James 1: 1-4     Teague Bible Church              10/27/13

What passages should we read when we are facing tough challenges?

I Peter 1

Romans 5

Hebrews 12

James 1

 

Today we focus on one reason Christians face trails, temptations, or suffering.

 

I have found eight Biblical motifs for why believers face these things, but there are some reasons which we will not know until we get on the other side of this life, in heaven, with the Lord. Some things are a mystery.

 

Deuteronomy 29:29  “The secret things belong the Lord our God;

but the things that are revealed belong to us and our

children forever.”

 

I Corinthians 13:12  “ For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then

face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall

know fully, just as I also have been fully known.”

 

Gregory Koukl   Doc. 3  P.3

 

 Intro to the book of James *********************

 

* James is head of the Jerusalem church   Acts 15

* He is the half-brother of Jesus   Matthew 13:55

*  He was not a believer during the ministry of Jesus, but clearly

was one after the resurrection  John 7:5   I Corinthians 15:7

* He was not one of the 12, but was an apostle  Galatians 1:19

 

Book of James written with Jewish believers in mind and a few places it seems he is speaking to unbelieving Jews also. A general letter to all churches, however.

James is written as a corrective to those who think grace means no action, and not to be a theological source book as we have in the book of Romans. The corrective is to make sure our Christianity does not simply roll around in our heads, but that we get our faith into action!

 

TEXT:

 

1:1  “Lord Jesus Christ” fascinating that a strict Jew like James would use this full title, which reveals He knew that Jesus was diety and that service to Jesus was equal to service to God! That resurrection gave him all he needed to see that, “God was in Christ; reconciling the world to Himself.” II Corinthians 5:19

 

“,,,to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad”

   (John 7:35)  This originally referred to the “Dispersion” among the Jews after the breakup of the united kingdom of  Israel shortly after Solomon ruled. Only the tribes Judah and Benjamin came back to settle in the land in any numbers. The rest were scatted. By the time James is writing the term was an acronym for any believer in Christ.

There was a well known Dispersion of Christians after the stoning of  Steven; after Pentecost.

Where James is writing mainly to Jewish believers in Christ, it is clear that Peter is addressing many Gentile believers in 1 Peter.

Peter uses many terms, that wer,e before this time, used only to refer to Jews.

“Alien (dispersion), Holy Nation, Royal Priesthood, Chosen Race”

 

 

1:2   “Peira”    In the Septuagint LXX – Greek version of

the Old Testament it says in Proverbs 27:21, “The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, and each man is tested by the praise accorded him.” This  means a test or trial.

Same word is used in James 1:2 to be a “crucible” where you are the one “heated up” to let you know what you are made of, or rather what you are becoming! If you did not know why you are allowed to be heated up, you might think something was wrong!

 

1:3   “Dokimion” this means to be approved after a test or trial

 

Example: You may have noticed a common label, stamped on the bottom of many products.

“U.L. Label : Tested and approved”

 

QUESTION:  Now when those engineers test the limits of these

products do you really think they have any

doubt that it will pass? Of course not!

 

You see, the trials you may be having, may have little to do with the fact that you are still not perfect. All difficulties are not related to the fact that you still sin at times. There is correction for that, as in Hebrews 12, but this passage, in this context, is about a test we are all blessed to go through!

 

“Count it all joy” that we come through the test, perhaps a bit singed but not burnt up!

 

Critical to understand this! On the U.L. Label example, the engineers know the product can survive it; but the product, (if it were a person) does not know that. You need to know, what God already knows about you; which is, that you will profit from your trial, if you do not run away. Otherwise, it is just one more thing you are afraid of, out there, in your future. God wants to eliminate those fears. This is how He does it.

 

Don’t want to endure the trial? That’s ok, you get to do it over and over till you do endure. God is loving in that way; never giving up on you, even thought you may give up on yourself.

 

I Peter 4:12  “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.”

 

These trials are not happening because of punishment (in reference that passage in James and this one in I Peter); or that you are not perfect yet!

 

The Lord is trying to eliminate the fear that keeps showing up in our life. He is lovingly trying to help us replace that “wishbone” with a “backbone.”

 

1:3  “knowing that the testing of your faith produces  endurance”

 

Knowing the Word of God is critical; not some optional thing. Flying in the dark otherwise.

 

Gregory Koukl   Doc3.  P. 3-4

 

 Doc. 1  “Contrary to fact world”  P. 44-45

 

 QUESTION:  So now that we know it is a trial; how do we get the most out of a trial?

 

ANSWER:  Stay in for the full test, for the full duration! Of course it will seem like it is going on too long; that is the part of the test! Stop running away each time, or you will have to go through it again! Have endurance!

 

1:4  “And let endurance  have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete,

                lacking in nothing.”

 

James 1:12  “ Blessed is the man who preserves under trail;

                          for once he has been approved, he will receive

                              the crown of life which the Lord has

                                   promised to those who love Him.”

 

 James 1:12  ( This verse is not about salvation, but about rewards)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SUNDAY, OCT. 27, 2013

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Solomon’s Benediction of the dedication of the 1^st temple 

 

I Kings 8:54-61    Teague Bible Church    10/20/13

 

Solomon is one of the most interesting figures in all of Scripture! If he were just rich and powerful we would see him as just another in a long line of rich and powerful men, (and usually self-indulged men.)

 

 But with Solomon we have a man who is very much concerned to bring attention to the

     honor of God.

 

Last week we beheld his great unselfish prayer in I Kings 3.

 

 QUESTION: Would you have prayed such a prayer?

 

After completing the most glorious structure of all times; the temple at Jerusalem, he gives a wonderful address.   I Kings 8:22-53.

 

I would like to focus on the benediction to this prayer today recorded in ;

 

    I Kings 8: 54-60.    MAIN TEXT

 

 It is here you see Solomon address the need of the individual heart that should exemplify each person belonging to the nation. The whole of the nation of Israel, (of any nation for that matter,) is no stronger that the parts that make it up.

 

You might notice how “personally” this prayer can be applied.

 

     For some reason we tend to believe God would have trouble knowing the individual heart of each person on planet earth, and dealing so intimately with each heart. I suppose, we project onto God, what we would have to do to be that well acquainted with people.

    You might remember the movie, “Bruce Almighty,” where for one day, one human, would have the power of God. He heard all the voices praying at once, and had to come up with a file system to keep track of all the request made of him. Not so with God.

God has so designed it, that it is as if you are the only one here. He has all the time in the world for you. Will you make time for Him?

 

In this short benediction we see many statements that connect to our daily lives. This is very personal indeed. We also see our problem concerning unanswered prayer in this passage. This is one of those timeless passages about us, and about God, we really need to apply.

 

 We can expect to sense the real presence of God, and have answered prayer, when all

     the layers inside of us are pealed away and we are honest before Him.

 May it be today, that the real God, finds the real you; all layers stripped away; leaving the building today knowing you have truly met with God.

Intro: A few passages leading up to this great moment of benediction

 

         I Kings 4: 21, 24-25, 29-34

                           8: 23   “with all their heart”

                              8: 27  “cannot contain God”

                                  8:39  “You alone know the hearts of all the sons men”

                                     8:48 “with all their heart”

 

 

Today’s  text: *******************************

 

 

READ  I Kings 8: 54-56

 

 

  v.56   “Rest”   Hebrews  3:18-4:3a   A deeper rest involved in the book of

                                       Hebrews than simple national cessation from physical war.

 

 

     v. 57   “ Not leave us, or forsake us”  Hebrews 13:5-6  ( Deuteronomy 31: 6, 8 )

 

 

          v. 58   “ Incline our hearts to Himself” The work of the Holy Spirit;

 

                     John 6:44  “ No one can come to Me unless the Father who

                                        sent Me draws him;”

 

                     John 12:32  “And I , if I am lifted up from the earth,

                           Will draw men to  Myself.”

 

 

Example: Man in Olympia/ 4 spiritual laws tract/ “all men sinners”

                    He rejected that the situation was so bad that Jesus had to come down here

                         and be executed for us. We just need some improvement, he said.

                I said, “Until you come to this point, the Father cannot draw you to Himself.

                                You have to see your need”

 

  Galatians 2: 21 “ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

 

For God to “incline” our hearts toward Him, or draw us to Him, we have to entertain

     the idea that what the Scripture says about us is true.

 

Example: The case of Judas and what “being drawn to God” means

                    John 6:63-65  “ for this reason”

v.59   “,,,be near to the Lord”   May our desire, and His purposes line up.  John 15: 4-5

 

         If we do not spend time with God we will repeat the pattern of trying to make

           ourselves happy, in our own way, and come away empty.

 

        QUESTION: How many times has that happened to you? You are sure what will,

                                for once and for all make you happy. You gain that thing and

                                 you are still unhappy.

 

Only God, who created you, knows what ( really who) will make you happy.

 

        QUESTION: Does that make sense to you?

 

Solomon is pleading for intimacy with God here. “day and night” / “as each day requires”

 

 

 

 

v.60  “,,, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God;

               there is no one else.”

 

To “flesh out” the reality of God’s love to others

 

John 13: 34-35  “ by this all men will know that you are my disciples,

                                 if you have love for one another.”

 

   Our goal is the same; to “flesh out” the reality of God’s love to others.

 

I want you to know that there is no greater purpose and joy than knowing you helped someone come to know and walk with Christ. There is nothing greater!

 

 

v. 61  “wholly devoted ”

 

 ( not  “perfection” happening all at once, at one point in time, but commitment to

     hold nothing back each time you have opportunity to met with God and

        serve God with the maturity you have at the moment.)

 

 

 

I Kings 8:23  “with all their heart”

 

       8: 38-39  “You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men”

 

                 8: 48  “if they return to you with all their hearts”

                  

 

A shocking statement:

 

Nothing really laborious or hard about being whole-hearted. It is the surrender to be “wholehearted” that is hard.

 

Example: You may be afraid to jump of a diving board the first time, but who would believe you if you said it was hard work to dive off ! You just lean forward!

 

And the beautiful thing is you want to drive again and again!

 

 

 

 

How do we apply this today? *******************

 

 

1.   (v.56)   Enjoy the “rest” that God gives you through Jesus Christ.

                The world sees you have it and wants it also.

 

                   Yes we strive to please God but not in some stress-filled manner!

 

C.S. Lewis  “ The Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to

                         be good. They hope , by being good, to please God if there is one; or

                           – if they think there is not- at least they hope to deserve approval from

                                  good men. But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from

                                      the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us

                                         because we are good, but that God will make us

                                              good because He loves us.

                                                 (Mere Christianity  ch.5,  para. 5,  p. 64)

 

 

2.  (v. 57)   You have the assurance that He will never leave you are forsake you

                   while you are learning to follow Him. If you could just walk away

 forever and forget Him, it means you never came to know Him in the first place.

 

        Many came forward to “accept” the Lord, at a church, the night I got saved, but only about 3 of the 40 that came during that revival service, at invitation time, truly got saved and continue to this day.

     You may bring terrible temporal judgments on yourself, in this life, because you are stubborn, but as a believer your salvation is based on a gift. If you truly gave your heart to Christ, at a point in time, it will become evident by endurance. One of the signs of real belief is endurance; to come back time and time again to love the Lord and please Him.

 

 

  (Carefully read I kings 11 recording the great fall of Solomon, that he was no longer

       “wholly” devoted to the Lord, and yet when we read   II Samuel 7: 12-16, we see that

             God’s lovingkindness never departed from Solomon.)

 

 

3.  (v. 58)   Be sensitive to the Lord; He is (inclining) stirring your heart

                       to trust and obey Him each day. That makes it better!

 

 

4.   (v. 59)   Be open to let Him show you how His way is the best way for you.

                  You “line up” each and every day and it becomes easier.

 

 

5.   (v.60)   Incredible results that help bring people to the Lord as they see you

                 trying to please Him. You may feel like you are barely hanging on but the

                   unbeliever see it and it blows him away that you are trying

                         to please God and love God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

   Solomon’s Fantastic Start    Teague Bible Church      10/13/13

 

We have finished 1^st and 2^nd Samuel and now want to see the results of David’s overall faithfulness to the Lord have good influence on his son. Solomon had to make his own choices too, and he did well for years, but ended badly because He lost his focus of pleasing the Lord in a daily walk.

 But today we see the most fantastic thing; God Himself offers to Solomon anything he wants, and Solomon answers in the most unusual way.

 

Apply this to yourself as we go along today. What if you could have anything you wanted? What would you ask for? What would be revealed about you when you made your request?

 

 

David’s charge to his Son

 

READ I Kings 2:1-4

 

v.2   “ ,,, show yourself a man.” Reminds us of the charge given to Joshua;

               first by Moses and then by the Lord. This is when we usually get a bit

                   insecure and start to think more detail would help.

                     Joshua got little detail at the start of his mission. He got help along the way.

 

                      Why does God do that? Why not a lot of detail before we

                            get started on our mission?

 

             I Corinthians 16:13   “ Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

 

v. 3-4  The promise sounds conditional and unlikely to be fulfilled, if it depends solely on Solomon.

              But the original promise was unconditional in II Samuel 7:14-16. How could it be both?

                  Personal loss for Solomon, but the plan of God continues. Check I Kings 11:1-13.

 

Point: God keeps His promises to seat a son of David on the throne even in the mist of disobedient Israel and disobedient

                 kings. That final son of David was none other than Jesus Christ our Lord!  Matthew 1:1-2 , Romans 1:1-4

 

II Timothy 2:13  “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”

 

 

READ I Kings 2:10-12  Death of David; Solomon’s throne firmly established

 

Solomon ruled  965-925 B.C. / His name means “Peaceable”

                                                     His other name was Jedidiah which

                                                        means  “ Beloved of Jehovah.”

 

 

 MAIN TEXT TODAY:  I Kings 3:1-15

 

Solomon’s Rule Consolidated

 

v.3  A marriage to foreign women taken in war was allowed ( Deut. 21:10), but she was

             to be given full rights. But this is just for political expediency. Scripture is clear

                 that they were not to marry foreign women, because of the corruption and

                   temptation to the men to worship foreign gods. ( Exodus 34:16, Deut. 7:3)

 

This was the reason for the downfall of Solomon we read about in chapter 11.

 

But at this early stage ,Solomon had his heart right before God, and the Lord offered him something

   most could only dream about!

 

v.5  “Ask what you wish Me to do for you”  I Kings 3:1-15

 

        WOW! A real blank check and yet a revealing of a good heart. Reflecting the fact that he had

                 spent a lot of time with God.

 

The psychological principle is:

     You spend a lot of time with someone you admire and you become like them.

        Certainly true of Solomon at this stage of his life as he spent time with God.

 

A request that transformed him and brought the most long-term good!

 

650 prayers in the Bible and this is one of the best!

 

As with Philippians 4:4-6 he starts with remembering the past, ( “with thanksgiving”) then help for an unsure present set of circumstances, then a desire to see a future that honors God. Assumed in all of this, is the fact that God knows more about what will make him happy than he could know himself.

 

He prayed not for things to be attached to him, or a perfect set of circumstances around him, but things to transform his life at the core of his being!

 

All this wisdom had to be tested out, in real life test experiences, for it to be a true possession and integrate into his life.

 

EXAMPLE: We have a Marine with us today that has just completed an incredible journey of pain, struggle, and hardship, the likes of which we have only read about. The “Crucible” it is called.

 

I said, “I will make a deal with you Marine. Let us assume I have the power to remove the painful training you have experienced the last 13 weeks or so, and you wake up tomorrow without anybody ever being the wiser. In other words, everybody, except you, will believe you actually went through all that pain and treat you like a deserving Marine.”

 

 (He answered he would not want the pain taken away.)

 

Can anybody figure out why this Marine we have here today answered this way?

 

 

Civil War poem by an unknown soldier:

 

I ask for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey

I asked for health that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel the need for God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing I ask for, but everything that I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered; I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

 

Solomon got a lot of things he did not ask for ; just thrown in for free.

 

C.S.Lewis  “ You put first things first you get second things thrown in for free.

                        You put second things first and you lose both first and second things.”

 

Example: I moved to the Northwest praying to honor God to serve and be spent for the Lord’s purposes. I saw see people saved and grow in

His grace. I did not go expecting to receive anything as I worked , except power to do the work.

I was given that, the whole 11 years, but also given things I never ask for. An adventure of a lifetime!

 

John 15: 7-11

 

I John 5:14

 

Matthew 6:33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David wants to walk by sight

II Samuel 24:1-25     Teague Bible Church      10/6/13

 

Read –  II Samuel 24:1-5

 

Nothing wrong with a required census, Exodus 30: 11-16.

 

Question: But for what purpose is David taking this census?

 

Answer: Simply to feel secure, and he wants to feel powerful, and to feel

like he has control. Ever feel this way?

 

Psalms 33:16-17

Zechariah 4:6

John 15:5

 

II Samuel 24:1

 

This verse gives some of us pause; to think that God would use evil.

 

In the parallel passage in  I Chronicles 21 it says that “Satan” moved

David to do this faithless deed. It was written much later, and more in line

with how we would say it.

 

In Hebrew thinking; if God allowed it, then God is the cause of it; but only in the sense of  bringing a greater good out of the use of evil.   We would say God  “allowed” it.

Example: Neutron bomb- Oppenheimer- named the test bomb “Trinity,” after a poem by John Donne, in which it was said,

“God is the one who destroys, to bring greater good.”

 

Example: Pharaoh hardened his heart; God hardened his heart

 

Example: Poking a wasp nest- They are easily angered; I can time the attack;

very predictable.

 

Example: I Kings 22:22 God sent a “deceiving spirit” on the false prophets of Ahab so that they could only give false messages.

 

Example:  End times– II Thessalonians 2:1-11- God sent a “deluding influence” so they would believe false things;

because they had already decided to reject the Gospel.

 

READ II Samuel 24:8-17

 

Verse 17– The mark of a good leader to take more of the blame than he deserves, but this statement was not true. Israel had done plenty of wrong up to this point! Note the start of the passage. God is upset with Israel, and even though David sinned, at this point, it was Israel who had sinned all along!

 

In fact many believe that the “being angry with Israel, ” is about a lack of support for David, the true king of Israel !

 

Knowing the prophecy clearly, many still helped Saul try to kill David for 10 years, then supported Ishbosheth, then Absolom, then Sheba, then later Adonijah over Solomon!

 

READ II Samuel 24:24-25

 

This very site became the site of the Temple! The glue that held some of Israel together till the fulfillment in Christ.

 

What a long-range plan God has,

and how wonderful the wisdom He has,

so as to take the worst that rebellious man can dish out,

and all the devil tries to do to stop His plans, yet it always comes to nothing!

 

Psalms 76:10  “For the wrath of man shall praise You ( God takes evil and turns it around for good for those who love Him) with a remnant of wrath you will gird Yourself.”  (God wears it like a badge of honor to show He is over all things and all outcomes!)

 

Man has free will, but God has the final say!

 

Great personal blessings for all who will walk with Him, in faith; because just looking at circumstances,

it all looks like an unredeemable mess!  Philippians 1:6

 

 

   2/2/11                        Jimmy Petty

Depression usually has a partner called “stress.”

Stress is any life situation that chronically bothers, irritates, or upsets you.

 

The indicators are:

 

a)      Worried anticipation of future events that cannot be avoided

b)      Being preoccupied with, and ruminating about these events for a period after they occur

 

Symptoms of STRESS OVERLOAD… ( that lead to continued depression the longer

the problem stays unresolved )

 

 

a)      Decision making becomes difficult.

b)      Excessive daydreaming or fantasizing about “getting away from it all.”

c)      Increased use of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, tranquilizers.

d)      Thoughts trail off while speaking or writing.

e)      Excessive worry about all things.

f)        Sudden outburst of temper and hostility.

g)      Paranoid ideas and mistrust of friends and family.

h)      Forgetfulness for appointments, deadlines, and dates.

i)        Frequent spells of brooding and feelings of inadequacy.

j)        Reversals in usual behavior.

 

 

What is depression?

 

a)      A general overall feeling of hopelessness, this is the main element.

b)      When depressed, you lose perspective and become apathetic.

c)      There is an inability to concentrate.

d)      A loss of self-esteem.

e)      A change in eating, sleeping habits. A change in physical activity, to become slower or hyperactive.

f)        Withdrawal from others, because of a groundless fear of rejection.

g)      With some people, you will find that there will be threats of suicide.

 

Are you depressed?   (Take the test below)

 

 20 questions from Taylor- Johnson Temperament Analysis Test

 

( Full test, and results for action available through Pastor Petty)

 

Do you often feel left out or unwanted?

Do you feel that life is disappointing, and not all that you thought and hoped it would be?

Do you usually feel sure that things will turn out all right in the future?

Do you have a deep fear of any animal, thing, or place because it always makes you feel  panicky?

Are there times when you feel blue or discouraged because you don’t seem to be getting anywhere or getting anything done?

Do you feel happy about life and think it’s very much worth living?

Are you bothered at times by the feeling that no one really appreciates or cares about you?

Do you think a lot about unhappy things that have happened to you?

Are there many times when you feel so low that you are close to tears?

Are you often depressed by your personal problems?

Have you ever been so deeply disturbed or troubled over something that you thought about suicide?

Are you troubled by a lack of self-confidence?

Are you easily hurt or discouraged by criticism?

Do you often feel blue or downhearted without knowing why?

Do you sometimes feel completely worn out and exhausted because you are so upset and worried?

Do you smile or laugh a lot?

Do you often get discouraged because you think that you are not as good as other people?

Are there times that you feel so low that you can’t make yourself do anything?

Do you often get depressed when you think about your childhood or certain memories of the past?

Do you sometimes feel sad or depressed for days at a time without any good reasons?

 

(If you answered most of these “yes” it could indicate chronic depression because of unresolved situations, or your feelings are out of touch with reality)

 

Depressed people in the Bible

 

MOSES    Numbers  11:10-17

 

DAVID    The Psalms (in general)   Ps. 77, 51 ,40, 42,   34:15-18

 

** ELIJAH     I Kings 19:1-18 (a detailed look at him today)**

 

JONAH,  JOB,  DANIEL,  JEREMIAH

 

PETER

 

PAUL   II Corinthians 1:3-11

 

**  ELIJAH – One example to look at today from the Old Testament

 

Background:  875 B.C., A time when the lights almost went out because of Baal worship.

Elijah is running for his life. Queen Jezebel has vowed to kill him.

 

 

.Read I Kings 19:1-18

 

 

Verse 1-4      Classic manic depression?    {probably not, but similar symptoms for a

short period ( acute) in his case}

 

Manic depressive defined:  “ Afflicted with a psychosis in which periods of manic

 (madness) excitability alternate with periods of melancholic depression”

 

Loss of appetite   (the angel had to get him to eat more, v.7)

Inability to concentrate

Desiring to run away from problems

Excessive self-pity

Unmoved by someone trying to help

Wishing for death

 

 

Verse 5      Like the tender care of ch.17, but, apparently forgotten, (just like us), as we forget past lessons; depend on a feeling; then suffer again. Rarely do we learn a lesson once and for all times, it makes for great movies, but it is not reality.

 

 

Verse 6-10   “What are you doing here?”

 

                    A rebuke, and a stimulus to confess fears and feelings. Note how important it is to state, out  loud  to God, what you have been feeling.

 

Impact of Elijah’s Life (at the time of this event I bet he wondered if he really made that much of a difference, since Israel fell anyway.)

 

Yet we find that he fulfilled a great purpose for others and closeness to God for himself. ( I Corinthians 4:5)

 

Three great clusters of miracles in the Bible:

 

1.  Giving of the Law through Moses

2.   Days of Elijah and Elisha

3.   The earthly days of Christ and Apostles

 

Matthew 17    The Mount of  Transfiguration    Moses    Elijah   Jesus

Only now (in heaven) does Elijah know the full impact he had.

 

We try to put all the puzzle pieces together when we don’t have all the pieces, but God does and He deliberately gives us those pieces; in steps, over time.

Question: Why not give it to us all at once???

(You cannot build a relationship that way) SHARE

 

Verse 11-14    Question was repeated, allowing Elijah time to reflect on what just

                           happened.   By the way; what did just happen? SHARE

 

Wind, earthquake, fire    finally a “gentle blowing”

Hebrew  “ a  thinness”- so faint it could only be heard by straining.

 

Example:     Deer hunting:  You get where you can distinguish between the noise of

different animals walking. In your first couple of seasons you cannot do it.

 

 

GOD WORKS JUST AS POWERFULLY IN THE STILLNESS OF THE HEART AS HE DOES IN GREAT PHYSICAL MIRACLES.

 

 This is the primary lesson that Elijah learned.

       It is also a key to overcoming depression

 

 

Back to  I Kings 18:38-39

 

Sounds like Israel finally got it all together by the one big event, right? No, they went down until they were led away into captivity. The Northern Kingdom fell to Assyria in 722  B.C. The Southern Kingdom in 586  B.C. to Babylon.

 

Elijah needed more than the big event,  he needed intimacy with God, to learn that God works in many ways for His purposes, this is what he needed and that is what he got!!!

 

Question: Could not God have done this differently? Perhaps already killed Jezebel and not scare the begeebers out of Elijah? SHARE

 

 

 Example: My son Grant in the tree. He is 5 years old, 100 feet up, dangerous; he froze,, I went up, put a new task before him (“Let us go eat when we go down”) I did not carry him down, he followed me down and was beaming with confidence. The way I helped made all the difference in the world. God gave Elijah a new task; which had to mean he would live for a while and he still had a vital purpose.

 

READ  Verse 15-17 

  Why are you where you are?      (This is the question for you today.)

 

FINAL:  How does one become able to hear His voice?

                     One sure way…

 

We need long encounters with God where stillness before God is the main objective.

 

It is O.K. to be depressed for short periods of time, to readjust your thinking to a new situation. But then you have to surrender that depression to the truth of God’s Word. You did not get there quickly so the solution will not be quick, but it can be sure progress.

 

Some stress is a very good thing.

 

 Example: A guitar sting has to have stress to make a sound.

Too tight and the string breaks; (as with stress overload, leading to chronic depression.)

But too loose, and we get no sound, (and no clear purpose to exist.)