(no subject)
Let us pray: Almighty and gracious God, we thank you for this day that you have given us to enjoy. We thank you that you are our God, not just when things are going well, but when things aren’t going so well. I pray that each heart in this house be open to your word this evening and that my words become truly yours in spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight oh Lord our rock and our redeemer. AMEN
How many of you have watched the Super Bowl? I used to watch it without fail. Back when I seemed to have a bit more time, I followed football. I knew the teams, who was leading the division races, who had the great players and how they were doing that year. The Super Bowl was a really big deal. I would invite friends to a party each year to watch and eat our famous turkey chili. For us the holiday season didn’t officially end until Super Bowl Sunday.
There was always so much hype. There was so much that they had to take two weeks off before the game to get all the jawing out of the way in time for the game to start. Have you ever noticed the funny thing about most of those Super Bowls? The teams that played were the greatest in football. They played according to their game plans. That meant going strictly for the percentage plays. Usually, the games were boring especially after the hype. But that’s another story for another sermon.
But now, get the picture in your mind. The mayhem of celebration after the game. The most valuable quarterbacks like Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Bret Favre or John Elway. Invariably, almost immediately after the last ball was snapped and the trophy was hoisted in the air by the exuberant winners, you would see the ad. An off camera announcer would ask one of those greats: “You just won the Super Bowl; what are you going to do next?” And the answer… “I’m going to Disneyworld!”
As if the only thing that could follow the Super Bowl win, the only thing that could be even bigger and better was a trip to that famous park with the cartoon mouse. I’ve been there. It IS really great. But what about the rest of us? What about the rabid fans who have been living for the football season, following their team week after week? Hoping against hope this might be the year? Then the play-offs come, and their heroes squeak by some really tough opponents. The tense excitement is so thick you’d have to have a sledgehammer to break through it. Then, wonder of all wonders, your favored team wins. The pinnacle of joy and celebration!
But then what happens? Joe, Troy, Bret and John go to Disneyworld. We go back to work. And it’s Monday. And it’s eleven long months until Christmas. So how do we deal with our mornings after our big days, when we have to come off the mountaintops? The Bible tells about just such a time.
Our Scripture passage from 1 Kings 19 tells about a man named Elijah who had to face his own morning after. Many of you remember the time. Elijah was just about the only man of God left standing in the evil days of King Ahab and his Baal-worshiping wife Jezebel. He had fearlessly challenged the prophets of Baal to a spiritual dual. They would each prepare a sacrificial bull for a burnt offering. The only thing was that they couldn’t light the fire they had prepared under each bull. Each had to call on their respective god to send the fire for them. The Baal prophets went first. Despite their praying, dancing and ranting, no fire came down.
Then Elijah’s turn came. He poured water over the whole altar three times. It was thoroughly drenched. Only then did he call upon the Lord to bring fire. God responded with an immediate conflagration. The bull was burnt. The folks were his. At Elijah’s order they proceeded to slaughter the prophets of Baal to the last man. It was, as they say, a mountaintop experience. But THEN what? Listen to what happened next.
1KINGS 19:1-15a NLT1 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel what Elijah had done and that he had slaughtered the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: "May the gods also kill me if by this time tomorrow I have failed to take your life like those whom you killed." 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the desert, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!" 6 He looked around and saw some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, for there is a long journey ahead of you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." 11 "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." 15 Then the LORD told him, "Go back the way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus.
The Word of God, written for the people of God - Thanks be to God
Elijah has gone from the peak of glorious victory to the depths of despair. He has vanquished the prophets of Baal only to find himself a fugitive, running for his life, hiding under broom trees and inside dank caves. Have you ever felt that way? I sure have. We all have our Monday mornings after the Super Bowl. What’s yours? An aging parent who’s not going to get out of this world alive? A perilous job situation? Maybe you’re facing some unbelievably tough times with an adolescent child who seems bent on destroying their life before it even gets started good. Maybe the adolescent is facing some unbelievably tough times with a parent who won’t listen and can’t understand.
I don’t have to remind you of the terrifying down times many of you have faced-or are facing right now. But the important thing here is to look at God’s reaction. He sent an angel to give Elijah food and drink. Sometimes a good meal just makes us feel better. Then he listened to Elijah as he told his tale of woe. He didn’t minimize the problem. He didn’t tell him he was too weak. He didn’t even tell him to just get over it. What He did was show his presence to Elijah. He let him know He was there. He let him know he was not alone.
In your deepest despair we are not alone either. God is with us when things are bad, when we need Him the most. He promises us that He will never forsake us, and He never has. He might not show Himself in a mighty hurricane, earthquake or fire. Perhaps it will be a whisper, a slight pang in our heart. Listen! God IS with us.
This would be a mighty nice place to end this message. God has plucked up a despondent prophet, encouraged him and sent him on his way. But that’s not the end of the story. The Scripture says, “15 Then the LORD told him, "Go back the way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus.” After all the tears and hair pulling, after the angel and God Himself had worked to buck Elijah up, HE SENDS HIM BACK INTO THE WILDERNESS! Believing in God, trusting in God will not protect us from the hard times in life. The rain falls of the field of the wicked as well as the righteous. The difference is we don’t have to go through the wilderness alone. Listen for the still small voice. God IS with us! He is with us when we want Him. He is with us when we need Him. He is with us when we absolutely, positively, HAVE to have Him. In the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Let us pray: Almighty and gracious God, thank you for never leaving us, not in the good times or in the bad. Help us to listen for the small voice. Help us to trust you enough to know you are here. AMEN
How many of you have watched the Super Bowl? I used to watch it without fail. Back when I seemed to have a bit more time, I followed football. I knew the teams, who was leading the division races, who had the great players and how they were doing that year. The Super Bowl was a really big deal. I would invite friends to a party each year to watch and eat our famous turkey chili. For us the holiday season didn’t officially end until Super Bowl Sunday.
There was always so much hype. There was so much that they had to take two weeks off before the game to get all the jawing out of the way in time for the game to start. Have you ever noticed the funny thing about most of those Super Bowls? The teams that played were the greatest in football. They played according to their game plans. That meant going strictly for the percentage plays. Usually, the games were boring especially after the hype. But that’s another story for another sermon.
But now, get the picture in your mind. The mayhem of celebration after the game. The most valuable quarterbacks like Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Bret Favre or John Elway. Invariably, almost immediately after the last ball was snapped and the trophy was hoisted in the air by the exuberant winners, you would see the ad. An off camera announcer would ask one of those greats: “You just won the Super Bowl; what are you going to do next?” And the answer… “I’m going to Disneyworld!”
As if the only thing that could follow the Super Bowl win, the only thing that could be even bigger and better was a trip to that famous park with the cartoon mouse. I’ve been there. It IS really great. But what about the rest of us? What about the rabid fans who have been living for the football season, following their team week after week? Hoping against hope this might be the year? Then the play-offs come, and their heroes squeak by some really tough opponents. The tense excitement is so thick you’d have to have a sledgehammer to break through it. Then, wonder of all wonders, your favored team wins. The pinnacle of joy and celebration!
But then what happens? Joe, Troy, Bret and John go to Disneyworld. We go back to work. And it’s Monday. And it’s eleven long months until Christmas. So how do we deal with our mornings after our big days, when we have to come off the mountaintops? The Bible tells about just such a time.
Our Scripture passage from 1 Kings 19 tells about a man named Elijah who had to face his own morning after. Many of you remember the time. Elijah was just about the only man of God left standing in the evil days of King Ahab and his Baal-worshiping wife Jezebel. He had fearlessly challenged the prophets of Baal to a spiritual dual. They would each prepare a sacrificial bull for a burnt offering. The only thing was that they couldn’t light the fire they had prepared under each bull. Each had to call on their respective god to send the fire for them. The Baal prophets went first. Despite their praying, dancing and ranting, no fire came down.
Then Elijah’s turn came. He poured water over the whole altar three times. It was thoroughly drenched. Only then did he call upon the Lord to bring fire. God responded with an immediate conflagration. The bull was burnt. The folks were his. At Elijah’s order they proceeded to slaughter the prophets of Baal to the last man. It was, as they say, a mountaintop experience. But THEN what? Listen to what happened next.
1KINGS 19:1-15a NLT1 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel what Elijah had done and that he had slaughtered the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: "May the gods also kill me if by this time tomorrow I have failed to take your life like those whom you killed." 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the desert, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!" 6 He looked around and saw some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, for there is a long journey ahead of you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." 11 "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." 15 Then the LORD told him, "Go back the way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus.
The Word of God, written for the people of God - Thanks be to God
Elijah has gone from the peak of glorious victory to the depths of despair. He has vanquished the prophets of Baal only to find himself a fugitive, running for his life, hiding under broom trees and inside dank caves. Have you ever felt that way? I sure have. We all have our Monday mornings after the Super Bowl. What’s yours? An aging parent who’s not going to get out of this world alive? A perilous job situation? Maybe you’re facing some unbelievably tough times with an adolescent child who seems bent on destroying their life before it even gets started good. Maybe the adolescent is facing some unbelievably tough times with a parent who won’t listen and can’t understand.
I don’t have to remind you of the terrifying down times many of you have faced-or are facing right now. But the important thing here is to look at God’s reaction. He sent an angel to give Elijah food and drink. Sometimes a good meal just makes us feel better. Then he listened to Elijah as he told his tale of woe. He didn’t minimize the problem. He didn’t tell him he was too weak. He didn’t even tell him to just get over it. What He did was show his presence to Elijah. He let him know He was there. He let him know he was not alone.
In your deepest despair we are not alone either. God is with us when things are bad, when we need Him the most. He promises us that He will never forsake us, and He never has. He might not show Himself in a mighty hurricane, earthquake or fire. Perhaps it will be a whisper, a slight pang in our heart. Listen! God IS with us.
This would be a mighty nice place to end this message. God has plucked up a despondent prophet, encouraged him and sent him on his way. But that’s not the end of the story. The Scripture says, “15 Then the LORD told him, "Go back the way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus.” After all the tears and hair pulling, after the angel and God Himself had worked to buck Elijah up, HE SENDS HIM BACK INTO THE WILDERNESS! Believing in God, trusting in God will not protect us from the hard times in life. The rain falls of the field of the wicked as well as the righteous. The difference is we don’t have to go through the wilderness alone. Listen for the still small voice. God IS with us! He is with us when we want Him. He is with us when we need Him. He is with us when we absolutely, positively, HAVE to have Him. In the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Let us pray: Almighty and gracious God, thank you for never leaving us, not in the good times or in the bad. Help us to listen for the small voice. Help us to trust you enough to know you are here. AMEN