Sermon Tone Analysis

The Distinctiveness of a Place

Called “There”

 

New Hope Baptist Church

August 3, 2008 9:30 a.m.

Text:  1 Kings 17:2-4

 

Introduction:

    Reflecting on this text and this topic, I was reminded of a movie from 2005 entitled:  “Are We There Yet”?

The movie starred Ice Cube and Nia Long.

He wanted to entice her and she was heavily involved with career.

Two things stood in his way, her two children.

As they traveled on a long road trip with Ice Cube to meet their mom, through one mishap after another; one set back and set up after another; the question is often raised, “Are We There Yet”?  Sometimes, in our destinations, in trials, mishaps and delays of life, we too find ourselves asking, “Are We There Yet”?

But my reference to that same question today is not to suggest just any place, but a *distinct* place, a place called “*THERE*”.

This familiar text offers several implications and examples of obedience and faith that we can all gleam from today.

In fact, it introduces a popular prophet we were taught about even as children, the prophet Elijah.

Let me just pause here a little while and reintroduce him to our mind sets this morning.

James, in his New Testament writings, has colored Elijah as a man of like passions as we are:  Elijah struggled in many of the same ways that we do; he dealt with sorrow; he dealt with despondency; he dealt with questions about circumstances in his life; but yet, if I may use that vernacular, he believed God and he was obedient to God.

    Elijah was unique in another way; he never saw death.

The Bible records that he left this old earth riding upon a fiery chariot, sent down by God.

God has some unique taxis and He can perform mind boggling acts, can’t He?  Elijah was a mighty prophet of God and he was used mightily by God:  he experienced the power of God upon Mt.

Carmel; he blessed a woman and her child at Zarapeth; he was seen by Peter and John with Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration; yet one of the most pivotal points and times in Elijah’s life and ministry came at a special place, a *distinctive place*; a place of deprivation and plenty; a place of confusion and concession; a place of disarray and agreement; a place called “*There*”.

The Bible states that Elijah, whose name means “the Lord is my God” had been commanded by God to prophesy to a King named Ahab.

Ya’ll do remember Ahab, the Arab?

Kings and priests in Israel were anointed to serve as official representatives of the Lord; and to lead Israel in the way of faithfulness *to* the Lord to channel His blessings and covenantal care to them.

Since the days of Jeroboam, the Northern Kingdom had not had such a priest, and its kings had all been unfaithful.

Now, Ahab had introduced Baal worship in the land, so the Lord sent Elijah to tell him that there would be no dew or rain upon the land until he said so.

This drought would serve two purposes: 1] as a divine judgment on a nation that had turned to idolatry, and 2] as a demonstration that even though Baal was considered the god of fertility and lord of the rain clouds, he was powerless to give rain.

By Elijah’s obedience to the Lord in making this prophesy to King Ahab, his own life became one of imminent danger.

Notice that even in the midst of danger, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah.

*It’s good to know *that no matter what situation you’re in, no matter what circumstances may befall you, in your obedience you can always rely on and depend on the Word of the Lord.

The Psalmist said, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I may not sin against You”.

I also like the way Paul put it:  “nothing and nobody can separate you from the love of God.”  Amen??

But I get ahead of myself.

After Elijah gave the prophesy to Ahab, the Lord gave him some very specific instructions, and it’s within those instructions that we find requirement we must meet when God is leading *us* to our place called “*There*”: those requirements call for some *separation (to leave or part from something)*; it requires travel *deviation (a different way taken in thought or action)*; after which we will experience *consummation (the perfect ending or completion of a deal)*, and it all depends on our obedience on our way to the place called “*There*”.

*Separation:*

*    *Elijah was instructed by God to separate from his familiar surroundings.*

*

The Word of the Lord came to Elijah and told him to ‘go away from here’.

He was told to leave the place that was home to him; to leave the place that had provided his needs and provided his shelter.

Leave and go to the brook Cherith.

Cherith means the cutting place; to cut away or cut off.

Sometimes God calls us to separate ourselves; to move from a place; to go to another place.

Sometimes it’s a physical place we must leave; sometimes it’s a mental, emotional or habitual place that we must *separate* from; and it is not always obvious what that other place will hold, but two things *must* work together; obedience and faith.

When God gives us a command, He expects obedience; He requires obedience; and He deserves obedience.

Sometimes, you have to leave some familiar things; things that wear on you like old clothes; you have to give up old friends and old loves; places that you have become too comfortable in; places that only serve to hide mundane living on one hand and unprocessed blessings on the other.

Yeah, sometimes you are not experiencing your blessings because you have not *separated*; you are not *where* God has called you to be.

You’re all up in *my* business instead of taking care of *your* business.

You’re trying to *run* some situation and God just wants you to be still, and know that *He* is God.

You need to *separate*.

It’s a funny thing but, when it’s time to separate, those old things and those old people will try and hold on.

They try and work your consciences and accuse you of abandonment and resignation; of giving up and giving in.

And we help too.

We rationalize reasons for holding on; we dismiss God’s leading as our own wisdom; because it’s not an easy thing to turn away from what has become familiar and comfortable and walk into an unsure path.

Sometimes we *know* that a place, or a relationship, or situation is *not* where we should be, but leaving is more difficult than staying.

But when God tells you to move, you don’t ask questions, just like Elijah, you just move.

Abraham didn’t know where God was sending him, but he *separated* from where he was.

We tell our children to obey us and that when we say to jump their only response should be to ask how high.

God doesn’t even want you asking how high; just start jumping.

God is looking for that kind of *abandoned* obedience to His Word today.

Not only obedience but faith that when you start jumping He has already worked out the logistics.

He knows how long to leave you in the air and he knows when and where to let you land.

Not only must you *separate* yourselves from some familiar things and places and people, but it’s often necessary to *deviate*, to turn; to shift; to change your course of travel.

*Deviation:** * V.

3

 

  Unless Elijah spent time at the brook, he would not have been ready for Mt.

Carmel.

God has prepared something for you “*There*”, but you have go down His path, following His directions; and that path often leads to the brook, Cherith, the cutting place.

It’s “*THERE*”, at the brook, that He will refine you and cut some things away from you; things that would hinder you in the work He has planned for you.

Elijah not only had to leave his home, but he was instructed to take a specific path.

He was told to go eastward to the brook Cherith.

When you think about it, it was a curious thing to send Elijah to a brook.

He had already declared a drought, right?

And a brook only flows and is only sustained by the rain.

No rain, and soon the brook would dry up.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Elijah moved *knowing* that his place at the brook would only be temporary; and *not knowing* how God would sustain him continually.

It’s not only important to leave when God says to leave, but you have to go exactly how and where God says to go.

If Elijah had gone West instead of Eastward, he would have run smack dab into Ahab and Jezebel.

If Elijah had not been exactly where God had ordained, he would have missed God’s blessings.

God always makes provisions for our needs in advance.

It’s us getting to the place, to the “*THERE*” where we are able to unite our needs with His provisions that is most often the problem.

But if we trust Him, if we are obedient to His leading, He will always lead us to where our needs will be met.

God won’t leave you hanging when you move in obedience to His Word for your life.

Sometimes, God will lead you, like Elijah, to a brook and the brook will dry up.

Suddenly, everything you have come to rely on or find security in will be gone!

The truth is nobody has all they need.

No one has in himself all the wisdom, all the ability, or all the means to meet the needs of life or even an hour of time.

You were not made to be totally and completely independent.

Whatever your Cherith has been or now is, whatever you find security in will one day dry up, because a brook is just a place of rest, and a place where God removes some imperfections.

It is not a permanent place.

Maybe it’s your home; your car; your education, your looks; your job; your circle of friends; whatever it is, it will dry up.

You need to know today that a brook cannot satisfy forever – how easy it could have been for Elijah to stay by the brook; even the ravens bringing dirty food from trash heaps was better than being exposed to Ahab and Jezebel.

Finding comfort at a brook can lead to pride – Elijah could have reasoned “this shows how special I am.

God has provided the brook and the ravens; what other prophet ever got this kind of treatment?”

A brook is for rest, not recluse – you can’t stay at the brook indefinitely because it will dry up.

A brook, by its very definition, cannot be permanent.

So, why does God move us and separate us from some things and send us to brooks that only dry up?

Sometimes, when God moves you from where you are and down a specific path, it’s to give you a little lesson to remind you of the One who really sustains you.

Last week, my grandson asked me if God had caused the earthquake.

I began trying to answer him from my theological mind; explaining that God was Sovereign and that He could *do* anything He chose to do and that he also *allows* some things to happen.

Just then, God spoke to my heart and I said to him, Scean, what happened during the earthquake.

He said, the house was shaking.

I said, what did you do.