Thinking About Theology

Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel by Russell D. Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Three things are clear to start with. Russell Moore loves his God. Russell Moore loves the church. Russell Moore loves his country. And this is important, Russell Moore knows the difference between the kingdom of God and America. With the current social political climate today I cannot recommend this book enough. While we debate gay marriage Moore makes a strong case for both family stability and religious liberty. In writing on religious liberty he makes a solid distinction between the church’s authority, the states authority and how the believer lives under both. While we discuss racism and immigration Moore reminds us that ALL human life is made in the image of God and has dignity. Abortion and gun rights. Yes they are are both matter of the dignity of life.

Moore reminds us that the church has a voice, and a place in the current culture. Our voice is not one of screaming, arguing, belittling or compromise but a declaration of truth with as he calls it “convictional kindness”. Dr Moore writes with optimism that the church is not dead in America, but it does look different than the Bible Belt of years ago and that’s OK. America is not a post Christian nation (was it ever a Christian nation? Is there even such a thing. God only called out one nation as his own and that was Israel.)Instead maybe we are a Pre Christian society and the next Johnathan Edwards or Billy Graham is the tattooed biker guy living a hard life who has yet to taste living waters.

In the end, God did not promise to build the American church but HIS church. It is time to exercise our voice, declare our convictions with kindness and move Onward.

View all my reviews

When we think of thrones we think of majesty, nobility and something regal. We also think of it as elevated and ornate. And even more than that we think of one whom sits on the throne, how they embody those same characteristics

Another thing about thrones is they are seemingly unapproachable, especially to a commoner or even lower. For someone to approach a throne there is this elaborate process to have the privilege of approaching one who sits on a throne. Of course the other way to end up before a throne is to commit a great crime against the one on the throne.

Let me put this before you. That is the state of every one of us. We have committed great crimes against The One on the throne and we deserve the full wrath of His authority. So let’s picture what we find in this throne room.

We see a king high and lifted up, whose robe fills the great hall. He is surrounded by glorious servants who guard His majesty and glory. The brilliance is breathtaking, nearly blinding. It is almost too painful to look upon. We are also struck with the fact that we should not be here. We are unworthy. In fact, if there is a judgment is to be meted out we deserve completely. But then the unthinkable happens. As we are rehearsing all our crimes against this sovereign we hear this strong voice saying (and I think of the line from the ghost of Christmas yet to come.) Come closer and know me better child. We have to take a moment and wonder if we heard right. Come closer and know me child, not depart from me into a wretched exile. How did this happen? How do we get this blessing, to have someone pleading our innocence? While in one corner an accuser is laying out all my faults another says no he is welcome here.

When the accuser tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, another pleads and proclaims my innocence.

Now I realize I am not in filthy rags and torn garments but I am in a stunning white robe.

There, alongside the King of glory is another one but I see scars from a brutal beating, who is saying I lived a life of perfect obedience to the laws of this throne and I count that as His. I have transferred my righteousness to the accused and absorbed His guilt in my death.

We come before a throne today, and today you can hear this from the throne the words of Hebrews 4:14-16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I also encourage you to learn the lyrics of Before the Throne of God Above” by Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863

Elijah Delivered

The coronation of an earthly monarch usually takes place early in life and begins his reign. For the believer our coronation day takes place at death when we are raised to the place of glory. This is the case with Elijah who would never have been mistaken for a king during his earthly life. Yet, when his task on earth was over, God elevated him to His throne in Heaven by a supernatural exit from this world.

We do not know exactly how Elijah spent his last days, but he probably gave much of his time to teaching “the sons of the prophets”. These were groups of young men who had begun to use their prophetic gift under the guidance of a more experienced “man of God.” An early form of seminary. ELijah was spending hislast years training others to carry on the work

It was while he was engaged in this last great work of his life that God called him home. 2 Kings 2:1-2:14 A reporter named Karen Jordan who recently walked along the main street of a College University and asked a most profound question of those who were passing by: “If today were your last day on earth, how would you spend it?” She reported the following answers: Tony said, “I would get drunk, do as much dope as I can, and be with two pretty women. That’s my dream.” Chris responded, “I would spend it in the desert or a very peaceful place. I would just try to enjoy every moment and get connected to God and nature.” Vera, an older woman, said, “I would phone my family and visit my friends.” Lou Ann said, “I would ride around in my new, old convertible. I just bought a 1968 250 SL.” And finally Jacqueline said, “I would spend my last day with Gene.” Well, what about you. How would you spend your last day on earth? What would be your priority? Your main mission?

THE TEST  It seems that God had revealed to Elijah that his day had arrived. While he was with his successor Elisha at Gilgal, Elijah asked him to remain behind while he departed. Elisha refused. When the pair made their next stop at Bethel, the sons of the prophets joined in by stating that to follow Elijah was fruitless because the Lord was taking him that day. But Elisha remained firm in his resolve to accompany his mentor. Finally, they arrived at Jericho, near the banks of the Jordan River. There, another group of apprentice prophets repeated the discouraging refrain. Elijah also again urged Elisha to remain on this side of the river while he departed. But the spiritually determined Elisha was not to be deterred. Elisha was permitted to see the event.  That mantle was the symbol of Elijah’s office. Elijah was not trying to get rid of Elisha as much as he was putting his close companion, his successor-in-the-making, to the test. But Elisha was relentless. He stayed by the old prophet’s side.

THE REQUEST Elijah offered to Elisha anything that his heart desired! He could do this because he knew that his young successor would not abuse such a privilege. The request for a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit may appear confusing, but understanding the usage of this Old Testament phrase will help us to understand its meaning here. The law declared that the firstborn son had the right to inherit a “double portion” of his father’s estate. Elisha did not ask for something better than what which his master enjoyed, but for a portion “double” that which was communicated to the other prophets. Elisha looked upon himself as the firstborn son of Elijah in relation to the other “sons of the prophets.” Elijah acknowledged the hardness of his request, but promised the answer if Elisha never removed his eyes from him until he was gone.

The big moment finally arrived. Elijah’s power came from 2 Cor 4:18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Elisha learned this. That is why he could see the chariot. Just because we cannot see them does not mean they are not there. They are everywhere. Faith is how we tap into it. This would not be the last time that Elisha would experience such a visitation from a heavenly entourage. In 2 Kings 6:17, the Lord opened the eyes of Elisha’s fearful servant so he could see the “horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

THE GIFT Elijah was gone, but his mantle fell to the ground to be worn now by another prophet of God. Elijah is gone, God is not. (2:14–15). Elijah’s last miracle was Elisha’s first miracle. He had learned well. His cry, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” reminds us that even though Elijah was missing, Elijah’s God was still present and active in the continuing ministry of his successor. Elisha commenced a ministry that was destined to bring help to the needy (2 Ki. 4:1–7); joy to the bereaved (2 Ki. 4:18–37); health to the sick (2 Ki. 5:1–14); judgment to the wicked (2 Ki. 6:8–23); and life to the dead (2 Ki. 13:20–21). Although to compare Elijah and Elisha would be unfair to both, it is interesting that Elisha’s ministry lasted about twice as long as Elijah’s and that he apparently performed twice as many miracles as his illustrious mentor. This is further evidence of the “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit resting on his successor.

Elijah, however, was privileged to have a part in two events which Elisha and no other prophet ever experienced. First, Elijah passed through the portals of Heaven without dying. Enoch was the only other person privileged to pass directly from earth to Heaven without experiencing death: “And Enoch walked with God, and he was not; for God took him”(Gen. 5:24). Secondly, Elijah was chosen to play a role in prophecy, i.e., to return to this earth again. “Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5). The fulfillment of that remarkable prophecy could be John the Baptist.

CONCLUSION This ended the earthly existence of one of the greatest men of God who ever lived. He labored in a remote comer of this earth. He did not have much of this world’s goods. He had none of the world’s applause. No city council ever elected him “man of the year.” When he left, there were evidently no memorial services for him, no monuments erected in his memory, or no parks named in his honor. But the Lord God gave him the greatest privilege imaginable—a heavenly escort to bring him bodily to glory without having to taste of death. He sought in his life to please God alone—it was God alone who rewarded him! I believe that Elijah sets a great example for those of us who are waiting on that time when we too will leave this world. If we were to be honest , every believing person would readily admit that they are anxiously awaiting that time when they will be home with the Lord in glory. But, what are we to be doing here, in the meantime, while we wait? Elijah shows us in this passage!

As we read this account, we find there are three ways that Elijah spent his time as he waited on the whirlwind.

We Need To Be Watching And Waiting. Elijah knew that God was coming for him, but he did not know just when. Therefore, he lived his last days and hours in anticipation of that coming event.

Walking With Purpose – As Elijah anticipated his departure from this world, he continued to live as he always had. He continued to walk in humble obedience before the Lord God! Notice his statement, “The LORD hath sent me…”, v. 2, 4, 6. If Elijah had been like many in our day, he would have spent his last days on the earth in retirement from service. He would have spent his time doing all the things he hadn’t had time to do while he was active serving the Lord. However, Elijah knew a truth that many people never learn: There is no higher call than that of following the Lord and doing what He bids you to do! The lesson for us is this: there will never come a day when we can quit serving the Lord.

The Christian life is not meant to be a life of stagnation. It is meant to be a life of progression. The Lord wants to grow us and fashion us into His image. As He leads us from place to place along the road of life, may we, like Elijah, simply follow in humble obedience to His will for us! After all, the greatest gift we can give the Lord is ourselves, totally surrendered and dedicated to His will, Rom. 12:1-2. There is another generation coming along behind us. What are we teaching them about faith, obedience to God, faithfulness to the Lord’s house and work, love for the Bible, etc? What kind of legacy are we leaving behind as we travel toward our crossing? We are here because some people were faithful to hand down their faith to us, 2 Tim. 2:2. Our duty to those who follow is to give them what they need to get the job done for Jesus.

Remember James’ passage that says Elijah was a man with a nature like ours? Elijah was developed, dynamic and depressed. Now Elijah will have his life doubled. This is a passage that we should strive for, an opportunity to have our life doubled. The story begins in 1 Kings 19:1-15

Reese Kauffman as president of Child Evangelism Fellowship said as part of his plan he recruited 13 men split into two groups. They went everywhere with him. He gave them assignments from reading to physical excercise. They were his shadows. His logic was, if ever he was unable to fulfill his duties, or it was time for him to move on, there were 13 men capable of stepping in and the ministry would not miss a beat or have to scramble for a replacement. ( I heard his tell this story in the mid 90’s when I was involved in CEF of Pennsylvania and he spoke at an event)

In chapter 1 Kings 19 Elijah runs to the hills in fear of the wrath of Jezebel who has put out a contract on his life. She blamed him for killing her prophets of her god, Baal, on Mt Carmel. She wanted revenge. In a cave in the mountain Elijah has a dramatic experience. He heard the voice of the Lord not in a dramatic way but in a gentle whisper. He was told to anoint three people- Hazael as king of Aram, Jehu as king of Israel, and Elisha as prophet to succeed him.
Eventually, it will be Elisha who will anoint Hazael and Jehu in 2 Kings 8-9, but Elijah immediately anoints Elisha. It is suggestive of Moses appointing
Joshua as his successor.

“Elisha” means “My God is, my, salvation.”

THE CALL

Elijah is ready to pass the baton. Here, even in advanced years he is in ministry. Fulfilling what would be the NT ideal that older men are to mentor younger men and older women are to mentor younger women.

In verse nineteen, Elisha, was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen when Elijah arrives. Elisha is called in the midst of his occupation, going about his daily, regular routine. This is similar to Jesus’ call of his disciples while they worked at their trade.

In verse twenty, Elijah, threw his cloak over him. Elijah was transferring his power to Elisha by this symbolic act. Elisha asks, let me kiss my father and my mother goodbye.

Elisha recognized the significance of what Elijah had done. He would accept the call., “take up the mantle,” but only after he did right by his parents, a sacred duty as well, as the keeping of the fourth commandment.

Elijah says, “What have I done to you? Or think about what this act means. This may be a roundabout way of saying, “By all means, do so.” Elisha’s request is perfectly normal and reasonable, even compassionate.

Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant: Moses, too, had a servant, Joshua. Moses trained him. Elijah will train Elisha. In the New Testament this very language will be used of the disciples of Jesus.

Elisha was eventually known as Elijah’s servant, one who poured water on his hands. He was willing to be a servant first. (Matthew 20:26)  Elisha wa swilling to submit as a student and Elijah was willing to teach

The ‘call” is only phase one. If we miss the call everything stops right there. Elisha did not miss the call. How could he? How many people put their mantle over you?

After the call comes THE COST. There is a cost in changing one’s life direction.

It might be a call to change jobs, even to move to a new location, involving moving away from family, friends, and a familiar environment. It may be a call to totally change the way one is presently living and the values one presently holds dear. It may be a call to give up the quest for more money. Such “calls” require paying a price, what we Christians call “the cost of discipleship.” Even if we heard the call, we might feel the cost to be too high or even impossible.

Then ask, what is the cost of saying no.

On April 21st, in the year 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez sailed into the harbor of Vera Cruz, Mexico. He brought with him only about 600 men, and yet over the next two years his vastly outnumbered forces were able to defeat Montezuma and all the warriors of the Aztec empire, making Cortez the conqueror of all Mexico. How was this incredible feat accomplished, when two prior expeditions had failed even to establish a colony on Mexican soil?

Here’s the secret. Cortez knew from the very beginning that he and his men faced incredible odds. He knew that the road before them would be dangerous and difficult. He knew that his men would be tempted to abandon their quest and return to Spain. And so, as soon as Cortez and his men had come ashore and unloaded their provisions, he ordered their entire fleet of eleven ships destroyed. His men stood on the shore and watched as their only possibility of retreat burned and sank. And from that point on, they knew beyond any doubt there was no return, no turning back.

Elijah showed his willingness to pay the cost. Elisha slaughters his oxen; he used the plowing equipment for fuel: Elisha destroyed the elements
of his now former occupation as a sign of total commitment to a new way of life, never to look back.

He gave it to his people to eat: He put the oxen and the equipment, to good and productive use. He did not destroy them for destruction sake. In fact, this may well have been a thank offering for his new calling. It seems that family and neighbors were invited to join him in this thanksgiving and farewell meal.

After the call and the cost comes THE COMMITMENT, the actual doing of it.

Elisha heard the call, was willing to pay the price and did leave family, home and occupation and committed himself to the way of life and work of Elijah.

In fact Elisha would accomplish more than Elijah did.

Through Elisha – the Sunammite widow’s only son was brought back to life in 2 Kings 4: 18-37, Naaman’s leprosy was cleansed in 2 Kings 5: 1-19, the starving widow’s oil supply was replenished in 2 Kings 4: 1-7, the grain was multiplied to feed a hundred men in 2 Kings 4: 42-44 and the widow’s land was been restored in 2 Kings 8: 1-6.

Elisha went on to complete the unfinished work of Elijah in 1 Kings 19: 15-16; 2 Kings 8: 7-15; 9: 1-190 and became constantly involved in the affairs of the nation.

With everything we will see Elisha do, it all started with Elijah. Elijah took this man under his wings, mentored him, trained him and set him loose. What Elijah did was double his own life by pouring it into another and setting him free to do greater things under the power of a Holy God.

We humans can fail to rise to the occasion(s) of the call to greatness as God defines it. Elijah heard the call, and as part of the call invited another to join him.

Elisha heard the call, paid the cost, and committed himself to what would turn out to be in his own best interest and simultaneously in the best interest of others.

Of course, there would be times when the pain that the price produces, the absence of familiar people, places and things, would cause him to pause and tempt him to renege. However, it was just a pause, just a temptation, not a cause to return to his former “path of life.”

The diligence and discipline he learned by plowing would serve him well in the next phase of his life. He would “plow through” all the tough terrains and rough roads and remain faithful to that fateful decision to “leave all and follow me.”

I was involved in a church that had a great history, specifically of one pastor who served for decades and was loved by the town. He died suddenly and I believe the church began to die right after that. I also believe the diagnosis was the church was built on one mans shoulders, and there was no one to carry on when he was gone.

Moses dies, but the work did not. Joshua carried on.
Elijah was taken, but the work carried on through Elisha.

Jesus dies, and after the resurrection the Spirit was given to the 12 men He had chosen to be with Him to carry on the work.
Each of those first apostles and early disciples died, but they taught others and the church spread around the world.

In each case the work grew and spread. Who can you pour your life into, so that your life’s work, influence and blessing can double and continue to spread?

Remember James’ passage that says Elijah was a man with a nature like ours? This is a passage that we can probably relate to more than the others. Here is a discouraged, depressed Elijah. A far cry from one calling down fire from heaven and defeating 450 false prophets. The story is in 1 Kings 19:1-18

Elijah Depressed

Elijah sat down under a tree and prayed that he might die? It really seems out of character for Elijah, a man who had walked so close to God to be depressed. Here is a man who had stood boldly before Ahab proclaiming to the King, that because of his sin and the nations sin of rejecting the Living God, that there would be no rain in the Land, until he said so. Here is a man who was sustained in the desert by God sending food by ravens, Here was a man who preformed miracles in the home of the widow of Zarepath, he miraculously made her food supply replenish itself and he even raised her son from the dead. Surely a man who walked that close and was used so powerfully by God, surely a man like this, would not get depressed — but he did.

Elijah had just challenged the 450 false prophets on Mt Carmel to a contest, a contest to prove whose God was real. Then he ran 18 miles, beating a chariot to Jezreel to watch Ahab tell Jezebel what happened,a kind of in your face, my God beat your god moment.

Elijah was a man like us. This means we can have the same power that Elijah had, but also we can have the same problems.  This is a relevant topic because most of us at one time or another has had a battle with depression, more than once we are found singing the blues..It happens to individuals and it happens to churches. (This is not a replacement for professional help. It is not saying depression is a sin. It is not dealing with the physical/medical causes.)

WHY WAS ELIJAH DEPRESSED? Now how do we know he was depressed? because the words, “I have had enough, Lord, take my life… I am no better than my ancestors…” are not the words of someone on a spiritual high, are they? As chapter 19 opens up the great prophet Elijah is battling the blues.

Depression Comes from Fear.
Elijah was taken by surprise. Here he was standing before 450 false prophets by himself, and now one comment from one woman sends him running with his tail between his legs. He has gone from seeing God’s power to fearing the power of one woman. He sees a political ruler, not the ruler of the universe. His focus is the problem, not His God.

Depression Often Follows A Great Victory
Victories are sweet, aren’t they? And the view from the mountaintop can be breath taking — BUT there is one bad thing about celebrating a mountaintop victory — you see, when you are on a mountain top — the only way to go, is down. The period following a victory is often a period of great danger. For every mountain peak there is a valley. Many refer to monday’s as “Blue Monday”.   We want the exhilaration of success to not end, but it does. And then when we get down — we get discouraged. We need to understand and we need to be ready. We won’t stay on the mountaintop we will have to come down…

Depression Comes From A Sense Of Frustration
In I Kings 19:1, Ahab told Jezebel what was going on, what Elijah had done to her prophets. And In verse 2, Jezebel sent a message to Elijah, “you’re life isn’t worth much Elijah, I am going to kill you…” Now maybe Elijah had hoped that after what he had accomplished on Mt Carmel that Jezebel would either repent or lose her influence in the Kingdom. He just knew things would be different. But nothing had changed. And now the whole victory on MT Carmel seemed meaningless.

Elijah was no doubt thinking such thoughts as: “What’s the use, I’m still a fugitive, I still have a price on my head and that wicked Jezebel she is still running the show. I’m not getting anywhere, I’m just spinning my wheels..” It all must have seemed so futile to Elijah. Have you ever felt that way? Like you’re not getting anywhere? Like all your effort is in vain? You try to do what’s right — to be: a good husband, wife, child, mother, father and worker…etc. You pour out your blood, your sweat and your tears, you give it your best. And you look up at the scoreboard — expecting to see a change — only to find that you’re still several points behind

Depression Comes From Fatigue
Elijah had been on the run for 3 years — living in the desert, hiding in caves, and Elijah had just experienced a tremendous emotional drain as he confronted 450 false prophets on Mt Carmel.. Not to mention that he had just ran an 18 mile marathon back to Jezrel — racing Ahab’s chariot. Elijah had to be worn out physically… There is an old Indian proverb that says, “you will break the bow if you keep it always bent..” God’s servants are not exempt from fatigue. When we are emotionally or physically depleted, when we are running on 1/2 a tank (OR LESS)– when we are emotionally and physically drained — we’re especially vulnerable to despair. It doesn’t take as much to get us down, does it?

Elijah’s Felt That He Could Handle Things Alone Verse 3 states that when he came to Beersheba he left his servant there. He then went a day’s journey into the desert and said, “Lord I just want to sit here and die.” When we are on our own, we tend to wallow in our misery and sometimes drive ourselves lower than we would have gone, if we hung around people who could encourage us and help us see the situation more clearly.

There are many things that can cause us to be depressed, but simply knowing the factors or understanding the causes doesn’t necessarily make the blues go away, In 2 Corinthians 7:6 we read, “that God comforts the downcast.” Let’s see how God comforted the downcast prophet Elijah and as we do let’s hold on to the truth that God will do the same for us today

HOW DID GOD CURE ELIJAH’S BLUES

God Let Elijah Rest
Verse 5 says Elijah laid down under a tree and an angel awakened him to eat. God prepared a catered meal, he ate he angel food cake, drank, and laid down again. God did not chastise Elijah for a sour attitude. He didn’t give him a lecture about faith. Elijah needed time to rest — time to recover.   Jesus is our example and he knew how to rest. The Bible says, “He would go a part into a mountain for a day,” or He would say to his disciples, “let’s go across the lake by ourselves to rest.” Vance Havner said, “if you don’t learn to go a part, you’ll probably come a part.”

God Listened To His Complaints
The next day the Lord came to him and asked him a simple question. “What are you doing here Elijah?”   Elijah begins to pour out his heart to God. “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword… I am the only One left, the only one who cares and now they are trying to kill me too…”

Did you notice that God was very patient and sympathetic with Elijah? He doesn’t condemn him. God doesn’t interrupt him, even though Elijah is saying things that are not true and is making things worse than they really are (something depressed people do). You see, God knows that depressed people are fragile people. They need to be listened to more than they need advice. It doesn’t help to slap them on the back and say, “come on get with it, snap out of it..it is not so bad….. you know, you really have it pretty good.” God didn’t say ” You can pour your heart and thoughts out to God and receive a new perspective. Don’t neglect this great privilege of prayer.

God got Elijah’s mind on the right spot Elijah like most depressed people had his eyes on himself and all he could see therefore, was the problems. And though inward reflection is at times valuable — we need to realize that we can spend too much time focusing on ourselves…. And what Elijah needed now was a fresh dose of God, He needed to see God again… to stand once more in the presence of the Lord..

One of the best cures for depression — is going to church, and worshipping God. God let Elijah rest, he listened to his complaints, he got his mind off Himself…and God showed himself to Elijah.

God Spoke To Elijah
When we are down it is so important to hear from our God — we need to go to his Word. Often the question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are being still enough, and quiet enough, to hear.   The psalmist said Be still and know that I am GOd. Then God says you are not alone. There are 7000 others (Depression has a way of distorting our thinking.) It is studied that most of what we are worried about or afraid of never happens. In fact I think it is 80% of what we worry about never happens, and 10% is out of our control anyway.

To the emotionally weary and the Physically drained — God’s says,  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest…” Mt 11:28

And the last thing we see God doing for Elijah — which is something he often does for a depressed servant — He Gives Them A New Assignment.
In verse 15 God said, “I want you to go to Damascus. I want you to anoint three men and give them specific assignments..” God gave Elijah a new assignment a new challenge. Often what depressed people need is not pity but a new goal

Discouragement comes when we focus on our inadequacies instead of God’s resources. Why is it that sometimes it is so easy to have faith, times when you even surprise yourself, and then something comes along that you really should be able to handle and it completely undoes you? Not long before Elijah had been helping people to see that God was still alive, but now he is sitting under a juniper tree wanting to die. He had been able to pray fire down from heaven, but he could not change the heart of Jezebel. Through his prayers he could demonstrate the power of God, but it did not seem to make any difference in the lives of the people he was trying to reach.

God was not depending on Elijah, Elijah had to learn to depend on God. Something God had tried to teach Elijah at the Brook Kidron.

Elijah nad been developed, and dynamic, and now depressed. Something we have all experienced I am sure. And what is Gods prescription? (Again this is not a substitute for professional help or dealing with physical and medical conditions.) What do you do after the mountain top victory? Realize teat we still ive in a fallen, sinful world and problems will come.

Get some rest
Get physical nourishment
Get a renewed perspective
Get alone and listen for God

Next time we w ill look at Elijash new assignement

We are back to look at how we can be like the prophet Elijah. This is based on James when he says Elijah was a man with a nature like ours (James 5:17 ESV). We already saw, based on 1 Kings 17 that in order for Elijah (or for us) to be the person God uses, we must first get alone with God and allow God to develop us, to teach us to trust. Now we want to look at what is probably Elijah’s most well-known stories. The account is found in 1 Kings 18.

Elijah was Dynamic

God speaks to Elijah and calls him to go face King Ahab, one of Ancient Israel’s most heinous kings. Ahab hates Elijah and has blamed Elijah for the drought. Ahab wants Elijah dead, and God tells Elijah to present himself to Ahab. What was the purpose for the confrontation? Elijah wants a showdown. Who is the God of Israel. Elijah invited 450 prophets of Baal to come and present their case, and then Elijah will present his case for the true God Yahweh. He wants Israel to make a choice. You cannot have two gods. There is only one God.

Elijah states the challenge. Build an altar, place a bull upon it and invite your god to consume the altar.  Whichever god consumes the sacrifice will prove himself the one true god. So 450 prophets of Baal erect the alar and begin their religious ceremony. For hours this ceremony went on, and the result is found in verse 29. “And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” Baal never even answered.

Elijah then restored the altar of God and prepared his sacrifice. To add to the drama, Elijah drenched the altar with water, and then this is what happened.  “And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” (vs 36-39)

Yahweh, the one true God completely consumed with fire the water soaked offering, bull, wood, stone and all.

This is probably the one area we all wish we were like Elijah. While we may never be called to challenge a wicked king, 450 false prophets and call down fire from heaven, we will have times to participate in a dynamic ministry. Maybe the better word is public ministry. There will be times we need to take a stand. We are asked to compromise our integrity. Maybe we are pressured to water down our faith a little bit. Perhaps we are seeing some injustice in our neighborhood or workplace. What can I do? How could I ever be like Elijah and stand for truth?

The answer goes back to I Kings 17. Elijah had spent time being developed by God. He had been alone with God and was learning to trust. Elijah had understood his identity in God. God had called him and he knew God was faithful, that he would not be alone. because of this confidence in God he could have a dynamic ministry before God. I do not think Elijah could have faced this challenge if he had not first had the still, quiet time of listening and learning. But we cannot stay is the quiet, isolated place.  True faith is lived in the open, public areas of life where we make small and big decisiosn allthe time.

Yes, we have the same nature as Elijah. We have the same God as Elijah. Our God will also call us to make a choice publicly to demonstrate who is our God. We will all be called to make a stand publicly, to declare our allegiance, to stand for justice, to challenge wrong-doing. And we can do it successfully. If we learn the lessons of Elijah, that we must be developed by God so that we can be dynamic with God.

Next time, we will see that Elijah was Depressed

We all have people we look up to, people we admire, people we wish we could be like. Even as a Christian we see people we want to imitate. Then there are those people we say I could never be like them. They are some kind of super spiritual saint with abilities I could never have. But why not? If their God is your God, the Holy Spirit they have is the same one indwelling you, why can’t we be like them? In fact, I want to use a passage of Scripture that says we can be like some of those “Bible Heroes”. James, the brother of Jesus, while writing about powerful prayer says this. “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, . . .” (James 5:17 English Standard Version)  Other translations say Elijah was a man like us. Here was a man who when he prayed the rain would stop, it did for three years. As I sit here in Pennsylvania under another flood watch and just after another snow storm I would like to pray the weather away. Then he prayed for it to rain and it did. So what is it about Elijah? Over the next few posts I want to explore that briefly.

Elijah Was Developed

This I believe was the first, and possibly most important part of the process. You can find the account in 1 Kings 17:1-7. Elijah has just predicted a drought. These are bad days in Israel. King Ahab and his wife Jezebel have led the country deep into idolatry and God is grieved. Now he sends Elijah away into isolation. Elijah ends up at a place called brook Cherith. Here God sends food to Elijah by ravens. So how is this developing Elijah?

God is about to do mighty things to get Israel’s attention and Elijah is a key part of that. But Elijah needs to be ready. Elijah needs to learn to trust completely in what God is doing. So here by the brook Cherith God is training Elijah. He is training him to be still and listen. Listen for the voice of God by getting rid of all the other voices and distractions.

Learn to trust. Away from all the natural sources of food, God is delivering food to Elijah by a very unusual method. Elijah is learning that God does provide for his needs. The Psalmist said he has never seen the righteous forsaken.

Elijah is about to enter a hostile environment and face impossible odds. He is also learing that with God as His provider there is nothing to fear.

Where is God developing you? Where are you learning to be still and to trust? Maybe you are wondering why God does not seem as prevalent in your life. You think God is using others more than you, and you want to be used. Maybe you need to learn to trust and be silent.

The loss of a job, a health issue, loss of friends? Suddenly you have more time on your hands. Is it now that you can redeem that time and listen to God? Do you need to re order your day so you have time to silence the other voices and listen, before God does it for you? Maybe you (like me) became to confident in your own abilities to provide for yourself and you stopped trusting even though you would never admit it. It could be why God took away my job, so I could have time to listen and learn to trust Him over myself.

Moses had 40 years in a desert. Jesus had 40 days in the desert. Paul had a time of blindness and then three years in Arabia. Times to be still and learn to trust.

 I want to add a disclaimer here. Elijah did not have a believing community to go to it would seem. Elijah and the others are not the excuse to cut yourself off from a local church to say all I need is God. Yes, you absolutely need time ALONE with God. But you NEED a local church, with other believers who can speak into your life, to help you in areas where you are weak, and that you can minister to. I have learned in my job loss, that God is meeting my needs physically and spiritually through my local church. Something I would not have if I said all I need is me and God alone.

God will not give you time with Himself so you can use it for yourself. As we will see with Elijah, time alone was preparation for time with others.

 Do you want to be like an Elijah? You need time alone where God can develop you as you listen and learn to trust.

Next time, when 1 man took out over 400 opponents in a day.

An Introdcution and Explanation

I have finally decided to enter the world of blogging. Having a bit of extra time these days had caused me to reflect and I think its time to start using some of the abiliteis I have not used for some time. After 20 years of ministry I stopped my “profesional” and public minsitry” in 2007. But I never stopped loving to read and research and share, I just stopped doing it for a time for various reasons.

Most of what I will post here will be based on my reading and studying of the Bible. I may also ruminate on current events, odd topics and a lot of bad jokes. I also hope to spend some time writing about music and teh guitar as that is my passion after my faith.

Hopefully some will benefit from my thoughts, or be cahllenged to think, or even want to pursue teh discussion farther. As for me. I am hoping to be able to use what I believe God has given me taht I might encourage others and honor Him.

Stay tuned, I think my first few posts are about to go up. How to Be Like Elijah.