Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/church4u/sermons/86679/elijah/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] Elijah Elijah is my theme. Elijah is a major character in the Bible and he left in the days of the wicked King Ahab and Jezebel.

[0:23] ! He brought Baal worship to Israel. His name Elijah means Yahweh is my God. We read of him in James 5 from verse 17. Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

[0:45] And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit. Elijah, a man subject to like passions as we are. An ordinary man, just a mere man. A human being just like you and me. Just like us. Subject to the same passions. The same problems.

[1:06] Chances are. Yet a man of power and passion and prayer. Elijah first shows up at 1 Kings 17. We are going to talk through the story and some little chapters if you like of his life.

[1:20] 1 Kings 17 we first see him standing fearless before the wicked King. 1 Kings 17 from verse 1. And Elijah the Tishbite who was of the inhabitants of Gilead said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

[1:44] Elijah boldly declared God's word. He told the king of God's judgment that God would hold back the rain at his word. Next up, God tells Elijah to go into hiding.

[1:58] I would like to introduce Elijah to you by exploring three themes of his life. We especially see in these early chapters of his life the theme of God's supply.

[2:11] God's supply. Who needs God's supply? We all do, don't we? Every day we receive it. Yet, do we give thanks for his daily bread? Sometimes we fail, don't we?

[2:23] God's supply. In other words, God is provider Jehovah Jireh. He supplies our need. What we truly have need for. 1 Kings 17 verse 2. And the word of the Lord came unto him.

[2:35] Verse 3. Get thee hence and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Jerath that is before Jordan. And it shall be that thou shalt drink of that brook.

[2:46] And I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. Firstly, notice God supplies as we obey his word. As we obey his word.

[2:57] It's as we act according to his word that he will guide and provide. Verse 5. So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He obeyed the word of the Lord. For he went and dwelt by the brook Jerath that is before Jordan.

[3:10] And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook. It was a hard time for everyone. No dew, no rain.

[3:21] Yet Elijah saw God supply his need. What more could he ask for? The brook Jerath in this time of drought. He had God's provision, God's supply of water, food, and bread.

[3:34] But then came another test. Verse 7. And it came to pass after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

[3:45] You know, Elijah one day, he went down to that brook to get his drink like he usually did. But it was dry. The brook had failed.

[3:57] Elijah's life was one of tests and troubles. Maybe you can identify with that. Who can identify with Elijah today? What will you do when the brook dries up?

[4:10] When it seems like hope is lost? For Elijah, it meant stretching his faith even more, and leaning harder on God's providence.

[4:23] And for you also, I assure you, God will supply. He will supply. You can trust his word. And the word of the Lord came to him, and saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zion.

[4:45] And dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. Now from Cherith to Zarephath was a hundred miles. Elijah had to travel right into the heart of the area of Zidon, which was the heart of wicked Jezebel's territory.

[5:08] What did he do? Verse 10. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks.

[5:20] Here was this widow woman. A woman who had pretty much nothing. Gathering some sticks. And she and her son had been driven to utter desperation.

[5:36] They were at the point of death. Yet God sent Elijah to her. It's kind of a paradox, isn't it? It's, you can't understand.

[5:47] What would God do then? Yet God would take care of all of them. God supplied. It goes on. Verse 10. And he called to her and said, fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel that I may drink.

[6:02] And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her and said, bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And he said, as the Lord God liveth, I have not a cake. She said, as the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel.

[6:18] And a little oil in a cruise. And behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.

[6:29] She says, I've just got a cake. So I've not got a cake, but a handful of meal, some grain and some oil. And I'm gathering two sticks so I can prepare this meal, her last supper.

[6:46] Next we see that God supplies as we fear not. As we fear not. Fear is the opposite of faith. God calls us not to fear, but to faith.

[6:59] To trust him. Simply trust him. Verse 13. And Elijah said unto her, fear not. Go and do as thou hast said. But make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

[7:15] Now, what a scripture. You know, I love cake. The Bible says we can have cake. Elijah had some. But no, he was talking about a meal. A meal that was going to be nutritious and helpful.

[7:28] But it was in a time of great lack. And Elijah urged her still, fear not. Fear not. Fear not.

[7:39] He urged her, exercise your faith. Fear not. Fear not. Fear not. Fear not. Fear not. And I say to you today who are in any trouble, fear not. Fear not. Rather believe.

[7:50] Have faith. Next we see that God supplies as we call it. As we claim God's promises. You might want to check that. Go through your Bible and make it a little bit. And then you say, oh, I'm not going to be a little bit. And I say to you today who are in any trouble, fear not. Fear not. Fear not.

[8:01] And I say to you today who are in any trouble, fear not. Fear not. Fear not. Rather believe. Have faith. Next we see that God supplies as we claim God's promises.

[8:13] You know, someone has said that his word is filled with, they've reckoned it up, 3573. You might want to check that. Go through your Bible and make sure that's correct.

[8:25] But 3573 promises. And his word is filled with many promises. God supplies as we claim God's promises.

[8:36] Verse 14. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruise of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

[8:49] It's been said by someone what seems to be often our worst trials are really our best blessings. Our worst trials can be our best blessings.

[9:00] Here was this woman with a lack, with a short supply, with nothing. Just looking for two sticks and a little bit of grain, a little bit of oil. Yet in faith she acted.

[9:12] She found God's abundance as she acted in faith. Verse 15. And she went and what did she do? She did according to the saying of Elijah. She acted on the word, on the promises of God.

[9:24] And she and her house did eat many days. She claimed God's promises. You can do that today. When you're in that time of trouble, claim God's promises. You've got three and a half thousand odd of them.

[9:37] Claim the promises of God. She'd only had enough for one meal. Her last meal, her last supper, for her and her son. Her love for her child, her hunger, might have tempted her not to obey.

[9:50] Yet in faith she trusted God's word. She trusted God's promises. And likewise too, God calls us sometimes to sacrifice that leads us to blessing.

[10:02] He blesses us as we act according to his word. It might seem hard for you to obey God. Yet he will bless as you do that. As you claim his promises. Because his word never fails.

[10:15] Verse 16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruise of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. This woman gave one meal to this prophet and God sustained her for two years.

[10:29] Two years. The oil didn't run out and the grain didn't run out. She claimed God's promises and God delivered. God provided. Yet further, and we see this woman's faith tested again.

[10:42] And it shows us that God supplies as his word revives. God supplies as his word revives. This word, the Bible calls it alive, it's quick, it's powerful, it's sharper than any two-edged sword.

[11:00] It divides asunder between the soul and the spirit of the joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intent of the heart. The word of life speaks life into our deadness.

[11:12] Verse 17. We see that it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick, and his sickness was so sore that there was no breath left in him.

[11:25] He died. Verse 18. And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? Art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance and to slay my son?

[11:38] Prophet of God, have you come here to kill my son? Verse 19. And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom and carried him up into a loft where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

[11:52] And he cried unto the Lord and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon this widow, with whom I sojourned by slaying her son? And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

[12:12] And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. He revived. Verse 23. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother.

[12:28] And Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.

[12:41] The word of the Lord revives. There's revival in these pages. This is life. Life more abundant. His word brings life. His word brings life.

[12:53] John 6, 63. The Lord Jesus says, It is the spirit that quickeneth, or maketh alive. The flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you. The words that I speak unto you.

[13:05] They are spirit, and they are life. Amen. Again, yet, God supplied her need. Yet again. In Elijah's life, we see God supplied. Just to recap, God supplies as we obey his word.

[13:19] As we fear not. As we claim God's promises. God's promises. And as his word revives, there's revival. There's supply in God today. And Elijah knew that.

[13:31] The first theme is God's supply. We'll pick up the story again at 1 Kings 18, 17. Another chapter, if you like. Another theme. Another big theme in Elijah's life was God's strength.

[13:45] God's strength. As much as he was a man of like passions as we are. God's strength was evident in Elijah. 1 Kings 18, 17.

[13:56] And it came to pass when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? He was blaming Elijah as Elijah's word had held back the reign.

[14:10] You're the one that's causing all this trouble. But Elijah knew God's strength. God's strength sufficient that he would face up to this king. And he faced up to this wicked king with holy boldness.

[14:24] And friends, I'll put it to you that you and I can be strengthened by God. God strengthens us as we face up to sin. Face up to sin. Now he faced up to the sin of the wicked king.

[14:37] In verse 18. And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy will. Thou and thy father's house. In that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord. And thou hast followed Baal in.

[14:48] Or false gods. The idol worship of Baal. Elijah did not mince his words. He challenged King Ahab. God strengthened him to confront sin. And we need that strengthening of God.

[15:01] To recognise sin. To renounce it. To confront it. Idol's worship was throughout the nation. Ahab's idol worship. And it was Ahab's idol worship that brought shame.

[15:13] And trouble upon Israel. It wasn't Elijah. It was the wicked Baal worship. The wicked idol worship of the people. And of the king Ahab. So Elijah strengthened by God.

[15:26] He called for a contest. A big showdown. Between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Verse 19. He says to the king. Now therefore send. And gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel.

[15:38] And the prophets of Baal 450. And the prophets of the groves 400. Which ate at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel.

[15:49] And gathered the prophets together unto Mount Carmel. It's a big showdown. It's a big showdown. God strengthens. God strengthens us as we confront sin. God strengthens us to follow him.

[16:01] To follow him. This is what happened here in verse 21. Elijah called the people. Who are you going to follow? Verse 21. And Elijah came unto all the people and said. How long halt ye between two opinions?

[16:14] It's got a picture of like a man limping. Not sure which foot to stand on. Which side of the fence he's going to stand on. Sort of limping. Halting. If the Lord be God.

[16:27] Follow him. But if Baal. Then follow him. And the people answered him. Not a word. They were speechless. It was a call to action. It's important that we make the right choice with our lives.

[16:41] There's no middle ground. We can't sit on the fence. We have to make a decision. Verse 22. Then Elijah said unto the people. For I even I only remain of the prophet of the Lord.

[16:53] But Baal's prophets are 450 men. Elijah was well and truly outnumbered. Elijah 450. Plus the 400 of the groves.

[17:05] Elijah was well and truly outnumbered. By some 850. We can sometimes feel like we are in a minority. That the odds are against us. But God strengthens us doesn't he?

[17:17] Amen. He did Elijah. Verse 23. God strengthens us to trust his power.

[17:34] God strengthens. God strengthens us to trust his power. Who would do such a thing? To wet this sacrifice, this altar. God strengthens us to trust his power.

[17:46] His power. Elijah knew that God had to show up. God had to show his power in this situation. And it's the same in your life and mine. We need God to show up.

[17:58] God to strengthen us. God to help us to follow him. To trust him. To trust his power. Verse 24. And it says then. Call ye on the name of your gods. And I will call on the name of the Lord.

[18:11] And the God that answereth by fire. Let him be God. And all the people answered and said. It is well spoken. Verse 25. And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal.

[18:23] Choose ye one bullet for yourselves. And dress it first. For ye are many. And call on the name of your gods. But put no fire under. Verse 26. And they took the bullet which was given them.

[18:34] And they dressed it. And called on the name of Baal. From morning even until noon. Saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice nor any that answered. And they leapt upon the altar which was made.

[18:46] Verse 27. And it came to pass at noon. That Elijah mocked. And said, Cry aloud for he is a god. Either he is talking. Or he is pursuing.

[18:58] Or he is on a journey. Or per event he sleepeth and must be awakened. And they cried aloud and cut themselves. After their manner with knives and lancers.

[19:09] Till the blood gushed out upon them. Verse 29. And it came to pass when midday was past. And they prophesied until the time of the evening sacrifice. That there was neither voice.

[19:23] Nor any to answer. Nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people. Come near unto me. Here were these people jumping on the altar.

[19:34] They were jumping and jiving. And slashing and cutting. And screaming and shouting. And bleeding. Yet nothing. God strengthens us.

[19:46] To repair the altar. To repair the altar. To repair the altar. When God strengthens us. He puts us to work. He calls us to action. And it starts at the altar.

[19:59] The altar. That's where it begins. We've heard about surrender already this morning. About sacrifice. He calls us to the altar. When we come to rely upon him. As we surrender ourselves to him.

[20:11] As we lay ourselves on the altar. To dedicate our hearts to him. God strengthens us. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord.

[20:23] That was broken down. The altar was broken down. The altar was broken down. Through the people's neglect. And carelessness. What about our lives? What about our lives?

[20:36] Our altars? Have we neglected the place of prayer? The place of worship? Of dedication? Has the dust and the cobwebs covered our altars?

[20:48] I think one of the reasons we don't see the fire of the Lord much today. Is because the altar of the Lord is broken down.

[21:01] And we need to rebuild it. Rebuild that prayer life. Rebuild that personal worship time. Rebuild that time with God. That place with God. That fellowship with God.

[21:12] That worship of God. We need to restore our personal prayer lives. And resort unto God. We must repair the broken altar. And then God surely will respond.

[21:24] With his consuming fire. Verse 31. And Elijah took twelve stones. According to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob. Unto whom the word of the Lord came saying. Israel shall be thy name.

[21:36] Verse 32. And with stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar. As great as would contain two measures of seed. It was a deep trench.

[21:48] Verse 33. And he put the word in order. And cut the bullock in pieces. And laid him on the word. And he said fill four barrels with water. And pour it on this burnt sacrifice.

[21:59] And on the word. God strengthens us. God strengthens us to sacrifice. Water was in short supply. It was a costly act. To pour out water in this time of famine and drought.

[22:12] Now. God strengthens us too. To make those hard choices. To be those living sacrifices. To be poured out. For God. Unto his praise.

[22:23] Verse 34. And he said. Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said. Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran about the altar. And it filled the trench also with water.

[22:37] Friends. God can make fire with wet wood. When humanly speaking. It seems impossible. God can work with wet wood.

[22:48] He can work with you. With me. With even me. He can work with us. And his fire can come. He can use you. He can use me. Despite our inadequacies. Verse 36.

[22:59] And it came to pass at the time of the offering. Of the evening sacrifice. That Elijah the prophet came near. And said. Lord God of Abraham. Isaac. And of Israel. Let it be known this day.

[23:11] That thou art God. In Israel. And that I am thy servant. And that I have spoken. That I have done all these things. At thy word. Verse 37. Hear me.

[23:22] Hear me. That this people may know. That thou art the Lord God. And that thou hast turned their heart. Back again. People's hearts turned back again.

[23:33] That was what mattered. People's hearts turned back again. God strengthened Elijah's faith. He strengthened him to pray in faith. To trust him in faith. To pour the water out in faith.

[23:45] And to trust him as he prayed in faith. Elijah's life. Is evident. It's evident that God's strength was there. In his life.

[23:56] Despite his weakness. And he works the same now. Despite man's weakness. Despite your weakness. God's strength. Can be known. God strengthens us.

[24:07] To face up to sin. To follow him. To trust his power. And to repair the altar. To repair the altar. Where he. Will do. His mighty work.

[24:18] In us. We've seen God's supply. We've seen God's strength.

[24:30] Thirdly. I reckon. That in Elijah's life. We see. Much evidence. Of God's spirit. God's spirit. God's spirit. Elijah.

[24:41] When he passed on his mantle. To the younger. Elisha. His successor. It reads in. 2 Kings 2.15. The spirit. Of Elijah. Doth rest. On Elisha.

[24:52] There was a spirit. About Elijah. And he passed it on. His successor. God's spirit. Was evident. In Elijah's life. And we see.

[25:03] That God's spirit. Is a work. As we see. The fire. Of the Lord. Fall. The fire. Of the Lord. Fell. Verse 38. As Elijah.

[25:14] Prepared. The sacrifice. The altar. Pouring. Drenching it. With water. Verse 38. Then. The fire. Of the Lord. Fell.

[25:25] And consumed. The burnt sacrifice. And the wood. And the stones. And the dust. And licked up. The water. That was in the trench. The fire. Came down. It wasn't worked up.

[25:36] It wasn't some fleshly. Working up. Of fire. But it was God. Pouring down. The fire. It was heaven sent. Fire. That's the fire. That we need. Isn't it?

[25:47] That's the fire. That we need. A man made. Kind of fire. Some false fire. But the real. Fire. Of God. And the Bible. Relates much. Of the Holy Spirit.

[25:59] Allied with. This symbol. Of fire. The Holy Spirit. And fire. For example. We see. 1 Thessalonians 5. Verse 19.

[26:10] We read. Quench not. The spirit. And to quench something. Means to put it out. Speaking of a fire. As a word. We're told not to. Quench. The spirit.

[26:21] At Pentecost. The fire. Fell. In the form of cloven. Tongues of fire. Sitting on their heads. Upon each of them. There was tongues of fire. In Isaiah 4. Verse 4.

[26:32] We read. That God's spirit. Is described as the spirit. Of burning. Of course. We know. Spoke to the disciples. There was. A burning. There was this.

[26:43] Sense. Sense. Verse 39. And when all the people. Saw it. They fell on their faces. They didn't fall on their backs. They fell on their faces.

[26:54] And they said. The Lord. He is the God. The Lord. He is. The God. God's spirit. Is at work. When we see the fire. Of the Lord. Fall.

[27:05] Verse 14. And Elijah said. Take the prophets of Baal. Let not one of them escape. And they took them. And Elijah brought them. Down to the brook. Kishon. And slew them there. Sin must be removed.

[27:17] From the camp. God's spirit. Does a purifying work. The fire will fall. And the fire will burn. The dross. Our Lord. Will baptize us.

[27:29] With the Holy Spirit. And with fire. Of course. There's different ways. Of understanding that. But whatever the case is. Some things are going to get burnt up. That God wants to burn up. Amen.

[27:40] That's what he wants to do. And we see that God is a refiner. So God's spirit is at work. As we see the fire fall. Another aspect is. We see God's spirit is at work.

[27:51] As we see the rain fall. The rain fell. In 1 Kings 18. Verse 41. And Elijah said unto Ahab. Get thee up. Eat and drink. For there is the sound.

[28:02] Of an abundance. Of rain. There is a sound. Of abundance. Of rain. Verse 45. It says there was great rain. Great rain. Great rain. So the rain was a sign.

[28:13] Of deliverance. As this time of drought. Was broken. As this time of dryness. Was broken. With freshness. And life again. And God's spirit.

[28:25] Brings that blessing. To lives. God's spirit is likened to rain. Next time it rains. Just think. Wow. That's a picture. Of God's spirit.

[28:37] As he does the cleansing work. As he does that. Pouring out. Into lives. In Isaiah 44. 3. It says. For I will pour water upon him.

[28:48] That is thirsty. Who's thirsty this morning? Thirsty. That was one of the prayers. Wasn't it early? Oh he should thirst. And he will. He will satisfy that thirst. I will pour water upon him.

[29:02] That is thirsty. Water this morning. Get thirsty. Get thirsty. Get thirsty. Get thirstier for God. And floods upon the dry ground. I will pour my spirit upon thy seed. And my blessing upon thy offspring.

[29:15] A picture of the spirit of God. John 7. We see the Lord Jesus say. In the last day. In the great day of the feast. Jesus stood and cried saying. If any man thirst.

[29:26] Let him come unto me. And drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. He that believeth on me. As the scripture had said. Out of his valley shall flow rivers.

[29:39] Rivers. Rivers. Of leading water. He that believeth on me. But this he spake of the spirit. Which they that believe on him. Should receive. For the Holy Ghost was not yet given.

[29:52] Because that Jesus was not yet glorified. God. Chapter 19. We read how Jezebel heard. That Elijah had put the prophets to the sword. And then she wanted to kill him.

[30:04] And so the circumstances changed quickly again for Elijah. He quickly went from victory to despair. It shows his all too human side again.

[30:17] Doesn't that give you hope today. I know this. It's often times. As a minister. We get people come. And they pour out their hearts. And there's many many problems.

[30:29] Many many needs. Many in despair. Many despondent. Many going through great hardship. Elijah. Went from victory.

[30:40] To despair. It gives us hope. That when we face trials. It's not uncommon to man.

[30:53] It's common to man. That what you're going through. These guys have been there. The saints of God. In the old and new. And the reformers.

[31:05] Revivalists of old. They've been there. And been through those hard times too. And so Elijah gives us hope. When we face trials. When we go from victory. To despair. Elijah was there.

[31:17] Elijah knows how you feel this morning. If you're there. Verse 3. And when he saw that. He arose and went for his life. He ran for his life. He came to Beersheba. Which belonged to Judah.

[31:28] And left his servant there. Elijah was now a hunted man. On the run from Jezebel. A fugitive. Verse 4. But he himself.

[31:39] Went a day's journey into the wilderness. And came. And sat under a juniper tree. And he requested for himself. That he might die. He requested for himself.

[31:51] That he might die. Prophet Elijah. Wants to die. And he said. It is enough now.

[32:02] Oh Lord. Take away my life. For I am not better than my father's. Elijah knew the depths of depression. The depths of despair. Of disappointment.

[32:13] And to feel all alone. All alone. Elijah knows how you feel. He was exhausted. He felt like he had failed.

[32:25] He wanted to die. Despite all the wonders. That God had done. In his life. And he said. Lord. Take away my life. Thankfully God didn't answer that prayer.

[32:40] He didn't answer that prayer. There's times God says. No. I am not going to give you what you are asking for. I have got more work for you to do. So God's spirit is at work. As we see God's touch.

[32:52] God's touch. When we arrive at the place of despair. Is God far away? No. He is very near. He is very near. He is close at hand. God has not abandoned you.

[33:04] He is there with you. With you. God will touch you. At your point of need. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save.

[33:15] His arm is not shortened that it cannot deliver you. His arm reaches out still. It reaches. Beyond. What we would think. What we could imagine.

[33:27] Well. Could God touch me? Yes he can. He can. When you are sitting under that juniper tree. In your life. God can touch you there.

[33:40] Even there. Even now. His arm is not shortened. God can touch you. When you feel like Elijah felt. As he lay under that juniper tree. Wishing he was dead.

[33:51] Verse five. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree. Then an angel touched him. And said unto him. Arise. And eat. If you are under a juniper tree.

[34:03] As it were. Do not despair. God will sustain you. He will sustain you. He will touch you. As the angel touched Elijah. Verse six. And he looked.

[34:14] And behold. Provision again. There was a cake baked. On the coals. And a cruise of water. In his hand. And he did eat. And drink. And laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord again. The second time.

[34:25] And touched him. And said. And eat. Because the journey is too great for thee. And he rose. And drink. And went. In the strength of that meat. Forty days.

[34:36] 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 said. Unto him. What doest thou hear.

[34:47] Elijah. It's interesting. It says. The word of the Lord came to him. And he. Said unto him. Yeah. He's the word. Jesus. Jesus was there.

[34:58] The word. God nourishes godliness in us. In those times of depression. Those times of affliction. God is at work. Failure doesn't mean defeat. God is taking you through a battle.

[35:10] To another victory. Another victory. Amen. God is taking you through another battle. So that you can see. Yet another victory. Just rely on God's spirit.

[35:22] To see you through. God's spirit is at work. God's spirit is at work. As we see God's comfort. When you're in those times. Where it seems. There's a lack of comfort.

[35:34] You can't comfort yourself. That God's comfort. Can be yours. Verse 10. He said. I've been very jealous. Jealous for the Lord God of hosts. For the children of Israel. For the children of Israel.

[35:45] Forsaken thy covenant. Thrown down thine altars. And slain thy prophets with the sword. I. Even I only. Am left. And they seek my life. To take it away. Take it away. Here's Elijah at the end of himself.

[35:58] Yet it is here. That he finds God's comfort. We all need comfort. From time to time. Comfort and encouragement. And we can find the comfort.

[36:11] Of the scriptures. 24 by 7. There's a 24 by 7 resource. And it's called the scriptures. The comfort.

[36:23] Of the scriptures. You know. You might not be able to get anyone over the phone. Or anyone knocking on your door. But. If you've got the word. There's comfort there for you.

[36:34] God's comfort. And how we all need comfort. From time to time. We can find the comfort. Of the scriptures. And the God of all comfort. The Holy Spirit. He is the comforter.

[36:45] Isn't he? The comforter. And he comes alongside to help. Where will he be found? Wherever you are.

[36:58] Even under the juniper tree. Verse 11. And he said. Go forth and stand upon the mount. Before the Lord. And behold. The Lord passed by. And a great and strong wing. Wrapped the mountains.

[37:09] And breaking pieces. The rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in. The wind. And after the wind. An earthquake. Whoa. But the Lord was not in the earthquake.

[37:21] And after the earthquake. A fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. Where is God? Still. Small. Voice. God's spirit is at work.

[37:34] As we hear. The still. Small. Voice. Voice. Not the wind. Not the earthquake. Not the. Fire. The wind. The voice.

[37:45] The voice. The voice. The still. Small voice. And friends. It's in that. Quiet place. That God. Will strengthen you.

[37:56] And God's spirit. Will work in you. As you tune in. Your ear to hear him. Tune out. The wind. The earthquake. The fire. And tune in. Listen.

[38:07] For that still. Small voice. The quiet voice. Of the Holy Spirit. Tune in. And you will receive his message.

[38:18] He's still transmitting. To planet earth. You know the astronomers are. Busy tuning in their dials. And listening to the. The radio waves.

[38:32] Yet they can't tune in. And hear. The still. Small voice. And there definitely are. Extra terrestrial. Communication messages. And they're written here.

[38:43] They're written here in this book. Amen. God's message. For us. For modern man. If only we will receive it. That still. Small voice. The voice of God.

[38:54] Tune in. As he speaks to hearts. As he speaks to consciences. As he provokes us. As he prides us. As he impresses on us. As he. Leads us. As he witnesses with our spirit.

[39:05] That God will open eyes. Once blinded. In unbelief. That's my prayer. Verse 13. And it was so. When Elijah heard it. That he wrapped his face in his mantle.

[39:16] He went out. And stood in the entering of the cave. And behold. There came a voice unto him. And said. What doest thou here Elijah? What are you doing here Elijah? Verse 14. He said.

[39:27] I've been very jealous. For the Lord God of hosts. Because the children of Israel. Have forsaken. By covenant. Thrown down mine altars. And slain. By prophets with the sword. And I. Even I. Only.

[39:38] Am left. And they seek my life. To take it away. The Lord God then. Gives further instruction. To Elijah. He says something. That's very comforting. Verse 18.

[39:50] Yet. I have left me. Seven thousand in Israel. Seven thousand in Israel. All the knees. That have not bowed unto Baal. And every mouth. Which hath not kissed him.

[40:02] In other words. Worshipped him. So there was seven thousand. That had not. Worshipped Baal. Sometimes we can feel. All alone. All alone. And it feels like.

[40:14] We're all alone. In this idolatrous world. Where this world. Is just caught up in the idols. The Australian idols. Or whatever idols. This idolatrous world.

[40:25] This world. Of idol worship. You can be. As Elijah was. Whose name means. My God. Is Yah. Or Yahweh. My God. Is Yahweh.

[40:37] You don't have to succumb. To the prevailing culture. And though it might feel like. Sometimes. You're all alone. God is with you. And there's many others. Many others. Who love the Lord.

[40:48] Who have not bowed to. Who have not bowed their knees. False gods of this age. And. Like God. Came. To Paul. In a vision.

[40:59] And the Lord said. I have much people. In this city. It's talking about Corinth. Pretty wicked. City. And. Not the best. Of churches really. But. God says.

[41:10] I have much people. In this city. Thank God. There's Christians. All over this city. There's Christians. Over this. City. Of Adelaide. Of this. Land.

[41:21] We live. As an aside. It's kind of sad. That the 7,000. Were a bit more. Evident. That's another story. Isn't it? Where's the 7,000? Elijah didn't even know.

[41:33] They were there. But yet. Brothers and sisters. We can take comfort. That there's other believers. And we can be strengthened. Together with them. So God's spirit. Was evident. In Elijah's life.

[41:44] And at the end. He was transported away. In a chariot of fire. 2 Kings 2. Verse 11. But the point. Of this message is. That. As I started. Elijah was a man.

[41:55] Just like. You and me. A man. Of like passions. Of like. Feelings. Of emotions. Of sensations. A mere man.

[42:06] A mere mortal. A mere human being. Just like us. And we can take heart. In looking at. The life of Elijah. When we're going through trials.

[42:17] I'm sure none of you. Go through trials. But. Elijah. Went through. Some fair trials. Didn't he? He went through. Some fair trials. And yet. He found.

[42:28] Triumphs there. And. He sets an example. For us too. And there's a question. In the book. It says. Where is. The Lord God. Of Elijah. Where is it?

[42:39] He's here. He's in you. He's in your life. He's with you. He's with you. And Elijah. As he passed the mantle. His. Prophets cloak.

[42:50] To Elisha. He prayed. A double portion. Of his spirit. And. 2 Kings 2.14. He took the mantle. Of Elijah. This is Elisha.

[43:02] And he smoked the waters. And said. Where is the Lord God. Of Elijah. It's a good question. Isn't it? The God of Elijah. Is here with us now. Amen. He's in this book.

[43:13] But he's in your life. In your heart. The God of Elijah. Is with us. With us still. So just to quickly. Cover where we've been. Walking through Elijah's trials and tests.

[43:25] And triumphs. We see. Number one. God supplies. God supplies. God supplies. God supplies. As we obey his word. As we fear not.

[43:38] As the widow woman. As we claim God's promises. And as his word revives. God supplies. As he supplied. Her need.

[43:49] His need. And the boy was brought to life. God supplies. Secondly. We see God strengthens. God strengthens you and me. As we face up to sin.

[44:00] As Elijah faced up to wicked Ahab. God strengthens us to follow him. Who you gonna serve. Are you gonna live between the two. If God be God. Serve him.

[44:11] If Baal. Serve him. God strengthens us to follow him. To trust him. To decide. To follow Jesus. God strengthens us to trust his power.

[44:23] Even though the wood is wet. God's power. Can overcome. All the circumstances. That might be against us. And God strengthens us. To repair the altar. In your home.

[44:34] In your heart. Rebuild the altar of worship. Take time. Take that place. To worship God. And thirdly.

[44:46] We see God's spirit. Evident. In the fire of the Lord. In the rain that fell. His refining. His cleansing. His touch. As we're under the juniper tree.

[44:58] Seems totally desperate. We know his touch. We know his comfort. When we feel him all alone. The seven thousand. And God. With you.

[45:09] And most of all. He strengthens. His spirit works. As we hear his still small voice. Tune in. Tune out. The other voices.

[45:20] Tune in. To that still small voice. Tune in. To that today. I urge you this morning. We heard of Elijah. Where is the Lord God of Elijah?

[45:34] In Christ he came. And died. And rose. And lives still. Saviour.

[45:45] Master. Lord. Are you going to follow him? Or are you going to follow the. Idols. Of this world. The false gods. If God be God.

[45:58] Follow him. If Baal. Follow him. We know who won. That contest. The fire fell. On the wet wood. And consumed everything.

[46:09] Will you rebuild the altar? Will you worship God? Follow him. Follow him. Follow him. Let us pray. To those of you. To those of you.

[46:20] To those of you. To those of you. To those of you. To those of you. To those of you. To those of you. To those of you. Thank you.