WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.700 So, as I said, we're going to spend probably up until September exploring episodes from the life of Elijah together, and his is a remarkable life. 00:00:10.700 --> 00:00:10.700 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.759 He'll witness great encounters with God, great expressions of God's power, and he will hear God speak in a whisper. 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:44.460 And he, of course, returns to heaven in a fiery chariot. 00:00:45.519 --> 00:00:47.920 He's a big figure in the Old Testament. 00:00:48.039 --> 00:00:50.280 He's a big figure in the New Testament. 00:00:50.280 --> 00:01:04.620 As the storyline of the Old Testament continues, there is this anticipation that before the Lord comes in power, there will be another prophet like Elijah who will prepare the way. 00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:09.879 And then we come into the New Testament, and we even hear it from Jesus himself. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:14.400 That ministry, that second Elijah, that's John the Baptist. 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:30.760 And then we turn to a book like the book of James, and we're presented with Elijah as an example from this story of a prayer of faith, a man who prays, believing, and God hears, and God answers. 00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:36.100 There's a remarkable life written large across the pages of the Bible. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:43.219 And he arrives on the scene at a low point, one of the many low points in Israel's spiritual life. 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:49.000 And they have turned from faith to idolatry. 00:01:49.980 --> 00:01:57.260 No longer trusting wholeheartedly in the God of the covenant, now they have turned to the gods of Canaan. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:06.579 And they've been led into that in large measure by King Ahab and his wife, Queen Jezebel. 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:14.919 And so part of the feature of Elijah's life, Elijah the prophet, is as a servant of the Lord, he's going to suffer. 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:17.680 And we'll see this as the weeks go by. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:20.919 Ahab gives him a nickname, the Troubler of Israel. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:25.919 He has a very low reputation of low impression of Elijah. 00:02:27.079 --> 00:02:30.460 Now Jezebel will put a price on his head. 00:02:30.460 --> 00:02:40.939 And Elijah the prophet, who looks to stay faithful to his God, will have to live with the pain of seeing the people of Israel's divided hearts. 00:02:43.260 --> 00:02:45.520 Can't quite decide who they should worship. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:54.600 Of course, when we come to a story like Elijah's, we're separated from him by long ages of history and culture. 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:57.319 And so he can come across as a very different figure. 00:02:58.139 --> 00:03:02.539 The time and place can seem very different to ours, which of course it is. 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:06.219 But we'll see similarities and parallels as well. 00:03:07.859 --> 00:03:11.180 We discover timeless truths in the story of Elijah. 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:16.579 That at different points, as God's church, I think will challenge us. 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:18.439 At other points, will encourage us. 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:23.280 So we're going to see over and over again, there is an unchanging God. 00:03:23.740 --> 00:03:25.199 A God of absolute holiness. 00:03:25.740 --> 00:03:28.659 A God who tolerates no rivals for worship. 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:38.199 And yet, even when his people have walked so far away, here is another example of God extending compassion and grace. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:44.120 Sending Elijah, seeking to draw rebels back to true worship and into relationship. 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:56.460 We'll see, I think, a number of times the unchanging temptation that runs not just from Elijah's day to ours, but from the beginnings of the fall into sin. 00:03:56.460 --> 00:04:04.980 The temptation to look to find our security and life in someone or something other than the true God. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:07.819 For them, it was Baal. 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:13.039 For us, as Calvin says, we have hearts that are idol factories. 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:19.639 And we're always being tempted to place our hope for security and life in something other than the true God. 00:04:20.540 --> 00:04:27.219 And I think a story like Elijah reminds us that as a church, as the people of God, we have an unchanging call. 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:31.500 What is it that God wants of his people? 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:36.240 Well, he wants us to stand firm in faith. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:43.639 He wants us to represent him in the way that we live lives of faith and obedience. 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:50.860 And we will see Elijah on different occasions standing up for God, being willing to be a man apart. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:54.900 And we will hear him speak up for God. 00:04:56.180 --> 00:05:01.740 A man expressing his loyalty and his faith, even as everyone else's hearts seem to be wavering. 00:05:01.740 --> 00:05:07.699 That just like Elijah, we are invited as the people of God, as those who have known grace, 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:17.199 to call people out of a drought and famine, spiritually speaking, to the feast that Jesus himself offers. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:22.579 But today in our little story here, I think the lesson that we can draw, 00:05:23.340 --> 00:05:30.900 in the one hand, is negative that we will never find life-giving joy and satisfaction from anything else that we place our hopes in. 00:05:30.899 --> 00:05:39.099 But positively, as we see it in the story of Elijah, we will find life and satisfaction as we turn to trust in the Lord our God. 00:05:40.299 --> 00:05:45.000 I think that's the underlying message behind the confrontation with Ahab. 00:05:45.919 --> 00:05:52.539 It's certainly the message that we get from Elijah's life in contrast to what everyone else is experiencing. 00:05:52.540 --> 00:05:54.960 God is looking after him. 00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:56.540 He's being provided for. 00:05:57.260 --> 00:06:01.680 He's enjoying blessing while everyone else is experiencing drought and famine. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:05.820 And ultimately, it's the message of the Lord Jesus. 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:07.560 It's what he gives to us in the gospel. 00:06:07.700 --> 00:06:08.960 It's what he gave to the women of Samaria. 00:06:09.080 --> 00:06:12.280 It's what he gave to the crowds in John chapter 6. 00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:16.159 So, our sermon this evening, very simple. 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:19.519 One statement divided into two sections. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:24.879 The first, from verse 1, the God who is alive. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:32.139 Elijah said to Ahab, as the Lord, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:36.519 there will be neither June or rain in the next few years except at my word. 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:39.259 So, this is the first time we come across Elijah. 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:43.079 He bursts into the national scene without any kind of formalities. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:43.719 He's just here. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:44.740 He's in the court of the king. 00:06:44.799 --> 00:06:45.339 And he speaks. 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:51.079 And as we think about even just this verse, the story is inviting us to do some compare 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:54.839 and contrast between some different figures that we will encounter. 00:06:56.199 --> 00:07:01.180 And I want us, as we're thinking about this for ourselves, also to think about the first 00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:09.980 hearers of this story, the people of Israel, as they find themselves deciding which path 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:12.860 will I follow when it comes to my worship. 00:07:13.280 --> 00:07:18.860 Am I going to choose Canaan's gods or am I going to choose the covenant god? 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:27.319 And how would this opening story challenge, correct, teach them, and what does it do for us? 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:31.079 Think about the time in which we live. 00:07:31.139 --> 00:07:38.139 We're bombarded in so many different ways by messages that would say, have this, have 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:40.420 me, and you will have life. 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:42.540 So, advertising is built on it. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:45.500 Social media influence is driven by it. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.620 The battle that goes on in our sinful hearts as well. 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:55.920 We're always recognizing, because we're made as worshiping beings, I need something. 00:07:55.920 --> 00:08:00.520 That will give me security, that will give me meaning, that will give me hope, that will 00:08:00.520 --> 00:08:01.280 give me life. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:08.520 And again, that temptation within our hearts is to go in another direction and to wander 00:08:08.520 --> 00:08:10.500 from the living God. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:16.879 And so, we have in these verses a compare and contrast to help us to reflect. 00:08:17.900 --> 00:08:21.700 The first contrast is between Elijah and Ahab, of course. 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:27.180 King Ahab has just been introduced in 1 Kings 16. 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:33.179 If you want to turn a page back in your Bible, we discover the whole of chapter 16 actually 00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:38.480 is a picture of here are some years of instability within the nation of Israel because they've 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:42.939 got a whole chain of kings who are not following God in loyalty. 00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:47.960 And so, their reigns don't last long and there's civil unrest and there's fighting over the throne. 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:55.540 There's a whole chain of wicked kings, but when we come to Ahab, he's the lowest of the low. 00:08:56.860 --> 00:09:04.580 Chapter 16, verse 30, Ahab, son of Omri, did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than those 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:05.360 before him. 00:09:06.400 --> 00:09:12.860 Verse 33, Ahab did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:14.240 the kings before him. 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:19.539 He marries a pagan woman who leads him into idolatry. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:27.159 He sets up all these Asherah poles and these Baals and he turns the nation towards false 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:28.019 worship. 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:29.700 He's a powerful figure. 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:30.639 Clearly, he's the king. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:31.700 He sits in the palace. 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:33.240 He sits on David's throne. 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:36.899 But unlike David, he is a false worship leader. 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:43.179 Israel's king was to lead the people to worship God. 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:45.279 He's a false worship leader. 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:49.259 So, there's Ahab on the one hand and then there's Elijah. 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:52.360 Elijah the Tishbite from Tishbe and Gilead. 00:09:53.439 --> 00:09:57.559 Bible commentators and scholars can't even decide where this place is, but it's clearly 00:09:57.559 --> 00:09:59.919 a middle of nowhere kind of a place. 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:01.899 He has no background. 00:10:02.079 --> 00:10:03.179 He has no credentials. 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:07.059 He has no family lineage of being a prophet or anything like that. 00:10:07.099 --> 00:10:13.179 But what we are invited to see about Ahab is that he is a willing, obedient servant of 00:10:13.179 --> 00:10:13.559 the Lord. 00:10:14.439 --> 00:10:17.399 He is someone who is concerned for the true glory of God. 00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:20.319 And in the end of the day, that's what matters. 00:10:22.199 --> 00:10:25.059 Remember what Paul wrote to the folks in Corinth. 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:30.859 God doesn't typically choose those who are wise and those who are strong and those who are 00:10:30.859 --> 00:10:31.179 powerful. 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:36.059 Rather, he chooses the weak to confine the strong, to demonstrate his grace so that he 00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:37.179 gets the glory. 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:47.599 In a sense, we see Elijah like Jesus, the servant of the Lord. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:52.539 He had no beauty or comeliness that people would desire him. 00:10:52.539 --> 00:10:58.199 But he came willing, obedient, concerned for the glory of God. 00:10:59.319 --> 00:11:04.919 Second contrast within our text is between the two gods. 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:09.480 It's not so much a contrast as a God context. 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:11.839 Between the Lord God and Baal. 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:17.379 And this is where we need just a little bit of background into Canaanite worship. 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:20.679 Because Baal, he was one of their major gods. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:25.460 He was the god of storm and weather and fertility. 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:30.860 And so the message in Canaan was, you need to worship Baal. 00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:34.200 And if Baal doesn't get worship, then he won't send rain. 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:36.480 And if he doesn't send rain, then we don't have crops. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:37.820 Without crops, there's no food. 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:39.139 Without food, there's no life. 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:47.199 And so for the people of Israel living in Canaan, gradually they came to believe that, well, if 00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:51.539 that's the message, then we better at least hedge our bets because we don't want to miss 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:53.620 out on the rain and the crops and the food and the life. 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:08.639 Fear, the desire for security, the desire for wealth, drove Ahab and drove Israel to join 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.519 their culture in false worship. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:21.740 And it's probably true for our own hearts that there are those same pools on us. 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:29.879 We have that desire for security and wealth, and sometimes there is fear also. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:35.200 And it can be easy for us to think, well, if I just had money or if I just had success or 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:38.059 status or the right job, then I would have that security. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.399 And our hearts can be drawn from God. 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:47.399 Well, into that setting, that setting where Baal is being presented as the God of weather 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:52.559 and storm and crops and life, the Lord God throws down the gauntlet, doesn't he, in verse 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:52.980 one? 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:59.939 There will be neither dew nor rain except at my word. 00:12:59.940 --> 00:13:07.380 Who gives the dew, who gives the rain, who controls the weather, who's responsible for bringing life or 00:13:07.380 --> 00:13:09.580 withholding the rains? 00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:12.120 It's not Baal, but God. 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:14.660 That's the message Elijah delivers. 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:23.419 And we need to hear this as well, I think, in the context of God's covenant that he's made with his 00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:23.779 people. 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:26.879 He's the Lord God. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:28.299 That's his covenant name. 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:32.399 And God must always be faithful to his covenant word. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:39.000 And in the book of Deuteronomy, in the book of Leviticus, we discover that within the covenant, 00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:40.579 there are these terms. 00:13:41.199 --> 00:13:44.439 You know, Israel is to live with the true God as their God. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:49.279 And if they will do that, then they can experience and look for and expect blessing. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:56.139 But if they turn away from God in disobedience, they can expect to experience curse. 00:13:56.919 --> 00:14:03.259 It's spelled out really clearly in, for example, Leviticus chapter 26. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:07.639 Again, if you're using a church Bible, it's there on page 130. 00:14:08.579 --> 00:14:10.579 Now, but let me just read a couple of verses. 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:14.079 Chapter 26 begins this way. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:20.139 Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves. 00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:24.120 And do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. 00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:25.720 I am the Lord your God. 00:14:25.780 --> 00:14:26.860 Really clear command. 00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:29.100 Don't make any other idols. 00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:32.900 Don't direct your worship anywhere other than to the true God. 00:14:33.160 --> 00:14:39.040 Then in verse 3, if you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:45.500 I will send you rain in its season and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:50.939 The God who truly does control the weather, who controls the rains that give the crops, 00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:54.719 that give the life, promises blessing upon obedience. 00:14:54.860 --> 00:15:03.779 But then, verse 18, and this is part of the punishments for disobedience. 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:09.259 If after all of this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:19.519 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. 00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:24.139 Your strength will be spent in vain because your soil will not yield its crops, 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:27.039 nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:33.039 It's really, really clear that they have been acting in disobedience. 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:41.459 And this message, no June or rain, is the covenant God bringing judgment because of disobedience. 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:51.139 One more compare and contrast that's in the background in this section is Elijah and his fellow Israelites. 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:57.139 So, one of the striking features, I think, of Elijah's story is how often we see him standing by himself. 00:15:58.379 --> 00:16:07.759 He stands alone, the man of God committed to God's word and faithfulness to the Lord God 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:14.519 against a backdrop of wickedness and false worship and a message from the palace that says, 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:16.659 stop talking or we'll kill you. 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:23.819 Where Israel fails, Elijah doesn't. 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:27.079 Israel did not stay devoted to God. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:33.079 Israel clearly does not trust that the God of the Bible will provide for their needs. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:36.939 They don't believe that life with him is the key to true life, 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:39.480 and so they turn to place their hopes elsewhere. 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:40.919 But Elijah doesn't do that. 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:48.240 And as Elijah stands, the man of faith and obedience in this setting, 00:16:48.319 --> 00:16:53.639 he prepares us in a greater way for Jesus' ministry. 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.959 And this is where we understand that is good news. 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:01.459 Because where we fail, 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:06.259 because all too often as we think about our stories, 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:14.740 our hearts are divided in terms of where our worship and our loyalty goes. 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:19.600 We are guilty of disloyalty and disobedience. 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.400 We don't always keep God's law. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:25.960 We don't always practice love for him and for our neighbor. 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:29.539 But where we fail and where we deserve curse, 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:32.460 Jesus perfectly succeeds. 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.660 And then on the cross, he takes our curse, 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.360 as he takes our sin, 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:40.640 so that he might give us his blessing. 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:44.160 And the wonderful message of the gospel is that 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:46.840 Jesus calls us back to himself, 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:51.960 calling us back to the source of true life, 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:56.360 to the God who is alive. 00:17:57.840 --> 00:17:59.299 So before we move on to the next point, 00:17:59.360 --> 00:18:01.079 just two things to underline. 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:03.100 Very basic. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:07.180 One, the God of the Bible is the only true and living God. 00:18:08.340 --> 00:18:11.259 I don't know how many people here are interested in golf. 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:13.700 Maybe not that many, but that's not too important. 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:16.240 But the number one golfer right now is Scotty Scheffler. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:18.900 And he got people talking this week, 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:21.579 preparing for the British Open, 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:24.519 he was getting interviewed at a press conference. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.180 And he basically talked about the golfer's life as, 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:27.980 his life, 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:30.660 as being not a fulfilling life. 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:34.100 He said, we're encouraged to give everything 00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:35.279 to win these tournaments. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:38.840 We give everything for two minutes of joy. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.259 He came out and said, 00:18:41.340 --> 00:18:44.299 what's the point of being the best player in the world? 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.740 Well, it's really interesting, 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:49.559 because I think he understands there, 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:51.500 and we can learn from his story, 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:55.119 the truth about counterfeit gods. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.579 There is that message, 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.740 here are these things to aspire to. 00:19:01.899 --> 00:19:03.039 They promise much, 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.960 but they fail to deliver. 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:12.180 What the world offers can't bear the weight of our expectations, 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:15.079 and is no help to us eternally. 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:22.920 Only the true and the living God won't disappoint, 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.920 won't fail us. 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:28.380 Only Jesus, the Son of God, 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.660 who died for our sin, 00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:32.160 who rose for our salvation, 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:34.759 He is the only one who never fails. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.960 He establishes the new covenant 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:40.200 in His broken body, 00:19:40.300 --> 00:19:41.279 in His shed blood, 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.420 and you and I, 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:45.120 we can trust His word of promise 00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:47.720 from here to eternity. 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:50.100 Our God will go before us. 00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:52.480 He has gone before us. 00:19:53.320 --> 00:19:55.540 The God of the Bible is the only true living God. 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:58.519 And secondly, I think from Elijah, 00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.420 we have that reminder 00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:02.059 that God's people are called to stand up 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:03.259 and speak up. 00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:05.399 And it requires courage, 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.740 and it requires conviction. 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.759 In a sense, 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.420 the church is a bit like Elijah. 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:14.139 Our pedigree is not that high. 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:16.480 Our CV is not that impressive. 00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:18.940 Our place in society as a church 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.579 is not much. 00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:24.199 But Jesus, from heaven, 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.299 He sends the Spirit. 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:28.399 And the God of the Bible, 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.559 who plans all things, 00:20:29.699 --> 00:20:31.039 plans that His church 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:33.500 be His representative witnesses 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.339 in this world. 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:37.220 And He gives us strength 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:38.179 to live by faith. 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.199 He gives us courage 00:20:40.199 --> 00:20:41.460 to speak of His goodness 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.259 and His love. 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:45.299 Enabling us to speak 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.419 to the people around us. 00:20:47.199 --> 00:20:48.259 The people who are anxious. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:51.099 People who have been disappointed. 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.980 People who are searching. 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:57.240 To lovingly point people away 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.559 from what the world offers. 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:01.879 To say Jesus is better. 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:04.259 To live together in a way 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:07.059 that shows Jesus is better. 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:11.180 To recognize He is the answer 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.240 to our spiritual drought. 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:17.380 When we feel our sense of guilt 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:19.120 or when we wander away 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:20.500 and our hearts grow cold, 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:21.519 when we find ourselves 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:23.460 searching for that something more, 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.400 the message of the Bible 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:27.059 has come to Jesus. 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:32.079 So if the first part of our statement 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.240 is the God who is alive, 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.880 the second part that concludes it, 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:36.519 the God who is alive 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.880 is the God who gives life. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.740 That's verses two to six. 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.539 So another feature 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:43.200 of the Elijah story, 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:43.900 which is wonderful, 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:46.559 is that God doesn't just 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.779 talk a good game. 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:50.039 He doesn't just talk about His power. 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.220 He acts. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:52.839 You know, He makes clear, 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:54.380 I am the true and the living God. 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:57.579 And He shows it in remarkable ways. 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:01.079 And here's the first of these. 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:05.140 If part one was compare and contrast, 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.440 let's think about part two 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.579 as command and response. 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:10.279 First of all, 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.960 the command to Elijah 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:13.419 and the response of Elijah. 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:15.159 God's command is there 00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:16.299 in verses two to four. 00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:18.039 The word of the Lord came to Elijah, 00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:19.179 leave here, turn east, 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.399 hide in the Kerith ravine. 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.919 You will drink from the brook 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:23.500 and I've instructed the ravens 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.399 to supply you. 00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:27.179 There's a wonderful message 00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:27.740 for Elijah. 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:30.079 The servant of the Lord 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.279 is going to be spared 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.240 from the drought. 00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:35.779 While others are experiencing judgment, 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:37.399 he is going to receive salvation. 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:39.380 He's going to receive these tokens of blessing. 00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:42.720 He will be miraculously provided for 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:44.640 both in the food that he will eat 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:46.080 and the drink that he will have. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:50.140 And if we think back to our Bibles, 00:22:51.320 --> 00:22:52.660 this takes us back, doesn't it, 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.800 to the story of the Exodus. 00:22:55.780 --> 00:22:58.160 There are Moses and Israel 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.720 and they are in the wilderness. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.400 They're in a desert situation. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.120 situation. 00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:06.220 And God miraculously feeds them. 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.340 The manna and the quail 00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:10.280 rain down from heaven 00:23:10.280 --> 00:23:12.080 every day except the Sabbath. 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.280 And then in chapter 17, 00:23:15.280 --> 00:23:16.200 as they're thirsty, 00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:17.980 God miraculously provides 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.780 for a grumbling people, 00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:20.500 by his grace, 00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:22.740 water from the rock. 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:25.240 And then wonderfully, 00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.579 as Paul thinks about that 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.759 little image, 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.059 he says, 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:28.579 the rock, 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:30.200 the rock was Christ. 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:34.400 So the God who saves 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.039 is the God who sustains. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.180 And here he sustains 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:41.599 his profit. 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.120 Picks up a theme 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.559 that runs through the whole Bible. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.819 Look to God 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:47.980 and his word. 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.839 Look to God 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.759 and his promise 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.900 in order to find life. 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.099 Wasn't that the case 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.799 for Adam and Eve 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.759 in the Garden of Eden? 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:58.279 If they would have trusted 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.119 God's word, 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.019 if they would have lived 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.619 in obedience, 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:02.220 they would have lived 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:03.180 in paradise 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:04.900 with God forever. 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:07.059 It was the message 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.960 for Israel. 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.700 As they were heading 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:11.019 from slavery 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.960 towards their promised land, 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.879 trust in God, 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:16.000 live in faith 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.519 and obedience, 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.660 and you will live 00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.500 in the promised land 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.420 and you will experience 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:19.900 blessing 00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:21.060 and God will care 00:24:21.060 --> 00:24:21.320 for you 00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:22.300 and provide for you. 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:26.000 And for us as a church, 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.759 we are called 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.480 to trust our God 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.440 and his word. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.420 And we're invited then 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.640 to enjoy life 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.740 with God 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:36.440 through Jesus today. 00:24:37.800 --> 00:24:39.140 As Jesus reminded us 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.539 this morning, 00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:40.320 we call God 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:41.420 our Father in heaven. 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:43.880 And we look forward 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:47.120 to life in a perfect kingdom 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:49.000 for all eternity. 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.859 Well, 00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:53.739 as Elijah received 00:24:53.739 --> 00:24:54.419 the command 00:24:54.419 --> 00:24:56.019 to leave and go, 00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:57.019 his response, 00:24:57.219 --> 00:24:57.919 verse 5, 00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.419 so he did 00:24:59.419 --> 00:25:00.799 what the Lord 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.539 had told him. 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.659 He went 00:25:02.659 --> 00:25:04.379 to the Kerith ravine 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:06.639 and he stayed there. 00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.699 It's simple 00:25:08.699 --> 00:25:10.479 but really beautiful. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:12.039 When the rest 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.680 of the nation 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.860 is so half-hearted 00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:14.680 and can't decide 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.799 who they should trust, 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.120 who they should obey, 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.900 here is the man of God 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.259 choosing to live by faith. 00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.500 And because he does, 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.319 he enjoys 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:25.339 God's wonderful blessing. 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.940 But there's a second 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:29.360 and there's a more striking 00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:31.339 command and response 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:32.279 scene in the Bible 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.059 reminding us 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.620 that the God 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.220 who is alive 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:34.819 is the God 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.559 who gives life, 00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:36.579 he controls everything. 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.939 It's the Ravens. 00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:41.179 Now, 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.799 to help us think 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:43.000 about the Ravens, 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.439 I didn't do this 00:25:44.439 --> 00:25:44.899 on purpose 00:25:44.899 --> 00:25:45.779 but last week 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.980 we went down 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.819 to Portobello Beach 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.799 and I don't know 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.259 if anyone's been 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.039 down to Portobello 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.919 recently 00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:52.559 since they opened up 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.779 a really nice pizza place 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.759 to go with the Chippies. 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.199 Well, 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.759 we were there 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.759 at dinner time 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:59.099 and if you've seen 00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:00.179 Alfred Hitchcock's 00:26:00.179 --> 00:26:00.779 The Birds, 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:03.559 that was the kind 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.500 of vision 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:06.000 as there was like, 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:06.740 there must have been 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:08.819 like 50 of these seagulls 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.859 circling the bins 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.680 and circling 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.920 the folks eating 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.319 their dinner. 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:14.180 It was horrendous. 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.740 They were not 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.599 being charged 00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.680 with delivering 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.119 the food, 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.880 rather their 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:22.279 sole purpose 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.880 for those minutes 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.720 that we were there 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.740 finding a safe 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.519 distance away 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.319 sitting on the grass 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.319 away from the beach 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.740 was to steal 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.460 any food 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.420 that they could get. 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:33.940 And if you ever see 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:35.620 not just a seagull 00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.340 but any kind of bird, 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:37.420 even a tiny bird, 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.840 if you see a little bird 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:41.220 with a tiny scrap 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:41.840 of food, 00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:43.940 you've probably seen 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.640 those other birds 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:45.640 try and get their share. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.320 They're not natural 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:47.779 sharers, 00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.200 are they? 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.900 Even with a little 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.240 scrap, 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.860 they want it 00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.660 for themselves. 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:54.279 And so the command 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:56.100 and the response 00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:58.759 to and of the ravens 00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.660 is remarkable. 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:01.700 The ravens, 00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.600 in verse 6, 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.580 brought Elijah 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:04.900 bread and meat 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.600 in the morning 00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:07.660 and bread and meat 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.400 in the evening 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.779 and he drank 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.400 from the brook. 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:13.080 The God of the Bible, 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.860 not Baal, 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.180 is the creator 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:18.000 and king 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.960 over the whole creation, 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:21.560 over the life 00:27:21.560 --> 00:27:22.200 of Elijah, 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:23.980 over the life 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.740 of the birds. 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.720 They do what he commands 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.620 to provide life-giving food 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:31.180 to his servant. 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.720 Now think about this 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:35.100 as the first hearers 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:36.759 of this story. 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.279 Imagine them, 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:39.579 you know, 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.680 they place their hopes 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:42.360 in Baal 00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:44.019 and now they're living 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:45.220 in a drought condition. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.920 They've got this choice, 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.480 don't they? 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.140 Well, right now, 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.319 we're trusting Baal 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.319 and there's no rain 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.159 and we're hungry. 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.299 He promised life 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.700 but we're not getting any. 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.299 And then they hear 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.960 about Elijah. 00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:01.000 Elijah trusts God 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.559 and he's enjoying life. 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.359 God's caring for him 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.859 just as God said he would. 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:08.159 And you wonder, 00:28:09.199 --> 00:28:10.339 would they make the connection? 00:28:11.959 --> 00:28:12.579 Would they begin 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.579 that journey back 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.240 to God? 00:28:16.959 --> 00:28:18.419 Can we make the connection 00:28:18.419 --> 00:28:20.379 to see that 00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:21.679 the God who is alive 00:28:21.679 --> 00:28:22.339 is the God 00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:23.319 who gives 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.959 true life? 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.219 As we leave 00:28:27.219 --> 00:28:28.619 scene one, 00:28:29.439 --> 00:28:30.119 and we'll come back 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:31.279 to Elijah next week, 00:28:32.419 --> 00:28:33.059 as we see 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:34.219 the true and the living God 00:28:34.219 --> 00:28:35.479 who provides true life, 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:37.679 it's a wonderful story. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.599 A couple of suggestions 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:41.679 for our storytelling. 00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:45.199 One, 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:48.379 tell our stories, 00:28:48.479 --> 00:28:49.299 tell your story 00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:50.839 of God's clear, 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.639 detailed kindness 00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:53.939 and protection. 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:57.219 We don't have stories 00:28:57.219 --> 00:28:58.719 as dramatic as Elijah's, 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.419 I don't think. 00:29:00.219 --> 00:29:02.319 But we have stories 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.819 stories, 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:05.259 where we've come 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.019 to see 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:07.939 the good care 00:29:07.939 --> 00:29:09.339 of our Father 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:11.379 over our lives. 00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:15.579 We have stories 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.639 where we have been 00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.399 in trouble 00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:18.539 or been in want 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.659 and we have prayed 00:29:19.659 --> 00:29:21.259 and God has answered, 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.759 sometimes dramatically, 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.659 sometimes through 00:29:23.659 --> 00:29:24.679 other people. 00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:27.000 We have those stories. 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:30.599 We have faith 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.400 in a God 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.359 who controls 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.140 everything. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.960 There is no moment 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:37.619 outside of His control. 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.400 And I think 00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:39.960 one of the things 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.900 that's so important 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.960 for us 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.460 as the people 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.059 of God 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:44.880 is that we live 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.680 recognizing 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:47.140 this is my Father's world. 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.559 I like to read 00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.039 old books 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.099 and the old 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.980 feel, 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:52.900 they got this, 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.900 they lived 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:55.000 and breathed 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.720 knowing 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:57.160 every little 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.140 moment 00:29:58.140 --> 00:30:00.300 directed, 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:01.480 controlled by God 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.180 and it gave them 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:03.160 such a peace 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:04.500 and security 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:06.220 and stability. 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.620 So I think 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:11.540 the story of Elijah 00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:12.620 is an invitation 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:14.060 to you and to me 00:30:14.060 --> 00:30:14.840 to think about 00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:16.200 and to talk about 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:17.660 the ways 00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.420 that we see 00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.620 and we feel 00:30:19.620 --> 00:30:20.960 God's ordinary 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.160 and extraordinary 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:23.060 care 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:24.119 over our lives 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:25.359 to acknowledge 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:27.259 as God promises 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.559 He gives us 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.559 daily bread, 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.019 He gives us 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:32.200 grace for today 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.179 and He will 00:30:33.179 --> 00:30:34.059 give us grace 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.879 for our tomorrow 00:30:34.879 --> 00:30:36.240 whatever that looks like. 00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:39.519 And the reason 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.659 why that's so important 00:30:40.659 --> 00:30:41.700 is because there's 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.319 lots of people 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.440 around us 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:46.440 where the question 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.079 that they're asking 00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:47.619 if they're asking 00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.259 any questions 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:48.839 about Christianity 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:50.519 is not so much 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.359 maybe nowadays 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:52.779 is your faith 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.319 true 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:54.959 but so much 00:30:54.959 --> 00:30:55.500 does your faith 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:55.919 work. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.479 That seems to be 00:30:58.479 --> 00:30:59.879 significant 00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:00.539 to people 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.119 to us now. 00:31:02.459 --> 00:31:03.079 And so 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.379 as we tell 00:31:04.379 --> 00:31:05.279 our stories 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.699 of answered prayer 00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:08.419 of God's 00:31:08.419 --> 00:31:08.899 goodness 00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:10.159 to us 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:13.740 we get 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.120 to show 00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:14.540 people 00:31:14.540 --> 00:31:16.000 that God 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.680 is real 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.000 that faith 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.700 is real 00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.800 that there is 00:31:19.800 --> 00:31:20.220 a reason 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:20.840 to consider 00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.300 true 00:31:21.300 --> 00:31:23.420 and I think 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:23.920 it's important 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.279 for us 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:24.840 to encourage 00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:25.400 one another 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.080 as well. 00:31:27.080 --> 00:31:27.240 You know 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.960 here is Elijah 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.620 and he is being 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:30.080 spiritually fed 00:31:30.080 --> 00:31:31.600 in a wilderness 00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:32.800 kind of experience. 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:34.919 I wonder 00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.339 if you can 00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:35.899 testify 00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:37.680 to times 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:38.139 when life 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.720 seemed really 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.359 hard 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.740 in a time 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.339 of suffering 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:42.139 or trial 00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:43.419 and God's 00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:44.059 word came 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.700 with particular 00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.359 power 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:47.000 where God 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.659 seemed to be 00:31:47.659 --> 00:31:48.299 particularly 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.159 close 00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:50.940 and showing 00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:51.579 his love 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.399 even when 00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:53.079 everything else 00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.539 seemed to be 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.359 falling apart. 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.919 That's a 00:31:55.919 --> 00:31:56.359 wonderful 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.200 testimony of 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.980 God's grace 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:59.279 for our own 00:31:59.279 --> 00:31:59.839 faith and for 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.259 the faith 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:00.940 of one another. 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:05.220 our stories 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:05.680 will likely 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.180 not include 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:06.680 ravens 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.960 but there 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.440 will be 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.000 moments 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:10.360 where we 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:10.680 can give 00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.360 God glory 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:11.940 because he's 00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.480 been actively 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.120 involved 00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:14.400 in looking 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.200 after us. 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.400 But as we 00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:18.120 tell our 00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:18.920 stories 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.680 secondly 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.080 we want 00:32:20.080 --> 00:32:20.400 to tell 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.100 the gospel 00:32:21.100 --> 00:32:21.799 story 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:23.299 of Jesus 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.860 the Son 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.320 of God 00:32:24.320 --> 00:32:24.759 who gives 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.680 eternal life 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:28.920 and we 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.360 think about 00:32:29.360 --> 00:32:29.920 spiritual 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.440 hunger 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:31.220 and thirst. 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:32.820 What we 00:32:32.820 --> 00:32:33.160 think about 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.559 different 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:34.460 versions of 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.440 that golfer 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:35.940 Scotty 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.400 Scheffler 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.059 this life 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.380 that I'm 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:37.640 living 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:38.000 it's not 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.480 a fulfilling 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.080 life to 00:32:39.080 --> 00:32:39.340 me. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.420 What are 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.019 we to do 00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:42.299 as the 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:42.779 people of 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.340 God? 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:44.700 We 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.360 lovingly 00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:45.840 bring them 00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.440 to Jesus. 00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.700 We heard 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.420 Jesus 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.480 speak to 00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.059 a profoundly 00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:53.160 dissatisfied 00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.720 and troubled 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:54.240 woman in 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.960 John 4 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:55.019 water. 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:56.860 I can 00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:57.180 give you 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.500 living 00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.039 water. 00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:59.200 I can 00:32:59.200 --> 00:32:59.500 truly 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.220 satisfy 00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:00.519 your 00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:00.940 thirst. 00:33:02.360 --> 00:33:02.740 We 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.220 began 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:03.519 with 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:03.860 Jesus 00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.559 words 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.360 spoken 00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:05.740 to a 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.059 crowd 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.380 after 00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:06.600 the 00:33:06.600 --> 00:33:06.880 feeding 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:07.059 of 00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:07.200 the 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:07.860 5,000 00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:08.480 and they 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.519 were hungry 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.079 for another 00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:10.860 lunch meal 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.400 and Jesus 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.240 wanted them 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.620 to look 00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:13.000 for more. 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.319 I'm the 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:13.759 bread of 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.079 life. 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.299 Whoever 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:14.860 comes to 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.000 me 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:15.200 will 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:15.559 never 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:15.799 go 00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.279 hungry. 00:33:17.340 --> 00:33:17.539 Whoever 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.079 believes 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:18.380 in me 00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:18.840 will never 00:33:18.840 --> 00:33:19.740 be thirsty. 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:19.880 stay. 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.220 In many 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.680 ways the 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.660 story of 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.319 Jesus 00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:25.920 parallels 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:26.539 with the 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.019 story of 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.460 Elijah. 00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:30.420 But there's 00:33:30.420 --> 00:33:30.920 an important 00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.740 difference. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.700 Elijah the 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.200 servant of 00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:33.539 the Lord 00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:34.480 was spared 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.700 from suffering 00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.059 on this 00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:36.559 occasion. 00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:38.279 But Jesus 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:38.880 the servant 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.500 of the Lord 00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.460 was not 00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:41.000 spared 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.920 suffering. 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.700 He would 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.640 know 00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:46.720 thirst 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:48.640 as he 00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:48.960 hung 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.539 dying on 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.019 the cross. 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:51.500 He was 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.019 a servant 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.420 who was 00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:53.559 not spared 00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:54.619 from going 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:55.379 under God's 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:55.759 judgment, 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.659 under God's 00:33:56.659 --> 00:33:57.220 curse. 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.339 Not because 00:33:58.339 --> 00:33:58.779 of anything 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.339 he had done, 00:33:59.420 --> 00:33:59.740 not because 00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.039 of any 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:00.819 disloyalty 00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.180 on his 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.440 part, 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.099 but for 00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:03.220 our sin, 00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:04.240 our rebellion, 00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:04.700 our 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.700 idolatry. 00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.079 And that 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.659 Jesus who 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.239 died for us 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:11.639 is now 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.519 alive. 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:12.980 And from 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:14.719 heaven he 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.259 sends the 00:34:15.259 --> 00:34:15.539 Spirit. 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.179 He lives 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:17.699 in us. 00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:18.980 From 00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:20.039 heaven he 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:20.400 gives us 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:20.940 that life 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.240 that is 00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:21.940 true life, 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:22.460 that is 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.840 eternal 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:25.199 life. 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.519 Maybe we 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.039 find ourselves 00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:30.860 here even 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:32.780 today and 00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.240 our hearts 00:34:33.240 --> 00:34:33.579 have become 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.019 a little bit 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.579 like Ahab 00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:35.000 or a little 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.420 bit like 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:35.900 Israel. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.980 We're looking 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.460 to find 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.420 true satisfaction, 00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:40.179 security, 00:34:41.179 --> 00:34:42.360 and our hearts 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:42.619 have been 00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:43.320 turning away 00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:44.000 from God. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:46.179 maybe you've 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:46.880 tried that. 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.280 You've 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:48.780 discovered 00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:49.579 ultimately the 00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:49.960 falling in the 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.280 way of the 00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:50.780 world doesn't 00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.519 lead to life 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:52.400 and satisfaction. 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.079 Well, 00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:55.340 let's 00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:55.960 together let 00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:57.260 Elijah's story 00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:58.320 direct us 00:34:58.320 --> 00:34:59.139 and direct us 00:34:59.139 --> 00:34:59.800 back and 00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:00.340 direct us 00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:02.219 again to 00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:02.699 the Lord 00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:03.179 Jesus, 00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:05.059 that we 00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:05.559 would eat, 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:06.480 that we 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.019 would drink, 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.340 and that we 00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:08.800 would live. 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:10.280 Let's 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:10.960 pray together.