Do I Need a Cave?
3/26/06 AM
Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church
WHY ME GOD?
At times we get overwhelmed by many things in life:
Embarrassment Sickness
Mistakes Sinfulness
Peoples actions that hurt us Grief
Weariness
And at times when we're overwhelmed we go into hiding.
Elijah,
got to the same point in life.
While not always easy Elijah knew what it was like to walk with God,
He knew God's voice and willingly obeyed it to the letter
Elijah won the Super Bowl of the Gods
He wanted to die
Why?
"I have had enough!" He felt hopeless - He exaggerated his problem
God met him there.
God spoke to him in a whisper.
How do you hear a whisper?
þ You have to listen!
þ You have to be close!
þ You have to pay attention,
þ You have to be quiet!
Maybe the Lord whispered something like this.
Here is
what God has to say: I am leading you, I am walking before you and will make
it possible for you to get over the mountain pass, I will destroy the
barriers that limit you. In quiet times, when life is difficult I will
provide you with the treasures and secrets of my heart. I will help you so
you will know my power and my desire to know you intimately.
God, teach me that you love me!
"When The Pieces Don't Fit" by Glaphre' Gilliland
Listen to Ps 57:6-7 ~ Those trying to hurt me have set traps to try to make me look bad, I am tried of resisting. They have dug pits on the path that I am walking,… (but they are the ones who have fallen into the pit - they are the one who look bad!)
In spite of all that is going on around me I have hope in your love and commitment to me. That is the only reason I can still sing.
How did God teach Elijah that He loved him?
1. Spoke to his soul vs. 12-13 (whisper)
2. Listened to his complaint vs. 14 (I have been… no one is left…)
3. Gave him direction vs. 15-16 (Go back the way…)
4. Promised him help vs. 17 (Jehu will and Elisha will…)
5. Reminded him he was not alone vs. 18 (I reserve 7000 who …)
So… vs. 19 Elijah went up from there.
While you're hiding, ask the Lord to:
Speak to your soul,
Listen to your hurt,
Give you direction,
Help you find your helpers, and…
Remind you who is on your side.
Hiding in caves? God
has something better in mind.