Video Transition: Martin Luther King Jr - Last Speech April 3rd the day before he is assassinated – he showed his faith over fear to do the will of God.
Would you have done the same? I find it amazing today how many people think the will of God is to live safely in our homes and to live a long safe life until we die – we have a distorted view that this is God’s Will – No risk – no faith – safety is what it’s all about but that is not what I see in Scripture – faith is risky and faith confronts fear to do the will of God – even when it may cost you your life for the sake of others. Yes, our faith will be tested and the question is when it is how will you respond to God?
Sermon: Elijah’s Story of Breakthrough pt. 2
Scripture: 1 Kings 17, 18
Thesis: Elijah was a prophet of God called out of obscurity to confront a wicked King and Queen of Israel. He became one of Israel’s most famous prophets and helped bring a breakthrough for the nation of Israel. His calling was to confront the leaders of the nation for their promotion of sin and to prove God is the true God to be worshipped. He also teaches us what it means to trust God and allow God to provide for us and lead us. He also teaches us how to respond to God in tragedy and hardship and how to grow our faith through tests.
Introduction:
On the lighter side of life:
Three old men were at the doctor’s office for a memory test. The doctors said to the first old man, “What is three times three?” “Two-hundred seventy four,” he replied. The doctor said to the second man, “it’s your turn. What is three times three?” “Tuesday,” replied the second man. The doctor said to the third man, “Okay, your turn. What’s three times three?” “Nine,” said the third man. “That’s great,” said the doctor. “How did you get that?” “Simple! I subtracted 274 from Tuesday.”
Question: Why do you think God administers tests in our lives? Tests from God always have a spiritual purpose and a spiritual growth process for us in our faith walk with the Lord.
During my school years I learned a lot but I never liked taking tests. Tests were always hard, and you had to study extra to prepare and if you did not study the right stuff you could still fail even if you studied. But sometimes you would study and nail it and you would get the A. But I never liked teachers who would mislead you as to what would be on a test. I did not like the professors who tested me on things they never taught on. I at times went in and complained to a few professors who did this. I did not like those last minute change ups by these types of professors.
Have you ever thought why do we have to take tests in school? What is the purpose of taking a test? Well let’s look at what the purpose of tests are:
• Test (student assessment) or assessment, in education, (also called an "examination") serves to assess or measure students' performance, knowledge or skills
Tests measure our knowledge of a subject, our skills in a subject and our level or performance on a certain subject. Tests are very revealing about what we know and don’t know. They are a good learning tool to helps us see were we are proficient and were we lack.
This is good for us academically as well as spiritually.
The question could be asked, “Does God give tests?” The answer is “Yes” He does. We find references to those in history who received “tests” from the Lord.
In the Old Testament God tested Abraham and the truth is God will also test us in our faith walk. We are not exempt from going through times of testing!
Testing from God always challenges us in our spiritual walk and in our faith. They stretch us to place more faith and trust in the leading of the Lord. Even when there is a change of plan and the situation does not act out like you imagined it would. This does not mean that you missed God or even misunderstood His voice. It means God has a spiritual purpose for the change of plan.
When testing and trails come in life how will you react to them? They will come brooks will dry up – journeys will need to be taken in famine and drought. Sickness will strike so what will you do when this happens?
T.S. - Elijah’s life and story reveals how God provides even in times of nationwide sin, political chaos and famine and Elijah and the widow teach us - how to walk through - tests from the Lord by having a strong faith and loyal trust in God. Elijah and the widow in our story are tested by the Lord when all seemed perfect in life!
I. God gives tests to His followers for a variety of reasons:
a. Tests will measure our level of faith.
b. Tests will measure our commitment level to the Lord.
c. Tests will teach us spiritual lessons which may or may not be known right away.
d. Tests will measure our knowledge of God and His Word.
e. Tests will stretch us in our personal lives and get us to evaluate our hearts and our focuses.
f. Tests will fulfill some spiritual plan of God that we see or may not even see in this life time.
g. Tests do have a divine eternal purpose.
h. Tests measure how obedient we will be to the Lord.
i. We will discover if we are 100% committed and knowledgeable in the Lord or if we are only 50% committed to the ways of the Lord.
ii. Note only being 50% committed to the Lord is still failure in the eyes of the Lord. Listen to his warning to a church in Revelation:
iii. Revelation 3:16: “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
i. Tests will measure what is in our hearts and what is in control – The Spirit or the flesh.
j. Tests will show us who is in control of our lives.
i. We will either be lead through a test by our spirt or by our flesh.
ii. One of the two is dominant and the times of testing will reveal which one is.
iii. The questions to be asked and answered are the following:
1. Is the Spirit in control?
2. Or is the flesh in control?
k. Tests will humble us so that God can use us better.
l. Test will reveal our attitudes and our motives behind our actions.
m. Tests reveal why we do what we do!
n. Tests reveal if we really believe in what we say we believe in.
o. Tests will reveal the sincerity of our love for Jesus.
i. You will either grow more in love with the Lord or bitter toward the Lord in your time of testing.
p. Tests will examine our minds to see were they are at in the understanding of God and His ways.
i. They will measure how renewed our minds are or are not.
q. Tests will make us study harder spiritually and cause us to be prepared for pop quizzes from God.
r. Test will help us to always be ready!
s. Tests will keep us alert and on our toes in the spiritual realm.
t. Tests will cost us something personally and spiritually.
i. Just look at the book of Job.
u. Tests which we complete and pass will propel us to a higher level in our spiritual walk.
v. Tests completed will bring us a great eternal reward that we do not fully understand in this era of our life. But one day we will see their validity.
II. Tragedy strikes the family of God in the midst of trusting God!
a. Tragedy often makes us forget and overlook all of God’s benefits and distorts our view of God. Notice what she says to Elijah “17Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”
i. Wow do you hear the grief and pain of losing her one and only son?
b. The question is not really “Where is God when it hurts, because we are told in Scripture, He is right there with us.” But the question we must answer is, “How will I respond?”
i. Listen to these Scripture Texts:
1. James 1:2-5: 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
2. 1 Peter 1:6-7: 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
3. 1 Peter 4:12, 13: 12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
ii. The Bible texts which we just read do not point to “Is God to blame for my tragedy?” but they teach us that the important question is, “How will I respond to this crisis, trauma, or loss?” These verses do not answer the question about why something happens but they do answer the question about how we should respond to the crisis? The how I will respond? Really becomes the most important question that needs to be answered in the journey of grief. This answer determines how we will recover.
c. How do you react to life’s trials and tribulations?
i. Corderio states in his book Sifted, “The real question, then, is not whether we will face failure. It is how well we will face it. How we respond to the challenges and trails in our lives and ministries makes all the difference in the world” (page 11).
d. To help us respond appropriately to the pain of loss and tragedy and grief let’s answer another common question proposed by people in the midst of these trials: “Where are you God?” Answer: God is always closer than we think and we need to learn to see Him daily even in tragedy.
i. John Ortberg stated, “The central promise in the Bible is not ‘I will forgive you.’ The most frequent promise is ‘I will be with you.’” (God Is Closer Than You Think, page 15).
ii. The promise was made to Adam and Eve, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Samuel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Amos, Mary, Paul, Peter, John and a host of others from the beginning of time until the climax of his return the promise goes on – verbalized by God to the one’s He loves over and over again.
1. Even Jesus name was Immanuel – “God with Us!” Reiterates this promise from the Father.
iii. Question: So where is God? He is right here with us!
1. Even at this very moment God’s presence is in this church service and some of you need to experience him right now.
2. He is here with us – at times he may be quiet but He is still there!
3. The truth is God is with us every day and every night of grief and tragedy and most of the time we ignore Him and never speak to Him nor acknowledge Him. But He is still there.
4. It becomes important to understand that we need to start recognizing that ]esus is with us and incorporate Him into our everyday lives. Why? Because when tragedy strikes you see Him quicker and recognize His presence faster.
iv. Sometimes pain is the element that turns us towards His face. The truth is many of us have a tendency to forget to face God each day when things are going good. We seem to forget about Him in the busy ordinary day of life. Yet God is still there whether you acknowledge Him or not.
1. So, a tragedy strikes our heroes of the faith and the widows son dies!
a. I Kings 17:17-24: 17After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” 19And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?”
III. Faith and fear and its tests will come through living life and they come in the form of tragedy and trials.
a. The following from https://www.wordsoflife.co.uk/bible-studies/study-4-raising-the-widows-son/ (Scripture Portion: 1 Kings 17: 17-24)
i. They state, “Now that Elijah was safely installed in her home and God was daily providing for all their needs, it would have been easy for the widow of Zarephath to think that at last all her troubles were over. But were they? Read 1 Kings 17:16, and then compare verse 17. Notice that both these people, Elijah and the widow, were believers; they were living by faith, faith in God, and faith is always tested. In other words, if we are believers we must expect to be tested - look up Philippians 1:29 and Hebrews 12:6-11. Think how much testing the psalmist, the apostles, the early believers and the Puritans experienced, and how much testing God’s people on every hand are experiencing today. This whole matter of faith’s testing is brought before us in the story of the death of the widow’s son and of Elijah’s great prayer. This is the record of God’s loving dealings with two of His people who lived at Zarephath, which, significantly, means ?a place of refining. If we are believers, men and women of faith, we are all living at Zarephath; in other words, we must expect our faith to be tested. Notice from the incident”
b. The Faith life comes with trials – tribulation – hardships and they usually follow’s certain patterns.
i. 1 Kings 17: 17, the boy got sick and quit breathing and notice:
1. Faith and the UNEXPECTED – no one saw it coming not even the prophet Elijah – He did not predict it would happen.
a. God is doing a daily miracle for Elijah – the widow and her son by miraculously multiplying their flour and water – they experience a miracle everyday but then out of no-where her son gets sick and dies.
i. But God is doing miracles everyday – carrying for them why would he allow this to happen to a woman who gave everything to support the Prophet of God and God’s mission?
b. The truth is storms and testing’s come just as suddenly in the lives of God’s followers – it happens everywhere.
c. And yes at times they are SEVERE – loved ones die – sickness hits – crisis happens.
d. Have empathy for this widow – her child not only became ill, but he died, and all this happened to a woman already bereaved in grief over the death of her husband.
e. God’s ways are at times severe and unexpected but He is still with us.
2. All trials and hardships have a Purpose.
a. Word of life states it this way: “That is, it did not just happen by chance. Fate was not in operation here! The Lord allowed this to happen. Notice the words in verse 17 – “Some time later…” In other words, God was in it all. This thing was from Him- 1 Kings 12:24.
b. He was putting Romans 8:28-31: 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? “
i. All that happened was with God’s loving permission and in order to fulfil His purpose. It is just the same in our lives.
ii. Sometimes the trial is so severe it causes a COLLAPSE OF FAITH in people.
1. Video Illustration: Collateral Beauty trailer (PLAY)
a. Story of a man (played by Will Smith) who loses a daughter to cancer and has a total collapse of faith and the will to live. He writes a letter to time, love and death rebuking them for who they are and for the lies they spin and the grief they bear.
2. What happens when faith is tested?
a. Our widow in verse 18 has a momentary collapse of faith - When her child died the widow turned on Elijah and blamed him for her son’s death.
b. The truth is her faith temporarily collapsed with God, and for a short while she felt attacked by God – unfairly judged for past sins.
c. Word of Life states, “The sad truth is God’s people often react like this in times of severe trial and testing, and they ask, ”Does God care? What have I done to deserve this? Why has it happened to me?” But notice another thing: when her faith was tested she remembered her sin. It is a good thing when God’s trials cause us to search our hearts and cleanse our ways (Psalm 139:23-24; Lamentations 3:40).
3. Elijah’s response to the death of the child is not a collapse of his faith but a rising up of faith to believe that God could raise him from the dead.
a. I Kings 17:17-24: 17After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” 19And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” 21Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” 22And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
i. Elijah calls to God and God heals her son – and God brings him back to life!
ii. She acknowledges that he is a prophet of truth not a person filled with lies – why because her son’s life is given back to her.
iii. She acknowledges that His God is the real deal – He is a prophet of truth.
1. “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.”
b. How different was Elijah’s faith reaction!
i. See Psalm 119:75-77: 75I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 76May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. 77Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
c. Note: Elijah could not understand the reason for this sudden tragedy any more than the woman could; but notice how his faith came into operation in this time of testing – he put his faith in action:
iii. Trials – tragedy in life are opportunities to allow our FAITH to go into operation and action:
1. Whereas the woman’s faith collapsed!
a. As many of ours would have struggled too!
b. I have counseled many people who become mad at God and the world for their loss or for their tragic loss of life of a loved one.
2. Elijah’s faith went into action!
a. It began to go to work!
i. See James 2:17-20: 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
b. Word of Life states the following about the application of this scenario – following points gleamed and taken from their article sited above:
i. “How did it work? How does faith operate in a time of crisis?
1. Faith keeps us calm!
a. It keeps calm when the blow falls. Look at Elijah: although he is deeply moved because of what has happened he is trusting God in spite of it. See how gentle and calm he was under provocation - look up 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. He did not reproach God; he was calm when the test came.
2. Our faith still trusts God!
a. Even when God’s plan or purpose cannot be traced or understood.
b. Elijah the prophet could not see what God was doing, but he knew it was for some wise and loving purpose, so he was willing to trust Him until God revealed it.
3. Our faith tells us God is still in control!
a. So we relate the trial to the truth of God’s Word – in times like this we go to His throne because we now He is here with us.
b. Elijah took the child, went to his room, got down before the Lord and related the whole situation to Him - verses 19 and 20. What a great act of faith that was! Elijah’s faith led him to the throne of grace and to the God of grace.
4. Faith always looks to God to do the humanly impossible.
a. See verse 21!
i. See James 5:13-15: 13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
b. Elijah knew the mind of the Lord when he prayed seeking his direction and will.
i. By the way God does not always lead us to pray for resurrection. When our loved one is seriously ill it may be easier to pray for healing than to trust God for bereavement through the grief.
ii. Faith in action is always honored by God:
1. See verses 22-23!
a. See Matthew 9:29. Faith (not presumption) will never be disappointed. If the Lord leads you to trust Him along a certain line or about a certain matter you will never be disappointed even if you have to experience the loos of a loved one!
iv. THE FRUIT OF FAITH:
1. Word of Life states, “Verse 23 tells us that Elijah gave the resurrected child back to his mother, as if to say, ”See what God has done!” Now read verse 24. When she saw what God had done through the channel of Elijah’s faith, her own faith was revived and restored. This is the fruit of faith.”
2. When faith wins out over fear – In other words – “When we trust God, many things happen! He is glorified, our own faith is strengthened, our character is purified and the genuineness of our faith is proved. Best of all, others are helped and strengthened through our trusting God in a time of crisis. As other people look at us in times of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, profit and loss, and especially in times of fierce trial, of bereavement, accident or illness, can they say verse 24 of us?”
a. “24Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.”
IV. Elijah’s second encounter with Ahab and Jezebel turns more dangerous and more dramatic:
a. 1 Kings 18:1-32:
i. Elijah’s faith - courage and showdown with the false prophets at high noon.
ii. He listened to God to go and confronted the King again about the nation’s sins.
iii. It is obvious through Obadiah’s response that King Ahab wants Elijah’s head.
iv. Obadiah is in fear and trembling.
v. The King blames Elijah for the drought but does not take responsibility for his sin which is what is responsible for the drought.
b. He blames the messenger of God for God’s judgment of sin.
i. I hear many doing this today in our time!
ii. Elijah tells wicked Ahab the drought is not his fault but because of his wickedness and sin! He is to blame for the woes of Israel!
iii. Elijah led by the Lord gets his showdown with the false prophets of Baal and Asherah!
c. They meet on Mt. Carmel for the showdown – Sounds crazy!
i. Elijah led by the Lord wants a showdown with the false prophets of Baal!
ii. They meet at hign noon at Mt. Carmel for the showdown and shoot out – Sounds crazy!
iii. The Baal prophets and priests cut themselves and do their rituals but no fire – no appearance of Baal.
1. They do the cutting of their bodies to get their gods attention.
2. But they are ignored.
iv. Elijah mocks them to show how foolish they are.
1. Where is your so-called God?
2. Maybe he is in the bathroom?
v. Elijah puts water on his sacrifice to make the thing more pronounced and to reveal to the people who the true God is.
1. His fire would not be hindered by water!
vi. Elijah prays to God – He knows God can do this!
1. Remember the people of Israel are watching to see who is worshipping the real God.
2. God is not afraid to reveal who He is to others!
a. I just think the church is afraid to put their necks on the line and step out in faith today and this is why many don’t believe.
b. My café failure with the waitress!
d. 1 Kings 18: 36At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O LORD, 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 command. 37Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38Then 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.
e. What a sight this would have been!
i. Would this have got your attention?
ii. Fire comes down and consumes the sacrifice!
iii. Whosh!
f. The people are called on to destroy the false prophets and to return to God!
g. They do – revival comes to the nation!
h. Elijah becomes the victor – Israel’s eyes are opened!
i. BUT --- Jezebel is mad as a hornet! She is out for blood and Elijah is the target!
j. She promises to kill Elijah!
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: As we walk by faith and trust God we need to be aware that the unexpected will come – storms will blow in and out of our lives. Tragedy can strike at anytime as well as firestorms can sweep through our lives in the drop of a hat. But even in test we need to be committed to pass the test and trust God. We need to allow our faith to grow and be stretched in the winds of the storm. I also need ask what do I need to learn through this time of testing and then what do I need to change or do?
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: When we understand that tests are part of the spiritual growth process of everyone – we soon realize God is not just picking on me – he allows this to happen to everyone to grow their faith and enable them to overcome their fears. He wants to mature our faith so we make a difference for the Kingdom of Heaven.
What do we need to do?
Answer: We need to respond to trials and tests with faith and know God is with us through the storm – he is right beside us helping us and strengthening us! So we need to align with God in the tragedy not alienate ourselves from him.
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: When we do this we will grow spiritually and our faith will mature – even to the point of believing God for miracles.
How to help them remember? Martin Luther King Speech and movie Collateral Beauty!
