I Kings 19:11-18
Retreated Repaired and Reprogrammed
Here lies before us a very important text of scripture that is very practical in the life of every believer. It is the picture of a man that had human failings and emotional turmoil just like we do. It proves that no matter how high you go in the Lord that we are still susceptible to the feelings that come from rejection and persecution and It is a funny thing, but true most of the time that after our biggest victories come our toughest trials.
The enemy wants you to think that your triumphs are anything but an act of God. Even when we are blessed in a service and are touched by the message that is preached as soon as you leave the church the Devil comes to steal your joy.
This is not a new strategy for the enemy. So I’d like for us to look at this passage of scripture and examine the experience of the Man of God and the events surrounding his journey in the wilderness.
First of all the reason that he was there was that Jezebel heard how he had defeated the profits of Baal and restored worship to the true God.
And we need to understand what that meant. You see Baal was said to be the god of rain and so when God got fed up with the chicanery of his people worshiping this false deity he called Elijah into action and told him to go and tell the king that it would not rain for three years.
And as he traveled down through the land, he saw the evidence of the wondrous gift of rain that God had cause to fall. What a thoughtful journey that had to have been as he traveled. And it must have occurred to him as he descended from his mountain retreat. All of this vast forestry, he passed the babbling brooks and the green leaves. He passed by its majestic trees and flowers clothed with marvelous pastels and earth tone hews. He saw the lush fields of grass that lay like a carpet, against the bright curtain of the sky that stretched out over the eastern horizon.
And so God said “you think that its Baal that gives rain, a deaf and dumb statue that you created with a wicked imagination and the work of your own hands. Then I’ll shut up heaven and IT WILL NOT RAIN.”
One of the punishments God reserved for the sin of the people was that he would shut up heaven (Duet 28:23-24)
The devil has been given some power over the elements Paul calls him the prince of the power of the air and so God allows him some power, but that power is limited and temporary.
So in chapter 18 we see the struggle between the power of God and the profits of Baal. And we see Elijah with the victory and the power of God in the form of fire, proving that God is not only the God of rain but the God of fire also.
When the news gets to Jezebel she vows to kill Elijah. It’s funny how when a person is lost so deep in sin that they think getting rid of the preacher that that will change the mind of God.
Instead of taking head to God’s warning and call to repentance they seek to make things worse by killing the messenger of God. And I don’t care if you kill all of the preachers the word of God will not change unless HE changes it. And a whole lot of folk want to kill you because you stand up for righteousness. I see so many folk who
And so many people get offended when the preacher preaches and it happens to hit home with them and they find there own faults in the word. The bible says that the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart. And if the preacher is preaching from the word of God and it happens to hit home in your section don’t get mad just get right. They used to tell me if the preacher is coming down the isle and steps on your feet then get your feet out of the isle and next time he won’t step on it. If you cant say amen then just say ouch!!!
Now then, there are two faults in the plan of Jezebel and I believe that those were the two determining factors that lead to her fate.
First it doesn’t matter who you are rich, poor, fat, skinny, ugly, or pretty when God sends the message and you don’t take heed punishment is eminent and you can kill all the preachers but God will still be God.
Secondly the bible gives further warning to those that would harm his chosen ones (psalm 105:14-15). God says touch not my anointed and do my profits no harm. David understood this even before he was king and refused to kill Saul though Saul sought to take his life he understood that there was an anointing on him and if he protected the anointing of Saul even though Saul was jealous of him that some day that same anointing would protect him when he got wrong.
But the threat of death scared the man of God and so he retreats for his life. And before we look down on the profit before we pass judgment and question his faith I dare say that in every believer’s life there comes a time when we get scared and the fear of defeat gets the best of us. And I know just as well as anybody that sometimes the trials of life will overwhelm you. And there are some who instead of coming to the church they retreat from the church. But when you are in trouble that’s the time when you aught to be getting closer to God not further away.
But even then God is able to take care of us. “His eye is on the sparrow” the song writer says “and I know that he watches over me” God sent ravens to feed him and an angel to counsel him.
Now I know that if I were to find myself in a similar circumstance that I might have some reservations about taking food from a bird. I once heard a story about a man that got stranded in the woods and was fed by cats. And if I had my choice, I think that I would chose a more suitable way to have food delivered, the only way that the cat could bring the food is in its mouth. But I believe that after a while that my hunger would overcome my pride and I might develop a predilection for food offered by cats. But the point is that God can make a way out of no way.
And every one of us has a wilderness experience but the experience does not come for God to test our metal or prove to God what’s inside of us. Our wilderness experiences come to show US about us. God doesn’t need to know what we can and can’t take. He already knows what you’re made of.
I might not know who you’re made of but God does not see like man sees. For man looks on the inward appearance but God looks on the heart.
He asked Elijah “what are you doing here?” and Elijah gives the answer. “I have been jealous for you and those other folks threw down the altars and forgot all about you. And now I’m all by myself.”
Whenever you isolate yourself and run away from the support that you have with the people of God the devil will trick you into thinking you’re the only one left saved. Satan always tempts you the most when you’re alone. And especially when you look around and see so many messy things in the church. Some church folk are nasty acting and have mean dispositions. But the church does not consist of all nasty folk. Everybody in the church is not mean and contrary. We talk I think too much about the negativities of church membership. But frankly there aint no place I would rather be than with God’s folks.
God has always and will always have those that are going to follow Jesus. “Don’t think it strange the fiery trials which are to try you.” James says. You’re not the only one “there is no temptation come upon you but that which is common to man.” God has always had a remnant. As long as this world revolves there will be those who follow Jesus.
So the bible says that The Lord told Elijah go and stand on the mountain before The Lord. And things always come into view when you can get into a place and stand before The Lord. if you want to see things clearer you need to stand before God. There is something about your secret place. And there comes a time when my heart gets overwhelmed and my spirit is troubled that I have to just get somewhere and be alone with God.
And so as Elijah is standing on this mountain there comes a strong wind. Rocks begin to break and the mountain shakes and strains under its movement. But the bible says that God is not in the wind, and then there comes a great earthquake but God is not in the earthquake.
And there are always grand movements that sweep the church and it seems that everyone is shaken and moves in the direction of the fanfare. Pay attention to television and you’ll see that when the people respond to what seems to be a new word that it seems that not soon after there are many others embracing that word as the universal in time truth.
And God definitely gives his preachers messages for the collective body but in order to receive a personal word from God there is a need for every individual to listen for that still small voice.
Sometimes your look for your blessing in the spirit of praise that so often takes the church up. But you need to watch out for that because your blessing will not always come in a grand movement. And I like to get my praise on and get my shout out just like anyone else and don’t you get in my way when I feel the Holy Ghost moving. I’ll dance on your pocket book. But that is not always how your blessing will come.
Some times your blessing will not come until you get alone and listen for that still small voice.
Sometimes when your down and it seems like you won’t get the victory you have to go home and unplug the telephone, draw the curtains, turn off the radio, and the TV, sister Suzy can’t help you aunt Bessie don’t know what to do!!!! You’ve got to get in your prayer closet and cry out to God.
In conclusion often times God gets us alone to give us instruction. So many time we get caught up in our own agenda and what we think we ought to be doing but God has got a plan and a work that he called you to do.
He told the profit to go down and anoint a profit to take your place and while you’re at it I need for you to anoint a new king for my people.
Some time you need some reprogramming. I deal with computers in my office at work and I spend a lot of time on them and sometimes you’ll have a program that gets stuck and freezes in one place and if you haven’t saved your work then when you have to reboot the computer you have to start all over again. And in this walk of life sometimes we get stuck and The Lord has to shut us down for a minute and reboot us.
’ve seen the lightning flash and I’ve heard the thunder roll. I’ve felt sin breakers dashing trying to concur my soul but I’ve heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on he promised never never to leave me alone no never alone he promised never to leave you alone.
And this is the hope that I have in Jesus. That no matter what the problem is that I have a savior that I can call on
For in the time of trouble he will hide me in his pavilion.
He’s a friend to the friendless.
He is a father to the fatherless…….He’s a lawyer in a courtroom.
He’s a doctor in a sickroom…………He is strength in a boardroom. He’s the hope of the white house…………the glory of the church house. So don’t give up!! Don’t give out!!! And don’t give in!! Hold on, help is on the way. You can make it, if you just hold on.
