Sermon in Outlook 16.10.2005

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Let us quieten and begin our morning service in opening prayer and thanksgiving.

Come, Savior dear, with us abide. We need thy kind compassion. Thy flock to living waters guide, which are thy wounds and passions. And lead us into pastures green, where faithful souls are ever seen, in peace and blissful union.

O sea of love, pour out thy flood, of all in blessed showers. The fiery darts quench with thy blood, and crush hell's evil powers. Thou of the world, the mercy seat. Let up thy love, the gentle heat, that all our hearts are glowing.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

For our study, I will read from the 19th chapter of the book of 1 Kings, the first 15 verses. And we read these words with that prayer that God will open his word as he sees fit for us who are gathered here this morning. And the words are in Jesus' name.

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to 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 tomorrow about this time.

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. 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 father's. And he lay and slept under a juniper tree.

Behold, then an angel touched him and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and behold, there was a cake baking on the coals, and a cruise of water at his hand. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

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. 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.

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?

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.

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 mountain, and broke 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. And after the earthquake, a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, a still, small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

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.

And the Lord said unto him, Go return on the way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. Amen.

This portion that we read speaks of a time in the life of the prophet Elijah. Elijah lived in a time when there was much wickedness in Israel. The children of Israel and the king himself had lived in much evilness, and worshipped Baal's prophet. The most common or famous was Baal.

And it says of this king, King Ahab, whose wife was Jezebel, he did more evil before the Lord than all the kings before him. And so it was in this time that Elijah lived, and Elijah served God's kingdom as a prophet during that time.

And in the beginning of our text, it says that when Jezebel heard what Elijah had done, that she said that she will kill him. What had happened just before this is very familiar to all of us. Even the Sunday school children have studied this, and I'm sure remember from their golden book of garden stories how Elijah had challenged the prophets of Baal to meet on Mount Carmel and offer a sacrifice to their gods.

But the interesting thing in this case was that the fire would need to be provided by the god. And he was testing Baal's prophets to see if their god, Baal, could provide fire. And in this way, as we remember, it became very obvious to those who were watching, because all the children of Israel were gathered to this mount, that Baal was unable to provide fire for the sacrifice, whereas God was able to.

And Elijah's sacrifice received fire immediately from heaven. And after this, the people recognized that the Lord was God. And following this, they slew the prophets of Baal. And because of this, Jezebel was very angry towards Elijah.

And she said, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.

So we see that this time that Elijah lived was maybe a time where Elijah could become tired in his place of watching. In some ways, he felt to be alone, as we read in this text. And as we read, we could read in the previous text, in the previous chapter, where he says that I am alone, that there were 450 prophets of Baal. But he said, I, even I, only remain a prophet of the Lord. But Baal's prophets are 450 men.

And so this background leads us into our text, and maybe gives us a little bit of appreciation for how Elijah felt, how he was running for his life, and maybe felt some tiredness in his work.

And so he went, and he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belonged to Judah. And he left his servant there. 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 father's.

So in this moment of fear, he fled, of course, to save his life. But as he fled, he became tired, and he went and sat under a juniper tree. And at this time, he felt that he had no more purpose in this life, that he was tired, I suppose, to the point of death. And he asked for himself, that he might die.

And as he was laying there under the juniper tree, he slept. And it is very touching to see how, as he slept, he was there alone under the tree, under his trials, under his doubts. I suppose his doubts of serving in God's kingdom. I suppose his weakness of just being tired, amidst the world that was around him. And he was there alone.

But it is so touching how, behold, then an angel came, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. An angel came, and ministers to him.

And when he wakes up, and he opens his eyes, he looks, and behold, there was a cake, baking on the coals, and a cruise of water at his head. And he did eat and drink.

How many times have we felt the same way in our life of faith? We have felt tiredness on the journey. And an angel, a dear brother or sister in faith, has come to us. And they have not come to just sit and look at us and say, why are you so tired? Why are you so slow on the journey?

But they have come, as this angel came, and awoke him, and encouraged him to arise, to look up, and behold, the author and finisher of your faith. Do not look at your own portion, but look up and eat.

And there was cake to eat, and there was a cruise of water. And this water, we can think of as the blood of Christ. It is there, it is offered, to one who is lowly. To one who is weak in themselves. One who may be tired on this journey. This blood is offered. And it gives strength and nourishment on the journey.

I have come before you today feeling very tired to serve in God's kingdom. Very tired and weighed down in the work that is before us. And I need your prayers, I need your support. As all these speakers who come before you in God's kingdom, we need your prayers, we need your love, and we need your care.

And this care, I want to own, if you dear brothers and sisters can still give it to me. Can I still believe all my sins are forgiven.

When we feel tired, when we feel stressed, whether it's because of work here in this time, or whether it's because of work in God's kingdom, it is precious that we can gather together and meet and eat this cake and spread this water from one to another.

Because when we are alone, we will fall. And we will remain alone. And when we see someone tired on the way, let us be emboldened to go and speak. Let us be emboldened to approach that one dear brother, dear sister. Have you become tired on the way? Do you want to discuss the way and the journey? And be ready to preach the gospel. Be ready to feed and to nourish that one.

And we know who is the one that can feed us and nourish us the best. As the songwriter writes, you are my savior, Jesus Christ, my only trust, my life, and light. Sojourning here, by sin oppressed, on earth, a momentary guest.

Reminding us that here in this time we will often feel oppression from sin. And this oppression comes because this time here on earth is temporal. It is not an eternal dwelling place.

As the Old Testament, as the writer to Hebrews writes of the Old Testament saints, how they searched for a land. They searched for a land that was not a temporal place but a city, in fact, whose builder and maker was God.

And that's for us here too. We are here only for a moment. And even though it's a momentary travel which leads to paradise, it is often one filled with sin and oppression.

The songwriter continues, so off the way to paradise seems but a thoroughfare of sighs. But when you come to comfort me, then for a moment troubles flee.

And when those troubles flee, when Christ comes, when Christ comes in the form of a fellow believer here in this time, when he comes to comfort us, then troubles flee. And we can again be uplifted on the journey. We can again be encouraged to continue.

Dear brother, sister, uplift your hearts even at this moment. Believe all sins forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood. You are not alone in your feeling of poorness. You are not alone in your feeling of tiredness. Many have felt this before.

As Elijah, such a great prophet in his time. One who was even taken to heaven directly in a chariot of fire. Yet, in his time, felt tiredness just as we do today.

And the songwriter then continues with such a nice prayer. When I grow faint along the way. And it's not a question of if I grow faint. But we know there are times when we will grow faint. We will grow tired.

When I grow faint along the way, come early, lift me up, I pray. Come and lift me up. Take care of me. Deliver me. Come early, and come often.

Do not wait until I have become so tired that I no longer have the desire to believe. I no longer have the strength to continue. But come early, and lift me up. And I pray for this.

We pray for this from the very youngest to the middle age. Sometimes the middle age are struggling. They have a family to raise. They have family to feed. And then the work in God's kingdom is precious. But it can be tiring.

And when we begin to tire, we pray that God would come and he would lift us up. And that a brother or sister would be with us. As Elijah found, an angel came and fed him.

And he says, come early, lift me up, I pray. With anthems of deliverance, surround me, gracious providence. Do not leave me alone but surround me with escorts here in this time.

These anthems of the pilgrim song repeat my longing prayer in song. Walk with me, Lord, my strength renew, and help me be content in you.

So despite our trials, despite our temptations, despite our sinfulness, let us walk with the Lord, and let us be content in his mercy.

And what do we want to be content with? The next verse explains, your cross be air, my travel staff. The blood you shed on my behalf is power that can cleanse my soul, increasing faith and making whole.

This lowly gospel, this cross as our staff, let us cling and let us hobble, as we might, on a staff. And let us not be ashamed to walk slowly and maybe it's with halting footsteps but nevertheless holding to that staff, that staff of faith, which is the blood of Christ.

This staff is our support. This staff is our life. And though it may be one that is not respected by the world, it is that chief cornerstone that Peter writes, that it has a stone, it is a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense for those who do not believe.

But it is so precious for us who believe. And this staff and this blood that allow them to be our staff. Allow them to carry us. We can lean even more when we are tired. We should lean even more then on that staff.

May your deep wounds forever be a peaceful resting place for me. Whereas, as a dove, my soul can hide and safe from danger there abide.

And let your death still be my power, your cross the strength of my last hour. This cross the staff whereon I lean, I'll then lay down in pastures green.

And as Elijah may have felt here in this time, he may have felt that it was his last hour. We never know when our last hour will be. But nevertheless, let his death, let the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his death and his suffering, the shedding of his blood, be the strength in our last hour.

Let us not seek for some other strength that the world seeks for, whether it is knowledge, whether it is importance, whether it is lots of money, those at that last hour will mean nothing.

But if we can cling to the cross, cling to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his work, then we can be secure even in the very last hour of our life.

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.

Elijah, as we said, was a man of God, a man who even prayed that it rained not for three years, and it did not rain for three years in the land of Israel.

Yet, we see how when the angel came and he arose and he ate and he drank, he was yet tired. The angel of the Lord needed to come yet a second time.

And I think it's comforting for us that when we feel tired, we don't need to dwell on that tiredness. But we can be encouraged that as many times as we feel tired, we can once again be encouraged and uplifted to believe our sins forgiven, to be nourished and comforted by our brothers and sisters in faith.

And as angels, we do not say, I was visiting with you yesterday, is that not enough? But no, we as many times as needed be there to serve our brothers and sisters in faith.

And it's very precious. Elijah set an example when the angel came and encouraged him to arise and eat. It says, and he arose and did eat and drink.

When someone comes to visit us, we have a choice to either accept to be encouraged by that message and to take part in the eating and drinking as Elijah did.

He was an example for us despite his tiredness. He had already slept once, and he had eaten and drunk. And the angel came again, but he rose, and he wanted to partake again. He wanted to eat and drink again.

And if we are such that we do not want to partake of this lowly gospel, this gospel message, which says that you have nothing to offer, that you are completely helpless on your own.

If this message is too simple for us, if it is such that it does not allow us to have anything from ourselves, and this message does not resound with us, then we do not want to partake of it.

And then, as we sadly have seen, at times, where someone in their own choice decides not to partake of such strength, such food, and such drink that is offered in God's kingdom.

And this food and this strength, the gospel of the forgiveness of sins, is offered to all man. You who find yourself that yes, I would like to be partaker of that.

Maybe you find that yes, I am tired here in this life. The world is around me and is raging. And yet, I find no peace. We know where peace is found.

These scriptures explain many places that the peace is found in God's kingdom. There, where Christ is walking in his spirit with his own.

Come, eat, buy, without money, and without price. Come and own for yourself God's kingdom. There is peace, there is hope. There is the hope of everlasting life.

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. And he came thither unto a cave and lodged there.

And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

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.

So here we see, as we've discussed, Elijah had felt his tiredness. He had felt that why, I, why am I the only one here who is serving in God's kingdom? Why am I the one that has to do it all?

But God did not want to leave him in that state. And he said, go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord.

God instructed him to go and stand before the mount. And it says, and behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind.

So as Elijah stood on the mountain, a great wind came. And this wind was such a wind, I'm sure that none of us have ever experienced. This wind was so strong that it broke rocks.

Yesterday was a windy day here on the prairie. But it did not break rocks. It tired us who were working out in it. But it was not such a strong wind.

This wind that Elijah experienced was so strong that it broke in pieces the rocks. So we can imagine how strong that wind was. It took rocks and it broke them.

But yet, God, we know God, is all powerful and almighty. He creates nature. He has created heaven and earth. And this wind as well.

But it says that the Lord was not in the wind. So even though this wind was so strong and set out such a mighty act of nature, it says the Lord was not in the wind.

And after the wind, an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire.

So these many strengths, these many forms that we as humans would think of as strength, that surely Elijah would get strength from these.

But then, the last thing, it says, and after the fire, a still, small voice.

And it's this still, small voice where the true power of God is showing. This still, small voice. The voice, the calling blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That come unto me, all ye that are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Put your burdens on me, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

This still, small voice still echoes from God's kingdom today. It echoes to the outside that come, partake.

The Lord was not in the strong wind. The Lord was not in this great earthquake. But that still, small voice, and that still, small voice so preciously sounds within God's kingdom.

To you, my brother and sister, who may feel tired, weary on the way, uplift your hearts. Believe all sins forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood.

Believe all sins forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood. Be of good comfort. Be of good cheer. Believe all sins forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood.

This gospel is still. It is a small voice, but this small voice has such power that it takes a sinner from this time and transforms them to one that can accept God can be in eternity with him in heaven.

So be encouraged, dear brother and sister, from your own place there sitting in the pew, from you who are listening on the internet, believe at this moment all sins forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood.

This voice of the blood of Jesus sounds forth from God's kingdom, and it is precious, and it is comforting. And may it be our travel staff here as we journey.

And it was so when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in the mantle and went out and stood in the entering of the cave.

Elijah knew this still, small voice. He recognized it, he knew it was speaking to him. And therefore, he came out, and he wrapped his face in the mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering of the cave.

And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

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.

It is important for us to care for the work in God's kingdom. It is important for us to worry and pray for the souls of others. But not to the point where we feel we are the only ones.

When we begin to feel that we are the only ones, then we are alone. We are ready for the devil to come in.

And when we feel alone, when we feel we are the only one, whether it is because of our sin, whether we feel alone, I am the only one who has ever committed this sin. I am the only one who has ever had these doubts.

I had that very experience this morning when I had doubts. And I called the dear brother to discuss, and he said, yes, I have had those same doubts myself.

Be encouraged, be emboldened to yet go ahead and speak. How many times have we felt that we feel alone, I am the only one.

But if we open our hearts to another brother or sister, then they can comfort us, and they encourage us that no, you are not alone. There is a great multitude around you, and many have felt those same tirednesses.

They have felt those same pulls of the world. Whatever the sin may be, many have felt and many have experienced, and those who have experienced can surely comfort and assist us.

And the Lord said unto him, go, return on the way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

This last verse is a reminder for us. Elijah was tired in his work in God's kingdom. But God did not instruct him to take some time off.

I mean, we know that God called him to Mount Carmel. And there he encouraged him with this still, small voice. But nevertheless, the work goes on.

We know there is much work in God's kingdom. There are precious young who need to be instructed and rooted in faith.

And this work begins in the home, where mother and father teach and instruct. And there, at day circle, at Sunday school, there is much work in Bible class and in the service of speaking before the congregation.

And despite our many times tiredness and weakness, as Elijah the great prophet felt here, the Lord instructed him to go and to continue in that work.

He did not say give up. Do not go ahead. But he said go to Damascus and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

And this instruction also applies to us today. There are times when we are tired. We know. But yet, we want to remember what is so precious and so important.

We have been called to dwell in God's kingdom. And with this precious gift becomes a responsibility to also serve here in God's kingdom.

And if the service is too great, of course, we need to ask and set limits. We can't do everything, we know.

But it is important to keep in mind, as Elijah was reminded here, but yet the work continues. And it is precious work.

And when we have been able to see and to be encouraged in faith and to believe how our own sins forgiven, it is so much easier to then do that work.

To go ahead and do, to teach day circle. To teach Sunday school. To teach Bible class. To serve at camps. And to speak before his congregation. To serve in the kitchen. To do all the work that is needed in God's kingdom.

And maybe at some times we have to pause and reflect on that. Maybe sometimes we have to think, is my life too busy to give time to God's kingdom?

Because we know that God has saved us also to serve in his kingdom. He has called you personally to do the work in his kingdom.

The most precious of which is to preach the gospel. One to another, to preach sins forgiven in Jesus name and blood. To offer this to all who want to believe.

But it is also important that the work goes on. And there were times when we will feel tired.

But as the songwriter says, when I grow faint along the way, come early, lift me up, I pray.

And when we are lifted up, when we can again receive nourishment, then we have strength to continue here in time, journeying towards that destination of heaven.

And also to serve as God calls us here in his kingdom. Let us remain holding fast to that travel staff, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and endeavoring here in this precious kingdom.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have come to be with us this morning hour. That through your spirit you have guided and led us.

That you have called us to come to be partakers of your kingdom. Call those yet on the outside of your kingdom. That they may with us partake of this precious voice, the good voice of the good shepherd, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

That they too may own here in time the preciousness of your kingdom by believing sins forgiven in Jesus name and his precious blood.

The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. Amen.