August 23 2015 Renewing Our Passion For God And His Church

RENEWING OUR PASSION FOR GOD AND HIS CHURCH

THE PLACE OF OBEDIENCE IN RENEWAL
I Kings 18

Introduction: Choice, not chance, determines our destiny.

Life’s Living Options:

1. Every person has a choice to make.

2. Every person has the ability to make these choices.

3. The choice we make always has consequences.

4. While we’re choosing we live in one of the choices.

Sermon goals help us to choose to live a life of continued obedience to God.

Observations About Obedience:

1. We need to be sensitive to the voice of God.
Vs. 1 – After a long time, in the third year, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah.

How to be Sensitive to the Voice of God:

1. We must be serving.
2. We have to be in the right place.
3. Samuel listened to a mature Christian.

2. Obey God even when the path is difficult.
Vs. 1-19 

3. Obedience is difficult if we haven’s seen God move in the lives of people.
Vs. 20-29
Vs. 21 – Elijah said, if the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal is God follow Him.

Three Classes of People at Mt. Carmel:

1. A group that was devoted to God.
2. A group devoted to a false god.
3. A group that was undecided.

4. God honors an obedient heart.
Vs 30-38

The preparation of an obedient heart.
Vs. 30 – He repaired the altar of the Lord which was in Ruins.

The predicament of an obedient heart.
Vs. 32-35

The prayer of an obedient heart.
Vs. 36-38

5. Obedience is easy when we see God move.
Vs. 39 – When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, the Lord He is God!  The Lord He is God!

July 28 2013 Trusting God When You Feel Alone

TRUSTING GOD WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE

Thoughts on Discouragement

1. Elijah was totally exhausted.
I Kings 18 - Meanwhile the sky grew black with clouds and the winds rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.  The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

2. Elijah was naïve.
I Kings 19:1-3 - Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.  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 one of them.

3.  It can lead to isolation.
I Kings 19:4 - Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert.  He came to a broom tree, sat down under it, and prayed that he might die.

Loneliness = inner emptiness.
A preoccupation with poor me.
Aloneness = is inner fulfillment.
Now that I’m alone with Jesus, I can recover, repair and regroup.

4. It hurts our self image.
Verse 4 - I have had enough, Lord, he said, take my life.  I am no better than my ancestors.

We cannot consistently live in a manner that is inconsistent with the way we see ourselves.

5.  Causes us to run from responsibility.
Verse 9 - There he went into a cave and spent the night and the Word of the Lord came to him.  “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

6. Causes us to blame others for our circumstances.
Verse 10 - I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty, but now the Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.  I am the only one left.

7.  Makes our future look hopeless.

How did God deal with Elijah’s discouragement?

1.  Gave him rest and food.
Verses 5-8

2.  Encouraged him.
Verses 9-10

Areas I can Change:

Areas I can get changed:

Areas that are not going to be changed:

3.  Renewed relationship with God.
Verses 11-13

4.  Told him to get back to work.
Verse 15 - Go back the way you came.  Anoint the King and Elisha as the prophet to come after you.

5.  Gave him someone to minister to him.
Verse 21 - Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

May 27 2012 How To Pray For Your Family

How To Pray For Your Family

Children may go beyond our reach, but never beyond the reach of God.

I. Three things that make up a parent of prayer:

1. They understand the power of prayer.
James 5:17 - Elijah was a man just like us.

2. They provide an atmosphere that backs up what they pray for.

3. They pray continually.
Colossians 1:9 - Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.

II. Seven things we should pray for:

1. That they know God’s Will.

Colossians 1:9 - We are asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will.
II Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
I Timothy 3:15 - Paul said, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
Romans 12:1-2

2. Their life style.
Colossians 1:10 - We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord.
Proverbs 1:10 - My Son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

3. The productivity of our children.
Colossians 1:10 - Bearing fruit in every good work.

4. Grow in their walk with God.
Colossians 1:10 - Growing in the knowledge of God.

5. Power to overcome difficult situations.
Colossians 1:11 - Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.

6. They would have a right attitude.
Colossians 1:11-12 - Joyfully, giving thanks to the Father.


7. A good self image.
Colossians 1:12 - Who qualified you to share in the inheritance of the Saints.

May 1 2011 When You're Running Out Of Everything

WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF EVERYTHING

(I Kings 17:1-16)
(I Kings 17:1 – Now Elijah confronted King Ahab, as surelyas God lives, the God of Israel whom I worship and serve, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I give the word!)

KERITH: THE RAVINE OF OBSCURITY
(I Kings 17:2-7 Then the Lord said to Elijah, Go east and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. The Kerith brook will give you fresh water to drink and I’ve commanded ravens to bring you food there every day. SoElijah obeyed what the Lord said to do. He moved to the Kerith Ravine and lived there. The birds brought him food each morning and evening and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain.)

3 REASONS GOD ALLOWS BROOKS TO DRY UP

1. To keep from depending on the brook
2. To move me to a better place.
3. To prove He hasn’t forgotten me.

JOURNEY NORTH: THE ROAD OF INSECURITY
(I Kings 17:8-9a – Then the Lord said, now get up and go to Zarephath and live there. I’ve prepared a widow there to take care of you. So Elijah went to Zarephath.)

WHAT TO REMEMBER

1. The path to a miracle is always through discomfort.
2. The source of a miracle is always unexpected.
3. The pattern for a miracle is C.P.R.

ZAREPHATH: THE REFINERY OF SCARCITY
I Kings 17:9b-16 – When he reached the town gate, Elijah saw a widow gathering firewood. He asked her, Would you please bring me a drink of water? As she was going to get it, Elijah added, And please bring me a small piece of bread too. The woman answered, As surely as your God lives, I swear I have no bread. I only have a handful of flour left in a small jar and a little olive oil left in a jug. I came to gather some wood so I could go home and cook our last meal. My son and I will eat it and we’ll die of hunger. Don’t be afraid, Elijah said, Go home and first make a small loaf of bread from what you have, and bring it to me. Then cook something for yourself and your son. God says, I assure you that jar of flour will never be empty, and the jug of oil will never run out, until the day I send rain to the land. So the widow did what Elijah told her to do, and she and her son and Elijah had enoughfood every day. The jar of flour and the jug of oil never ran out, just as God had promised.)

WHAT TO REMEMBER

1. What I need more of, give what I have to God.
2. What I have the least of, give that to God.
3. I give to be a blessing.

LESSONS FOR TOUGH TIMES

1. God is all you need.
2. Where God guides, God provides.
3. Trust God one day at a time.
4. God’s promises hinge on my obedience.

August 15 2010 Managing Tough Times Under Pressure

Managing Tough Times Under Pressure

(1 Peter 1:10 - 12 - Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.)

There are tough times today
*Disbelief
*Disinterested
*Disdain
*Life Storms

(1 Timothy 1:18-19 - Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.)
(Proverbs 10:25 - When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.)

1. We must have a sacrificing spirit
(verse 11 - trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.)
(Revelation 13:8 - All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.)
(John 10:18 - "No one takes it from me, but I lay it d own of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.")
(2 Peter 1:4 - Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.)

2. Be willing to accept some denials in life
(Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.)
*Elijah
*3 Hebrew Children
*Noah
(Isaiah 40:31 - but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.)

3. We must maintain a willingness to serve
(verse 12 - It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.)
(Mark 9:35 - Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.")

4. We must open our lives to the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ
(Verse 10 - Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care)
(Romans 3:24 - and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.)
(Acts 15:8 - God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.)
(2 Timothy 2:1 - You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.)
(Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.)