00:00 Introduction and Today's Agenda

00:26 Special Announcement: Theology 1 Course at CBI

01:35 Quote on Ministry and Theology:

"Ministry “unbalances” truth for the sake of relevance; theology “rebalances” truth for the sake of comprehensiveness.1 Put another way, because you can only say one thing at a time, a timely word must be a selective word focusing on the need of the moment. And this selective focus produces a kind of imbalance. But stepping back from the need of the moment, many things can be said, and this larger theological picture helps us maintain balance. The whole truth is as wide as human experience, as deep as the human heart, and as unfathomable as the God who weighs all things and intervenes in all things." Powlison, David. How Does Sanctification Work? (pp. 33-34). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

04:30 1 Kings 17: Elijah's Introduction and Miracles

08:09 1 Kings 18: Elijah's Confrontation with Ahab

15:28 1 Kings 19: Elijah's Fear and God's Whisper

19:21 Elisha's Calling and Commitment

20:23 Conclusion and Encouragement

Welcome back to another edition

of the daily Bible podcast.

2

Today is June 27th, 2024.

3

And we're only covering

three chapters today.

4

In our reading, which hopefully is

a sigh of relief for some of you.

5

I know sometimes we read so much.

6

It's hard to put it all together.

7

It's hard to understand what reading and

who's ruling which kingdom and who's,

8

who's not being faithful to the Lord.

9

And who is, I mean, I get that

there's a lot going on there,

10

but we've only got three today.

11

Before we jump into that.

12

I want to let you know about something

that we haven't told you yet.

13

If you're a part of compass Bible church

in north Texas, we haven't announced

14

it yet, but I do want to give you a

special sneak preview if you will.

15

About what's coming.

16

In the fall of 2024, pastor PJ and

I are going to be teaching a course.

17

Through our sending churches.

18

Organization called

compass Bible Institute.

19

We're still on the faculty staff.

20

And so we thought we know one thing

we'd really love to do is to help.

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Train and teach our people some good

theology to give you a good foundation.

22

This kind of connects with what

I was talking about yesterday.

23

We want to help you guys have a

rich and full understanding of who

24

God is by understanding his word

in putting the pieces together so

25

that we can build a foundation that

can last as well into the future.

26

We hope.

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So in the fall of 2024.

28

I'm pastor PJ and I will

be teaching theology one.

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The allergy one.

30

So we're going to cover some systematic

theology categories that you will.

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Be absolutely blessed by.

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Um, if you haven't done a

systematic theology class before.

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Uh, it'll it'll it'll

knock your socks off.

34

There's so much about gut.

35

Okay.

36

So here here's a cool quote.

37

I was reading another book.

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That I loved.

39

Uh, and there was one particular

quote that I have to just read

40

to you in an extended way.

41

Okay.

42

Pay close attention.

43

I promise it's worth it.

44

Here's what the guy says, ministry.

45

Unbalances truth for

the sake of relevance.

46

Theology rebalance his truth for

the sake of comprehensiveness.

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He clarifies by saying this.

48

But another way.

49

Because you can only say one

thing at a time, a timely

50

word must be a selective word.

51

Focusing on the need of the moment.

52

And this elective focus

produces a kind of imbalance.

53

But stepping back from

the need of the moment.

54

Many things can be said.

55

And this will larger theological picture.

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Helps us maintain balance.

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The whole truth is as

wide as human experience.

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As deep as the human heart.

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And as unfathomable as the God who weighs

all things and intervenes in all things.

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Okay.

61

So the crux of what he's saying

here is that for the sake of

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ministry, Uh, a pastor for

instance, might preach a sermon.

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And we're giving you one

slice of a piece of truth.

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It's not that we're trying to be deceptive

is that we're telling you one piece of it

65

in order to make the point, to make sure

that it's relevant to where you're at.

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To help you understand

it and put it to work.

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But when you're doing theology in

the case of systematic theology, when

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you're putting systematic theology

together, You're rebalancing truth.

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To say all that can be said about it.

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All that scripture says

about a certain topic.

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So it ministry unbalanced is truth for the

sake of relevance, theology, rebalance his

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truth for the sake of comprehensiveness.

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Systematic theology one will help us help

you put the geology in a comprehensive

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category to help you understand all that

there is to say about God, the word.

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I think recovering

Christ in this first one.

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I can't remember for

sure, but the geology one.

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We would love for you.

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To help us help you build a more

comprehensive understanding of the word

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of God, of the God, of the word, and

that we'll start by taking a course with

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us through compass Bible Institute, you

can go to compass Bible institute.org.

81

And you can apply if you're not

already a student or you can.

82

Uh, sign up for the course.

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If you are a student.

84

It is, it does cost.

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I think it's, I think, I think it's

three units, so it's 300 bucks.

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But boy is it, is it, uh, It is worth it.

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Uh, it'll be assigned reading.

88

There'll be papers to write.

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There will be lectures that you get to do

with myself and pastor PJ here in person.

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If you're in encompassed north, Texas.

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We would love to have you do this with us,

and it would be such a blessing for you

92

and for us as we do this thing together.

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So there's my pitch for today.

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Please join us for compass

Bible Institute training.

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This coming fall, fall 2024.

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Three units of pastor PJ and myself.

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Those units are transferable.

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If you would like to take

additional courses elsewhere, if.

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Even interested in taking it,

uh, at a different university

100

or a seminary perhaps.

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These, these units do transfer.

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So we'd love to see you there.

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Okay.

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First Kings chapter 17.

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We were only covering three champions,

but there's so much here that I'm going

106

to have a hard time getting through this.

107

Okay.

108

Let, let, let me try.

109

First Kings 17.

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We're introduced to one of

the coolest prophets, Elijah.

111

Now, Elijah, someone, you already

know he's someone who has a

112

large presence in scripture.

113

And of course, he's got some of

the most ink spilled on him, but

114

let's start with some of the basics

here in the first few verses.

115

We learned that he has Elijah,

the Tishbite of tissue in Gilliam.

116

So he's in Gileadite and

he is sent by God to a Hab.

117

Remember, we're going to be sticking

with Ahab for several chapters here.

118

So Elijah.

119

Now send to Ahab.

120

And he's telling Ahab, look,

there's going to be a drought.

121

There's not going to be any water for.

122

I don't know if he says how long here

he says, there's not gonna be any water.

123

Until I give the word.

124

And so he departs runs away from Ahab

so that he can't even respond to him.

125

And then God tells him, Hey, by the

way, I'm going to feed you with birds.

126

Can I make sure the

Ravens take care of you?

127

Well, while you live in hiding the

waiting for something to take place.

128

And so God does that, he

feeds them with birds.

129

I don't know how you feel about that,

but I would not like to be fed by birds,

130

but nevertheless, God cares for him.

131

After a while the Brook dries

up because there's no rain.

132

And so he's forced to make a move.

133

Uh, God directs and outside

of that place to provision.

134

I need to, he directs him to be

provided elsewhere in this case.

135

He's being provided for

by the widow of Zerephath.

136

At first, he goes to her and

he finds her preparing to die.

137

Her and her son, like we're

basically getting ready to die.

138

This is our last meal.

139

And he says, okay, before

you do that, hear me out.

140

Before you die.

141

Please make me a meal and God

will take care of you now.

142

I don't know if you feel this,

that's going to be a huge ask.

143

What great faith is this

guy asking for this woman?

144

Because he says here in verse 13.

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But first make me a little cake of it

and bring it to me and afterward make

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something for yourself and for your son.

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So huge deal.

148

That's a big step of faith on her part.

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She's preparing to die and he's like, Hey.

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Uh, donate that.

151

Let me have it.

152

And God will take care of you.

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In fact, he says in verse 14, the jar

flowers should not be spent in the jug of

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the oil shall not be empty until the day

that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.

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And here's to her credit, what she does.

156

She went and did, as Elijah said, And

she and her household ate for many days.

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Amazing story.

158

Until it takes a dark twist.

159

Well, and you understand the story here.

160

The second half of chapter 17.

161

The son of the woman, the

mistress of the house became ill.

162

His illness was so severe

that he eventually died.

163

And the woman thinks at first that

it's some kind of punishment from God.

164

She says, why have you brought

my sin to remembrance and to

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cause cause of death of my son.

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In other words, what sin.

167

No while she, I think she thinks

she has an understanding of the

168

sin that caused her son to die.

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And so she feels guilt ridden.

170

And she's all.

171

What have you brought upon me?

172

And Elijah then goes to the Lord and

says, Lord, what are you doing, God?

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What are you doing?

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How, how did you let this happen?

175

Uh, don't let don't let this happen.

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And I'm still in the ask the Lord, please

bring the child's life back into him.

177

And he does.

178

So three separate times, even Elijah.

179

Uh, a man who was close to God,

known by God, a prophet of God

180

still has to pray repeatedly.

181

I want you to notice that.

182

The closest man to God at that point in

time, we could search surmise is Elijah.

183

And even still God beckons him to

pray for something more than once.

184

And this case three times

now, I don't know about you.

185

I I've prayed for some

things multiple times.

186

But I think one of the things

that we should get here is that

187

God is okay with you waiting.

188

God's okay with drawing you in and

causing you to pray more than one time.

189

We're going to come back

to that in a few moments.

190

But in the case, God listens, God

listens to the voice of Elijah.

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Has life comes back to him.

192

Elijah delivers him to his mother

and she, thanks God for him.

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First Kings chapter 18.

194

Uh, Elijah's told by God

to go and confront a hap.

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Now notice here it's in the third

year, which means there's been,

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there's been no water for three years.

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That's going to cause a lot of problems.

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And so at this point in time, Ahab

calls his household manager Obadiah.

199

To help him find some water.

200

Now, interestingly Obadiah,

it says your fears, the Lord.

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And when Jessebelle cutoff

the profits of the Lord.

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By I'm sure by the command of Ahab or

at least with the complicity of Ahab.

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They're killing the Lord's profits.

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The profits of Yahweh are being

disposed of this is bad news.

205

And so Obadiah, uh, hides them

in fifties and puts them in a

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cave and takes care of them.

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And so Ahab says to Obadiah, go

through the land to all the Springs

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of water and to all the valleys.

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And perhaps we may find grass and

save the horses and mules alive

210

and not lose some of the animals.

211

Here's my question.

212

Where are the people?

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Whereas, whereas Ahab's

concern for his people.

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He's clearly trying to

take care of the animals.

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Great.

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I guess.

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Where are the people.

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How are they doing?

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My guess is that they're not doing well.

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Ahab's priorities.

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It seems are off here.

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These can't.

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Caring about his animals,

which I suppose again is fine.

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But he says nothing about the people.

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Anyway, Habin OBA diet takes

separate directions and they

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go and look for the water.

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And of course, you know, Uh,

Elijah meets Obadiah and says,

228

go tell your master I'm here.

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Obadiah says, Hey, please.

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This is going to put

me in an awkward spot.

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Surely, you've heard that I've hidden

the profits by fifties in the caves.

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Uh, when you tell me to go to

Ahab, you're going to disappear.

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Who knows?

234

You're going to go.

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And then I'm going to,

I'm going to get killed.

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Please.

237

Don't let that happen.

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And Elijah says they don't sweat it.

239

I'm staying.

240

Go get him.

241

I got to go talk to them today.

242

So Obadiah complies.

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And then finally in verse 17.

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Ahab saw Elijah and Ahab said to

him, is it you, you troubler of

245

Israel now, how broken do you have

to be to call Elijah the problem?

246

Elijah is not the issue here.

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In fact, he said, it's not me, dude.

248

It's you?

249

You're the problem.

250

And that's so often the problem with

a lot of us, we look at other people

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as being the problem in our lives.

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When so often it's us, it's our sin.

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It's our vision.

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That's blurred.

255

We need really good and godly friends

to help us see when we are the problem.

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And often we're immune to that.

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We're blindsided by certain things.

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And so you need friends, you need godly

friends to help you call yourself out

259

on things that need to be addressed.

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Well, Ahab didn't have that.

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All he had was Elijah.

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And so Elijah said, dude, it's not me.

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It's you?

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Now, therefore here's it.

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Here's the challenge.

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Gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel.

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And here's the two groups of people he

wants there besides all Israel, the 450

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prophets of bale and the 400 prophets of

Asherah who eat at Jesse Bell's table.

269

So that is.

270

They're living off of the, uh, The

good graces of the king, they get to

271

eat from the King's coffer as it were.

272

So a rehab.

273

Is up to the challenge.

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And he calls the profits

there, but notice here.

275

This will be important later.

276

Notice.

277

That is the profits of bail who show up.

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There's no mention of the Asherah profits.

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I don't know where they are.

280

I don't know why they're not

there, but they're not there.

281

They are absent and that's going

to be important later on right

282

now, the profits of bail show up.

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And so there's 450 of them.

284

Elijah is issues a challenge.

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Let's bring two bulls.

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Let's cut them up.

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You guys call out to your God to bring

out fire and send fire on your offering.

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I'll call it to my God to send fire.

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And he says the God who answers by fire.

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He's God, that's the one

that we should follow.

291

And they all agree and

say, that's a good idea.

292

Let's do that.

293

And so from morning.

294

Until noon.

295

It says here, the profits, a bail

said, oh, bail, please answer us.

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And I love this.

297

It says, but there was no voice

and no one answered and they limped

298

around the alter they had made.

299

They continue on and they're

cutting themselves and they're doing

300

all sorts of things to provoke.

301

They're gone to act on their

behalf, but in verse 29, it's

302

repeated, but there was no voice.

303

No one answered, no one paid attention.

304

You remember that?

305

Isaiah Elijah's mocking them saying,

there's maybe are gods in the potty.

306

Maybe he's gone off on a trip and

he's to be awake and he's asleep.

307

So there's some godly

mockery taking place here.

308

And then Elijah finally says,

you know what, we're done here.

309

You guys have had your track, your chance.

310

I'm going to show you how this is done.

311

And so he goes and gathers 12

stones representing the 12 tribes.

312

He erects an altar.

313

And then he says, douse it with water.

314

I want this thing

soaking wet, sopping wet.

315

And I want water to run off into the

trench around the altar that I've erected.

316

And so then he says a simple prayer.

317

It seems.

318

He says, oh Lord God of

Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.

319

Let it be known this day

that you are God in Israel.

320

And then I am your servant.

321

And that all I have done now that all I

have done all these things at your word.

322

Answer me.

323

Oh, Lord, answer me that this people

may know that you, oh Lord our God.

324

And that you have turned

their hearts back.

325

This is really cool because

God sends fire consumes.

326

The offering is like, everything

is done in one fell swoop.

327

There's no delay.

328

It's not multiple stages of process.

329

Here's just one thing.

330

Well, the people respond

exactly how Elijah asked.

331

They saw it.

332

They fell on their face.

333

As they said, the Lord Yahweh.

334

He is God Yahweh.

335

He is God.

336

And so the people are so worked up here.

337

Elijah's like, Hey guys,

here's what needs to happen?

338

Now, go get the profits of bail.

339

Let none of them escape.

340

And that's exactly what they do.

341

Elijah brings him down to the Brook.

342

He takes them out there.

343

After which Elijah says to Ahab.

344

All right, man, go eat, go drink.

345

Cause there's a sound

of rushing rain coming.

346

I've dealt with the profits.

347

God's now going to give you water.

348

And I'm surprisingly,

it doesn't do anything.

349

He doesn't respond to Elijah's active.

350

Uh, miraculous acts here.

351

He just acquiesces.

352

I take it that Ahab's

probably a pretty weak guy.

353

I don't think that he's, he's

leading the way that he supposed

354

to, if there's any leadership in the

kingdom is probably more Jessebelle.

355

Because she's the one who's

going to get upset at this.

356

And anyhow, uh, Elijah is praying.

357

He's praying for rain.

358

His servant is with him.

359

He has to do this note this seven times.

360

He's praying seven times for God to

bring brain that he would promise

361

to that he promised he would do.

362

He prays three times for the

young lad to raise to life.

363

He prayed seven times for

the Lord to send rain.

364

And that's something that

you and I should take.

365

Note of.

366

That's what James chapter five tells us.

367

Elijah was a man just like us.

368

He was a man, I mean a godly man,

a dedicated man, a consecrated man.

369

But he was flesh and blood.

370

And the point is we have to be the kind

of people who pray mightily and regularly.

371

Just like Elijah did.

372

How's your prayer life coming along.

373

How's your prayer life doing?

374

Maybe this is just the encouragement

that God wants you to hear today.

375

To be a man or a woman of prayer

to rededicate yourself to the act.

376

And the discipline and

the worship of prayer.

377

One of the things that our

church needs is a praying.

378

Uh, praying vitality.

379

That's where PJ mentioned a guy who

preached for us a little bit ago and said,

380

there's a, there's a difference between

a church that prays and a praying church.

381

We don't want to just

be a church that prays.

382

Kind of perfunctory.

383

A matter of obligation or duty, but want

to be a church that is a praying church.

384

It's in our DNA.

385

That is in fact, one of our distinctions.

386

And we desire to be a church that

realize genuine relies on prayer.

387

And I'm asking, how is your per life?

388

And I hope that you can say

I genuinely rely on prayer.

389

And if not, maybe today's a

day for us to go before the

390

Lord and say, Lord, forgive us.

391

Forgive me.

392

I've not been the kind of prayer.

393

Warrior that I'd like myself to be.

394

I've been dependent upon myself and my

things and my focus on my situation here.

395

I've not praying the way I should.

396

I would encourage you.

397

Let's be like Elijah.

398

Let's be the kind of people that pray.

399

Well, Elijah has a great day.

400

He does an incredible work by

God's grace and notice here

401

Jessebelle ain't having it.

402

She's mad.

403

First Kings chapter 19, Jessebelle

responds with a, with a, with an oath and

404

she says there's so may the gods do to me

and more also, if I do not make your life.

405

As the life of one of them by

this time tomorrow, in other

406

words, you killed my profits.

407

I'm going to kill you by this

time tomorrow 24 hours from

408

now, you're going to be dead.

409

Now notice that Alijah

responds in a surprising way.

410

He was afraid.

411

And ran for his life.

412

Surprising to me, because

you would expect that a man.

413

We'll be able to say, you know

what, bring it on decibel.

414

The Lord is on my side.

415

And this is the problem for most of us.

416

Fear can so often consume our faith.

417

If we're not careful, fear can

suddenly become dominating overarching

418

unbearably strong in our lives

when faith takes a back seat.

419

And I think that's, what's happening here.

420

I think on top of this,

Elijah's also just dog tired.

421

I have a sense of this because

as he is commanded by God.

422

Uh, well, let me, let me point

it out to look at verses four.

423

He goes, he goes himself a day's

journey into the wilderness.

424

He comes and sits down under a broom tree.

425

And he asked, God, God, please kill me.

426

It's enough now.

427

Oh, Lord, take away my life.

428

I'm no better than my fathers.

429

And get those in verse five and he

laid down and slept under a broom

430

tree and behold, an angel touched

him and said to him, arise and eat.

431

And he looked and behold there was at

his head, a cake baked on hot stones.

432

And a jar of water.

433

And he ate and drank and lay down again.

434

So I'm looking at this and I'm

thinking he's probably just

435

exhausted the guy she's run ragged.

436

Uh, he's I don't know

what else is going on.

437

He's probably emotionally spent after

all that time, he spent on Mount

438

Carmel all morning with the profits

and then having killing the profits.

439

So he's probably just spent one of

the cool things that God does here

440

is he acknowledges Elijah's humanity.

441

He makes him sleep and eat some food.

442

It's like when you're dealing

with an angry toddler.

443

You say, okay, here's a snack, take a nap.

444

Let's try again in a couple hours.

445

And that's kind of what

God does realize you.

446

Maybe you're in that situation right now.

447

Maybe you're spent,

you need a nap in some.

448

And some, some gold fishes.

449

That could be a good start.

450

And then in case God supplies

him, then the need for the

451

moment supplies in the strength.

452

And then he runs.

453

40 days and nights to Horeb

the mountain got Mount Horeb.

454

And God, you know, the story

he speaks to Elijah and he

455

says, what are you doing here?

456

What's going on?

457

And he says, Lord, I've been very jealous.

458

Uh I've.

459

I've.

460

I'm the only one left basically.

461

And God says, that's not the case of Lija.

462

His fear is lying to him.

463

And that's exactly what we'd

expect, but God displays all these

464

majestic displays of his might.

465

So you have a great and strong wind.

466

You have a.

467

Um, earthquake, and then you have a fire.

468

And in all these things has

gotten out in these things.

469

It shows, it shows up in verse 12.

470

That God is in the sound of a low whisper.

471

And this is when Elijah

comes out and face his God.

472

And God deals with them.

473

I think one of the things he's trying

to get across to Elijah is that yes, God

474

does operate in some of these massive

miraculous, spectacular situations.

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But sometimes God is working in a very

secret, small, almost indiscernible way.

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And Elijah ought not to hold God to

one thing versus the other Elijah

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ought to be okay with the fact.

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That God operates sometimes in

ways that are imperceptible.

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Almost invisible.

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And so God says, look,

there are more that are.

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There are more that are beside you.

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You're not alone.

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I've kept 7,000.

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After God can encourage him

and tells him the truth.

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He then gives them a job

to do this is Elijah.

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You got some work to do.

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I'm going to go tell you to anoint

these people and take care of them.

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Don't worry about it.

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Stay focused.

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Stay the course.

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Maybe that's something we need to hear

to stay focused and stay the course.

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And even if you're in a difficult season,

I preached a little bit about this.

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Uh, over the weekend at compass

Bible church, north, Texas.

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Hopefully that was an encouragement to

you, but we all need this encouragement.

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Keep going.

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Don't give up.

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Even if you're tired, keep, keep

your foot on the, on the gas

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pedal and keep making progress.

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Well, one of the notable people that.

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Uh, that Elijah is called to anoint.

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Is his predecessor.

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It was Alicia.

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Now Elijah is plowing with 12

oxen, which we take to mean that

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he's probably pretty well to do.

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Got a lot of oxen.

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A lot of yolk, which seems

to suggest he's doing well.

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He puts his, his, uh, his coat.

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He puts his cloak over him.

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That's what I'm looking for.

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It puts his cloak over him.

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And says, Hey, come follow me.

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And he says, Hey, I'm going to

go say goodbye to my family.

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Elijah says, great, go do that.

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They.

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Burn their bridges.

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Alicia, does he eats the key?

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It's the yogurt.

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Doesn't eat the yolk.

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He sacrifices the oxygen and

boils their flesh with the yolks.

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And then he gives it to the people.

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So they eat, they have a party of

sorts, and then he arose and went

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after Elijah and assisted him.

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And that's, uh, that's a good example of

a disciple, burns his bridges and says,

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I'm going, I'm going this direction.

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This is the direction I want to go.

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Uh, following Christ.

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No matter where there's no turning back,

no turning back as a song says, okay,

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man, so much more there that we could talk

about, but that's probably sufficient.

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Thank you so much for joining

me today for another edition

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of the daily Bible podcast.

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I hope this was a blessing

to you, stay in it.

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And I hope to see you tomorrow.