Tiered of Transition
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· 2 viewsAfter all the work and change sometimes it will seem like nothing has changed, so we ask what was the point??? We need to be able to keep going even when nothing around us seems to change.
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KEY- One of the most frustrating things we will experience in life is when we work so hard but see no change.
We are about to pick up the story of Elijah in , right now Elijah is standing on Mt. Carmel experiencing victory… God has sent fire down from heaven showing off his glory, the prophets of Baal have been put to shame and killed, the people were just shouting the lord is God, God is sending rain it looks like all of Elijah’s work was bearing fruit…
Elijah’s time sacrificing at the brook, his time in Zeraphath, his action on Carmel, finally after years and years there is breakthrough…
KEY POINT- Elijah is experiencing this on Mt. Carmel. Carmel means, “place of harvest.” But he is only there for a moment.
ILLUSTRATION- Working on the back to school conference seeing the set come together.
ILLUSTRATION- Trainer saying one more one more one more and me thinking I’m not sure I could have done that last one if I knew there was another after it.
We are about to see Elijah in a whole new light, we are about to see him go from the strongest he has ever been to the weakest we have ever seen him… He thought he was done, but he was far from done.
(NLT) — 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
I want to talk to those sitting under their broom tree tonight… To those who have said I’ve had enough, it’s all I can take, I have nothing left to give…
MAIN POINT- JUST BECAUSE I’M TIERED DOESN’T MEAN I’M DONE!! God who calls me will strengthen me, and he will direct my steps.
In we see Elijah at his weakest point, but it’s at his weakest point that God moves him the most. We can see how and where God moves Elijah.
(NLT) — 45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. 46 Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel. 1 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
KEY- Jezebel’s continued rebellion was a HUGE deal to Elijah, you might think that it would have been easy for Elijah to think well after what God has just done for me I really don’t care about your threats, but that is not how he saw it. Elijah saw her rebellion and took it to mean that everything he had done and sacrificed to this point was for nothing.
God had called Elijah to show Israel that Baal was nothing more than an imitation a fraud and that the Lord God is the only true God, but it looked like he had failed.
KEY- We often look at our purpose in the context of success, results, but wonder if the reward for your obedience doesn’t look the way you wanted?
CHALLENGE- It’s one thing working hard knowing you will expereince a direct result. But wonder if God asks you to do something and YOU see no change, would you obey? Say he asks you to do something hard and YOU see no change, would you obey?
He says step away from what is popular so you can step into what has purpose - but you see no change in the hearts of your friends.
What if he says give up that activity so you can gain what I have for you - but you notice no difference.
Don’t pursue that relationship so that you can pursue my plan - but you feel no fulfilment.
What are you going to do???
MAIN POINT- I know some of you feel that there is no point in trying, some of you are done and you haven’t even started, but when you think you are done let God move you!
Obedience is better than success!
Purpose is better than prosperity!
If you allow God to move you he will…God moved Elijah to…
God moved Elijah to…
1. Jezreel (Where it looks like you failed)
1. Jezreel (Where it looks like you failed)
(NLT) — 1 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
The enemy loves to intimidate in Jezreel!!…
This is where Elijah is faced with the impression that he has failed. It looks like Isreal is not going to change
POINT- Have some of you given up on your purpose and camped under a broom tree because you feel like you were not enough???
(NLT) — 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
KEY- Instead of focusing on all that God has done, he focuses on how little has changed.
Whatever dream God placed on your heart to pursue, whatever purpose he has created, he does not to waste your time!!
ILLUSTRATION- Chinese bamboo, in the first 5 years Chinese bamboo will not grow more than 1 foot out of the ground, then after the 5th year it begins to grow at a rate of about 1’ per week maxing at around 45’
DEFINE- Jezreel in the Hebrew means, “God will sow.”
In Jezreel Elijah learns he is not enough, but its also the place we learn that God will sow…
So now when I feel like there is no change in my family after all the work I’ve done, I know God will sow...
Now when it feels like there is no progress in my health, I know God will sow…
2. Beersheba (Where it looks like you are done)
2. Beersheba (Where it looks like you are done)
(NLT) — 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
It’s funny how Elijah says I’ve had enough… This idea of I can’t keep going, I have run out, there is nothing left, I am empty…
POINT- The enemy will often in times of transition try to get you to focus on how little you have.
KEY POINT- Think about what Elijah was eating in chapter 17
(NLT) — 10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.” 12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”
POINT- God is always pulling your focus back to you are not done, because I am not done.
In fact the place God lead Elijah too got its name from Abraham, back in Abraham dug a seventh well after his wells were taken, so he ends up naming that place where he dug the seventh well Beersheba which means; Well of promise or the seventh well.
In the seasons when you don’t think you can keep going God is leading you to the seventh well;
3. Sinai (When you thought you lost your purpose)
3. Sinai (When you thought you lost your purpose)
(NLT) — 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
KEY POINT- The reasons that you might want to give up just might be the same reasons you need to keep going.
KEY- Elijah likely thought that the demonstration of fire in the previous chapter would be what would change the hearts of Israel, God shows how powerful his voice is.
Here God reveals his glory to Elijah powerfully...
DEFINE- Sinai means radiate, or glory…
Where there is purpose there is glory and where there is glory there is purpose…
Conclusion…
Conclusion…
The enemy loves to attack in the place of transition in the place of change, but if you look where God has positioned you, you will find it is a place of power.
Don’t confuse success and obedience
Don’t confuse results with faithfulness
Don’t confuse change with completion