| You’re not alone!! |
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| Written by David Charlton |
Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18We all go through times in our lives when everything seems to be falling apart. It’s as if the world is crumbling down around us. Everything could be going just fine and then, WHAM!, a loved one dies, we lose our job, our spouse leaves us or we’re diagnosed with a terminal illness. During these times it feels as if God is no where around. We begin to question God and start to lose hope. There is, however, good news!! During these times of trials, God is right there with us. God is not the type of general who stays safe in the rear. He goes up front into the trenches. Just look at Elijah. When he was fleeing for his life, God took care of him, comforted him and revealed His plan for him. God does the same thing for us. So, the next time you feel lonely, depressed, scared or anxious remember, God is standing in the trenches with you. SERMON OUTLINE SCRIPTURE 1 Kings 19:1-18 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs 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 broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers." 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you." 8 And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9 And there he came to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy 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 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; 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 when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy 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 to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; 16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And him who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
FOCUS and FUNCTION Focus: We all go through times in our lives when everything seems to be falling apart. It’s as if the world is crumbling down around us. Everything could be going just fine and then, WHAM!, a loved one dies, we lose our job, our spouse leaves us or we’re diagnosed with a terminal illness. During these times it feels as if God is no where around. We begin to question God and start to lose hope. There is, however, good news!! During these times of trials, God is right there with us. He takes care of us and has a plan to use us to fulfill His purposes. Function: To encourage the congregation to rely on God during times of lonliness, suffering and pain. The Sermon I. Introduction: We’ve all been there. We’ve all experienced times when our world seems to be crumbling down around us. Everything is going fine and then WHAM!... A. A loved one dies B. We lose our job C. The interest rate on our mortgage goes up and we lose our house D. Our spouse of 20 years files for divorce E. We’re diagnosed with a terminal illness II. This is why the movie “Places in the Heart” was successful. People could relate to it. A. Setting of movie: 1935 Waxahachie, Texas. B. At first, things going well for Edna Spalding. Her husband is Sheriff and making enough money to support her and their two sons. But then….WHAM!!! C. Edna’s husband is killed by a drunkard. Edna is left to take care of her two sons with no source of income….We can all sympathize with this. III. Similar thing happened to the Prophet Elijah. A. Elijah is riding high after experiencing a great victory over the prophets of the false god, Baal. But then…WHAM!!! B. The evil Queen Jezebel issues an order to have Elijah executed. Elijah is in fear for his life. Doesn’t know what to do, so he runs away, like a dog with its tail between its legs. IV. We all experience times when we want to run away A. We all want to say, ‘Beam me up Scotty!!’ B. Edna Spalding wanted to run away, but then she would have left two little boys to starve. C. Elijah ran away but he didn’t get to far before God started to help him V. When things get so bad that we want to run away, God has a knack for helping us in unexpected ways. A. Edna Spalding received help from a wandering black beggar named Moses. (Remember, this was rural Texas during the 1930s. A white woman receiving help from a black man was not common.) B. My story of God enabling me to mourn over the death of my daughter. C. Elijah received help from an angel in the middle of the desert - Elijah runs into the desert and gives his ‘woe is me prayer’ - Elijah had a ‘pity party’ and invited God to it. We can do the same thing. - In response to the ‘woe is me prayer’ God begins to help Elijah…Angel feeds Elijah and tells him to go to Mt. Horeb VI. During 0our time of despair, God often begins to reveal His plan for us. A. The wandering black man, Moses presented Edna with the idea of growing cotton on her 40 acres. After tremendous toil and pain, they finally sale the cotton and pay off the mortgage. Edna is then able to take care of her family. B. When Elijah went to Mt. Horeb and heard God’s ‘still small voice’ God revealed His plan for him. V. Conclusion A. From time to time we all experience a “Places in the Heart” story or an Elijah story. When we do experience these type of stories, let’s remember: 1. God sustain us 2. God has a plan for us B. All people experience suffering and hardship at some point in their lives. The question is: Do we experience it with God or without God? C. I prefer to experience pain and suffering with God and that begins with repentance and faith in Jesus.
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