Sunday, May 9, 2021

Out of the Cave


 1 Kings 19:5-8

New International Version

Then he(Elijah) lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 

He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 

So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

 

We need to step into...

1. a needed recovery.


If we don't prioritize our lives, someone else will. 


Psalm 90:12

Living Bible

Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.

 

1 Kings 19:9-12

New International Version

There he (Elijah) went into a cave and spent the night.

 

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.


2. a God encounter.  

We look for the dynamic, but God is in the intimate. 

 

Psalm 46:10

New International Version

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.”

 

If you can't find God, He'll find you if you'll just worship Him. 

 

John 4:23

New International Version

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

 

Psalm 73:16-17

New International Version

16 When I tried to understand all this,
    it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.

 

1 Kings 19:13-14

New International Version

13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

 

3. a true identity.  

You face identifies who you are.  

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. (Eleanor Roosevelt). 

 

4.  a new assignment. 

1 Kings 19:15-18

New International Version

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 

16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 

17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 

18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” 

 

Proverbs 29:18

New International Version

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;

    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

 

5.  a relational strength.

 

1 Kings 19:19

New International Version

 

19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 


Look carefully at your closest associations in your life for that is where you are headed. 

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