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Introduction:. 1 Kings 18 – Defeat of Baal on Mount Carmel Elijah experiencing a spiritual “high” Expected national revival Rain – End of Drought and Famine 1 Kings 19 – Jezebel Pursues Elijah ( vs 1-3 ) Israel still in danger – No great revival
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Introduction: • 1 Kings 18 – Defeat of Baal on Mount Carmel • Elijah experiencing a spiritual “high” • Expected national revival • Rain – End of Drought and Famine • 1 Kings 19 – Jezebel Pursues Elijah (vs 1-3) • Israel still in danger – No great revival • Flees for the wilderness – prays to die (vs 4-8) • Lonely (vs 10) • Elijah is about to learn a lesson about how God works, and how he wants us to work (vs 9-18)
What is the Lesson? • God is greatly revealed and glorified in seemingly insignificant works • Three things that we can learn from this: • God's people do great work with a whisper • God displays great power with a whisper • Must not become discouraged when our work does not meet our expectations
God's People Do GreatWork with a Whisper • Example of what Elijah was to do: • Anoint Hazael king of Syria • Sword of War • Anoint Jehu king of Israel • Sword of Justice • Anoint Elisha to be prophet in place of Elijah • Sword of the Spirit • With these three, evil will overtake Israel
God's People Do GreatWork with a Whisper • Whispers make up the majority of our work: • (Matt 25:34-40) – Simple acts of kindness • (Matt 28:19-20) – Simple acts of teaching • (2 Tim 2:1, 2) – Simple acts of spreading the gospel all over the world • Whispers, however, conflict with zeal: • Christians are to have zeal (Titus 2:14) • Zeal needs to perform whispers
God's People Do GreatWork with a Whisper • Looking to always perform the “Big” works can indicate a problem with pride in our lives! • Why do we want to perform the Earthquakes and Whirlwinds? • Many love to do the big works: • Example of Naaman (2 Kings 5:13) • Our work is simple and humble – Whispers in this hectic and noisy world • (Matt 10:42)
God Displays Great Power with a Whisper • Best Example is found in God's plan of salvation: • How did God save the world? • Did He scare people into submission? • Did He give salvation by brute force and might? • Did He just destroy all wicked people? • God saved the world by providing His own sacrifice (John 3:16, 17) – Act of Love
God Displays Great Power with a Whisper • Jesus Christ – A Whisper! • Lamb of God (Isaiah 53) • Born with humble beginnings • Born of a virgin – laid in a manger • Son of a Carpenter – From Nazareth • Not the Messiah that the Jews wanted! • Put to death by an occupying country
Must Not BecomeDiscouraged with our Work • Can't fulfill our expectations we, like Elijah, become discouraged: • He left Israel • God asked why he left – Elijah replies • God shows this wonder truth • God gave him instructions • God gave him encouragement • Discouragement because of our expectations does not advance the work of God!
Must Not BecomeDiscouraged with our Work • Apply this principle to our lives: • If our expectations are not met, we may become discouraged: • We'll give up! – Go and hide from the public – fail to do the work of God • We must realize that God is in the whisper! • Keep working • Know that God word never comes back empty (Isaiah 55:10-11) • Remember the exhortations of God to Elijah!