Thank you for reading the Weekend Sermon this week. I hope that you are all in good health and doing well.
Last week, we continued with our series on what we can learn from the life and ministry of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. We saw that even when we have a spiritual high like Elijah did against the priests of Baal, it can be followed by a spiritual low point. We also talked about the fact that even a prophet like Elijah suffered from depression. If you have depressed feelings, go to the Lord and ask for help. Also, don't hesitate to seek help from a healthcare professional or counselor.
When we left Elijah, he'd been told to get up and journey to a mountain to encounter the Lord. Elijah journeyed for 40 days and, he came to the mountain and took up residence in a cave.
While he was in the cave, the Lord asked Elijah what he was doing there. Elijah told the Lord that he was upset due to Israel's idolatry. He also felt like he was the only one left serving the Lord, and he was on the verge of being killed by the evil king and queen.
The Lord told Elijah to stand on the mountain because the presence of the Lord was going to pass by. At first, there was a terrible wind. But the Lord was not in the wind. Then there came a mighty earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then came fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. Then came a gentle whisper, and Elijah drew his cloak over his face because he knew the Lord was in the whisper.
The Lord asked Elijah again what he was doing there, and Elijah again responded. This time, the Lord gave some instructions to His prophet. He told him to go and anoint three people. He was to go to Hazael and anoint him king of Aram. He was to go and anoint Jehu to be king of Israel, and he was to go and anoint Elisha to be his successor. The Lord also gave Elijah a word of assurance. Elijah wasn't the only one still serving the Lord. There were 7,000 that had not bowed the knee to the false god.
What are we to make of this passage? First of all, I like to focus on the idea that we hear the voice of the Lord in our lives in at times unexpected ways. We serve a great and powerful God, but He wasn't in the wind, the earthquake or the fire. He doesn't have to make His presence known to us in some bombastic way. He was in the gentle whisper.
We definitely hear the voice of the Lord coming to us from the Bible. We can also hear God's voice to us in the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking the word of the Lord into our hearts. We can hear it when we are still before the Lord and meditate on His presence and upon the love that He has for us.
The Lord can also speak to us as it were through those He brings into our lives. There are people that bring us great encouragement and help us know the word and the way of the Lord.
The Lord definitely speaks to us through those things that He has created. When I look at the many animals that God has made it speaks to my heart.
The way that God has spoken to us most clearly and most directly is through the Word made flesh who dwelled among us. Jesus is God's ultimate Word. When we see Jesus we see the Father. Jesus is our example. We must look to Him in all things so that we can know how we can live for and please the Lord while we are walking on this earth.
Finally, I want to point out that the Lord had quite a few people who were still faithful to Him. There are many people who believe in Jesus right now in places where it is hard to be a Christian. The Lord did not forget His faithful followers then, and He does not forget you now. He knows that you are faithfully serving Him.
We serve a powerful God who makes Himself know to us in various and sundry ways. Let us listen for His word in our life so that we might please Him. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray that I will feel better. I am having arthritis problems in my back and hip.
Pray for the people of Japan and for the friends and family of the former prime minister who was killed. Let us pray for an end to all this violence around the world.
Pray for peace in this world. Continue to pray for Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and Ethiopia.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Azerbaijan and Djibouti. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. I hope to have a midweek post, and I will post the message on Friday. May God bless you all.
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