Session 3 Sermon 2

Text: 1 Kings 19:1-3

The Gate

It is important to remind ourselves of just where Elijah stood as we enter into Chapter 19. For some 42 months God had directly, though sporadically, spoken to him with both directions and provision; and, then, ultimately with fire from heaven. God's hand was placed on him with such power that he outran Ahab's chariot to Jezreel, where he stopped at its entrance—it's gate—and there, dripping wet from the blessings of the Lord, Elijah waited to see what would happen next.

While many things were done at city gates, three are noteworthy and applicable here.

Sin was judged

"Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment." (Deuteronomy 16:18 KJV)

1. Would Elijah's burden for Israel's sin be lifted and restoration continued?
   
   1. It had begun in prayer months before
      
   2. It had endured in isolation and famine
      
   3. It had been revealed in a mighty move of God
      

Prophets delivered their message

Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: (Jeremiah 17:19-20 KJV)

1. Would Elijah's message be truly heeded?
   
   1. Spoken to Ahab (1 Kings 18:18)
      
   2. Spoken to the people (v. 37)
      

Land was redeemed

"Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria." (2 Kings 7:1 KJV)

1. Would the rain
   
   1. Remind Israel that their God is sovereign
      
   2. Redeem the land from the dearth to one that flows with milk and honey?
      

As Elijah waited a figure emerged through the downpour—a messenger was coming towards him. Elijah's mind would surely be spinning now: Would Ahab indeed continue Israel's restoration that had just begun, by his prayer, just a few short hours ago on Mt. Carmel? Would the falling rain be witness enough that God desired to bless His people through their repentance? Would he see the reformation he so longed for?

The Messenger Speaks

"Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 'So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.'" (1 Kings 19:2 ESV) The LXX adds even more emphasis on Jezebel's oath: "As surely as thou art Elijah and I am Jezebel, so let the gods…." Such emphasis said, As surely as thou art the one who says Yahweh is God and I am the one that says Where is Baal, so let the gods….Jezebel was not going to surrender to the Mt. Carmel event, Ahab continued under her demonic influence, and though he had killed 450 prophets of Baal, Elijah feared for his life—and he ran.

Application

In my study time so many commentators had opinions as to why Elijah ran, and I will comment on that more fully in another message, but suffice it to say today that I believe Elijah did what most people do throughout their lives: there are times we really don't know why we do the things we do. However, as a place of restoration, we must also learn from the other players in this passage as well.

Ahab

As we pray for restoration, there will be those individuals like Ahab who will witness the presence and power of God, so much so that others (as well as ourselves) will be crying out "The Lord He is God, the Lord He is God" and we will wait, outside the gate for their sin to be repented of, and thinking, "how can anyone who sat through His Presence not acknowledge the Lord" and then only to learn that there will be no personal change. And we wonder, "How can that be" and discouragement sets in so that we want to run as far away as we can, even though we are dripping wet with His blessings.

The Apostle Paul said it this way, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

1. Receiveth—Not, does
   not
   understand, but does
   not
   admit
   them
   into
   his
   heart (Vincent)
   
2. Know—He is not able to get a knowledge (Robberson)
   

(Scofield) Paul divides men into three classes:

1. Greek, "psuchikos", meaning "of the senses" (Jam_3:15); (Jud_1:19) or "natural," that is, the Adamic man, unrenewed through the new birth (Joh_3:3); (Joh_3:5);
   
2. Greek, "pneumatikos", meaning "spiritual," that is, the renewed man as Spirit-filled and walking in the Spirit in full communion with God (Eph_5:18-20);
   
3. Greek, "sarkikos", meaning "carnal," "fleshly," that is, the renewed man who, walking "after the flesh," remains a babe in Christ (1Co_3:1-4).
   

The "natural" man may be learned, gentle, eloquent, fascinating, but the "spiritual" content of Scripture is absolutely hidden from him; and the "fleshly", or "carnal", Christian is able to comprehend only its simplest truths, "milk" (1Co_3:2).

We must not yoke the characteristics of one onto another, expecting results that they are simply not capable of; rather, our prayers much continue on even after the event and praying that their hearts would have received from the Spirit.

Secondly, there needs to be a real testimony as to what God has done and not just what man accomplished. Notice how the Scripture records Ahab's event rehash to Jezebel: "Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword." (1 Kings 19:1 ESV) But unfortunately we read nowhere of Ahab speaking hoe God answered from heaven with fire.

Jezebel

As we pray for restoration there will be Jezebels who will simply refuse to be converted and others who will speak words desiring for us run—even as we are drenched with the blessings of the Lord.

Reprobates

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Romans 1:28 KJV)

Lit., did not approve. Rev., refused. They did not think God worth the knowing. There is a play upon the words. As they did not approve, God gave them up unto a mind disapproved. The word reprobate is from re-probare, to reject on a second trial, hence, to condemn. (Vincent)

See also 2 Timothy 3

Making threats

1. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3
   
   1. always some who want to put us down
      
   2. the need to pray for one another
      

Elijah

The patience of a reformer; no death—fear—but just a lack of "being there"

Patience in restoration

Ahab ultimately showed repentance: "And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly" (1 Kings 21:27 KJV); however, it wasn't following the mighty move of God on Mt. Carmel.

We must remember the words of Paul as we persevere in individual restorations: "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16 ESV)

Fleeing

1. 2 Timothy 1:7—God has not given us the spirit of fear, but there is one that is around.
   
   1. There is a spirit of fear
      
      1. The adversary uses it to intimidate, discourage, and torment us. He often uses fear in ways that keep us from doing the right thing.
         
      2. Manifested in variety of ways
         
         1. anxiety and worry
            
         2. fear of the unknown
            
         3. fear of saying no
            
         4. fear of rejection
            
         5. fear of evil and violence
            
         6. fear of persecution
            
         7. fear of not "doing right"
            

            
             

2. Psalm 55:1-7—sometimes saints tempted to fear
   
   1. Answer is to stop and pray
      
   2. While there are a variety of Scriptures to answer the spirit of fear Proverbs 29:25 states a general principle, "the fear of man brings his snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."
      

Close

Just as Elijah was standing at the gate, drenched with the blessings of God; so too are we all standing at a personal gate this evening.

At the gate

Not flee for fear, but indeed "die" at a "gate-time" of personal judgment

1. Personal sin
   
2. Truth of the Word
   
3. Redeemed land
   
   1. Physical
      

Your personal spiritual inheritance