11/21/2019
On Sunday morning, we continued in a series where we explore four different Old Testament persons who each had a 40 day experience which challenged and grew their faith. This last week we discussed Elijah.
During those 40 days, Elijah was instructed by God to stand in the mouth of a cave. A giant wind, a strong earthquake and a fire went by but God was not in those. Following those, there was silence and a still, calm voice of God that spoke to him. It was in a calm and silent moment that Elijah experienced the small voice of God speaking to him.
I shared a video clip of a moment in 2003 that reminded me of what that small voice speaking in his ear must have felt like. CLICK HERE to see that clip.
The small voice of the coach of the Mavericks, Maurice Cheeks, literally spoke into Natalie Gilbert’s ear giving her exactly what she needed at that moment to continue. I believe that was the experience that Elijah had in that moment at the mouth of the cave in the silence.
What I did not share on Sunday is what happened next to Natalie. She went on to have some significant air time sharing her experience and doors of opportunity were opened for her. The following year at play offs, she was invited back to sing the National Anthem which she did beautifully.
Following the time that Elijah heard God’s voice, he went on to serve according to God’s will with strength.
We desperately need to stop living our lives of our own accord and our own energy and to be still and listen for that still small voice of God. We are so blessed to have a God whom did not create and desert the world but instead who continues very present with each of us daily. Can you regularly practice this stillness in your life so you may hear God’s voice? I especially pose this challenge as we run into what tends to be a busy and distracting season...Christmas.
Archived Posts
Key Takeaway from Sunday
If I had to identify a specific take away from
Sunday’s sermon it would probably be this:
The Rest of the Story
I mentioned Russell Conwell in Sunday’s message. He was a famous preacher, educator, and lecturer. His sermon/lecture “Acres of Diamonds” was turned into a book and sold rather well. I used Conwell’s illustrations to talk about sharing the good news of Jesus with those closest to us first—family, friends, coworkers, and church family. The wider world is our ultimate aim, but until you invest in the people God has already put in your life, you are unlikely to have much success.
No One Said It Would be Easy
To love Jesus first is to learn to love all the other people in our lives with greater intensity and less selfishness
What’s Saved Is Often Lost
Here’s the benediction we didn’t have time for yesterday (Sunday, November 3). It’s one of my favorite quotations (portions of a newspaper column). I hope you find it as inspiring as I have
Leftovers Continued…
It’s not just the fact that God is un-impressed by our leftovers, it actually goes deeper than that. In a sense, Jesus is passionately and purposely opposed to anything leftover. To be a follower of Jesus Christ is to work diligently to make sure that in the end nothing at all is left over.
Less Stuff and Fewer Wants
Here’s a point I left off Sunday’s sermon due to time and length. In dealing with an Entitled mindset it is very helpful if you can Reduce Materialism and Consumerism.
Entitlement Can Hit You in Ways You Might Never Suspect
The people of God (Israel) were chosen by God to fulfill a unique calling—to be a light to all the other nations of the nations of the world. God chose them because of their willingness to be used by Him for His purposes. But after a while the Israelites began to think that they were chosen--not because with God they could fulfill a special purpose--but because they were a special people, uniquely favored and loved for who they were.