Here is a really bad joke, to help us transition out of the discussion on gender and racial equality, and the core value of Empowering Service.

Transcription

1 September 18, 2016 Sermon: Elijah s Bold Prayer Here is a really bad joke, to help us transition out of the discussion on gender and racial equality, and the core value of Empowering Service. Please, let us not judge a gender or a race, if they are feeling something oppressive, especially if we are not the gender or the race this is feeling it. A dad was showing his son, a picture of their wedding day, and the son looked at his dad and asked, Dad is this the day, mommy came to work for us? HMMMMM. Let us pray, and pray boldly, that in our community of God s people, we see one anther as equals, and no gender or race, just because of their gender or race works for another gender or race. The only thing that is to work for us, are things that God works for our good. Ro. 8: 28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God God causes, is best understood as God puts to work. God puts to work those things that came against us, to destroy us, to actually be good for us. The things that confront us, and press against us, are those things, that God s plan is to turn it around, and make those very things, work for our good. 1

2 A cold that came against Rachel, Tom and me this week, God puts it to work for our good. A stomach issue that came against Brenda this week, God puts it to work for her good. Anytime, there is spiritual advance in God s kingdom a battle comes, and with those battles are things. IN relationship with God, it is THOSE things; God works and puts to work for you for your own good and God s glory. NOT a gender, or a race. NO one is to by gender or race work for another as if a gender or race is supreme or better or whatever. Let us look at an example of God working for the good of the prophet Elijah, a situation that required bold prayer. Let us read, a bold prayer, found in the Old Testament, given as an example of Bold Prayer by the Prophet Elijah to the Lord God, and by the King Ahaziah to Satan, or as he was named, in that day as Baal-Zebub, the prince of demons. 2 Kings 1 Slides: 1After King Ahab s death, the land of Moab rebelled against Israel. 2One day Israel s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover. 2

3 3But the angel of the LORD told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?4now, therefore, this is what the LORD says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die. So Elijah went to deliver the message. 5When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, Why have you returned so soon? 6They replied, A man came up to us and told us to go back to the king and give him this message. This is what the LORD says: Is there no God in Israel? Why are you sending men to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die. 7 What sort of man was he? the king demanded. What did he look like? 8They replied, He was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. Elijah from Tishbe! the king exclaimed. 9Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us. 10But Elijah replied to the captain, If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men! Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all. 11So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once. 3

4 12Elijah replied, If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men! And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all. 13Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants. 14See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life! 15Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, Go down with him, and don t be afraid of him. So Elijah got up and went with him to the king. 16And Elijah said to the king, This is what the LORD says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die. 17So Ahaziah died, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah. The Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God. Slide: Elijah and Ahaziah Were Bold Prayers At mouse click: God demonstrates by fire that he will not share his supremacy with any other. Elijah boldly prayed to the Lord God of Heaven. 4

5 Ahaziah boldly prayed to Baal, Zebub whom we know from Matthew 10:25 as the prince of demons. Bold praying is going on, whether to the God of Heaven, or the prince of demons. Maybe some of us need to be awakened engage in bold prayer, and maybe that form of awakening will be becoming aware that bold prayer is going on, but not to the God of Heaven, but tot the prince of demons. King Ahaziah practiced a forbidden divination and consultation. The Lord God forbade these practices for God s people. The King wasn t the president of the United States, but a King of God s people. Those in a relationship with God, God holds to a higher standard than those outside of a relationship with God. For this act of consultation and divination, King Ahaziah had to send to Ekron, the northernmost city of Philistines, on the Philistine-Judea border over 40 miles away. A good 3 to five day walk, just one-way, unless you are running as an ultra marathoner. The prince of demons, baal-zebub, may have been renowned for healing qualities. Such consultation concerning the outcome of any sickness, regardless of cause (Heb. ḥŏlî), illness (JB), or injury (NIV, v. 2) was common practice at the time. Though common, among those of the world system, it remained a forbidden practice for God s people. Keep in mind, that as the world system, continues on it s journeys, they ma engage in similar practices, but for us, God s people, we are forbidden from 5

6 such. The swift return of the messengers assured the king that they had not had time to go to Ekron, and return, hence the question. God loved the King and showed his love by intervening yet again through his servant to keep the messengers from their destination, for if Ahaziah had obtained a verdict from Baal-Zebub it might have belittled Yahweh and the people in relationship with him. God normally spoke directly to Elijah but here may have sought to show the contrast between God s messenger, the angel of the LORD, and those of Ahaziah. For the king of Samaria the sure word Ahaziah sought from Baal-Zebub was given by God himself (v. 4, cf. v. 16). Be reminded, that anything the world offers, whether wisdom, health, healing, prosperity, understanding, enlightenment, it will be accessed by faith within a relationship with God, through Christ Jesus. Please, do not go to the prince of demons, for healing, when you can go to the Prince of Peace. The description of the prophet was sufficient for recognition by a king whose father had met Elijah many times. He wore camel or other animalskin clothing which may have been distinctive of a prophet. Elijah was described with The Hebrew words for possessor of hair ( a hairy man and does not apply simply to the common beard. A little FYI: back to the sermons from 1 Cor. 11 during Empowering service. Let me mess with your mind, just a bit. The OT pattern for prophets was NOT short hair, as some misinterprets of 1 Cor. 11, try to impose on men. If anything it is unnatural to have short hair, and more natural to have long 6

7 hair. No barbershops, or hair salons in nature. Haircuts and shaving is unnatural, but acceptable and necessary to prosper in a civilized society. Back in the long hair, post chemotherapy days, I was on the W&OD, on a prayer jog, and met the pastor of VPC, dear friends. Pastor Pete commented to me, that I looked prophetic. My hearts desire is to not just look prophetic but be prophetic, and engage in bold prayer. Prophets, immersed in nature, away from the clamor of civilization, would have taken on a wild, natural look. And, if you find a male, who is very clean cut, clean-shaven, you can probably assume, they have not been spending years out in nature, away from others. Just saying, that biblical authority always trumps cultural standards and personal choices, but one must be aware that it is possible to misinterpret hard to understand biblical passages such as the ones that deal with the length of males hair, and who, if any serve as the authority over a woman. Just saying that just because a person, who believes in Jesus, that their actions are not to automatically, be an adjective for Christian. It is faulty logic to automatically assign, the adjective Christian to behaviors and actions of a follower of Jesus. Being a person of Bold Prayer, we must separate ourselves from cultural Christianity and have relationship with the Lord God, because some of God s people may be tempted to seek consultation with the baal zebub the prince of demons, and not stay within their relationship with God, through Christ Jesus. Here is something worth noting. 7

8 Slide: Bold Prayer can be Misunderstood and Misapplied King Ahaziah is desperate to get a reversal of the prophecy against him and would use massive, deadly force if needed. The morality of the act has often been misunderstood as the inhumanity of the destruction of the innocent captains and fifties (Montgomery a commentator on this passage, which in my view is not a view to take). Some commentator s also say this is a later addition to verses 2 8 meaning, that it was added afterwards. Misunderstanding and miss application of scriptures is many fold and even those who spend their lives tying understand scripture can misapply and mistranslate. So be encouraged to hear from the Lord about passages of scripture. You are just as likely to get it right. This is a life and death situation, that faced Elijah, and it must be emphasized that this situation is not just being treated unkindly, but death was imminent for Elijah. It would be the equivalent of being sought after and found by 50 armed Isis, warriors. We are only one week away from the remembrance of 911, and aggressive warriors of this worlds systems, still torment and persecute God s people. This passage should not be measured solely by New Testament standards, for Jesus rebuked his disciples for wanting a similar demonstration of fire (Luke 9:54 55). For mistreatment of Jesus. 54When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up? 8

9 55But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56So they went on to another village. The situation facing Elijah was much different than the Samaritans who simply did not welcome Jesus. Super-imposing one s situation, over the top of what Elijah was facing is not a good way to apply, scriptural authority and one s behaviors. IF you are mistreated or persecuted, follow Jesus through it. However, if 50-armed terrorists surround you, feel absolutely free, to pray the prayer of Elijah, to call down fire from heaven. These are dangerous times, and are armed with the knowledge of bold prayer to the Lord God of heaven, can overcome whatever bold prayer to the prince of demons has resulted in. God was protecting his word and his servant. Contradiction of this passage must imply denial of other similar Old Testament judgmental events. Elijah acted NOT out of private vengeance but for the Name of God and such divine judgment is clear in the New Testament also. Heb. 12:29; says, a NT passage Slide: For our God is a devouring fire. Rev. 11:5; a very NT passage. Slide: 9

10 If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. 2 Thess. 1:7 9). Another very NT passage. 7And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. Slide: 9They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. Some sensitive Christians would like to think that no one would be damned but that is not biblical. Some sensitive Christians are not able to accept that some of humanity will be punished with eternal separation from the Lord and from his glorious power. It is hard, it is difficult, and yet it is true. Fire also links Elijah with Moses again (Lev. 10:2; 1Aaron s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by 10

11 burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. Slide: 2So fire blazed forth from the LORD s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. Num. 11:3) Slide: Then the LORD s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, A point I hope to make is that Bold Prayer is not saying, we are to be self confident, or bold in a self-focused way. Bold Prayer was life or death for Elijah, for: Slide: Elijah s Life was in Danger The third group was spared not because of the plea for mercy but through divine intervention. Do not be afraid (v. 15) shows that Elijah s life was in danger. The king already knows the will of the God of Israel but is unwilling to heed it (Robinson) and so brings the judgment on himself. The answer is in the God who is Bold, not in yourself, who should be finding itself feeling a little weak and lost sometimes. I found this quote from a Christian, and thought provoking and humorous writer: Wendell Berry Slide: 11

12 It may be that when we no longer know which way to go that we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings. Anyone facing a pathway that seems like an impeded stream, or have das where you mind is baffled. It is possible that Elijah wasn t bold, but he had bold faith in a bold God. Elijah, was in a personal relationship with God, and his life was in danger. The emphasis should not be on the person of Elijah, but on the person of God. IF, we think the boldness resided in the person of Elijah, then we will dismiss this as only being able through someone as bold as a bold person. This is not bold personalities, that leads to bold personality cults, but bold prayer, that leads others into an empowered relationship with God. Listen, a take away from this message on bold prayer, is to accept that like Elijah, when we face the reality that an experience is life endangering, that within an empowered relationship with God, through Christ Jesus, we can respond with bold prayer. And like Mr. Berry said, It may be that when we no longer know which way to go that we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings. If you, like many of s, are in an impeded stream, and your mind is baffled, consider responding by entering into and deepening your personal relationship with God, through Christ Jesus. Bold prayer may be praying for mountains to move, demons to tremble, storms to cease, the dead raised to life, and it also may be: When your mind is so fuzzy from a cough awakened sleep, and you stumble out of bed because you can no longer lay flat, and as you are stumbling out into the hall, barely awake, and couching, that you engage in a prayer, that in God s eyes is very bold. 12

13 Maybe bold prayer is not the prayers that are prayed when your mind is so sharp and clear and focused and certain, but those prayers of faith, when your mind is baffled, is not sharp, is fuzzy, and distracted, and uncertain how the day will go, and your pray boldly for his will to be done, Maybe bold prayer is praying with goose bumps all up and down your neck, when you just happen to find yourself near a group of young adults with their hands held, eyes closed and chanting, Satan is Lord, Satan is lord, maybe bold prayer is engaging in prayer, when your whole body is literally trembling from the reactions of your experience. And, certainly, bold praying is not equal to loud praying. Bold prayers, are not prayed in a way for humans to equate as bold, but to God, who hears and answers prayers. Maybe when fear has gripped you, when doubts are assailing you, when past failures are reminding you, when your mistakes are haunting you, and you are taunted, you can still say, even when the fear of the moment, has literally taken your breath and voice away. I am a man of God I am a woman of God. I am a child of God. Listen life, is full of impeded streams and mind-boggling situations, and we can be Like Elijah and pray, with this precedent. If I am a person of God, Then, let fire fall from heaven on those and that, which has come to destroy me. 13

14 A: Accept the fact that you need and want a relationship with God, through Christ Jesus. Slide: Jn. 10:10 My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. Listen: God s plan for all humanity is for each of us, including you, to give you a rich and satisfying life. Consider calling fire down from heaven, upon cancer if you are ever diagnosed with cancer, or a life threatening disease. Everyone faces terrible and minor tragedies that leave a person destitute and hopeless, with a baffled mind, not knowing which way to go. But in a relationship with God, and his people, the situation never truly is hopeless. B: Believe that since God raised Jesus from the dead that he can raise you up as well. Bold Prayer is needed because we still face opposition. As Elijah was opposed and his life endangered, so may we. Another quote from Mr. Berry is suitable on this point, of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. So, friends, every day do something that won't compute... Give your approval to all you cannot understand... Ask the questions that have no answers. Put your faith in two inches of humus that will build under the trees every thousand years Slide: 14

15 ... Laugh. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts... Practice resurrection. Practice resurrection. Elijah faced evil personalities, and some are within the community of God s people, and so will we. The people may change, but it is the same force of an evil personality, the bible describes as a thief. Slide: Jn. 10:10 The thief s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. In this journey, there is a thief to your journey, whose purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. And, you can be equipped to overcome the thief to God s purpose of giving you a rich and satisfying life. Then, C: Confess that belief, openly, publically, and more importantly privately, in your self-talk of the Lordship of Christ. Elijah prayed a bold prayer that began with an if. If I am a man of God Today, you can become a son or daughter of God, by acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ, by giving Jesus all of your life. Slide: Ro. 10: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 15

16 Altar call and prayer 16