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Embracing the Whisper: Elijah's Lessons on Faith and Perseverance

In 1 Kings 18-19, Elijah experiences a spiritual triumph on Mount Carmel, facing immediate discouragement as Jezebel pursues him. This juxtaposition teaches valuable lessons about God's ways and expectations. Even when God's work appears insignificant, He reveals His power in whispers. Elijah learns that simple acts, like anointing leaders and spreading kindness, hold great significance. It’s crucial not to be discouraged when our efforts yield unexpected results; God often works through small, humble means. Continued faithfulness ensures His word will not return void.

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Embracing the Whisper: Elijah's Lessons on Faith and Perseverance

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  1. Introduction: • 1 Kings 18 – Defeat of Baal on Mount Carmel • Elijah experiencing a spiritual “high” • Expected national revival • Rain – End of Drought and Famine • 1 Kings 19 – Jezebel Pursues Elijah (vs 1-3) • Israel still in danger – No great revival • Flees for the wilderness – prays to die (vs 4-8) • Lonely (vs 10) • Elijah is about to learn a lesson about how God works, and how he wants us to work (vs 9-18)

  2. What is the Lesson? • God is greatly revealed and glorified in seemingly insignificant works • Three things that we can learn from this: • God's people do great work with a whisper • God displays great power with a whisper • Must not become discouraged when our work does not meet our expectations

  3. God's People Do GreatWork with a Whisper • Example of what Elijah was to do: • Anoint Hazael king of Syria • Sword of War • Anoint Jehu king of Israel • Sword of Justice • Anoint Elisha to be prophet in place of Elijah • Sword of the Spirit • With these three, evil will overtake Israel

  4. God's People Do GreatWork with a Whisper • Whispers make up the majority of our work: • (Matt 25:34-40) – Simple acts of kindness • (Matt 28:19-20) – Simple acts of teaching • (2 Tim 2:1, 2) – Simple acts of spreading the gospel all over the world • Whispers, however, conflict with zeal: • Christians are to have zeal (Titus 2:14) • Zeal needs to perform whispers

  5. God's People Do GreatWork with a Whisper • Looking to always perform the “Big” works can indicate a problem with pride in our lives! • Why do we want to perform the Earthquakes and Whirlwinds? • Many love to do the big works: • Example of Naaman (2 Kings 5:13) • Our work is simple and humble – Whispers in this hectic and noisy world • (Matt 10:42)

  6. God Displays Great Power with a Whisper • Best Example is found in God's plan of salvation: • How did God save the world? • Did He scare people into submission? • Did He give salvation by brute force and might? • Did He just destroy all wicked people? • God saved the world by providing His own sacrifice (John 3:16, 17) – Act of Love

  7. God Displays Great Power with a Whisper • Jesus Christ – A Whisper! • Lamb of God (Isaiah 53) • Born with humble beginnings • Born of a virgin – laid in a manger • Son of a Carpenter – From Nazareth • Not the Messiah that the Jews wanted! • Put to death by an occupying country

  8. Must Not BecomeDiscouraged with our Work • Can't fulfill our expectations we, like Elijah, become discouraged: • He left Israel • God asked why he left – Elijah replies • God shows this wonder truth • God gave him instructions • God gave him encouragement • Discouragement because of our expectations does not advance the work of God!

  9. Must Not BecomeDiscouraged with our Work • Apply this principle to our lives: • If our expectations are not met, we may become discouraged: • We'll give up! – Go and hide from the public – fail to do the work of God • We must realize that God is in the whisper! • Keep working • Know that God word never comes back empty (Isaiah 55:10-11) • Remember the exhortations of God to Elijah!

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