APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING (Outline)
August 19, 2007 -
PENTECOST 12 -
1 Kings 19:9b-18
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INTRO: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? That is the question that haunts every living being. Thankfully, you and I are not able to look into the hearts of men. We see what is on the outside. Man’s hearts are filled with evil thoughts and wicked intentions from his youth. It is the Lord who looks at the hearts of men and knows what they contain. You may remember how the Lord sent Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel. Saul had become disobedient in his duties as king. Samuel was directed to the house of Jesse. The oldest was brought. Samuel thought he looked like he could be the next king. But that was only an outward impression. "But the LORD said to Samuel, ’Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’"(1 SAMUEL 16:7). All the sons passed by and none were chosen. Then the youngest son was brought in from the fields. Only a boy and yet the Lord choose him to be king – David. Yes, appearances can be and often times are deceiving. Prayerfully we consider:
APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING.
I. Almighty God comes as a gentle Savior, and:
II. Believers go out with the power of the Lord.
I. ALMIGHTY GOD COMES AS A GENTLE SAVIOR
A. At this time in the history of Israel the people absolutely, positively hated the prophet Elijah.
1. Israel would rather worship Baal and many other false gods. Elijah declared God’s judgment.
2. Elijah grew tired of standing up to all the opposition - King Ahab, his wife Jezebel and others.
B. Elijah went to a mountain and hid out in a cave. The Lord did not forget his servant, verse 9b.
1. In verse 10 Elijah lets out all his frustration. He is throwing himself a pity party.
2. The Lord is not going to let Elijah be overcome by despair. Verse 11a the Lord comes.
C. Verses 11b, 12 describe the mighty power of the Lord of creation; a wind, an earthquake, and a fire.
1. Almighty God is not in them but in a gentle whisper – the original says sound of gentle silence.
2. 13a Elijah knows here is the Lord. To make sure the voice repeats the Lord’s question, v. 13b.
D. Today we have heard the voice of the Lord. Today we sit in the presence of the Lord God Almighty. Nature reveals him with all of its force, fury, and power. Still the Lord God Almighty speaks to us with a gentle whisper. At times, that voice of the Lord can and ought to make us tremble as if we are being assaulted by the forces of nature. Look at Adam and Eve after they sinned. One day they were walking with God and talking with God. The next day after they sinned everything changed. "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden"(GENESIS 3:8). Sin changed them and us forever. The voice of the Lord strikes fear in our hearts when we see how they are filled with sin.
E. The voice of the Lord is also, especially the gentle whisper. God’s voice is heard through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. It does not condemn, but forgives. The Lord Jesus spoke with a voice of complete mercy and undeserved forgiveness. Quietly Jesus reaches out and speaks to our hearts, your sins are forgiven! Even in the midst of death the Savior’s silence speaks loudly. "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly"(1 PETER 2:23). This is the overwhelming testimony of the sound of gentle silence.
F. By God’s grace and God’s grace alone believers recognize the forgiving voice of a merciful and loving Father in heaven. Justly and rightly so, God could and should condemn us for our sinful thoughts, our wicked words, and our evil actions. But he does not. God does not leave us in darkness and eternal punishment. Almighty God comes as a gentle Savior. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand"(JOHN 10:27,28).
APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING. Our Almighty God, creator of the heavens and the earth comes as our gentle Savior. II. Believers go out with the power of the Lord.
II. BELIEVERS GO OUT WITH THE POWER OF THE LORD.
A. Twice the Lord demands that Elijah explain what he is doing hiding out in a cave on this mountain.
1. Twice Elijah gives the exact, same answer – verses 10, 14. I am the only one left who cares.
2. But Elijah was not alone. Just because Elijah believed this did not make it true.
B. The Lord’s directions to Elijah would provide for him and Israel’s future.
1. In verse 15 Elijah is to return the way he came and anoint a new king in a foreign nation.
2. Verse 16 describes the next king and the next prophet for God’s people, Israel.
C. Each person would serve a specific purpose in the preservation of the faithful in Israel, verse 17.
1. Elijah had to be encouraged by the future yet is store for Israel. By the way there was more.
2. Verse 18. Elijah was not alone. They were many more believers in Israel than he thought.
D. It becomes all too easy in today’s society to be like Elijah. Woe is me! Am I the only believer left? It seems as if all the false churches and erring churches are growing by leaps and bounds. The churches, such as ours, that stand squarely on the word of God seem to struggle. Today it is not popular to take a stand for any reason on anything. As a Bible-believing, Bible-confessing, and Bible-teaching church we must. God’s word is still God’s word. God’s word is still the truth. God’s word is still the powerful gentle whisper that reveals the full extent of the power of our almighty, awesome God! "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it"(MATTHEW 16:18). This power of the almighty God is our power revealed to us in his word.
E. Christians are a humble people. We are humble because we realize that we do not deserve any of the blessings and the mercy our gracious God showers on us day after day after day. This humility is not to be mistaken for weakness. Instead, in humility we come before God with our sins. In power we go out into this world because our sins are forgiven. We go out into this world to share God’s forgiveness. "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"(ROMANS 8:31).
F. This gentle whisper of God – your sins are forgiven – is the most wonderful and the most powerful message that anyone can share. This is the message of the power of God himself. This is our message. Granted it is not the message that everyone is looking for. But it is the message that everyone needs to hear. "But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God"(1 CORINTHIANS 1:23,24). The church goes out as a powerful people carrying God’s forgiveness to all.
CONC.: Appearances can be and often are deceiving. The evil that lurks in the hearts of men is no respecter of persons. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them comes into this world as a baby born in Bethlehem. Almighty God comes as a gently Savior, our Savior, the world’s Savior, Jesus the Christ. Jesus proclaimed and lived a message of forgiveness. Now, you and I as believers, go out with the power of God because of his powerful message. God’s word speaks to the hearts of men, to our hearts – your sins are forgiven, heaven is your home. Rejoice that despite what God knows lurks in our hearts he still forgives our sins. "He said to them, ’You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight’"(LUKE 16:15). Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
PENTECOST 12 readings:
GENESIS 15:1-6;
HEBREWS 11:1-3, 8-16;
LUKE 12:32-40
