Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon this week. I hope that it will be a blessing to you. I thank the Lord for continuing to allow me to post these messages.
Last week, we began a series of messages on the life of the prophet Elijah. He has a prominent place in both the Old and the New Testaments.
As we got started last week, we saw that Elijah came on the scene when the northern kingdom of Israel was at its lowest point spiritually. The leadership of Ahab and Jezebel was wicked, and the people had descended into the depths of idolatry.
Elijah came with a message from the Lord that it would not rain for a long period. The rain would only come back when Elijah gave the word. Last week, I didn't mention the fact that Elijah praying that it would not rain is given in the New Testament as an example of how we are to pray. In James 5:17-18, we are reminded that Elijah was a human being just as we are. He had faith and believed what God had told him. That is why he was able to make the proclamation and pray that it would not rain. We are called to have faith just like that. We are to take God at His word and believe in His promises.
Elijah was a wanted man after he made the proclamation that a drought was coming. He had to flee for his life. The Lord told him to flee the area and go to the Kerith Ravine. Elijah was to hide out there until he received the word from the Lord. The Lord didn't leave Elijah on his own. He told Elijah that he would have water to drink from the brook, and the Lord commanded the ravens to bring food to Elijah twice a day.
What is that we can learn from this part of the life of the prophet Elijah? First of all, this encounter in the life of Elijah reminds me of the fact that the Lord has promised that He will always be with us. Elijah must have been afraid of what was going to happen to him, but he relied on the Lord. The Lord made sure that Elijah was continuously aware of His presence. Those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus have the Lord Jesus' presence in our hearts to give us comfort and guidance. We have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit who is the comforter. We can always know and be aware of the fact that the Lord is with us.
Another thing that I notice from this story is that the animals obeyed and acted as servants of the Lord. God is the creator and sustainer of all. The Bible says that everything was created through, by and for the Lord Jesus. All of creation knows the Creator and the creatures are ready to follow all that the Lord might ask them to do. We see this when Jesus road the colt into Jerusalem. Jesus said that if the people stopped praising Him, the rocks themselves would cry out before the Lord. The Bible says that all of creation is groaning in travail waiting for the day when the Lord will return. When He returns, the creation will be restored to its Edenic state. All will be well as it was before sin entered into the world.
Finally, I would like to point out that this incidence from the life of Elijah reminds us that God will sustain us when He has called us to His purpose. The Lord had a plan, and Elijah was part of that plan. Nothing would happen to Elijah until God's plan was fulfilled. We can take comfort knowing that our steps are ordered by the Lord. Sometimes it's difficult to understand how this all works out. This is where faith comes in. We have to believe that the Lord is watching out for us to do what will accomplish what is best and what is in His will.
The big take away from this message is that the Lord Jesus is with us, and He will provide for us. We have to trust in Him, and we must be faithful. We must not lose heart in the midst of difficult circumstances. We must carry on knowing that Jesus is always at our side. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for the families of those who lost loved ones in Texas and in Buffalo. Pray that action will be taken to avoid these tragedies in the future. Also, pray that the injured will make a speedy recovery.
Pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, and pray that the monkey pox will not become a big problem. Pray that the sick will recover.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Ukraine certainly needs our prayers. Pray for peace in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Chad, Ethiopia and Sudan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Egypt and Nepal. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue our Elijah series. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to post something midweek. May God bless you all.
No comments:
Post a Comment