Know God - Day 23

1 Kings 18 & 19, 2 Kings 2:1-14 & 4:1-37

Yesterday, despite seeing how evil the kings were, God was STILL speaking through the prophets (just no one was listening).  Today we'll be hearing from Elijah and Elisha...

[when I leave I wanna go out like Elijah with a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire...RM]

What's God saying?
18:36 The Prophet of Elijah ... said, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel ... 37 ...so that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God..." 38Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. 39When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The Lord indeed is God; the Lord indeed is God."

So - what is He telling us??? Pastor urges us to draw nearer to God NOW - and intentionally ... so that it doean't take a fire from heaven or a trial in life - to draw us nearer to God.  Let's pray for that - often!

Elijah obeyed and still suffered. He was being chased by the queen and ran until he just knew he could run no more.  But God told him through an angel in 19:7 "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you."

God is using this to tell us that this life isn't easy.

But

If we listen, God will speak us sustaining words in the midst of the trials.

When has God done this for you?

He is doing it now. through bluebirds

Pastor encourages us to ask God to hold our remembrances of his faithfulness ever before us ... because we WILL need that memory and his strength again and again...

Next:
19:11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD [before Jehovah, Adonai, Yahweh, at attention before God,  ], for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper/a still voice /a soft breath / a quiet subdued voice / a whistling of gentle air / a gentle blowing / a quiet gentle sound / sheer silence.

No matter the translation, God came to Elijah in simple quiet moments.  Not in the glory of strong winds and earthquakes.  Those are flash and show.  He spoke in the quiet.  Our lives are busy. Very busy [to quote Archibald from Veggietales: 

"I'm busy, busy, dreadfully busy.  

You've no idea what I have to do.  

Busy, busy, shockingly busy.  

Much, much too busy for you.  

We're busy, busy, dreadfully busy. 

You've no idea what we have to do.  

Busy, busy, shockingly busy.  

Much, much too busy for you."]

When and where is your simple quiet place and gentle holy moment of each day?  

Honestly - I don't have one.  Lately, I have been escaping to the sanctuary at church.  Praying aloud, crying, singing, and trying to sit still and listen for God's still small voice.

Then God took Elijah in a chariot of fire - separating him from Elisha - and took him to heaven in a whirlwind.  Can you imagine Elisha's shock? And the questions he had to try to answer later??? "Ah. No. He was just *poof* and gone. I guess to heaven."

What is God saying to us?  I doubt he is sending a chariot of fire to sweep us up to heaven. Can't we all wish????  Pastor tells as story about the type of transportation being handed out to use in heaven based on your life - one gets a rolls, one gets a mercedes, one gets an old VW Beetle.  The beetle recipient is caught laughing when he sees his minister passing in roller skates.  Personally - let me just be barefoot - but please let me in!!!  

The point of the story is ... God wants his faithful servants with him for all eternity.  Pastor asks us to join him in thanking, praising, and asking God for more faithfulness in your journey.  

God used Elisha to comfort others. Promising a poor widow her lamp won't run dry and a mother that death doesn't have the final word when God's around.  

Hebrews 1:1 says, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,"

The OT gives us glimpses and small tastes of what is to come with Jesus.  When was the last time we had a taste of God's power?  

I have been getting it frequently the past week or two.  Bluebirds, weight lifted, ability to exhibit anger without causing harm to anyone.  Seeing survivors still being rescued in Haiti despite how long it's been.  Amazing!