Passage: 1 Kings 19

Elijah was a very powerful man. 1 Kings 17:1 is the first time we see Elijah in the scriptures. He kind of comes out of nowhere. And the first thing he says is, “There will be no more rain, except at my word.”

1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

That’s a pretty strong word. He was very bold. No wonder Ahab and Jezebel didn’t like him. But we can also see from this scripture that Elijah was pretty cocky.

After this message, God led him to Brook Cherith to train him. Then he took him to the widow’s house to train him. God needed to train him for a great assignment.

The land of Israel went through a time of drought. If you are in a time of drought in your life, you need to examine your life and heart. Israel went through this drought because of their idolatry. Are you holding on to idols in your heart? Are you putting something before God? You must make your heart right with God in order to bring rain back into your spiritual life.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah destroyed the 850 false prophets that sat at Jezebel’s table. But after this mighty victory, Jezebel threatened his life. He was afraid and he ran away. He left Israel and ran to Judah, far away, to foreign country with his servant. He crossed two different borders in his escape. But that wasn’t enough for him. He went another day’s journey into the wilderness, all by himself.

Why did Jezebel tell Elijah that she would kill him tomorrow instead of today? Maybe she just wanted him to get out of the country. Maybe she didn’t have any plan to kill him but to get rid of him.

If someone tells you something about tomorrow, don’t put fear or hope into that. Tomorrow is a new day. Today belongs to God. Tomorrow is not yours or theirs.

Elijah didn’t need to have any fear of Jezebel. He was walking in the power of God to destroy the 850 false prophets of Baal. He was afraid of human position and title and authority. We should never fear someone’s authority or title if we are walking in the Lord.

When we are afraid of someone in a position of power or authority, we will become a very fearful person. We should never be afraid of people. They can only touch our body but they cannot touch our soul. We should only fear God.

After Elijah ran away, God sent an angel to minister to him there, to bring him food and water. God healed Elijah through the angel’s touch, through food, and through rest. God understands that we need to take care of our bodies, the housing place of our soul.

In 1 Kings 19:9, the Lord asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?” He wanted him to consider his choices. The Lord asked him about his present time, but he answered him about his past. Elijah said, “I have served you passionately.” But God wasn’t asking about his past, but his present time situation and relationship with God. Elijah was focused on yesterday, but God is concerned about your present spiritual condition.

Elijah did great miracles before. He was passionate for God before. But what about at this moment? He was hiding in fear. He was depressed and discouraged.

A lot of people are like that. They are struggling in their present time, but when you ask them about it, they focus on their past and all of the things that they have done or gone through. But God is concerned about our present. Your past is in the past. What are you doing for God right now? Where is your heart with God right now?

Elijah justified his decision to run away, but God wasn’t interested in that. God knew everything that he had done and still asked, “What are you doing here?” God wanted to talk about what was going on with Elijah at that moment.

When Elijah spoke to God, where was he? Inside a cave. So many people back themselves into a cave in their fear and depression. It’s dark and small and cramped in the cave. The longer they stay there, they more fearful and depressed they become.

Many Christians speak like Elijah when they are dealing with fear.

Why do Christians struggle with fear? They think that something should have happened by now and it hasn’t happened. They see a great victory but it doesn’t work out exactly like they thought it would. They do something, but no one recognizes them for it. They sacrifice but not for the right reasons. They are overwhelmed by their life and feeling out of control. They trust in God but not 100%.

When God asks you, “What are you doing here?” it means that it’s time to come out of the cave.

It’s time to come out of the cave. Examine your heart. Don’t focus on the past, but move forward.

1 Kings 19:13-14
13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Sometimes people get angry and upset because they feel like they are doing all of the work by themselves. They feel like they are carrying the burden by themselves. They feel like they are serving God by themselves. That’s what happened to Elijah.

But Elijah believed wasn’t true. He wasn’t the only one serving God. That wrong belief led him into a dark cave, alone in the wilderness. God told him that there were another 7,000 in Israel who did not serve the false god, Baal. Elijah was very encouraged by this.

When we know that we are working together with fellow believers, it strengthens us. That’s why we come together to work together to serve God. It brings encouragement. That’s why mission teams go out to work in groups. It is so much more encouraging that working on your own.

You may feel that you’ve been working on your own, serving God on your own, and fighting against evil on your own. But it’s not true. There are many other people serving with you, fighting evil with you, working with you. Be encouraged.

Once he realized that he was not the only one in Israel, he was very encouraged and was ready to move forward with a new assignment. God told him to anoint two kings and a new prophet. Wow.

Elijah went to Mount Horeb, the place where Israel first met God in the wilderness. Sometimes God will take you to the place where you first met him, to remind you of who He is and what He has done in your life. That place may be a physical place or a place in your heart.

God reveled Himself to Elijah on Mount Horeb. He didn’t find Him in the earthquake or the fire or the wind, but in a still small voice. What does that mean? God wants us to stop and focus and listen, to pay attention. We must tune into the quiet voice of God. Be silent before Him. Sometimes we don’t hear God because we are so busy ranting and talking and explaining and justifying. We must still ourselves to know the plans of God.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun East