COMMUNION: BE STILL AND KNOW

1 Kings 19:1-15a.....

The ELIJAH COMPLEX--it happens to Christians.

Now you know the stories that bring Elijah to this point. This is the

Elijah whose name means "YHWH is God" and whose message was

"only YHWH is God." He is the Elijah who prophesies that the faucet

of the heavens will be turned off, and it doesn't rain for 3 1/2 years.

Here is the Elijah that not only fearlessly confronts the wickedness of

the king and people, he openly challenges and mocks the 850 false

prophets of Baal worship--the Elijah who prays and fire comes down

from God--who prays and rain pours from the sky (who even before

he prays, tells

Ahab that there "is a sound of abundance of rain"). (If you want

something to think about...Why one public prayer and fire comes--

and seven private prayers before a rain cloud appears?--for rain the

Lord said would come-see 18:1) This is the Elijah that runs the 28

miles to Jezreel, leading Ahab's chariot through the night storm.

It's hard to believe, but it's this Elijah who is worried. He goes about

95 miles to Beersheba, and drops off his servant (whom I would

guess was glad to be left--particularly because Elijah was probably

not the best of company)--and then the prophet goes another day's

journey and finally parks it under a juniper tree or better translated,

"broom" tree (which is a twiggly, much branched, near leafless bush

that grows naturally in this part of the world). He's exhausted--

wanting to die.

Have you ever had days like Elijah?

1. Here is a vivid reminder that NOTHING STAYS WON.

Today's victories are no guarantee for tomorrow's. They help. But

everything important takes CONTINUAL effort--success in the job--

happiness in the home--your victorious walk with Christ...If no

maintenance, like a garden with no care, your heart quickly returns

to the wild.

After the showers of blessing, can come a dry spell--after some

achievement can come drab, lag time--after an exciting victory over

a temptation, or a Mt. Carmel experience with Christ, you can find

yourself falling to sin. It can be frustrating can't it? It can be

depressing.

2. It's also a reminder NOT TO TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY

Elijah had been God's man for the hour. The great reform he had

worked and prayed for these years had begun. The false prophets

are all dead--"Go for it, king!" But Elijah was unprepared for the

calculated evil of Jezebel. Had all this been for nothing? Would it

make any difference? Was the blessing of God just going to run off

and go down the drain?

We must be careful not to misdirect our focus to ourselves, our

success--our accomplishments--our safety...

Elijah was BURNED OUT. We can take the road to exhaustion, doing

the work of God--and we may then even go where the Lord doesn't

want us to go. We may even wish to die, or at least wish to escape

and get away from it all under some broom tree.

Elijah eventually confesses that he thinks he is the only faithful

prophet left in Israel. Have you noticed this attitude expressed

occasionally today? There are those who feel they are the only ones

who are faithful in the church--the only ones who are keeping the

church pure--others give too little--believe too casually. They feel

like they are God's last hope for the church and the world. Be

careful--God has thousands. IF WE TAKE OURSELVES TOO

SERIOUSLY, WE WON'T TAKE GOD SERIOUS ENOUGH.

So how does the Lord deal with the Elijah complexes?

1. THE LORD UNDERSTANDS OUR NEEDS AND GIVES US STRENGTH

(vs.5-8) An angel is sent to bring food and drink to the prophet. Two

naps and two meals, and Elijah is off again. This time he travels

forty days and nights to Mt. Horeb. There's no doubt that he slept

well--and it's obvious that the food and water was good--he had the

strength to go another 200 miles across the barren openness of the

Sinai.

I'm so glad the Lord made food enjoyable to eat, otherwise it sure

would be a chore. Even so, I sometimes think it would be nice not to

spend so much time eating. I'm glad we don't have to eat all the

time (like a hummingbird, or a cow--though some people may like

this idea). And wouldn't you like to eat food and drink water that

could strengthen you for forty days (the text doesn't say that he ate

when he got to Horeb--perhaps it was longer than forty days)?

Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, shall

never thirst again"--I want this kind of water, don't you?

I wonder if the Lord impressed Elijah to go to Horeb, or if he felt he

had to come back to the roots of his faith. It was from here that the

Lord declared He was the one and the only true God. It was from

here that Moses received the Ten Commandments--where he also hid

in a cave and saw the glory of the Lord (Ex. 33:22).

2. THE LORD WILL BE WHEREVER YOU ARE, AND HE WILL CONFRONT

YOU

Vs. 11 says that the Lord has Elijah get up--and then the Lord passes

by--winds tearing the mountain and breaking the rocks--an

earthquake--and a fire--BUT THE LORD IS NOT IN THESE.

Our experience with God is not dependent upon the miraculous--the

great demonstrations of power. Our experience is dependent upon

the "still, small voice"! The people of God who bear the Elijah

Message to the world in these last days need to remember this.

When we hear this gentle whisper, like Elijah who covered his face,

we will stand in respect and shame, knowing that God has been near.

That voice is always there with inspiration, correction, instruction--

but we do not hear because sometimes WE ARE RUNNING AWAY-

sometimes there's TOO MUCH INTERFERENCE.

It's often like taking a walk outside--if you stand still and listen, you

may hear sounds you never would otherwise notice--a bee at a

flower, grasshopper wings in the air, a stream clapping over rocks,

the wisp of leaves...all the time there-- only now, not only are you

CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR, YOU'RE QUIET AND WILLING ENOUGH TO

LISTEN.

3. THE LORD GIVES US SOMETHING TO DO

vs. 15 records the Lord saying, "Go, return..."

Notice that Elijah answers, but he really doesn't answer the question

(think about why he gives the same answer both times--before and

after the passing by of God). The question must be important. And

how did God ask it--where was the emphasis?

** "What are YOU doing here, Elijah?"--you of all people.

** "What are you DOING here, Elijah?"--anything? Are you

meditating, praying, sulking, quitting...

** "What are you doing HERE, Elijah?"--I want you someplace else.

You may be depressed, exhausted, or guilty this morning. You may

have fears that need Divine peace--you may be running from duty--

you may be trying to get back to the essence of your faith.

Put very simply:

GET UP AND EAT/ GET UP AND LISTEN/ GET UP AND GO

It was this way for His disciples when Jesus said, "Eat ye all of it." He

says to you this morning, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too

great for you"--you won't make it without eating and drinking at the

Lord's table--without the Divine grace through the brokenness of

Jesus to heal your broken soul.

Be still and listen--God is passing by and He has something to say to

you. Listen for the voice of conviction and forgiveness.

And after you've been in the presence of the Holy, there's something

you are to do. "GO, return"--forgiven, healed, renewed to labor for

Him.

PRAYER:

That the Early Rain will soften our hearts so the power of the Latter

Rain doesn't run off-we'll be prepared.