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 AWAYsometimes 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. CHILDREN'S STORY "Listen. What do you hear?....As you were coming here, I heard _________(cough, cry, turning pages of a book, etc.) Most everybody missed these sounds because they were not tuned in to them, were not listening for them, were making noise themselves, or were listening for something else." We need to listen for the many ways God reveals His love and power.