Sermon :)

Sermon: You Can't Stand Alone!
Text: 1 Kings 19
Copyright by Nathaniel Tan

How many times have you gone through a really intense spiritual experience, perhaps a miracle or something you thought could never happen, happening to you; only to suddenly feel overcome by doubt that it wasnt God who really made it happen or that it was simply coincidental and that it had nothing to do with Gods divine power? This doubt leads you to isolate yourself from your believing friends, it might even cause you to want to give up whatever it is youre doing and doubt Gods guidance.

In the book of 1 Kings, we find Elijah the prophet going through this exact experience. He had just witnessed Gods supremacy over the Baal, the God that queen Jezebel worshiped. God had sent fire from heaven that literally ate and drank up everything! The whole alter of stones was reduced to ashes and all the water that was poured over it and aroundit had evaporated. The priests of Baal had all killed themselves in trying to call Baal to send fire down from heaven to burn up their offering, which was all dry.

Queen Jezebel sent out a death threat to Elijah and the prophet ran for his life. Out in the wilderness, he sat down and asked God to take his life from him.Elijah was feeling doubtful that God could protect him from Jezebel. Sure, she was a wicked queen who undoubtedly was scary; she scared Elijah enough to have him run for his life, even after what Elijah had seen God do at the challenge of the gods. Elijah had also left his servant along the way and he was all alone, isolated and detached from society, all ready to quit the calling that God had given him.
In our society, how do we deal with problems like these when they come our way? Im sure we wont receive death threats like Elijah did, but what about nasty rumors, gossiping behind your back and such? What steps can we take so that we dont find ourselves running away from God and losing the light to our candle?

While reading about Elijah and how he ran away from Jezebel, I noticed that Elijah was overcome by doubt that God could very well save him from the hands of Jezebel. Elijah also isolated himself from everyone, even his servant. Elijah also wanted to quite his ministry and end his life altogether! He was really depressed.

How can we get out of a rut similar to that which Elijah fell into? Further reading in chapter nineteen of 1 Kings gives us the solution.

First, you've got to get into the right position. Now, what is the right position? In verse 11, God tells Elijah where to go and what to do in order to receive His message. In our context, how can we get into position? Tracking back a few verses, we find Elijah in conversation with God. Elijah tried to hear God in a strong wind, but God wasnt there. He tried to hear God call in an earthquake that a followed soon after, and then a fire... but God was nowhere to be heard... until everything became calm; then God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.Now, about getting into the right position. We need to be able to position ourselves so that we can hear God speak to us. Without opening our hearts up for God, how can we position ourselves to receive him? Just like a sponge. If we were all sponges which could soak up all sorts of liquids, all of us would be soaked in some form of liquid. It could be good or bad. We could be soaking in all our worldly lusts and not soak up an ounce of Gods love. To position ourselves to soak up what God has for us, we have to first wring, or squeeze out the stuff inside of us thats taking up the capacity to absorb what we really need God. Weve got to position ourselves to receive Him.

Secondly, we need to get the right direction. Have you seen amateur soccer teams and professional soccer teams? Have you seen the differences in the way they play? Professional soccer teams have coaches who give proper directions and instructions to the players on the team. They have been directed to do a dedicated task and it helps when you have direction in what you do, not running around aimlessly with a ball on the field. In verses 15-17, God tells Elijah exactly where to go and what to do. Elijah has now gotten direction. Dont we need direction in our lives too? Direction keeps us close to Gods will for us and it gives us confidence in everything that we do!

Lastly, we have to surround ourselves with the right people. Notice that throughout the second half of chapter nineteen, Elijah makes reference to himself as being the only one left. Being the only one leftcan be a very demoralizing experience. I remember how sad I felt years ago when I received my test paper in class with a big F written on it. I thought that I was the only one to have failed so badly...it was demoralizing. Then, as I looked around, I noticed that there were so many others who had gotten Fs too! It was an uplifting experience! There were others who were just like me! I wasnt alone! Okay, Im not saying that you should feel happy just because other people have failed their papers when youve failed yours! Im trying to make a point that when youre together with people of the same faith, the right people, youll be able to, with the other two points mentioned previously, to get out of the rut that Elijah found himself in, just the way Elijah found out how to.
The story in chapter nineteen ends with Elijah getting renewed vigor to carry out what God had planned for him in full confidence.