I Will Refresh You

Context

Sermon series: Trust the Promises

Last week: David - I know your heart.

This week: Elijah the prophet. The promise — I will refresh you.

From the time of David, Fast forward about 150 years, 9th bce.

Kingship digressed into idolatry, esp. Baal. King Arab and Queen Jezebel.

Elijah sent to champion the Lord and return the people to the Lord.

climax: contest: The god who sends fire is the real god. At the direction of the LORD, Elijah called down fire from heaven to prove that the LORD alone is God.

He then slew the false prophets and by his prayer brought an end to a three year drought.

By all accounts a decisive spiritual victory for Elijah and a turning point for the kingdom of Israel...or so we would think.

Text

1 Kings 19:1–16 ESV

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.

Introduction

Discouragement. When things dont go according to expectation.

earlier this week: high friction day. Coffee brewed wrong, spilled over. Then had to get gas. GPS took me to the wrong place! That kind of day. I give up! Nothing according to plan!

youve had days like that. What about when life is like that. relationships, jobs, not working. Lots of effort, no success….discouragement.

Ancient Problem - Elijah’s discouragement

Elijah was an amazing prophet. Amazing confrontations. Spectacular victory. Slaying. Storm. Running. Ahab’s amazement. Jezebel’s hardening.

It is a very rare thing for any people to be offered incontrovertible proof of the existence of God and his will for them. That is what he had provided: Fire from heaven. End to the drought.

After the events Elijah had an expectation for how things were going to go next.

He anticipated King Ahab and Queen Jezebel to have a profound change in attitude. Remove Baal worship, rebuild altars of the LORD. Lead the people in a season of repentance and revival in the land.

But the opposite happens.

Jezebel does not say “wow, Elijah, thanks for showing us the errors of our ways.” Instead, a death sentence! “O, No you didn’t!”

Despite all he had done, Jezebel remained a crazed enemy of faith and reason. Even harder and deadlier than than before.

Elijah, not only do I not revere you or the LORD, I’m going to kill you!

This surprising reversal of expectation. This seemingly complete failure of ministry overwhelms Elijah’s faith.

He flees into the wilderness. Wilderness place of spiritual struggle.

We admitted access to his inner thoughts.

I just want to die. It is enough. I’m just a man like my fathers. His fathers the prophets: it just doesn’t make any difference. The sermons, the prayers, the miracles, the confrontations.

Even MORE: GOD, please take my life. Kill me.

Not only are things not better, but they have become worse. Jezebel is going to clamp down harder on your people and has specifically targeted me...and I’m all alone, where are you? I alone am left. I am alone!

It is enough = I am done. I give up.

Current Problem- Our discouragement

Discouragement is something that we all face when expectations fail.

EX: working in the corporate world. Long term project, ah well, we are going to go a different way.

My wife: cleaning the house, but it always gets messed up again.

Working hard to make a honest living, but always short. Forget this.

Be nice to people, but so rude. I’m done.

Discouragement is also a spiritual reality.

Struggling with sin. But I keep falling back into it. I give up.

Sharing our faith with a family member. They reject. I’m done.

Working for peace and justice and Christ in the world. World stays hostile and broken. Why do I even try!

Pastor’s not immune. Can encounter spiritual brown out. burn out.

From NPR September 2022: “Millions of Americans turn to faith leaders - ministers, priests, imams, rabbis and other clergy - for messages of hope in trying times. But after two years of pandemic stress and deep divisions in society, many clergy are simply burned out. A survey this year from Barna, a Christian research organization, asked pastors if they'd given serious consideration to quitting, and 42% said yes.”

That’s an almost 400% increase since 2015, when that number was just 11%. (April 2023; 5 Shocking Realities About the Real State of Pastor Burnout (wnccumc.org))

Sometimes we look at the scoreboard in life: world: 1, me: 0. World: 10, me: 0.

We want to flee, we even think, I just want to die.

Psalm 42: As the deer pants for the waters in the desert, so my soul longs for you. When will I get to be with God. Where is God?

Hinge - God Cares

When we are most desperate, when God seems farthest away, he is very concerned for us.

And meets us in our wilderness. When we have a death wish he wishes to give us life.

Ancient Solution - God refreshes Elijah

God called Elijah to be a prophet. Refreshed him.

PHYSICALLY

Elijah went into the wilderness to die. He did not take food or water.

He expired.

Wakened by an angel who offered a meal.

The journey is too much for you. I understand. Let me care for you and strengthen you.

There was food and water. A cake on hot rocks and a jar of water.

Elijah is man. Physical. Hot bread and a jar of water. Words of compassion, food for his body. And this happens more than once. Rest, replenished.

SOUL

What Elijah thought was a wandering in the wilderness....God called a journey.

From Elijah’s point of view he was fleeing from Jezebel. Lords point of view: Elijah was really fleeing TO God.

So, he providentially leads him to Mt. Horeb, Mt. Sinai...God Mountain.

There gives Elijah the spiritual renewal that he needs.

Not the wind - LORD not in the wind

Not the earthquake -- LORD not in the earthquake

Not the fire -- the LORD not in the fire.

Not in these signs, because Elijah did not need a revelation of what God can do.

Elijah needed to get back in touch with who Elijah was.

The LORD met Elijah in silence.

Directs the attention to Elijah: What are you doing here, Elijah?

Not just here, spatially. But here in this moment. In this crisis.

“I am jealous for the LORD! I am zealous! I cannot tolerate how they have forsaken, torn down, killed the prophets and seek my life!”

Elijah’s answer: I am jealous for the LORD.…

saying it before the Lord and the Lord listens it becomes real. Clarified: the problem is not that you are a prophet, not that you love the Lord. It is just hard.

Divine affirmation by allowing Elijah to name his deepest self clarifies and puts back in perspective.

RESOURCES

So LORD gives him direction...as God speaking to his prophet.

Go back. Anoint kings and anoint new prophets.

You are not in this alone. Resources on the way.

Jezebel never did kill Elijah. Instead he continued his ministry. One of the most illustrious prophets of the OT. Nor did the LORD take Elijah’s life as Elijah had prayed.

The next time we see Elijah is 2,000 years later on a mountain with Moses and with Jesus. Jesus is transfigured in glory. Elijah who thought his ministry made no difference was a part of the ministry of Jesus which made all the difference in the world.

Current Solution - God refreshes us

God refreshed Elijah. God refreshes us. Wholistically.

we may be running FROM but he sees it as running toward!

Physical replenishment.

Exercise. Food. Drink. Rest. God care about our bodies. He knows when we are hangry and when we are truly deeply exhausted.

Creation is good. Take care of you as a creature in creation.

Invitation: get out to the shore. Eat a nice meal. Take a nap. Physical needs and boundaries. God honors that. Jesus often fed the hungry. Healed the sick. Touched the weary.

Spiritual replenishment.

In our fleeing, God is still guiding us. Guided Elijah to the cave. Guides us into encounter with him.

In this sanctuary God reminds us of who he is….and especially reminds us who we are in the LORD.

When I come into this space. I’m called back to who I really am.

Minister. Sometimes effective. Sometimes not so much. Sometimes comfortable with that; other times discouraged. But is who I am.

Who are YOU in the LORD? God wants to hear your passion

Mother, Father, husband, wife, professional, teacher, student, doctor, accountant, construction worker, electrician, musician,

In all this I am zealous for the Lord.

Mother Theresa. How can you keep on serving? Doesn’t make a difference? Answer: “God has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful.”

I am who I am. The rest isn’t up to me.

God hears that, honors it. When God listens it makes it real. When that identity is real, the challenges get back in focus.

Invitation: prayer, journal, with me or another spiritual leader, talk about who you are and what you are doing right now.

Connecting with the resources God provides.

Real people. Right here in this sanctuary.

Promise: We will stand in glory with Christ too.

Conclusion

God calls us to be leading people to Christ, just like Elijah. In our families, in our work, in our world.

It is sometimes tough.

courage that we are called, God will refresh us.

Prayer of Intercession

Holy God of earth and sky, in your presence mountains quake, flames tremble, and the winds roar “Hallelujah!”

We pray for the coming of your kingdom. Let the earth be made whole and new; let the sky be made clean and refreshed. May all who dwell in heaven and throughout the world be joined in giving you praise.

We pray for the nations and people of the world. Let us receive your reign with gladness. Grant world leaders wisdom and humility, that they may guide your flocks in the ways that make for peace. Give us ears to attend to the voices of poets and prophets, through whom your Spirit speaks.

We pray for the most vulnerable: for creatures threatened with extinction … for those of the human family who are poor, homeless, or refugees … victims of political or domestic violence … those who are ill in body, mind, or spirit …. Grant us compassionate hearts, inspired minds, and wills resolved to care for our neighbors with the love of Christ Jesus.

When you bring your promised kingdom, all your creatures will shout, “Glory!” all your people will sigh, “Love,” and all creation will together sing, “Hallelujah!” Amen.