Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: When God is Quiet (1 Kings 19:9-18) Sermon Series: Interior Re-design: Making Space for God

Transcription

1 Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: When God is Quiet (1 Kings 19:9-18) Sermon Series: Interior Re-design: Making Space for God LET S REVIEW 1. What are 1 or 2 key truths you take away from this sermon? DIGGING DEEPER 1. To better understand study of our passage, I highly recommend you read 1 Kings 18:1 19: Does God have a voice? Read John 10:2-5, 14-15, 27. a. Who hears His voice? Who does not hear His voice? Jesus is using a metaphor to reveal several truths. One point is that He has a voice. A way of speaking and communicating with His sheep or people. All His sheep or people hear His voice. This is much broader than many people would expect. It is not just pastor, Sunday School teacher, or or church leader. Strangers to Jesus do not hear His voice. b. What is required of those who hear Him? Those who hear Jesus voice follow Him. 3. More specific details. Read John 16:7-15. a. Who speaks to you and me? The Helper; Spirit of truth speaks to us. Do you notice what are some things Spirit of truth says? He declares things to come. He glorifies Jesus. b. Where do you suppose this conversation takes place? This Helper, Spirit of truth, we understand to be Holy Spirit, is given to us. He is within us. Therefore we understand this conversation takes place primarily within our being, as an inner voice. Page 1 of 5

2 IN MY LIFE 1. Identify: What is prayer request you asked Lord? Lord give me a heart that is. Write down some or questions or concerns on your mind. As a practice, consider jotting se down periodically and sharing m with someone (your spouse, family member, or friend). 2. Become aware: How much internal sound do you have in your life? What are all sounds around you in your day? Do you feel like you always need to have something on when you are at home or work? Is television on all time? The radio or stereo? Do you have a TV or stereo in your bedroom. Do you go to sleep to music? Wake up to music? Is stereo or radio on in car when you are driving? With family? Why do you think this is case? Is sound your company? 3. Choose (and ask): Choose silence. Intentionally set aside a time and place (when & where?). Ask Lord to quieten your mind. Consider being spontaneous in choosing silence. Spontaneously decide to choose silence periodically. Group or individual exercise Go on. Take a chance. This may seem extraordinary, strange, uncomfortable or awkward, but do it anyway. Become silent. Ask Lord to quieten your own thoughts. Listen for His voice inner voice, and write down what you hear. Share what you heard with ors in your small group or family member. If you did not hear anything this time, that is alright. Continue this important discipline. The Lord is speaking. Thanks Bryan Wilkerson, Sr. Pastor, Grace Chapel, Lexington, MA; for year me concept and this series title: Thanks Brad Jersak for your excellent study and questions on hearing God s voice. Page 2 of 5

3 Text Study * Notice Elijah s response to Lord is repeated and exactly same (regardless of translation. I have included 2 translations here). Why do you suppose this repetition is here? What is particularly different between reply and second reply? ESV 1 Kings 19:9b-10 (ESV) 9 And behold, word of LORD came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? 10 He said, I have been very jealous for LORD, God of hosts. For people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with sword, and I, even I only, am left, and y seek my life, to take it away. NIV 1 Kings 19:9b-10 (NIV) 9 And word of LORD came to him: What are you doing here, Elijah? 10 He replied, I have been very zealous for LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with sword. I am only one left, and now y are trying to kill me too. 1 Kings 19:13b-14 (ESV) 13 And behold, re came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? 14 He said, I have been very jealous for LORD, God of hosts. For people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with sword, and I, even I only, am left, and y seek my life, to take it away. 1 Kings 19:13b-14 (NIV) 13 Then a voice said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? 14 He replied, I have been very zealous for LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with sword. I am only one left, and now y are trying to kill me too. Page 3 of 5

4 Notice: Elijah s appeal & Lord s response 1 Kings 19:10 (ESV) 10 He said, I have been very jealous for LORD, God of hosts. For people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with sword, and I, even I only, am left, and y seek my life, to take it away. Elijah s appeal - Israel forsakes covenant - Throws down God s altars - They kill prophets by sword 1 Kings 19:15-18 (ESV) 15 And LORD said to him, Go, return on your way to wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And one who escapes from sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and one who escapes from sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. The Lord s response - I am loyal (preserve a remnant 7000) - I will anoint kings through you - The evildoers will die by sword Here are various Bible translations of key verse, 1 Kings 19:12 English 12 And after in fire. And after fire sound of a low whisper. International 12 After earthquake came a fire, but in fire. And after fire came a gentle whisper. New American Bible: 1995 Update 12 After after fire a sound of a gentle blowing. King James 12 and after after fire a still small voice. Revised 12 and after after fire a sound of sheer silence. New Living Translation 12 And after earthquake re was a fire, but Lord was not in fire. And after fire re was sound of a gentle whisper. Page 4 of 5

5 Word Study Jealous: (repeated twice i.e. jealous jealous to conote very ) be zealous, i.e., have a strong desire and deep devotion for an object i ; in Greek - to have love or affection for someone or something based on association to love, to have affection for. Love, Affection, Compassion e.g. φιλέω (phileo); ἀγάπη (agape) ii Tore: shred, rip to pieces, i.e., tear an object to pieces using physical impact iii ; in Greek - to split or to tear an object into at least two parts to split, to tear. iv Broke: break, destroy, crush, maul, i.e., make physical contact, and so break or shatter an object, implying destruction of object (Ex 12:46), note: kind of breaking action that occurs can vary greatly according to nature and kind of object which breaks; v whisper: a hush, a whisper, i.e., a relatively low volume sound, as a verbal communication vi ; in Greek - to speak or talk, with apparent focus upon content of what is said to say, to talk, to tell, to speak. vii Λέγω (lego) Low: gentle, i.e., pertaining to a soft volume of a voice viii in Greek - any type of sound, including human speech, but normally a distinctive type of sound as opposed to confused noise sound. ix i Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.) (DBLH 7861, #2). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc. ii Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of 2nd edition.) (1:292). New York: United Bible societies. iii Swanson, J. iv Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A.... v Swanson, J. vi Ibid. vii Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. viii Swanson, J. (1997). ix Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. Page 5 of 5