Series: How Do I Get Out Of This Mess?
Fear, Doubt, and Your Own Worst Enemy
INTRO: Today, continuing with our series, I want to look at a mess that ended up in Elijah’s life. All because he became a bit of a scardy-cat. I am not being mean, not claiming to be able to be any better than he in the same situation, but just seeing how much of a mess he was in because of the fear and other things that crept into his life.
Elijah is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. He was plain, plain spoken, sincere, hard-nosed, a manly-man that was strong and still loved the Lord. Today we are going to talk about a time in Elijah’s life found in chapters 18 and 19 of 1 Kings. I am not going to read all of those two chapters, but want to spend some time talking about them.
I also want to look at six of what I I will call, “Let’s Face It Fact,” or LFIF,
First we find Elijah in chapter 18:18 where he is talking to Ahab the king of Israel.
(1 Kings 18:18) And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
Can you imagine telling your king, who has power of life and death in his hands that he is the reason for the three and one-half years of no rain?
Well this is what happened between Elijah and Ahab. What is it that is happening? Let me set the stage…
Elijah has just…
Forcefully condemned the perverseness of Ahab
He was a wicked man.
He did evil above all the other kings that were before him
Just like his dad who had that title before Ahab earned it (worse than those before)
Married to a wicked woman
Who was promoting his and her values onto their people
Began worshipping Baal (wife’s god), etc.
We read in verse 19 that he…
Fearlessly participated in a one-man false-prophet purging
Called for a proper choice – 18:19
Conducted a potential perilous challenge
All this…
Culminated in a praise-worthy claim (by the people) – 18:39
1 Kings 18:39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
And it brought a “permanent” condemnation (of false prophets) – 18:40
1 Kings 18:40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
Let’s read from 1 Kings 19:1-18
(1 Kings 19:1-18) And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. {2} Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. {3} And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. {4} But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. {5} And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. {6} And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. {7} And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. {8} And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. {9} And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? {10} And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. {11} And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: {12} And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. {13} And it was so, when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? {14} And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. {15} And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: {16} And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. {17} And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. {18} Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
It is from this we can see…
Let’s Face It Fact# 1
LFIF#1 – Doing right does not always bring praise & hallelujahs
Hopefully that is not our reason for doing right – to get praises
We can also see… Let’s Face It Fact #2
LFIF #2 – Even when we are “right” we can be affected by the evil of those around us – as was Elijah
Elijah
Feared her power
Acted in haste – 3a
Acted without God (always asking for trouble) – 3b
Acted as we would expect (i.e. fleeing to Canada or the Boonies) – 3c
Acted alone – 3e-4a
Beersheba was about 100 miles form Mt. Carmel
We can also see… Let’s Face It Fact #3
LFIF #3 – You can run, but you cannot hide!
Elijah…
Fled persecution
Removed himself from the battle
Relaxed the stigma against sin
Regretted his “right” stand when he “pouted” in Beersheba
Requested a quick & glorious, victorious exit
SIDE NOTE: God knew where Elijah was – 5
God knew how to help him in his fear, doubt, etc.
God knew that he needed to…
Be awakened spiritually
Be fed spiritually - 6
Be dependent upon God totally - 7
Be where God could reach him - 8
How reachable are you today?
We also have heard … Let’s Face It Fact #4
LFIF #4 – The only thing to fear is fear itself
Elijah was…
Frustrated by her pronouncement – 2a-2c
Feared losing the battle
He felt alone – 10
He felt superior – 10
He felt threatened – 10
All these things can cause us to run to Beersheba”
SIDE NOTE: God is big enough to win the fight!
God’s angels were constantly giving the message of “Fear not!”
Jesus said, “Fear not!”
I have found another … Let’s Face It Fact #5
LFIF #5 – Understand, we might be able to hide, but we will not run (RIGHT – or in HIS race) So, You can hide, but you will not run!
Elijah…
Failed his potential – even though he had done many things - 14
What are you doing now?
I can almost imagine Elijah’s blog describing his great victories and his pure holiness in the sight of everyone. Maybe he was updating his Tweeter account as he paused in Beersheba. OR he was giving interviews to the local paper or Fox News?????
SIDE NOTE: God knows what He wants in your life – just be willing and available to do it!
God still wanted to use him – 15-17
Mt. Carmel to Damascus about 90 miles
Mt. Carmel to Damascus Elijah’s way about 500 miles
Mt. Carmel – Beersheba – Mt. Horeb – Damascus
Easiest? Had Elijah stayed where he was he could have had a greater victory!
We also have heard … Let’s Face It Fact #6
LFIF #6 – You are not meant to be alone
Find your Elisha in life
Do your job continually
Fear not
Flee not
Faint not
Flounder not
Flaunt not
Fail not
So the question is how do we get out of a mess like Elijah was in?
He was discouraged and fleeing God’s battles instead of looking towards God and fighting the battles.
Use cotton and blinders
Don’t listen to the critics
Keep your eyes fixed upon God
Don’t look back
Don’t look at others
Use God
Remember God –
His nature and character
Trust God
His strength and power
His knowledge and wisdom
Try God
His love and caring
Serve God
Daily
Gladly
Surely
Gary Marcum – News Beginnings Church – 053109am