2026 VBS Commencement Sunday

Intro

We have has such a great week at VBS! This week we learned about the prophet Elijah and how God used him in mighty ways. One particular passage that stuck out to the Teen Boy class was 1 Kings 19:1-18

1 Kings 19:1–18 KJV 1900

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth 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 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. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

This is a very powerful passage for it shows just how God works in our lives. Elijah is coming down off of a spiritual high and we see him crash! He was lonely, depressed, anxious, and in desperate need of God’s divine touch.

Look at these few principles that we see in this passage.

Spiritual victories do not make us immune to discouragement

In our lives, we will experience times when we are on fire for God and times where we are down and discouraged. Times of victory do not make you immune to discouragement and times of discouragement do not mean that you are far from God!

When you are discouraged, especially after a great time of spiritual renewal, the enemy is working to try to keep you from doing it again! Your flesh is working against you. Maybe God is even trying to teach you some humility!

However, although you are on the spiritual mountain top for a time, do not be fooled: You are not immune to the realities of humanity. Spiritual victories do not make us immune to discouragement.

God cares for physical needs

We also see God work in more than just spiritual ways! Elijah had just worked hard for the Lord and was depleted of everything! We like to joke about this passage that “A nap and a snack can fix anything!”

The reality is deeper! Yes, you need physical nourishment, you need real rest. But, at the same time, you have to realize that it comes from God! This is what we see with Elijah. He needed physical nourishment and God provided.

God cares for you in every sense of the phrase! God created you and wants to sustain you in your life. Do you trust Him to do it?

Elijah's perspective had become distorted

Once Elijah was in this deep depression, his mental state plummeted, so did his spiritual relationship with God. He began to believe the lie of the enemy that he was totally alone!

Imagine what he just went through! He was on a mountain top with hundreds of false prophets, but he alone was the follower of YHWH God. What a lonely feeling! The enemy grabbed onto that.

Does your perspective of the truth ever become distorted? Do you feel alone, discouraged, hopeless, or depressed and anxious? Why? More likely that not, you are believing lies about reality instead of truths of Scripture.

You are not alone, you have hope in Christ, you can find what you need in Him.

God speaks in unexpected ways

And, you can expect Him to speak in unexpected ways!

Kids and teens, what ways did God speak to Elijah on Day 4?

A powerful wind

An earthquake

A fire

But also a still, small voice.

Often we want God to speak to us powerfully and He chooses a still small voice. Sometimes we want that still small voice and God sends a loud response!

Don’t limit God to your emotions and desires, trust His response no matter the delivery method!

God's answer to despair is renewed purpose

When you hear Him, you will realize that God’s answer to despair is a renewed purpose!

You have purpose in God both universally and individually. We all have the purpose of bringing God glory, and we all have different callings in order to make that happen. God gave Elijah very specific instruction, this did not change the reality that he had to bring God glory, but it did specifically give him ways to do it.

A Practical Application

Rest.

Receive God's provision.

Honestly express your struggles to God.

Listen for His voice.

Return to the work He has called you to do.

Remember that God always has more people at work than you can see.

Conclusion

God wants to speak to you, He wants to use you like Elijah. Don’t let the enemy win! Trust in God no matter what.

ABC’s of salvation (Use Teen boys to help!)