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Introduction
Read text:
James-Half-brother of Jesus
Elijah was a historical person.
Not a fable.
Jesus thought so too.
The Gospel writers did and so did Paul.
Elijah was a man just like us.
Not a super hero.
Just a man of great faith who was used by God in a very powerful way.
In fact, if we were to use one word to characterize Elijah and his ministry it would be the word power.
The title of todays sermon is “A Life of Power in the hour of Weakness.”
Think about that title as we read the passage.
Lets begin reading in .
1.
The person must not have ever REALLY been saved in the first place.
2. The second, well they have backslidden so far they are no longer any use to God.
But that can not be true about the prophet Elijah!
But here is in a moment of weakness, curled up under a juniper tree wanting to quit serving God and die.
But we are so quick to jump to one of those conclusions in most cases.
They are the easy way out.
I know I have thought that about many people.
One of them is me!
I have failed and let many people down.
Man-Early on in my Christian life I wondered if I was really even saved and as a teenager, “I got saved again just be sure!”
That I have since discovered is ridiculous.
Once we are saved, our inheritance is secured and we are sealed with HS.
Baptized into the body of Christ and born again.
You cant be UNBORN can you.
We become a new creature immediately.
But after that, even though I was confident in my salvation, I often thought I was too far gone to ever be used by God.
Even into my adult life.
But God is never finished with us is he?
Sounds like two Elijah’s.
What happened to the man of power?
Doesnt sound too powerful here, running for his life, curling up under a juniper tree out in the wilderness.
What happened to this man?
Where did he go wrong?
When you think of famous bible characters you can often describe them with one word.
Job- Patience, Abraham-Faith, Moses-Perseverance, Daniel-Courage, Ruth-Loyalty, Joseph-Purity, Elijah-power.
We need to back up about 3 years when Elijah first came on the scene.
I am just going to give a brief history but you can read the details in 1 K 17-18.
Why do think
It was a dark time in the land of Israel!
Etc…give a summary.
Need Background here.
Let’s review Elijah’s miraculous ministry from the book of .
1.
He confront Ahab and predicts/prays for drought.
(background)
2.It doesn’t rain in Israel for 3 nearly three years!
Can you imagine what this area would be like with out rain for three years!
3.
He he mir
3. Elijah is miraculously provided for by God during this time and protected from the search party of evil king Ahab.
4. After nearly 3 years, God tells Elijah to go and meet Ahab again and rain would finally come.
4. The widows son dies and Elijah prays and the
4.
After nearly 3 years, God tells Elijah to go and meet Ahab again and rain would finally come.
This is the moment Elijah has been waiting for.
Surely the drought has gotten the attention of God’s people.
Surely when the rain came they would rejoice and turn to Yahweh again and reject Jezebel and her foreign Gods.
5. Elijah goes to meet Ahab and is led by God to challenge the prophets of Baal to a dual.
We read about this in .
Summarize it.
7. Elijah tells him now that the prophets of Baal have been defeated and the people of God have declared that Yahweh is the only true God, rain would finally come.
Ahab goes to celebrate at his campsite on mount Carmel.
Meanwhile, Elijah begins a long process of prayer.
That brings us to the text we read a few minutes ago.
Summarize.
He runs to the streets of Jezreel and standing in the street, a messenger from Jezebel hands him a note of a death warning.
Freeze frame!
Right here is when Elijah turns to run and he has his moment of weakness.
Why?
The reason for the hours of weakness
What can we learn from this text and from the life of Elijah about our own moments of weakness?
Join me as we think about this scene and we will look at some possible reasons for the hour of weakness and some ideas to help avoid them.
I want us to look at the reaction of the Christian in an hour of weakness and the response of God toward His child in the hour of weakness.
The reaction of the X’n in the hour of weakness.
The response of God in the hour of weakness.
1.
The reasons for Hours of weakness
A. Extreme weariness
1. Trip to Carmel
2. The dual
3. The slaying of the prophets.
Application: We must find time in our Christian work for rest and recreation.
We need the occasional break.
We should divert Daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually.
Jesus did this and he taught his disciples to do the same thing.
Throughout the gospels we read how busy Jesus was with the work of HIs Father but sprinkled through out are little periods of time where Jesus would pull away from the crowd for rest and prayer and relaxation.
B. Extreme let down after a spiritual high.
1. Fire from heaven
2. The people all agreed that Yahweh was God
3. Rain was coming back!
4.
He had waited three years for this moment!
Have you ever been on the mountain top experience with God one day and then in a matter of weeks or even days or sometimes even hours, you experienced a huge letdown.
Have you ever expereineced God in a very real way like he answers a prayer and it so clear to you that God has superanturally intervened in your life.
Wow that is so exciting!
You cant wait to start telling people and when you do, no body really cares.
I mean some people may say they are happy for you but they dont quite show the same enthusiasm you do.
Some may come right out and say it , “Could just be a coincidence you know.”
Man, talk about a kick in then gut.
Suddenly, you start doubting your initial reaction and you start feeling stupid and before you know it, you have a moment of weakness.
Its a huge let down after a spiritual high.
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