Where is the God of Elijah? (Slide 1)

Intro

It is an honor to be with you this morning! My family and I love Pastor George and Laura. Our history goes back over the last 13 years. I have had the pleasure of seeing God move mightily in their family! Beginning with the salvation of their kids, eventually Pastor George’s salvation, seeing a restored marriage, followed by the call to ministry, working together before we moved to Roswell, and him a year later planting city reach. It has been a wonderful journey together, and a great friendship. Thankful to fill in for him today.

As we jump into the message let me begin with a question.

Q. How many of you have ever felt like you were going under at some point in your life? (Slide 2)

If we are honest I think we all have at some point. Inevitably there are moments in life when we find ourselves in the challenges of life. It seems like the enemy has us surrounded on every side and defeat is knocking on the door.

These moments are certainly difficult, but what I have learned is that it is in these crucial moments that our faith is forged.

I have an Anchor verse for todays message and it is found in (Slide 3) Isaiah 43:2, It says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Today we are going to look a story where it seems like things may not work out, but ultimately they will experience the power of God. My prayer for this message is that it would breathe fresh life into your faith.

Moments of uncertainty will come, seasons of trials are inevitable, and this side of heaven we will continue to face battles. Yet in each of these moments be reminded that each are simply opportunities to seek God in the deep places.

This morning I want to share a message with you I have entitled: Where is the God of Elijah? (Slide 4)

Turn in your bible to 2 Kings 2:1-15. (Slide 5) (hold your place there for a moment)

We are going to look at the Story of Elijah and Elisha. For those that may not have heard the story of Elijah: He was a prophet of God during Ahab’s reign in Israel. Before we get into the text of the message I want to lead you through a brief summary of how God worked through Elijah in his life.

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Submit

Elijahs story begins in 1 Kings 17 during the reign of Ahab King of Israel.

Ahab and his godless wife named Jezebel who caused Israel to sin severely in the sight of God. This happened through Jezebel’s manipulation of Ahab. She was a shadow ruler. The result of this was God proclaims through the prophet Elijah that there will be no rain or dew except at his word. (It didn’t rain for 3.5 years.

During the drought God provides for Elijah by sending Ravens to feed him. God had the ravens bring Him bread and meat.

God then sends Elijah to a Widow who is supposed to provide for him. Elijah comes to the widow asks for a cup of water, and to make him a cake. The widows reply is that they have just enough oil and flour to make one cake for her and her son and then they wouldest it and die. Elijah ask for it first anyway, and as a result God supernaturally provides oil and flour and she would never have need throughout the remainder of in the drought.

While Elijah is with the widow her sons dies. He cries out to God stretches himself out over the young man nose to nose, mouth to mouth, chest to chest 3 times and God raises the widows son from the dead.

Elijah confronts the wickedness and false prophets of Baal that Jezebel and Ahab have promoted. He calls all the false prophets to Mount Caramel and presents a challenge. That they would prepare a sacrifice and an altar, but no fire. The God who answered by fire would be the true God. The false prophets prepare their altar and sacrifice and then begin to cry out to Baal. There is no response. They spent an entire day crying out cutting themselves with stones and nothing happened. Elijah then takes a bull prepares the sacrifice, build an altar, digs a trench and has his servants pour 12 barrels of water on the sacrifice so much that it fills the trench. He calls upon the name of the Lord and God answered by Fire and consumed the sacrifice, the altar, and all the water.

After God answers by fire Elijah has the people Gather all the false prophets and puts them to death. Shortly after this the drought ends.

Elijah’s life is in jeopardy by Queen Jezebel because of the victory at mount caramel. She is going to try to kill him. Elijah runs for His life. As he goes he becomes faint and falls asleep under a tree. An angel of the Lord touched him and fed him. He fell back asleep. The angel woke him again and fed him and he ran for many days and eventually entered into a cave in Mount Horeb known as the mountain of God. During this time Elijah is suicidal and wants to die.

God speaks with Elijah in the cave, and eventually causes a demonstration of a strong wind that broke the rocks in the mountain, next there was an earthquake, followed by a fire, and after the fire a still small voice. From this place God sends Elijah back out on assignment.

As he departed he finds Elisha plowing in a field and throws his mantle on him. Elisha from this point begins to follow Elijah as his servant.

Israel goes to war, and God brings about victory, but because they spared the life of one appointed for destruction God speaks through Elijah to the king judgement for not doing the will of God.

In the beginning of the book 2 Kings we see Elijah call down fire upon 2 different groups of soldiers and destroys them.

Let’s pick up the story in 2 Kings 2:1-15. (read together)

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Apply

In this story we see that Elijah is to be taken up in a whirlwind by God. Elijah continues to move from place to place, and tells Elisha to stay put. Elisha’s response is As the Lord Lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you! This happens 3 times.

After the third time they come to the edge of the Jordan river and Elijah takes his mantle and slaps the water and the waters rolled back and divided apart and they walked across on dry ground. (That must have been awesome to see! )

After this Elijah finally asks Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away?" He proclaims I want a double portion of your spirit to be upon me. Elijah tells him if you see me when I go it shall be so for you, but if not, it shall not be so.

After the request of Elisha this powerful moment takes place when suddenly a whirlwind separates Elijah and Elisha. Then appears a chariot of fire with horses of fire and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. He cries out for Elijah My Father, My Father the chariot of Israel and its horsemen.

He is visibly distressed as he tears his clothes in two. This was a sign of morning and repentance in the old testament. But then something happens. The mantle of Elijah falls near him. This mantle represented prophetic responsibility along with God’s accompanying power.

Yet there was a problem! There was no more master to give direction, no one to follow from place to place. Elijah was gone! For Elisha this was His moment of uncertainty. What was he to do? Elisha was left with a choice. Mourn the loss of his teacher and throw in the towel, or pick up the mantle. Uncertainty can lead us into crippling fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of not being enough, what if God doesn’t come through for me like He did for them?

Can I encourage you this morning? Pick Up the Mantle! (Slide 6)

We know Elisha chose to pick up the mantle of Elijah. Can we be honest He had no idea what would happen! He knew what the mantle represented, He knew that God moved mightily for Elijah, but now he has to ask the question will God also work with me? (Slide 7) Elisha goes and stands by the bank of the Jordan that he just crossed and he cries out…Where is the God of Elijah? (Slide 8) Im telling you this morning, you and I are going to have to cry out! We are going to have to declare by faith, where is the God that I have read about? Where is the great God of power? Hunger has to arise! I know He worked with Elijah, but I need Him to work with me too!

As he cries out where is the God of Elijah he takes the mantle of Elijah and strikes the water! As the mantle strikes the waters they roll back and divide just as it did for Elijah, and Elisha crossed over. This is powerful!

What began as a moment filled with uncertainty, turned into a moment of God showing up in power! Can I tell you this morning that you and I are going to have to Strike the Water! (Slide 9) This is where we release faith in the face of uncertainty! We know God has moved for others, and His word tells me that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

We could end the message here today, but I want to take this one step farther.

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Closing

For Elisha to make the declaration where is the God of Elijah he had to be close enough to Elijah to see his God in action. He had to be close enough to Elijah to see his life. Think about it: The first miracle of Elisha was the last miracle of Elijah.

Let’s dig a little deeper. How did all of this begin?

There is a statement in 1 Kings 19:21 (Slide 10) that is huge, “So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.”

Elijah had cast his mantle on Elisha. Signifying that he was called to be a prophet. Elisha asks to tell his parents goodbye and then He would follow him.

I want point out something significant here. Elisha killed the Oxen. He wasn’t going back. There was no going back!

(Slide 11) He became the servant of Elijah. Wherever Elijah went Elisha went. Wherever Elijah slept so did Elisha. Whatever Elijah ate he ate. When Elijah spoke or prophesied Elisha was there.

Elisha served, He trained, he listened, He obeyed, he matured and pursued right up to the very last moment. He saw the miracles up close. He witnessed the move of God through Elijah right up until the whirlwind. He would not relent! He desired a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit, and through persistence and faithfulness He received it!

But now it was time to take the mantle, step out, and strike the water! (Slide 12)

The lesson from this story is that if you truly want to grow and experience the kingdom of God. You better get close to those that are in it. If your serious about receiving the power of the spirit you better get close to those are operating in it. You are going to have to destroy your plan b. God will require you to serve and minister under the leadership of others to learn, grow, and mature.

Can I tell you today. We need you. (Slide 13)

Ephesians 4:15-16 “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

The kingdom needs you.(Slide 14) The Body of Christ needs you. We are body body joined and knit together in Christ. The effective work and growth of the kingdom will only happen when everybody engages and does their part. Can I ask you today to be like Elisha?

Be relentless in your pursuit of things of God. Be faithful, serve, be teachable, gain knowledge, and serve God. Pick up the mantle walk to the edge of your Jordan river and declare by faith where is the God of Elijah? Strike the water and watch it roll back in the faithfulness of God!

Elisha received a double portion because of his proximity and pursuit. You and I can do the same. Stop waiting for someone else to initiate your spiritual growth. It is up to you. If you want to grow get close to those that have the mantle and learn. Be faithful. Be available. Be consistent. Be teachable. Serve. The kingdom needs you. This church needs you. This community needs you to become everything you were made for, so that as many as possible would come into the kingdom!

Let’s Pray!

Altar:

1) For surrender to the king. (Salvation & Rededication) Not just from sin- but maybe for settling)

2) For a release of faith to believe God.

3) For Fresh Encounter

4) To pick up the work of the ministry as Elisha did.

5) For an anointing to do the work.