Encounter Devo 8/14

Introduction

Excited for Encounter to be back!

This weekly service plays a huge roll in moving our ministry forward. I remember when we made Wednesday night adjustments a few years back.

We knew attendance wouldn’t be as high, but we valued the opportunity to center ourselves around prayer. What we do on Wednesdays, the Lord delights in- truly.

Devo

To encourage us this evening, I want to look at a story from 1 Kings.

If you have your Bibles or the app on your phone, turn to 1 Kings 18.

This is a very familiar story but a very relative one for us this evening.

Elijah has just been commanded to go and confront the evil King of Israel, King Ahab.

Elijah was a prophet of God, one who spoke on behalf of God to His people. Remember, this was before the Word of God became flesh and provided His word through the inspiration of different writers.

Prophets were the mouthpiece of God to His people to offer direction and protection, as well as warnings.

Throughout this chapter, Elijah is tackling different issues within the land that are rooted in behaviors that are contrary to God’s ordained design to live.

Sin had infiltrated the nation.

There was a drought in the land at this time- the irony is, the people were worshiping the pagan God, Baal, was the God of rain.

To them, they were displeasing their God, yet because the worshipping of baal permissed sinful behavior, they continued to neglect the one true God, the God of Israel.

In the eyes of Elijah, it had now come to a point where they must choose.

They either worship Baal and live a life ending in destruction, or they turn their eyes to God and find life.

Elijah leads them to the altar of sacrifice, an altar that had been abused to worship baal in the place of God, Himself.

He challenges the people to cry to baal to bring down fire upon the altar. Whoever’s God rains fire upon the altar is the true God.

After the people cried out to baal, signaling for his interaction- nothing happened.

And now, it’s Elijah’s turn.

Passage

1 Kings 18:30–39 ESV

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”

Elijah had two objective in His obedience to the Lord.

Reform the people

Bring people back to the truths that bring life. Persuade them toward the grace and love of their creator.

Revive the people

To proclaim truth that refreshed the soul and brings purpose and identity back to the people.

When we gather in Encounter to worship the Lord through song and praise and the reading of His word and through intentional times of prayer, we should be seeking the Lord for these things!

As we pray, especially today, let’s pray for our people to be revived and refreshed!

I want to point out a particular here in this story-

When a servant of God obeys and trusts the Word of God, he need not fear failure.

As we go before the Lord in persistent prayer, we can trust His word that gives us His identity and teaches us about who He is!

This verse comes to mind in response to this point…

Psalm 37:5 ESV

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

When we pray- His will is going to be accomplished. That is the filter through which we pray.

And guess what…

God’s will is best for everyone.

Let us learn from Elijah and trust our God with our desires, prayerfully that they are the desires of His heart.

As cool as that passage is, the ending of the chapter is one of my favorites!

1 Kings 18:41–46 ESV

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’ ” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Elijah’s posture of prayer brought rain to a dry and desolate place.

Takeaway number 2.

Our hidden life prepares us for our public life.

We want to come along side you, not just when we are gathered, but also in your journey of following Jesus in the secret.

I believe when we humble ourselves before the Lord and trust Him, He will act.

Colossians 4:2 ESV

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Can I point out something that is just as crazier??

1 Kings 18:45–46 ESV

45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Elijah beat Ahab to the gates of Jezreel.

That is a 17-25 mile run to beat a man carried by horse…

Elijah ran a 4.6 in verse 46, and my man did it with sandals as kicks.

When the hand of the Lord is upon us, we can experience the miraculous for His glory…. Let us pray His kingdom come!