“Seeing Beyond Yourself”
I Cant See • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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He entered a cave there and spent the night.
Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”
Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”
At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
“I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”
Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
Attention-Getting Opening: “The Spotlight Effect”
• Illustration: Share about the “Spotlight Effect”—the psychological phenomenon where we think everyone is watching us when, in reality, they’re not.
• Example: “Have you ever tripped in the hallway at school and felt like EVERYONE saw it? Or messed up in a game and thought EVERYONE was judging you? That’s called the Spotlight Effect. We think it’s all on us, but in reality, the world is much bigger than our moment of embarrassment.”
• Transition: “Elijah felt that way too. He thought the world was crashing down on him, and that it all depended on him. But God showed him a bigger picture—a vision that went beyond himself.”
1. Elijah’s Struggle: Overwhelmed and Alone
He entered a cave there and spent the night.
Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”
• Context: Elijah has just defeated the prophets of Baal, but now Queen Jezebel is threatening his life. He flees to the wilderness, feeling completely alone and done with life.
• Key Verse: “I have been very zealous for the Lord, but I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:10).
• Point: Elijah’s focus was on his feelings—fear, loneliness, and exhaustion. He couldn’t see beyond himself.
• Application: How often do we feel like Elijah? Like the pressure of doing the right thing is all on us, or we’re the only ones struggling?
2. God’s Response: Perspective Through Presence 1 Kings 19:11-14
Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”
At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
“I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”
• God’s Presence in the Whisper: God tells Elijah to stand on the mountain, and Elijah expects a grand display—wind, earthquake, fire. But God isn’t in any of those. Instead, He comes in a gentle whisper.
• Key Verse: “After the fire came a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12).
• Point: God isn’t always in the big, dramatic moments. Sometimes He speaks most clearly in the quiet, still moments.
• Application: When life feels chaotic, God invites us to pause, listen, and remember that He’s in control.
3. God’s Plan: It’s Bigger Than You (1 Kings 19:15-18
Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
• God’s Instructions to Elijah: God gives Elijah a new mission—anoint leaders and continue His work.
• Key Verse: “I have reserved 7,000 in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18).
• Point: Elijah thought he was alone, but God revealed there was a bigger plan in motion and others who were faithful.
• Application: Sometimes we get so focused on our struggles that we forget we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves. God’s vision for your life is connected to His greater purpose.
Application: How to See Beyond Yourself
• Challenge Students to Look at Their Own Lives:
1. Pause and Listen for God: Create space to hear God’s voice, especially in the quiet moments.
2. Trust God’s Perspective: When you feel overwhelmed, remember that God sees the whole picture, not just your current struggles.
3. Recognize You’re Not Alone: Look around—God has placed people in your life to walk this journey with you.
• Tie to Student Ministry Vision:
• “In our ministry, we’re here to help each other see God’s bigger picture. Together, we can accomplish so much more than we ever could on our own.”
Closing: An Invitation to Trust God’s Bigger Picture
• Illustration: Share a story of someone who overcame feelings of isolation or self-focus by trusting God’s plan.
• Example: A personal testimony, a historical figure, or even a relatable fictional story.
• Call to Action:
• Challenge students to spend time this week reflecting on areas where they’ve been focused only on themselves.
• Encourage them to pray and ask God to help them see His bigger plan for their lives.
• Prayer: Close by asking God to help students see beyond their fears, trust His vision, and embrace their role in His bigger purpose.
This outline emphasizes relatable struggles, God’s response, and practical steps, making it engaging and actionable for students.