1 Reis 17

1 Reis 17

Maclaren - Before Whom I Stand - The Master’s “Well Done.” The Master’s approval is the servant’s best wages. If we truly feel that the Lord liveth, before whom we stand, we shall want nothing else for our work but His smile, and we shall feel that the light of his face is all we need. That thought should deaden our love for outward things. How little we need to care about any payment that the world can give for anything we do. If we feel, as we ought, that we are God’s servants, that will lift us clear above the low aims and desires which meet us. How little we shall care for money, for men’s praise, for getting on in the world! How the things that we fever our souls by pursuing, and fret our hearts when we lose; will cease to attract! How small and vulgar the “prizes” of life, as people call them, will appear! “The Lord liveth before whom I stand,” should be enough for us, and instead of all these motives to action drawn from the rewards of this world, we ought to “labor that, whether present or absent, we may be well pleasing to Him.” Philip Ryken - Would any of us dare to pray such a prayer today, asking God to act in judgment so that his people’s hearts would turn back to him? If not, it is not because such prayers are no longer possible. The Scripture says Elijah was a man like us. If we do not pray such prayers, it may be because we are no longer men and women like Elijah. Since we live in an evil day, our prayers are as necessary as ever, and since we serve a living God, our prayers can be as effective as Elijah’s prayers. May the Lord make us people of prayer, so that we may pray the way Elijah prayed: righteously, so that our prayers are undiluted by disobedience and unhindered by unconfessed sin; powerfully, so that we prevail against the tide of idolatry; effectively, so that we discern the very things that God intends to do in our day; and earnestly, so that our hearts grow strong through our persistence in prayer. (1 Kings) J R Miller - "As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand." 1 Kings 17:1 "You are the God who sees me!" Genesis 16:13. We all stand in the presence of God. His eye is ever upon us. His face ever beams its light upon us. We all believe this, and say it often with our lips; yet many of us do not really get the truth into our heart! If we did—it would make holier people of us. We would not slight our work as now we do so often, if we were truly conscious that God is looking on us as we work! This consciousness of the presence of God, would also give us hope and courage in darkness or danger; like Hagar, who said, "You are the God who sees me!" Some people think of the omniscience of God—as a reason for fear and terror. But to Hagar, it meant divine love and care. God had not forgotten her, nor forsaken her. She was cast out of her earthly home—but the Lord saw her and took her up. If we are God's children, the thought of our Father's presence should always bring us comfort, assurance, and a wonderful sense of security. It is a great thing to stand before God, to be conscious of His eye upon us, and to know Him so well as not to be afraid of Him. 1 Kings 17:1-16 17:1-16 GOD'S WAYS "How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out." - Romans 11:33 After Elijah had experienced some especially trying times, the Lord told him to flee to Zarephath where he could find food and shelter. Imagine Elijah's surprise when he discovered that the widow who was to provide for him was extremely poor! In fact, she expected that she and her son would soon die of starvation. How often God delights to astonish us by the wonder of His ways! Our limited understanding of Him can be likened to a fly crawling on one of the great pillars of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. What does that tiny insect know about the architect's magnificent design? It sees only the little space of stone on which it moves. The beautiful carvings and ornamental work seem like towering mountains and deep valleys that only impede progress and obscure the view. We as Christians often see only our immediate circumstances and perceive but a glimmer of God's marvelous purpose. The obstacles that block our vision and get in the way of our plans are actually part of the beautiful designs of divine grace. God's ways and judgments baffle those Who do not see His perfect plan; But those who trust His saving grace, With wonder all His actions scan! - HGB God may conceal the purpose of His ways, But His ways are not without purpose. It Was the Best of Times? Melvin Tinker SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 17:1–16 INTRODUCTION: Elijah is sent by God to lead the people to repentance. 1. The Lord’s Strange Provision (vv. 1–6). God provides for Elijah by sending ravens to feed him and a brook to give him water during the drought. 2. The Lord’s Surprising Place (vv. 7–12). God sends Elijah to a poor widow in Jezebel’s hometown. He is in a pagan country around people who do not believe in the Lord. 3. The Lord’s Sure Promise (vv. 13–16). God provides mercifully for the pagan widow and her son. CONCLUSION: God is to be taken at His word. He faithfully provides for those who obey and trust Him. His mercies extend to the entire world and if we would just have faith in Him, He is willing to provide life to us. Don’t Despair By Joshua D. Rowe SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 17–19 INTRODUCTION: Do you ever struggle to provide for your family? Do you feel as if you’re the only committed believer around? Or do you sometimes doubt God? Does life get the best of you? Elijah faced similar situations, and through them we learn about God’s incredible provisions. 1. Times of Drought (1Ki 17:1–16). Israel was facing a life-threatening drought, but God provided for both Elijah and an old widow and her family. He consistently gave them just enough to get by each day. 2. Times of Disbelief (1Ki 17:17–18:46). The widow’s son died and she immediately doubted God, but through Elijah her son was raised. The result was faith! In the same section, Israel turned to worship Baal, but God responded through Elijah and proved His power over false gods. The result was repentance! 3. Times of Discouragement (1Ki 19:1–21). Elijah received a death threat and fled. He went into depression and felt abandoned. God spoke to Him, revealing that seven thousand others were true believers in Him. He then gave Elisha to him as his disciple. CONCLUSION: When you struggle to make ends meet, trust God to provide each day. God knows what you are going through, and He can dispel all your doubts and reveal His great power. If you feel alone as a Christian, take comfort, for God will always have followers—even if there’s only a remnant. ELIJAH, GOD’S PROPHET 1 Kings 16:28–34; 17:1–24 - Croft Pentz Jezebel was a wicked woman. She sought to destroy God’s prophets and God’s work. God chose Elijah to stand up against both Jezebel and Ahab. Elijah was willing to risk his life for God. 1. THE PROBLEM—16:28–34 2. THE PROPHET—17:1 3. THE PROVISION—17:2–16 4. THE PERSONALITY—17:17–24 Elijah allowed God to use him. He stepped out in faith, and God helped him. God longs to work through man. However, before God can use man, man must be usable! Cyril Barber outlines Elijah's life... The Practices of an Ungodly King (1 Kings 16:29–33) The Ministry of Godly Prophets (1 Kings 17:1–2 Kings 2:11) The Obedience of the Prophet (1 Kings 17:1–18:46) The Prediction of the Prophet (17:1) The Protection of the Prophet (17:2–6) The Preparation of the Prophet (17:7) The Provision for the Prophet (17:8–16) Digression: The Confirmation of the Word of the Prophet (17:17–24) The Contest Between the Prophets (18:1–40) The Prayer of the Prophet (18:41–46) The Renewal of God’s Prophet (19:1–21) The Reproof of the King by an Unnamed Prophet (20:1–43) The Condemnation of the King by God’s Prophet (21:1–29) The Fulfillment of the Word of the Prophets (22:1–40) Digression: Historic Summary (22:40–53) The Reign of an Ungodly King (2 Kings 1:1–18) The Ascension of God’s Prophet (2 Kings 2:1–11) QUESTION - Who was Elijah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER - The prophet Elijah is one of the most interesting and colorful people in the Bible, and God used him during an important time in Israel’s history to oppose a wicked king and bring revival to the land. Elijah’s ministry marked the beginning of the end of Baal worship in Israel. Elijah’s life was filled with turmoil. At times he was bold and decisive, and at other times fearful and tentative. He alternately demonstrates victory and defeat, followed by recovery. Elijah knew both the power of God and the depths of depression. Elijah, a prophet of God whose name means “my God is the Lord,” came from Tishbeh in Gilead, but nothing is known of his family or birth. We first meet Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 when he suddenly appears to challenge Ahab, an evil king who ruled the northern kingdom from 874 to 853 BC. Elijah prophesies a drought to come upon the whole land as consequence for Ahab’s evil (1 Kings 17:1–7). Warned by God, Elijah hides near the brook of Cherith where he is fed by ravens. As the drought and famine in the land deepen, Elijah meets with a widow in a neighboring country, and, through her obedience to Elijah’s request, God provides food enough for Elijah, the woman, and her son. Miraculously, the widow’s barrel of flour and jar of oil never run out (1 Kings 17:8–16). The lesson for the believer is that, if we walk in fellowship with the Lord and obey Him, we will be open to His will. And when we are in God’s will, He fulfills all of our needs, and His mercy to us never runs short. We next see Elijah as the central character in a face-off with the prophets of the false god Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-40). The prophets of Baal call upon their god all day long to rain fire from heaven to no avail. Then Elijah builds an altar of stones, digs a ditch around it, puts the sacrifice on the top of wood and calls for water to be poured over his sacrifice three times. Elijah calls upon God, and God sends fire down from heaven, burns the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones and licks up the water in the ditch. God proved He was more powerful than false gods. It was then that Elijah and the people killed all of the false prophets of Baal, in compliance with God’s command in Deuteronomy 13:5. After the great victory over the false prophets, rain once again fell on the land (1 Kings 18:41-46). However, in spite of victory, Elijah entered a period of wavering faith and depression (1 Kings 19:1-18). Ahab had told his wife, Jezebel, of God’s display of power. Rather than turn to God, Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah. Hearing of this, Elijah fled to the wilderness, where he prayed for God to take his life. But God refreshed Elijah with food, drink, and sleep instead. Then Elijah took a forty-day journey to Mount Horeb. There Elijah hid in a cave, still feeling sorry for himself and even confessing his belief that he alone was left of the prophets of God. It is then that the LORD instructed Elijah to stand on the mountain as the LORD passed by. There was a great wind, an earthquake, and then fire, but God was not in any of those. Then came a still, small voice in which Elijah heard God and understood Him. God gave Elijah instructions for what to do next, including anointing Elisha to take his place as prophet and assuring Elijah that there were still 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. Elijah obeyed God’s commands. Elisha became Elijah’s assistant for some time, and the two continued to deal with Ahab and Jezebel, as well as Ahab’s son and successor, Ahaziah. Rather than die a natural death, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1-11). John the Baptist’s ministry was marked by “the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 4:5–6. James uses Elijah as an example of prayer in James 5:17–18. He says that Elijah "was a human being, even as we are," yet he prayed that it would not rain, and it did not. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The power of prayer is in God, not in our own human nature. As was true for Elijah, when we focus on the tumult of life in this world, we can get our eyes off of the LORD and become discouraged. God does display Himself in mighty works of power and judgment such as wind, fire, and earthquakes. But He also relates with us intimately and personally, such as in the quiet whisper. God meets our physical needs, encourages us to examine our own thoughts and behaviors, instructs us in how to proceed, and assures us that we are not alone. When we are attentive to God’s voice and walking in obedience to His Word, we can find encouragement, victory, and reward. Elijah struggled with typical human frailties, yet he was used mightily of God. It may not be through such obviously miraculous displays of might, but, if we are yielded to Him, God can use us powerfully for His kingdom purposes, too. Related Resources: 1 Kings 17 The Source of Elijah's Strength - F B Meyer 1 Kings 17 Beside the Drying Brook - F B Meyer 1 Kings 17 Ordered to Zarephath - F B Meyer 1 Kings 17 The Spirit and the Power of Elias - F B Meyer 1 Kings 17 The Test of the Homelife - F B Meyer James Smith - THREE IMPORTANT POSITIONS MARK 3:3; 1 KINGS 17:1; PHIL. 4:1 “Can your horse run fast?” was a question addressed to a boy by a gentleman as the former was holding the horse’s head in a busy London street. He replied, “No, sir; he cannot run fast, but he can stand fast”; a great quality to be admired and commended in a horse. Yes, and in men and women. For these are difficult days, and there are many temptations to turn us from the paths that are right and good. How can we stand fast in times of trial and temptation is an important question. For our comfort, let us notice that this is not the first position we should take. There are two prior ones, as follows: I. Stand Forth” (Mark 3:3). This is the sinner’s position. The man in the story here was only conscious of shortcomings, and not moral leprosy, yet he needed the healing touch of the Saviour just as much as the leper. This is a lesson all very respectable sinners should take to heart. Yet, whether conscious of moral leprosy or not, we all need the Saviour. To receive His blessed healing ministries we must take the definite step to Him, standing forth even in the midst (see marginal note), that is, a public confession of our sinnership. II. Stand Before (1 Kings 17:1). This is the position of the believer. Elijah was known as the man who stood before God. This position is suggestive of fellowship as well as service. We are saved that we might, yea, should, might we not say must stand before God; that is to say, that we might enter into blessed friendship with Him, and such a friendship bearing the fruit of happy and successful service. III. Stand Fast (Phil. 4:1). This is the position of the loyal friend, loyal to all the interests of the Lord. This follows naturally the other two; in fact, the prior positions fit us for this one. Oh, to be true to Him at all times under all circumstances, and at all costs! Charles Swindoll - ALONE IN THE GAP Read 1 Kings 16:29–17:1 - see Great Days with the Great Lives: Daily Insight from Great ... - Page 152 We’re first introduced to him as “Elijah the Tishbite” (1 Kings 17:1). Talk about stepping out of nowhere! Elijah came out of this insignificant place—out of nowhere—to make such a significant contribution to God’s plan for His people that he became one of Israel’s most famous heroes. He became what we often today call a legend. The first thing that commands our attention is Elijah’s name. The Hebrew word for “God” in the Old Testament is Elohim, which is occasionally abbreviated El. The word jah is the word for “Jehovah.” Thus, in Elijah’s name we find the word for “God” and the word for “Jehovah.” Between them is the small letter I, which in Hebrew has reference to the personal pronoun “my” or “mine.” Putting the three together, then, we find that Elijah’s name means “My God is Jehovah” or “The Lord is my God.” No one had a reason to doubt that! Ahab and Jezebel were in control of the northern kingdom of Israel, and Baal was the god they worshiped. But when Elijah burst on the scene, his very name proclaimed, “I have one God. His name is Jehovah. He is the One I serve, before whom I stand.” By now, the spiritual chasm between God and His people had reached its widest breadth. Elijah stood alone in that gap. Today there are still those who stand alone in the gap, those who still strive to shake us awake. A handful of brave students at Columbine High School come immediately to mind. Loaded guns and the threat of death couldn’t silence them. I think of them as modern-day Elijahs, whom God uses to deliver a life-changing message. Men and women of courage, ready to stand and deliver. Authentic heroes. Our Lord is still searching for people who will make a difference. Christians dare not be mediocre. We dare not dissolve into the background or blend into the neutral scenery of this world. Sometimes you have to look awfully close and talk awfully long before an individual will declare his allegiance to God . . . before you will find someone with the courage to stand alone for God. Is that what we have created today in this age of tolerance and compromise? Elijah’s life teaches us what the Lord requires. Tony Merida - Elijah was like Moses, with whom he later appeared at the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt 17:3). Like Moses, Elijah went eastward for a season after he had confronted a wrathful king (Exod 2:15; 1 Kgs 17:2–6). Moses challenged Pharaoh; Elijah challenges Ahab. Like Moses, Elijah lived on God’s abundant provision of bread, meat, and water (Exod 16; 1 Kgs 17:2–6). Like Moses, Elijah goes to Mount Horeb for 40 days and 40 nights to appear before God (1 Kgs 19:8, 11). Like Moses, he needs and receives assurance of God’s presence to finish his mission (Exod 33:18–23; 1 Kgs 19:13–17). And like Moses, Elijah feels the burden of the failure of the people so much that he desires death (Num 11:14–15; 1 Kgs 19:3–4). Elijah is the prophet like Moses that God raises up to preserve a remnant who won’t bow down to Baal (Konkel, Exodus, 308–9). Elijah was also like John the Baptist, with whom he is associated in the New Testament (Luke 1:13–17). Jesus affirms the identity of John the Baptist as the last prophet, the messenger Elijah who was to come (Matt 11:7–15; Luke 7:24–28). Elijah didn’t reappear literally as John the Baptist, for that would be something like reincarnation. But their lives and ministry were similar. They both came from obscure places, they dressed similarly (Matt 3:4; 2 Kgs 1:8), both called people to repentance, and both were forerunners to Messiah (Mal 3:1–3; 4:5). Elijah continues to play an important role in Judaism. At meals he is mentioned in prayer: “May God in his mercy send us the prophet Elijah.” He is mentioned at the circumcision of children. He also gets a seat at the Passover meal (Konkel, Exodus, 310)....While Elijah holds a special place in redemptive history, James (James 5:16-18+) wants us to know that every believer, dressed in the righteousness of Jesus, pursuing likeness to Jesus, can have an effective prayer life like Elijah. (See Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings) The Lord Lives By Peter Grainger SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 17:1–3 INTRODUCTION: These are very bleak days for our world, spiritually and morally, but God still works in dismal, sinful times. As Elisha declared, “The LORD God of Israel lives.” 1. The Word of the Lord Declared. “Neither dew nor rain will fall.” This was a word of confirmation (Deut. 11:13–17) and of challenge (James 1:17; Matt. 5:45; Jer. 14:22). It was also a declaration of war. 2. The Blessing of the Lord Withheld. God’s judgment is seen, not just in what He sends, but in what He withdraws, in this case rain and common grace (Rom. 1:24–28; 2 Thess. 2:6). It was also a warning to individuals and to society. 3. The Prophet of God Concealed. Verses 2–3 are a fresh word for Elijah. He was hidden—and so was the Word of God (Amos 8:11–12). CONCLUSION: In a bleak age, the Lord still lives, and it is vital for us to hear to and respond to His Word (Heb. 3:7–8). James Smith - ELIJAH, THE SEPARATED ONE 1 Kings 17:1 “If thou could’st trust, poor soul, In HIM who rules the whole, Thou would’st find peace and rest, Wisdom and sight are well, but trust is best.” —A. PROCTOR. Ahab, the haughty king of Israel, had taken Jezebel, the pretty but wicked Zidonian to wife. Through her influence the prophets of God are slain, and the worship of Baal is established in the land as the national religion. Only seven thousand among all the thousands of Israel remain true in heart to God, and these, through fear of the king, hid themselves and their testimony. The whole nation seems overwhelmed with this flood-tide of idolatry. But away in the village of Tishbe, among the uplands of Gilead, there is a man, perhaps a poor peasant, whose heart has become hot with indignation, and whose jealousy for the honour of Jehovah burns with holy zeal. We fancy we hear him in secret pleading with God for His own Name’s sake to rebuke the iniquity of His people and bring Israel to its knees by sending some arresting judgment upon the land (James 5:17). God answers the earnest cry of the Tishbite, and there and then chooses him to be the instrument in His hand, to turn the nation back to the worship of their Divine King. To accomplish this great work he is invested with all authority. “There shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word.” The interests and the power of God are committed to this servant, because he is wholly devoted to Him. Having been equipped with power, he goes forth to Samaria to declare the message of God in the ears of Ahab. No man will ever accomplish much for God who has not had in some respects a similar training. Note— His Standing. “The Lord God of Israel, before whom I stand.” He stood as one— 1. WHO BELIEVED IN GOD. His faith gave him the victory over all fear of Ahab. Those who have set God before them will not play the coward in the presence of any earthly monarch. It was this consciousness of the presence of God that stiffened the moral backbone of Luther and John Knox. After Pentecost Peter and John were filled with the same holy boldness as Elijah (Acts 4:19, 20). 2. ACCEPTED BY GOD. Elijah had yielded Himself unto God that he might be a channel through which His words might come to the hearts of the ungodly, and through whom the power of God might be manifested. The Lord accepted his offer, and filled him as an earthen vessel with His divine treasure (2 Cor. 4:6, 7). He had got the victory with his God in secret, now he is rewarded openly. Many of God’s notable servants have come suddenly out of unexpected places. 3. IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. The whole force of Elijah’s moral and spiritual being was on the side of the God of Israel. There was a oneness of purpose between them. All idea of self-seeking was withered up by the fire of Jehovah’s presence. Those who would serve the Lord will have very unpleasant work to do if they are careful about their own personal interests and honour. The secret of courage and power in the work of Christ lies in knowing His will and delighting to do it. 4. WHO WAITED ON GOD. As the eye of the maid is turned to her mistress, watching for the next indication of her will, so stood the life of Elijah before the Lord God of Israel. So may our souls wait on Him. The Moravian motto is most suggestive with the ox standing between an altar and a plough, “Ready for either.” Ready for either sacrifice or service, as the Lord may appoint. But Elijah’s standing before God was not in idleness, but in the fearless attitude of one whose life was a protest against the popular sin of the nation—idolatry. “Let your light so shine” (Matt. 5:16). 5. WHO HAD THE AUTHORITY OF GOD. He speaks as if the power of God and the resources of Heaven were at his disposal. “There shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word.” The keys of Heaven had been given to him, and the treasures of dew and rain would only be poured out when he was pleased to open the door. This was a terrible and most effective weapon which God had put into the hand of His faithful servant. Those who fight the battles of the Lord are never sent to warfare on their own charges. Is not the gift of the Holy Spirit equally effective now for the carrying out of God’s purposes in the reclaiming of men to the fellowship of His Son? Elijah, like Jesus Christ, spoke as one having authority, because he had the authority of God for that which he spoke. Elijah was a man “subject to like passions as we are.” But have we the faith of Elijah? (Mark 9:23). Some Other Lessons. 1. That God can easily find the man He needs. 2. That the man chosen of God is often prepared in secret. 3. That great men often come out of unexpected places. (ED: I think of Evan Roberts who God used mightily in the great Welsh revival) 4. That those sent by God have always a definite mission. 5. That the secret of holy boldness is, “Standing before God.” 6. That judgment is sure to overtake those who defy God. Vance Havner - "ARE YOU THERE?" 1 Kings 17:2-4, 9, 10 "And the word of the LORD came unto him (Elijah), saying, Get thee hence and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee THERE . . . "Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell THERE: behold, I have commanded a widow woman THERE to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was THERE. . ." (1Kings 17:2-4, 9, 10). DO not believe that the ravens would have fed Elijah anywhere else, nor would the widow woman have appeared anywhere else except "THERE." GOD did not say, "Elijah, ramble around as you please and I will provide for you." "THERE" was the place of GOD's will for Elijah-the place of His Purpose, the place of His Power and the place of His Provision. "THERE" WAS THE PLACE OF GOD'S PURPOSE. GOD has a "THERE" for you, somewhere He wants you to be, something He wants you to do. You can never be truly happy elsewhere, nor can you please GOD anywhere but "there." You may do lovely things and become a "success," but always there will be the haunting sense of having chosen life's second best. Sir Thomas Lipton, the English sportsman, won many yachting prizes, but he never could capture the American cup. One day, showing a friend his glittering collection of trophies, he suddenly said, with a wave of the hand, "And I'd give them all for the one I didn't get!" So, however many of earth's awards and crowns we may gain, if we miss the reward of GOD's approval, the prize of the high calling of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, we shall feel at the close of our day that we would gladly give them all for the one we missed. Woodrow Wilson spoke of "being defeated by one's successes.'" Verily, we are cheated when we choose our own way, whatever we may attain in it, if we miss the purpose of GOD. "THERE" is the place of blessing. When Jacob wandered from Bethel and trouble descended upon him at Shalem, GOD commanded him, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell THERE" (Gen. 35:1). Sometimes we go back to Bethel during the revival but we do not dwell there. "THERE" is not a particular emotional experience; it is simply the place of GOD's will. David "served his own generation by the will of God" (Acts 13:36), and in so doing he proved that he was "THERE." Epaphras prayed that the saints might "stand perfect and complete in all the will of GOD" (Colossians 4:12), in other words, that they might be "THERE." Our Lord could say to the Father, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4). He was always "THERE!" GOD has a Cherith and a Zarephath for you. It may be across the street, it may be across the sea. Some sing, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord," but they are not willing to stay where He wants them to stay. A radio preacher tells of receiving a letter from a young lady who was sure that she could do great things for the Lord if she could move to Pittsburgh, but was sure she could do nothing in the small town where she was. It developed that she refused to work in the small tasks in her home church because she felt too big for it. We have plenty of "Pittsburgh Christians," or eagles on hummingbird nests, always too big for where they are. In the account of the Great Commission, we overlook the setting: "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them" (Matthew 28:16). They were in the place of the Divine appointing, therefore they received the Divine appointment. Some of us have had no commission because we are not "there," at the place of His appointing. In the second place, "THERE" WAS THE PLACE OF GOD'S POWER. I do not believe that the miracle of the ravens and the meal barrel would have occurred anywhere but "THERE." Men wonder why they never feel GOD's power or see any evidences of His working. It is because they are out of His purpose, not in His will. We say, "What power Elijah had!" but he had no power in himself, he was simply" THERE," in the place of power. We might say, "What power that radio has!" "What power that electric light has!" But they are very frail contraptions, they are simply in the place of power, connected with the source. When the traffic officer stops you as you drive down the street, it is not his strength that does it; you could drive over him. It is his authority that makes you halt; he represents something greater than himself. So we are nothing in ourselves, but when we are in the place of GOD's purpose we have His power, and greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Men have wondered at the power of George Muller. He had no power of himself; he was simply "THERE," in the place of GOD's purpose for George Muller. Hudson Taylor said he once thought GOD was looking for men strong enough to use, but he learned that GOD was looking for men weak enough to use. The lad who supplied the loaves and fishes for the feeding of the multitude would have been nonplussed if you had told him that morning that he had enough food for several thousand people. He did not know what he had until JESUS took it and broke it and blessed it and passed it around. Nor do you know what you have until you give it to the Lord. Only when we are" THERE," in the place of His purpose, are we in the place of His power. Samson did a great many remarkable things, but he never was much; he did not stay "THERE." He may have looked better after his haircut but he lost his strength. Too many Christians let the world give them a haircut. One day they carry off the gates of Gaza, but next day they may be in the lap of Delilah; They do not abide in CHRIST, they do not stay "THERE." There is no place "just as good" as "THERE," the place of GOD's purpose. We try to strike bargains with the Lord, offer to do something else, seek a compromise or substitute. We work terribly hard at something that may be fine and lovely, but it is not His choice and inwardly we are rebellious. A minister brother tells of a stubborn youngster in a home who was told by his mother to sit down. He refused twice, and then she made him sit down; but he said, "Mother, I may be sitting down but I'm standing up inside!" So often do we seem to be yield to GOD and living "THERE," but there is inward rebellion. And GOD rates rebellion as a grievous thing: "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (I Samuel 15:23). Finally, "THERE" WAS THE PLACE OF GOD'S PROVISION. There would have been no bread, no flesh, no meal, for Elijah anywhere but "THERE." "Where GOD guides, He provides" is a well-worn proverb but gloriously true. Notice that GOD said, "I have commanded the ravens to feed thee THERE"; "I have commanded a widow woman THERE to sustain thee." Elijah had gone on ahead and made arrangements. Strange arrangements they were - I doubt that stranger arrangements ever were made for boarding a preacher! But the plan worked, as it always does when GOD is in it. He is responsible for our upkeep when we follow His directions, but He is not responsible for any expenses not included in His schedule. Elijah began his interview with the widow by asking, like our Lord at the well of Samaria, for a drink of water. You will observe that when Elijah found this woman, she was engaged at a menial task, gathering sticks, but before he left she had seen the miraculous. From the menial to the miraculous! So our Lord found Peter fishing for fish and made him a fisher of men; found Matthew collecting taxes and made him a Gospel writer. If we are faithful in the least, GOD will show us much. Fetching a drink of water does not cost much, although a cup of water given in His Name shall not be unrewarded. But it does not test faith, so Elijah asked next for a morsel of bread and the first cake at that. Now it looked as though there would be only one cake, so here was a real test for the widow woman. Alas, we give GOD the crumbs, not the cake; the scraps and fragments and leftovers of time and thought and talent and money. Malachi reproved the Jews in his day who kept the good animals given them for sacrifice and gave the Lord the sick and crippled. How he might thunder at us today who give GOD the crumbs from our tables and eat the cake ourselves! The widow woman was fearful, but Elijah reassured her: "Fear not. . . for thus saith the LORD. . . " GOD had promised to provide and that was enough. "In some way or other, the Lord will provide. It may not be my way, it may not be thy way, And yet in His own way, the Lord will provide." Of course, GOD did not fill the barrel, as we Americans would demand; He simply supplied enough. He has promised to supply our needs, not our wants (Philippians 4:19). So long as we are in His will, we shall have health enough, time enough, work enough, money enough to do what He wants done. Why should we want any more And He never asks us to do more than we can do by His grace. He may seem to ask the impossible and we may be sure that we are going to fail, but if we are willing to fail for GOD, we won't fail. Nobody ever failed who was honest with GOD. How we do let circumstances blind us to the all sufficiency of GOD! I think of the morning when Elisha's servant must have walked out on the back porch and discovered an army sent to capture the great prophet. (In those days GOD's preachers were such troublemakers that they sent the militia after them.) The servant was horrified to see soldiers to the right of him, soldiers to the left of him, soldiers before him, soldiers everywhere. But Elisha came out calmly, and instead of bothering to look around him, he looked higher and saw angels to the right of him, angels to the left of him, angels before him, angels everywhere, for the angels of the Lord were encamping round about him who feared GOD to deliver him. No wonder Elisha could pray for this frightened servant's eyes to be opened that he might see! And we need such an eye opener today. Yes, when we are "THERE," in the place of GOD's purpose, we are in the place of His power and provision. ARE YOU "THERE?" A little girl in a Midwestern city came forward one night after I had preached from this text and whispered in my ear, "I'm here but I'm afraid I'm not THERE." Many of us are "here," among those present, but we are not "THERE," in the place of His choosing. We may be "THERE" the moment we resign the right to our own lives and let Him take control. Do not grow uneasy if guidance does not come in a moment. What He wants is your yielded will, and the minute you give Him that, you are "THERE," although it may be some time before He shows you just where it is geographically. May I relate to you a chapter out of my own experience? I began to preach when I was a boy. After four years of preaching, I went away to school and in the period that followed I became unsettled in my beliefs. I felt, under modernistic and liberal influences, that I should adapt the Gospel to the modern mind, which, by the way, is not very modern and not much mind. There came a day when my ministry failed and I returned to my old country home in the hills. That winter my father died and I was left with my mother, having only a country grocery store as our support, and that was robbed and burned to the ground in the following spring! During those months the Lord spoke to my soul and led me to see that if I returned to the old Gospel and preached it, He would clear the track for me. So I renounced the "new approach" and got into the Cherith and Zarephath of GOD's will for me. First, I had to return to the church where I had preached the "new position" and give them the message GOD had given me. The way has not always been easy, but I can testify that GOD had gone before and made arrangements. I have found "THERE" to be the place of His abundant power and marvelous provision. The years since that experience have been one continued story of "meal in a barrel." John Bisagno - ELIJAH - 1 Kings 17:1; 18:32–35, 38 1. Your Past Is Not Nearly as Important as God’s Purpose J. Oswald Sanders once wrote of Elijah, “He was like a meteor that flashed across the inky blackness of Israel’s spiritual night.” Read the story again, and you will discover Elijah appeared on the scene like a superhero coming to the rescue. Yet we know so little about where he came from and how he came to be God’s instrument to confront the powerful and wicked King Ahab. Interestingly, the writer of 1 Kings gives only his name and his town of origin. He blows into history like a tornado, without credential or reputation. He is simply known as “Elijah the Tishbite,” who was just one of the many who lived in Gilead. In spite of an apparent lack of qualifications, God had a distinct purpose for his life. When the young evangelist began his crusades, people might have thought, “Why, this is only Billy Graham from North Carolina,” but God had a mighty mission for this man as well. Far too often the longer the pedigree the shorter the dog. I would rather be simply “John Bisagno from Texas” and let God get all the glory from whatever He chooses to accomplish through my life. A call to the ministry is a call to prepare, and the importance of preparation cannot be overstated. But God always has a few models around like Billy Graham, to remind us it’s still all about Him. The story of Elijah reminds us we do not need some thrilling testimony from our past in order to be used for His glory. Many of us have a rather ordinary past, but with God we always have an extraordinary future. Don’t let an average yesterday cause you to minimize your potential today and tomorrow. Elijah’s lackluster past did not prevent him from stepping up to the plate when God called his name. The result was the confrontation at Mount Carmel, possibly the most powerful event in the Old Testament apart from creation and the Red Sea. What does God have in store for you? Will you be ready? Or have you convinced yourself that God could never use ordinary you? Prepare yourself for the future, focus on our resurrected Lord, and be amazed at what He will do with your life. 2. The Harder the Situation, the Better God Likes It As residents of big cities, some of us have not seen the majesty displayed nightly in the heavens for a long time. Have you ever noticed that the darker the night, the brighter the light shines, and that light always defeats darkness? I’m convinced that God loves dark places, because in those moments His light and love can shine the brightest. Israel was a dark place in the days of Elijah, but the darkness of the hour was the perfect backdrop against which God could reveal His power. The confrontation on Mount Carmel was not merely a battle between Elijah and the prophets of Baal; it was an opportunity for God to remind His people one more time that He alone was God, and that they must have no other. It was the spirit of God who impressed on the heart of Elijah to water the sacrifice once and again, and then again. This was no bizarre display of a presumptive prophet, but the way of the God of Israel. He is the same God who parted the Red Sea, declaring, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” He is the same God who impressed upon Gideon that a victory against thirty thousand enemies, wrought at the hand of thirty thousand Israelites, would leave no room for His glory. God worked a miracle with Gideon’s three hundred men, outnumbered ten to one. When your back’s against the wall and you face an impossible situation, get ready to see a miracle. When you’ve come to the end of your rope, go to your knees, get in the Word, and get ready to see the hand of God. Former President George Bush talked about a “thousand points of light.” It was his regular practice to give awards to people and programs that shed the light of mercy in places of dark despair. Jesus called Himself the light of the world, but He took it much further when He told His disciples, “You are the light of the world.” If you find yourself living in a dark place, be encouraged, for your light may shine even more brightly, causing more people to see the Lord. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, have no fear, God loves to do the impossible. He did it on Mount Carmel and longs to do it again. 3. The Character of the Hero May Be Forged on the Anvil of the Ordinary How would you feel if someone called you a “Tishbite”? If you like to think of yourself as rough and rugged, then you probably would take great pride in being called a Tishbite. Elijah the Tishbite came from a place that would best be described as challenging; and though his presence on the stage of Israel’s history was abrupt, there is no reason to believe he suddenly became at Carmel what he was not already at Gilead. The first words out of his mouth to a powerful and wicked king were, “From now on it doesn’t rain unless I say so.” Heroes are not born in a minute. Courage comes with holiness. The man secure in Christ and His Word is secure in himself. The acts of Moses took place over forty years of internship in the wilderness. You may be sure that God’s mighty hand had been forging his backbone of steel long before. I was having dinner in a home not long ago in which several children sat with us at the table. During the opening moments of the meal, the mother inquired about what kind of day her children had experienced. They all answered the same way: “Regular day.” I understood, because quite often my own children have given me the same answer to my inquiries about their day. But I wonder if there are truly any regular days? Is God not using our education, our experience, even our ordinariness, to prepare us for what lies ahead? I’m convinced that God works through ordinary, even unlikely people, and their ordinary days, to accomplish His purpose. Next time you are tempted to describe your day as ordinary, consider whether God might be preparing you for a Mount Carmel experience. G Campbell