HEARING THE STILL SMALL VOICE
1 Kgs. 19:3-13,18 NKJV
INTRODUCTION
A. SAVED BY GOD’S VOICE
1. Peter Marshall was a pastor who became Chaplain for the U.S. Senate. As a young man of 21, living in Scotland, he was returning from work one starless night. He was traveling by foot through a dangerous section of the Scottish moors where there are limestone quarries. It was so dark he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face, but he felt confident he could avoid the quarry.
2. As he slowly moved in the darkness, he heard a voice say, “Peter.” He answered, “Who is there?” No one answered. He took a few more steps and heard the voice again, “Peter!” He sensed it was God calling to him. He fell to his knees and said “yes” to God.
3. After praying, he reached forward to push himself off the ground – but there was nothing there but air! He was literally on the edge of a deep quarry! If he had stepped even one more step, it would have meant certain death. God saved him by speaking to him! [A Man Called Peter, Catherine Marshall]
4. Today we’re going to read about another man who was restored by the voice of God.
B. TEXT
3 And when Elijah [heard Jezebel’s threat], he arose and ran for his life...4 and sat down under a broom tree and he prayed that he might die...5 Then...an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food 40 days and 40 nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him....11 “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold...a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. [God gave him 3 assignments, then told him...] 18 Yet I reserve 7,000 in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” 1 Kgs. 19:3-13,18
C. THESIS
1. We're looking at a believer who became discouraged and see how God let him know he wasn’t alone, and restored his fight!
2. The title is “Hearing the Still Small Voice.”
I. ELIJAH’S DISCOURAGEMENT
A. ELIJAH’S GREAT FEATS
1. Stopped the rain for 3 1/2 years.
2. Was supernaturally provided for during famine.
3. Called down fire from heaven on the sacrifice.
4. Killed the 450 prophets of Baal.
5. Prayed down the rain again.
B. BUT ELIJAH BECAME DISCOURAGED
1. ELIJAH HAD HOPED FOR REVIVAL
a. Elijah had given his all & expected the nation would give up idolatry, turn to God and experience a revival.
b. But Jezebel controlled Ahab, and Ahab the nation. So the idols would safely sit on their pedestals.
c. Elijah felt like the only person still left serving the Lord! “I am the only one left [still serving the Lord], and now they are trying to kill me too.” (Vs. 14).
2. YOU MAY FEEL LIKE GIVING UP THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH:
a. Stress/pressures can rob us of our will-power.
b. We may be the only Christian in our family or on our job. Our efforts to win others may seem fruitless.
c. Our prayers may seem to go unanswered for a long time, causing us to lose faith and feel like giving up the fight.
3. What did Elijah do when he felt like this?
II. ELIJAH SOUGHT GOD IN HIS TROUBLES
A. HE WENT TO THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD!
1. THE PLACE WHERE GOD MET WITH MOSES
a. Burning Bush -- Exodus 3:1.
b. Rock Smitten & water poured out – Ex. 17:6.
c. Law/ 10 Commands Given – Ex. 20:1-.
2. Where do we go when we’re in trouble?
a. Do we reach for the Pill Bottle or for the Bible? Head for the refrigerator or the altar?
b. You call the prayer chain, but do YOU pray? There's no substitute for getting alone with God yourself!
3. GO BACK TO THE PLACE OF YOUR ORIGINAL REVELATION OF JESUS! God is the same God. Go back to the Gospels, the Book of Acts -- back to the FUNDAMENTALS: prayer, Bible reading, worship, regular meetings with other believers in church, witnessing, etc.
B. “And Behold, the Lord passed by…” (vs. 11)
1. God came on the scene! God manifests Himself when we seek Him.
2. God said to “Ask...Seek...knock.…” God promises: Jer. 29:13, “You shall seek Me & find Me when you search for Me with all your hearts.”
C. WHAT GOD’S SPEAKING WAS NOT:
1. A violent WIND swept down & tore masses of granite from the Peaks; Great columns of rock exploded with force and came crashing down.
2. The Mountains began rumbling - an EARTHQUAKE hit & nothing seemed stable.
3. FIRE roared around the mountains -- burning all before them. All 3 were reminiscent of God purifying power and wrath, BUT GOD WASN'T IN THEM!
4. NOT EVERYTHING WE THINK IS GOD, IS GOD!
a. God's not in the Christian show – the hype, the Razzle-Dazzle, the Flashy, or what’s Trending.
b. You’re not going to find God in the crowds, but in the solitary places -- alone and secluded.
5. ILLUSTRATION
a. Lincoln, was in counsel with Stanton, his Secretary of War. The civil war was going badly. Lincoln said, "Gen. Burnside must be removed. There's not a replacement. I can't see one ray of light!" Stanton couldn't either.
b. Two Quaker ladies, Rachel Grellet and Elizabeth Comstock, waited in the vestibule of the Oval Office. They were invited in.
c. "Abraham, we believe we have a message from the Lord for you. He has laid a great burden upon you, and you can't bear it alone. It is too much for you. God says, “Be of good courage and I will be with you. You shall prevail, only be of good courage.” The destiny of this great nation is upon Him. Your shoulders are too narrow; cast all your cares upon Him. Do not carry it yourself. He will guide you and you shall prevail."
d. The ladies then prayed for President Lincoln and when they left, it was as if all his problems were solved, because he remembered that God was the one in charge!
D. 6 WAYS TO RECOGNIZE THE VOICE OF GOD
1. IT MATCHES SCRIPTURE. God cannot contradict His Word; the Word encapsulates His nature.
2. IT’S RECONCILING. God longs for us to come to repentance. He’s attempting to woo us back to relationship with Him.
3. IT IS TRUTH & BRINGS PEACE. Satan brings chaos & evil (John 10:10); God brings order & peace. Jesus said, “Your Word IS truth” John 17:17.
4. IT’S UNCHANGING. God's voice, like His character, doesn’t change. “Your Word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” Ps. 119:89.
5. IT’S AUTHORITATIVE. “Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness” 2 Tim. 3:16 HSBC.
6. IT CENTERS ON JESUS. “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me” John 10:27.
E. OTHERS WHO HEARD THAT VOICE
1. ADAM heard the Voice of the Lord walking in the Garden;
2. SAMUEL heard that Voice calling him at the tabernacle;
3. ISAIAH heard the Voice of the Lord when he saw a vision of heaven and his lips had been cleansed;
4. JESUS' DISCIPLES heard that Voice at the Mt. of Transfiguration -- "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him" Matthew 17:5.
5. WE NEED TO HEAR FROM GOD! We’ve got to get past all the noise & outside pressures before we can get quiet enough to hear the Holy Spirit.
6. ILLUSTRATION
a. In the days before widespread refrigeration, when ice blocks were distributed to people's homes to keep their food cool, there were large warehouses where ice was stored, packed in hay.
b. One of the men working there had a very fine
pocket watch, which fell out of his pocket and ended up lost in the hay. Several of the men searched for half an hour, but could never find it. They gave it up & went to lunch.
c. When the men came back from lunch, a young man stood at the door holding the pocket watch. "How in the world did you find it?" said its owner.
d. "Easy. I waited until everyone left and it was quiet. Then I laid down in the hay and listened for the ticking. The sound led me right to it."
e. That's how it is when we get quiet before God; then we can hear the still small voice of the Lord speaking to us!
III. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN ELIJAH HEARD GOD’S VOICE? HE GOT...
A. A NEW EXPERIENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
1. I don’t know how long it’s been since you experienced God’s presence in a supernatural way – but it’s revolutionary, transforming, and renewing!
2. It will make you cry and make you laugh all at the same time – it’s the greatest thing to ever happen to a person. Hearing God’s voice restored Elijah’s soul. “It's not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts" Zech. 4:6.
B. A NEW VISION OF GOD
1. – God’s grandeur, power, the assurance of His control over the world and the future.
2. WE need a new vision of God in 2026. Your life will never be greater than your vision of God. God still holds the world in the palm of His hand; nothing’s too hard for Him!
C. A NEW MISSION FROM GOD
1. Elijah was given three new things to do. His purpose was renewed; he had a mission to accomplish.
2. We need something to do for God. "Idle hands are the devil’s workshop."
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: Hearing God
1. The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.
2. Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problems. Finally, he shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?"
3. The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply, but so quietly he couldn’t hear. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked.
4. The preacher repeated himself, but as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you."
5. With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear Him." This time the young man heard and he understood.
6. If you haven’t heard God lately, maybe the problem isn’t that He’s not speaking, but that you’re not close enough to hear Him! God says, “Be still, and know that I am God” Ps. 46:10.
B. THE CALL
1. We need to hear that still, small Voice of God. He’s speaking to us today.
a. To some He is speaking of salvation; "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice..." Revelation 3:20.
b. To others He’s speaking about commitment.
c. To others – about our busy-ness -- like Martha; "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" Mark 6:31.
2. Do you need the Presence of God? Healing from discouragement? Vision? A new Mission from God?
3. Let’s come & seek God’s face in the altars.
