Today I was preaching at St Thomas' Minnis Bay at the 1100 Communion service..
The lessons were on the theme of the Faithful Remnant. The OT lesson was from
1 Kings on Elijah and the 7,000 pairs of knees that had not bowed to Baal..
OT : 1 Kings 19:9-18
After victory on Carmel, Elijah, battle-fatigued and exhausted, makes a
tactical withdrawal to a cave. Not to any old cave, but to the very one in
Sinai where Moses saw God's glory pass in Exodus 33:21-23..
1. ELIJAH'S MAY-DAY-CALL TO GOD 9-10, 14
Twice God gently and graciously asks Elijah what is the matter. Twice Elijah
paranoidly complains:
a. It's this Foreign Queen..
Ahab's Tyrian queen Jezebel was daughter of the Prince of Tyre, described as
the personification of Satan in Ezekiel 28:1-19. 'She has already slain Your
prophets with the sword (18:4) ~ now she's sworn to get me...'
b. It's these False Prophets..
The court prophets were all yes-men for Jezebel. 'They have thrown down Your
altars and set up altars to Baal...'
c. It's these Fickle People..
They may have cheered on Mount Carmel, but 'they have forsaken the covenant
You made here on Sinai with Moses.... Now I am the only true believer left...'
2. ELIJAH'S MANIFESTATION FROM GOD 11-13
Have you ever watched a military fire-power demonstration?
Now Elijah witnesses a heavenly fire-power demonstration:
a. He saw the God of Creation by His Works..
Wind, earthquake, fire show God's power OVER all his works (not IN all his
works: NOT Pantheism). The Prophets are those to whom the 'Fire of the LORD'
comes. Has the Pentecostal Fire come to you?
b. He heard the God of Revelation by His Word..
Moses had a similar encounter in this very cave (Ex 33:21-23) when God gave
him the Covenant concerning the Law and the Land. The Prophets are those to
whom the 'Word of the LORD' comes. Has the Prophetic Word come to you? Can
you hear the "still small voice"?
3. ELIJAH'S MANDATE FROM GOD 15-19
Have you ever wanted a direct message from God?
That comforting "still, small voice" issues Elijah's next orders:
a. Anoint a Godly King. 15-16a
Ahab is too weak to deal with Jezebel. Anoint Jehu (2 Kings 9) to maintain the
Kingdom of God. You maintain the Kingdom of God ~ make not Jehu but Jesus your
King!
b. Appoint a Godly Prophet. 16b, 19
Elijah is too weary to deal with Jezebel. Appoint Elisha son of Shaphat as a
prophet to maintain the Witness of God. You maintain the witness of God ~ say
"thus says the LORD...". Preach the Word in season and out of season (2 Tim
4:2)..
c. Affirm a Godly People. 18
You are not on your own. Affirm the 7,000 who did not bow to Baal to maintain
the Worship of God. You are not the only true believer left; and they need
encouraging! You maintain the worship of God ~ encourage your neighbours to
join you in divine service..
__________________________________________________________________________
In Christ,
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
