Message: “Confronting Crisis— How Soon We Forget” from Pastor Joe

Joe Summers - October 16, 2022

Confronting Crisis--- How Soon We Forget

Confronting Crisis and how soon we forget what God had done for us. Texts: 1 Kings 18:41-42; James 5:16-18; John 7:38; (Supporting scriptures: Isaiah 55:10–13; 2 Kings 3:14-18; Zechariah 10:1; Job 8:7; 14:7-9; Psalms 46:4-5; 92:12-15) Confronting Crisis -- How Soon We Forget Lesson Objective: To understand the importance of never forgetting what God has done for us especially when we are confronting crisis in our lives Scripture: 1 Kings Chapter 18 and 19 with emphasis on 1 Kings 18: 41-42 Introduction- Who was Elijah A man who was confronting a crisis A great prophet- recognized by multiple religions Thought by many to be one of the three at the Transfiguration Matthew 17: 1-5 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Thought to be one of the two witnesses discussed in Revelations Revelation 11: 3-6 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want Miracle worker - Story of widow and son He was confronting a crisis with the famine Widow provides food to Elijah through her faith and believe Elijah raises her son from the dead Mentor as directed by God I King 19: 15-16 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Elijah experiences the power of God-- confronting a crisis Elijah confronts the prophets of Ahab and Jezebel 1 King 18: 1-2 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Elijah learns of other prophets who were hidden 1 Kings 18: 13 Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water Elijah challenges the prophets 1 King 18: 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 King 18: 22-24 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good 1 King 18: 36-39 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” Elijah quickly forgets Confronting his biggest crisis Elijah becomes despondent and runs away to a cave 1 Kings 19: 1-5 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. God does not leave Elijah 1 Kings 19: 6-9 All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. God speaks to Elijah And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” God visits Elijah 1 Kings 19: 11-12 (God is preparing Elijah to hear him.) The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 King 19: 15-16 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as a prophet. God does not condemn Elijah nor chastise him but simply gives him a directive to get up and return from whence he came and told him that he was not alone. 7000 had not bowed down. Summary.. We are all subject to bouts of despair no matter how mature we may be in our Christian walk We must never forget that we are not in this battle alone. We must never forget the blessings that God had provided to us and find solace and relief in that knowledge Topic: Experiencing an abundance of rain Present NOW