? Elijah is simply honest with God.

Do more reading of the Psalms - My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.

4. We will Receive God’s Wrath - Jesus already took it.

The Enemy deceives us that God is not good - Garden of Eden.

5. The Enemy deceives us that God is not good - Garden of Eden.

Read Scripture to counteract the lies with the Truth

6. We can not think straight - Depression can do this.

Need more of step 1 - Re-energize - add exercise.

7. We are angry with God - Speak to Him and be honest.

Couple who lost a still born child - wife wrestled with God and was restored, Husband became bitter towards God and lost his faith and divorced his wife.

Video Clip - “Yelling at God,” in The Apostle

Article on Texas Church Shooting

The Apostle Video “Yelling at the Lord”- This is Elijah, God wants us to be Honest.

But will God Listen, Will God Speak Back?

We can hear God’s Voice.

God may not speak to you exactly like he did to Elijah in this moment

But God is very much willing to speak to us. And it is God’s Voice that restores Elijah and Elijah in his purpose.

How?

First by an inner voice - This is probably not an audible voice, but a sense in Elijah’s mind, in his heart. “Why are you Here Elijah.”

It prompts Elijah to be honest, perhaps yell at God.

Second with His very presence - Honor for Elijah - like the second Moses, but not as great as Moses

This answers #1, how can serving Christ be for him to bless us and others through us, when it is hazardous, and we can get hurt? - God honors us and wants to be with us.

Not in wind, earthquake, fire - but still, quiet voice

Turmoil is Preparation for the purity and holiness, and goodness of God to arrive - It is the storm (Judgment) before the calm that prepares the way for God, but God here at the core is gentle and pure.

This is storm has already been taken care of by the Judgment on the Cross - He has purified those who trust in Christ so that the Spirit may dwell in us and we may hear his voice.

Hearing God’s Voice - Kingdom Ambassadors

Can we hear God’s voice - Examples

Children’s Message

God’s Voice Provides Perspective on our Purpose.

Question #2 - How Does God Restore & Bless Us when we are hurt, depressed, Frustrated in serving Him (Again your calling in all of life, also as a Church)?

God’s Voice Provides Perspective on our Purpose.

Elijah’s Reason for Coming to God -

Elijah’s Narrow View #1 - Notice the Number of times he uses “I” in this passage. - Often when we are depressed our view of the world narrows to our selves.

Perspective #1 - From the Story - God is the one who told him to do everything, and Elijah was not the one who set the altar ablaze with fire. Elijah was not the one who summoned the Ravens to feed him, Nor was Elijah the one who supplied the food for him and the Zarephath Woman, and Elijah may have prayed, but he was not the one who raised the widows son from the dead. God did all of that. Elijah was not alone, God was with him the whole time, and God did His work through Elijah. Inevitably, God was producing the results, and Elijah had a front row seat.

Elijah’s Small View# 2 - “But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars,”

Perspective #2 - From the Story - Yes this was true, and all Israel bowed down and said, “The Lord - He is God.” After the God showed up on Mount Carmel. From God’s Voice - “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” - Elijah somehow forgot the first part of the story, and only God knew the Other - God can give us a wider perspective.

Elijah’s Small View #3 - “And Killed all of your prophets. I am the only one left”

Perspective #4 - From the Story - No, Obadiah who is faithful to God and in the Kings court slighly hid a bunch of the prophets of the Lord. And later in the story we will meet some of them.

Chapter 20 - The Prophet of the Lord who tells Ahab why he will die.

Chapter 22 - Micaiah who prophecies that Ahab will lose a battle.

Elijah’s Small View #4 - “and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

Perspective #4 - From the Story - Who is “they?” Elijah thinks Israel wants to kill him, but in reality the only threat came from Jezebel - And at this point she may not have the power to - only empty threat. From God - Anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha - This is code for through these three people will take care of Ahab, Jezebel, and their entire family

Taking the Long view - Elijah gets to anointing Elisha before God miraculously takes him away, and it is Elisha who anoints Hazael, and Jehu who in 2nd Kings kill off the house of Ahab and Jezebel.

Perspectives for us.

#1 - In life and Ministry realize that you have a small view - God has the bigger view.

We are not alone - God is always with us, and there are others doing ministry that you may not be able to see.

There are always more resources and people for God’s mission than we can see - Building Project, Budgets, Number of Volunteers

Application - Survey Question - “Most of the work in the Church is done by a few people” - Reality (PowerPoint Charts).

#2 - Our Purpose and our real impact of being a blessing to others we may not see to its fullest either. - Elisha finishes the mission.

Elijah’s impact is so great that the Jews have him as a major, central role in their sedar meals as one who will precede the Messiah, and was with Moses at the Transfiguration of Jesus. Elijah never saw the huge impact his life had in redemptive history.

Vision for a Revival of Young Believers sold out for Christ - Not seeing it now, but it is compelling me to live into that vision. I could quit, but why should I not? What if this vision is fulfilled because I was used to equip one persons life, an Elisha if you will. God used me to equip that one person through whom God brings in an abundant harvest of Young Believers sold out for following Christ. So, I think I should press on.

The Chain that led to Billy Graham’s Conversion.

Conclusion:

When you get Discouraged, or Depressed. I challenge to Go to God. Be Honest with God, and Listen to God. He wants to give you a bigger perspective on your Purpose. To Bless you, and Bless others through you.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Chatechism: Q&A 26-27, 118-127, Belgic Confession: Articles 2, 13 Canons of Dort: Head III & IV, Article 6 - 7

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