Sermon Tone Analysis

*SERMON FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 7, 2007*

*THE PARADOX OF SPIRITUAL POWER  1 KINGS 19:1-8  BBC*

 

INTRO: POWER - CAR THAT WOULDN’T START – A YOUNG 3RD YR.

COLLEGE STUDENT WAS GIVEN A CAR TO GET AROUND CAMPUS, BUT IT WOULDN’T START WITHOUT A PUSH. HE’S OPEN THE DOOR AND WITH ONE FOOT ON THE GROUND AND THE OTHER ON THE CLUTCH…HE’S PUSH AND POP THE CLUTH AND BE ON HIS WAY.

AS HE MADE HIS ROUNDS…HE’S PARK ON A HILL OR LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING.

HE USED THIS PROCEDURE FOR TWO YEARS UNTIL GRADUATION WHEN HE DECIDED TO GIVE THE CAR AWAY.

A YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL GRAD ON HIS WAY TO COLLEGE CAME BY AND WANTED THE CAR…THE COLLGE GRAD EXPLAINED THE ODD ARRANGEMENT IN GETTNG THE CAR STARTED….THE HS KID…BEGAN LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD..AND BEFORE COLLEGE GRAD EXPLANATION WAS COMPLETE THE KID SAID, HEY MAN I THINK THE ONLY TROUBLE IS THIS LOOSE CABLE…HE GAVE IT A TWIST, STEEPED IN THE CAR, TURNED THE KEY..AND TO COLLEGE GRAD’S ASTONISHMENT…THE ENGINE ROARED TO LIFE.

FOR TWO YRS…NEEDLESS TROUBLE HAD BECOME ROUTINE…THE POWER WAS THERE ALL THE TIME….ONLY A LOOSE CONNECTION KEPT THE COLLEGE STUDENT FROM PUTTING THAT POWER TO WORK.

THE PARADOX OF SPIRITUAL POWER IS THAT MAY OF US HAVE THE POWER AVAILABLE, BUT WE JUST NEED TO GET UNDER THE HOOD AND TIGHTEN OUR CONNECTION TO GOD.

* **THE PARADOX OF CONNECTING TO GOD IS SEEN IN THE LETTING GO.

SPIRITUAL POWER IS DISTRIBUTED WHEN WE LEARN THE DISCIPLINES OF LETTING GO*

THESE PRACTICES ALLOW US TO RELINQUISH SOMETHING IN ORDER TO GAIN SOMETHING NEW.

WE ABSTAIN FROM “BUSY-NESS” IN MINISTRY, FAMILY LIFE, AND WORK.

WE STOP TALKING FOR A WHILE TO HEAR FROM GOD.

WE GIVE UP BUYING ANOTHER MATERIAL POSSESSION TO EXPERIENCE GOD MORE FULLY.

FIRST PETER 2:11 WARNS US TO “ABSTAIN FROM SINFUL DESIRES, WHICH WAR AGAINST YOUR SOUL.”

IDENTIFY WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM EXPERIENCING GREATER STRENGTH AND PERSPECTIVE.

DO YOU TALK TOO MUCH?

ARE POSSESSIONS CONTROLLING YOU? ARE YOU TOO WORRIED ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK?

CHOOSE DISCIPLINES THAT WILL HELP YOU BECOME MORE DEPENDENT ON GOD.

*/SOLITUDE—SPENDING TIME ALONE TO BE WITH GOD/*/.

/FIND A QUIET PLACE TO BE ALONE WITH GOD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

USE THE BIBLE AS A SOURCE OF COMPANIONSHIP WITH GOD.

LISTEN TO HIM.

REMAIN ALONE AND STILL.

*/SILENCE—REMOVING NOISY DISTRACTIONS TO HEAR FROM GOD/*/.

/FIND A QUIET PLACE AWAY FROM NOISE TO HEAR FROM GOD.

WRITE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS AS GOD DIRECTS YOUR HEART.

SILENCE CAN OCCUR EVEN IN THE MIDST OF NOISE AND DISTRACTION.

BUT YOU MUST FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON YOUR SOUL.

THIS COULD MEAN TALKING LESS OR TALKING ONLY WHEN NECESSARY.

AND IT COULD MEAN TURNING OFF THE RADIO AND THE TV.

*/FASTING—SKIPPING A MEAL(S) TO FIND GREATER NOURISHMENT FROM GOD/*/.

/CHOOSE A PERIOD OF TIME TO GO WITHOUT FOOD.

DRINK WATER AND, IF NECESSARY, TAKE VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS.

FEEL THE PAIN OF HAVING AN EMPTY STOMACH AND DEPEND ON GOD TO FILL YOU WITH HIS GRACE.

*/FRUGALITY—LEARNING TO LIVE WITH LESS MONEY AND STILL MEET YOUR BASIC NEEDS/*/.

/BEFORE BUYING SOMETHING NEW, CHOOSE TO GO WITHOUT OR PICK A LESS EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE THAT WILL SERVE YOUR BASIC NEEDS.

LIVE A SIMPLE, FOCUSED LIFE.

*/CHASTITY/*—VOLUNTARILY CHOOSING TO ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL PLEASURES FOR A TIME (THOSE PLEASURES THAT ARE DEEMED MORALLY RIGHT IN THE BOND OF MARRIAGE) TO FIND HIGHER FULFILLMENT IN GOD.

DECIDE TOGETHER AS A COUPLE TO SET ASIDE TIME TO GO WITHOUT SEXUAL PLEASURES IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN PRAYER.

*/SECRECY—AVOIDING SELF-PROMOTION, PRACTICE SERVING GOD WITHOUT OTHERS KNOWING/*/.

/GIVE IN SECRET.

SERVE “BEHIND THE SCENES” IN A MINISTRY THAT YOU ARE ASSURED FEW WILL KNOW ABOUT.

*/SACRIFICE—GIVING OF OUR RESOURCES BEYOND WHAT SEEMS REASONABLE TO REMIND US OF OUR DEPENDENCE ON CHRIST./*

CHOOSE TO GIVE YOUR TIME OR FINANCES TO THE LORD BEYOND WHAT YOU NORMALLY WOULD.

!!! DISCIPLINES OF ACTIVITY

DALLAS WILLARD WRITES, “THE DISCIPLINES OF ABSTINENCE MUST BE COUNTER-BALANCED AND SUPPLEMENTED BY DISCIPLINES OF ENGAGEMENT (ACTIVITY).”

IT’S CHOOSING TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT NURTURE OUR SOULS AND STRENGTHEN US FOR THE RACE AHEAD.

*/STUDY—SPENDING TIME READING THE SCRIPTURES AND MEDITATING ON ITS MEANING AND IMPORTANCE TO OUR LIVES./*/

/WE ARE NOURISHED BY THE WORD BECAUSE IT IS OUR SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.

CHOOSE A TIME AND A PLACE TO FEED FROM THE WORD OF GOD REGULARLY.

*/WORSHIP—OFFERING PRAISE AND ADORATION TO GOD/*/.

/HIS PRAISE SHOULD CONTINUALLY BE ON OUR LIPS AND IN OUR THOUGHTS.

READ PSALMS, HYMNS, OR SPIRITUAL SONGS, OR SING TO THE LORD DAILY USING A PRAISE TAPE.

KEEP PRAISE EVER BEFORE YOU AS YOU THINK OF GOD’S MIGHTY DEEDS IN YOUR LIFE.

*/PRAYER—TALKING TO AND LISTENING TO GOD ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF OTHERS./*/

/FIND TIME TO PRAY TO GOD WITHOUT THE DISTRACTION OF PEOPLE OR THINGS.

COMBINE YOUR PRAYER TIME WITH MEDITATION ON THE SCRIPTURES IN ORDER TO FOCUS ON CHRIST.

*/FELLOWSHIP—MUTUAL CARING AND MINISTRY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST./*/

/MEET REGULARLY WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS TO FIND WAYS TO MINISTER TO OTHERS.

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.

*/CONFESSION—REGULARLY CONFESS YOUR SINS TO THE LORD AND OTHER TRUSTED INDIVIDUALS./*/

/AS OFTEN AS YOU ARE AWARE OF SIN IN YOUR LIFE, CONFESS IT TO THE LORD AND TO THOSE YOU MAY HAVE OFFENDED.

*/SUBMISSION—HUMBLING YOURSELF BEFORE GOD AND OTHERS WHILE SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY IN RELATIONSHIPS./*/ /FIND FAITHFUL BROTHERS OR SISTERS IN CHRIST WHO CAN LOVINGLY HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS AND GROWTH IN CHRIST.

BILL DONAHUE, LEADING LIFE-CHANGING SMALL GROUPS, (ZONDERVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI, 1996), PP. 51-52

 

 

EXPL: IN THE TEXT THE PARADOX IS THAT ELIJAH WHO HAS JUST DEMONSTRATED THE AWESOME SPIRITUAL POWER OF GOD  IN VICTORY…

 

VICTORY OVER THE FALSE PROPHETS OF BAAL

VICTORY IN THE END OF THE 31~/2 YR DROUGHT

VICTORY IN BEATING AHAB BACK TO JEZREEL

 

IS NOW LANGUISHING IN DEFEAT AND DESPAIR AND DEPRESSION.

HE WAS THE “MAN” BUT NOW HE IS WHINING AND CRYING AND BELLYACHING…BECAUSE THE EVIL PAGAN QUEEN JEZEBEL, THREATENS HIS LIFE…AND HE IS BLINDSIDED AND ENTERED INTO A VICIOUS CYCLE DOWNWARD OF DISCOURAGEMENT.

HE WAS NOW A MAN UNDER ATTACK…BY THE WILES OF THE DEVIL…

ATTACK OF ..

 

FRUSTRATION – CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG, CAN WE ALL GET REVIVED

 

FATIGUE – HE WAS DIRED, DRAINED AND EXHAUSTED…FROM CARMEL…TIRED AND LACK OF REST AND PROPER DIET SET US UP FOR THE INVITATION OF THE EVIL ONE TO TEMPT AND TRY US.

 

FEAR …AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME HE EXHIBITS FEAR…BEFORE THIS HE HAD A PRICE ON HIS HEAD, NOT JUST BY AHAB AND JEZEBELL…BUT BY THE NATION.

IN FACT, OBHADIAH CAME ACROSS ELIJAH AND WAS FEARFUL…BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WOULD LOSE HIS LIFE.

AND NOW ELIJAH…HAS ONE THREAT FROM AN EVIL QUEEN AND IS NOW RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE.

FOCUS - YES…SPIRITUAL VICTORY DOES NOT GUARANTEE CONSISTENT FOCUS OF FAITH.

WE ARE PRONE TO TAKE OUR EYES OF JESUS IN THE MIDST OF VICTORY.

FAITHLESSNESS AND FORGETFULNESS - WHICH LEADS TO FAITHLESSNESS, TEMPORARY LASPE OF FAITH…CIRCUMSTANCES AND SEASONS CHANGED AND CHALLENGED HIM… AND THEN WE FORGET …I BELIEVE BUT HELP MY UNBELIEF… THUS… HOW QUICK WE ARE TO FORGET WHAT GOD HAS DONE! 

 

AND THE COMBINATION OF THESE FACTORS WILL LEAD TO FAILURE.

*VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY CAN MAKE US VERY VULNERABLE  MORE  ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY.

MORE ATTACKS LEAD TO ELIJAH TO RUN FOR HIS LIFE.*

THE REMEDY TO THE PROPHET ON THE RUN….

REST, - GET SOME SLEEP

 

REVELATION  – THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, THE PREINCARNATE APPEARANCE OF JESUS.

ARISE AND EAT - PROPER DIET,  

 

REST AND ARISE.

AND HE ATE THAT MEAL…AND IT SUSTAINED HIM FOR FORTY DAYS.

*PROP: THE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE OF LESS WILL YIELD THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF MORE.*

*WHEN WE TURN DOWN OUR PLATES AND BEND OUR HEARTS IN PRAYER…GOD SHOWS UP.*

* *

*INTER: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE TEXT THAT WILL HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE PARADOX OF SPIRITUAL POWER.

*

* *

*TS: AS WE LOOK AT ELIJAH WE WILL LEARN MORE OF THE PARADOX OF POWER.*

*MPI.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF THE PLATE AND PRAYER MAKE US SENSITIVE TO  GOD’S GRACE V. 8*

/SO HER AROSE, AND ATE AND DRANK: AND HE WENT IN THE STRENGTH OF THAT FOOD 40 DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS AS FAR AS HOREB, THE MT.

OF GOD.* */

 

REST CAN STILL HAVE US ON THE WRONG ROAD – BECAUSE ELIJAH WAS WRONG TO RUN AWAY, RUN INTO THE WILDERESS, HE RAN OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD…AS A PROPHET HE SHOULD HAVE STAYED AND BEEN WHAT HE WAS CALLED…A PROPHET.