How to Get Back in the Saddle

Introduction

Tonight we continue our series on Elijah and Elisha. We began this series:

How God Sustains His People (1Ki. 17:1-6)

We saw the manner in which God mightily supplied the needs of Elijah in the midst of a drought in the land.

How God Uses His People (1Ki. 17:8-24)

We examined how God used the widow woman to supply Elijah’s need, as well as how Elijah supplied her need. Reminding us of Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

How the Fire Falls (1Ki. 18)

During a Feeble time w/ Depraved leadership & Divided people

God provided a Faithful man, who challenged his people; chastised false worship; Corrected the Basis of Worship; who had Confidence in God & Called upon the same

A Falling Fire

Came Powerfully; Sufficiently; Convincingly & Effectively.

Tonight we’re going to examine the concept of ‘Getting back in the Saddle’

That’s terminology that many of you are familiar, but if not, it refers to someone who has for whatever reason been hindered in their journey.

(Ill.) Picture one riding a horse - they might have disembarked that horse for a time as to take rest - their progress has stopped and they are stagnant - but then they get ‘back in the saddle’ and continue the journey. It also applies to one who’s been thrown off. They take a fall, possibly get hurt and they are stagnant… in order for them to get progress, they must ‘get back in the saddle.

Elijah here in chapter 19 is one who at the beginning of chapter 19 falls out of the saddle, by the end he’s getting back into it.

I pray that as we see God’s interactions with Elijah here that it will help us if we should happen to be ‘out of the saddle’ or be out at some point in the future.

I. The Immorality of the Enemy (v1-4)

In the first few verses, we see Jezebel. Ahab is really bad, but Jezebel is wicked to the core.

She is a great illustration of our true enemy Satan.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Unmistakable

As we look at Jezebel’s threatenings, we see that where she stood was not in an ambiguous place. She was in direct opposition to Elijah, and wanted him dead!

Church as I’d mentioned, we need to be very clear of the fact that Satan is real, and he is your enemy.

He’s not misunderstood - he’s evil!

(Ill.) I think of how some girls like the ‘bad boys’. Do you know why they call them bad boys? It’s not because they’re misunderstood - it’s because they’re bad. They’re selfish, rebellious & prideful. Those are the characteristics of ‘bad boys’.

The enemy was Unmistakable

Unconverted

In trying to get into the mind of Elijah, I wanted to put this in there.

Consider a few things:

The great victory that just occurred on Mt. Carmel - you had previously 3.5 years without rain on the earth by the word of Elijah. Then you had a showdown of 450 prophets of Baal vs. Elijah. Then you saw the prophets of Baal doing all the things only to have Baal not answer by fire - but then Elijah called down the fire - AND IT CAME! Then they slew all the prophets of Baal.

Next after it all, Elijah’s lamentation (v10; 14 - ‘only I am left)

I’d say that Elijah had hoped that with this great victory, the nation would have returned unto the LORD - even Ahab & Jezebel… but that didn’t happen. They were unconverted.

(Ill.) I know what this feels like, and I know that I’m not alone. I know what it feels like to feel the power of God fall and have great expectations to see conversions & repentance & rededications - and then nothing. That can be discouraging….

Unsettling

This shook Elijah. He went from the mountaintop of victory to the valley of discouragement.

Remember how I spoke about the Saints of God experiencing depression in Job this morning - examine this and tell me what this sounds like: 1 Kings 19:4 “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”

Elijah became discouraged

The Immorality of the Enemy

II. The Indulgence of the LORD (v5-8)

Elijah Retreated

Charles Spurgeon said that Elijah “retreated before a beaten enemy.”

Elijah had just defeated 450 prophets from a false God and slew them all - and the next thing you see is he’s running from a girl!

Where was Elijah’s faith? What happened to this great man of God whom God used to do such great things?

Elijah Retreated - that’s what happened - but what’s interesting is God’s response

God allowed him Rest (v5-6b)

God provided a juniper tree for him to take rest under.

Remember how God prepared the gourd in Jonah 4?

It would have been easy & understandable for God to look at Elijah with bewilderment and contempt and say ‘What on earth are you doing? Did not I grant you a great victory? Did not I spare the rain for 3.5 years at your word? Why do you flee as though you’d lost?’ - BUT HE DIDN’T! He showed GRACE

Psalm 103:13–14 “Like as a father pitieth his children, So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”

God allowed him Rest

God provided Refreshment for the Moment (v5b-6a)

God made sure to give Elijah a refreshment.

Church, how many of you have feel wore down in the way? Feeling defeated and stagnant in your walk with the LORD in this life?

Psalm 92:8–10 “But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore. For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, For, lo, thine enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”

When we are feeling defeated (Elijah wasn’t, but that’s how he felt), we should take rest in the LORD and seek a fresh anointing of the Holy Ghost upon our lives & ministries

God provided Refreshment

God gave Resources for the Journey (v7)

God knew where he was going, and exactly what he needed to complete the journey.

Church, I’m thankful that God is wise enough to know my every need, and powerful enough to provide for it!

God gave Resources for the Journey

The Immorality of the Enemy; The Indulgence of the LORD

III. The Insight of the LORD (v9-12)

Here we get to the cave at Horeb - Mt. Sinai

A Prophet Disheartened

When Elijah gets to Sinai, we hear the LORD speaking unto Elijah.

Notice, he doesn’t chastise him, he doesn’t fuss at him or accuse him of quitting. He simply asks this question - What are you doing here?

Of course Elijah has an excuse - WE ALL DO DON’T WE?

Of course, Elijah’s excuse is like many I’ve heard before - IT’S THEIR FAULT!

If I had a dime for every person that is laying out of church because of ‘that preacher’ or ‘those people’, I’d be a rich man.

Why would we take the blame for our own decisions & lack of faith if we can blame it on others, right?

I’d say that might be the very question that God has for you tonight? What are you doing there? Are you where you’re supposed to be? What is your excuse?

A Prophet Disheartened

God’s Power was Demonstrated

Then God says ‘Let me show you something…’

And God sets a whirlwind in motion, so strong it breaks the rocks

Then God makes the earth to shake and tremble

Then Got brought a raging fire

But God wasn’t in those things - He was in the still small voice.

Elijah had seen the power of God demonstrated in great ways - whether the drought, the fire or the rain, but I reckon he was so accustomed to examining the Power of God, that he forgot about the presence of God.

God’s Power was Demonstrated

God’s Presence was Discovered

God wouldn’t just demonstrate power, but God was with Elijah.

Elijah heard the call of God - the tender mercies of a God who loved and cared for Elijah - but not only Elijah, but also the COI Elijah was called to reach!

(Ill.) A week ago, we had that great Thunderstorm and when the lightening struck, it awakened all my senses and struck a fear & awe in me… it’s easy to see the might and power of God displayed - but I’m thankful for his tender mercies, and that when I’m in my office, or sitting upon my porch, or laying in my bed, I can hear the still small voice of my LORD speaking unto me, and I know that my LORD is near!

God’s Presence is Discovered

The Immorality of the Enemy; The Indulgence of the LORD; the Insight of the LORD

IV. The Instruction of the LORD (v13-18)

God was not through with Elijah - He’d been longsuffering unto him, He’d indulged his pity party for a moment, but now it was time to get back to work.

We see the Instruction of the LORD

Get Back Where you Belong (v15a)

Elijah, it’s time for you to get back to your mission field.

Church, we will hit walls & setbacks in our ministries - but we can’t stay there indefinitely. We need to get back to work for the LORD!

Elijah had departed into a far country, and it was time to get back where he belonged - because there was a work to do!

Gert back where you belong

Bless the Next Generation (v15b-16)

Elijah was commissioned to prepare the next generation.

(Ill.) I’ll be honest - there’s been times when I’ve felt as Elijah felt. I’ve thrown myself the pity-parties and said ‘No one is serving the LORD but me - those people down at the church, they hate me! I want to go and hide in a cave somewhere!

But church we need to understand, we’re not just called to make an impact today, but to prepare the next generation for tomorrow!

IF America is to see true change and revival, it will not happen overnight. We didn’t get to the depth of depravity we are in in one generation - we need to train up these young ones that are coming behind us!

(Ill.) Carson asked if he could help me today - I said ‘Sure’! Then I told bro. Alan and he asked him to help with the offering. I want to encourage these young ones and bring them up to be servants for when I’m gone!

Elijah was to bless the next generation

Be Encouraged

Lastly, the LORD encourages Elijah in two things:

I Have a Plan (v17)

God shares that in the future - the one he has a primary place in - they are going to continue the work of the LORD.

And it was so! Though Baal worship was popular in Israel in Elijah’s day, Jehu & Elisha would all but stamp it out in the years to come.

Church, God has a plan!

You are Not Alone (v18)

Lastly, God informs Elijah that he is in fact not alone - there are thousands who had not bent the knee to Baal.

A couple things here:

I wonder how many of those 7k did Elijah have direct influence over that he knew nothing about?

God didn’t instruct Elijah to go minister to the 7k and create a mega-church… he sent Elijah to 3. Between those three, God would do a great work with.

Church, we are not alone. Although we may not have 7k to minister to, if we minister to the 3 or so that God gives us AS God has instructed us - it will have the impact God desires FROM us.

You are Not Alone

Conclusion

Through the patience and longsuffering of God, Elijah got back in the saddle and did a great work for the LORD! Elijah finished strong. WBU?