Session 2 Sermon 13

Remembrance

1 Kings 18; "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." (Psalms 20:7 KJV)

Introduction

"The first occurrence of zakar (remember—zaw-ker') is in

1. Gen 8:1 with God as the subject:
   
   1. "God remembered Noah...: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged."
      
   2. In Gen 9:15 God said to Noah: "And I will remember my covenant...; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh."
      
      1. As in these two cases (cf. Gen 6:18), "remember"
         
         1. is used of God in respect to His covenant promises and
            
         2. is followed by an action to fulfill His covenant.
            
2. God delivered Lot from Sodom because of His covenant with Abraham to bless all the nations through him (Gen 18:17-33): "God remembered Abraham, and brought Lot out of the catastrophe..." (Gen 19:29, NIV).
   
3. This (the action of remembering) marks the history of Israel at every major point:
   
   1. "And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel,...and I have remembered my covenant....and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians..." (Exo 6:5-6).
      
   2. The promise "to remember" was repeated in the covenant at Sinai (Lev 26:40-45),
      
   3. God's remembrance was sung in the Psalms (Psa 98:3; Psa 105:8, 42; Psa 106:45),
      
   4. and the promise was repeated by the prophets in regard to restoration from captivity (Eze 16:60).
      
   5. The new covenant promise is: "...I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jer 31:34)" (W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White Jr., 1984).
      
4. New Testament examples
   
   1. Peter—Luke 22:61
      
   2. Apostles—John 2:17
      

The inspiration for this week is remind us for the need to remember.

Remembrance found in 1 Kings 18

1. V. 1—How God had spoken 42 months before in stopping the rain
   
2. V. 10—Obadiah remembers looking everywhere for Elijah
   
3. V. 12—Obadiah remembers how Elijah just "disappeared"
   
4. V. 13—Obadiah remembers Jezebel slaying the prophets of God
   
5. V. 17, 18—Ahab remembers their first "conversation" and it is confirmed that his sin has caused the drought.
   
6. V. 23, 36—Elijah reminds the people of a proper sacrifice
   
7. V. 30, 31—Elijah reminds the people that they are one by using the 12 stones for the altar
   
8. V. 38, 39—God reminds the people of His power and how He answers with fire.
   
9. V. 42—Elijah reminds God in the promise of rain.
   

Applying the Players in this Picture

1. God—who remembers covenant and moves to fulfill it
   
2. Elijah—the agent to bring remembrance
   
3. Israel—people of God needing to return to Him and function as one under His headship
   
4. Obadiah—the everyday believer working in a sinful world
   
5. Ahab—people of royal lineage but who, through outside alliances' and personal choices, sin before God
   

Let's each make a personal identification with the various players

Ahab

"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." (Psalms 51:3 ESV)

1. A personal reminder of a sin that needs to be confessed
   

Obadiah

"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells." (Revelation 2:13 ESV)

1. Seeing answers disappear
   
2. Searching for Elijah (the word for healing)
   
3. Seeing death from drought all around.
   

Israel

"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:19-20 KJV)

1. Joshua 4:1-3, 6-7
   

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV)

1. Endeavoring—to use speed; make an effort
   
2. Keep—not make
   
3. Bond—a joint; ligament
   

Elijah

After the fire still goes and prays until it is answered.

1. Ahab "went up" to satisfy the flesh; Elijah "went up" to complete the plan of God
   

Close

God

He who is faithful!

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

(Hebrews 10:23 ESV)

Session 2 Sermon 12

Review

Last week keeping the battle on the proper field: Not Ahab versus Elijah; not self-vindication; but it was the proper fear of God and not man.

Text

And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." (1 Kings 18:24)

 

Your Gods

History

As the Sun-god, Baal was worshipped under two aspects, beneficent and destructive. On the one hand he gave light and warmth to his worshippers; on the other hand the fierce heats of summer destroyed the vegetation he had himself brought into being. Hence, human victims were sacrificed to him in order to appease his anger in time of plague or other trouble, the victim being usually the first-born of the sacrificer and being burnt alive.

Isaiah 44:17

And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" (Isaiah 44:17)

 

This verse says that a false god was worshiped because the idolater believed the block of wood could deliver him. Herein we find a definition for what constitutes a false god. According to Isaiah 44:17, a god is anything to which we ascribe the power to deliver us. Westerners have their own set of false gods—sources to which they turn for deliverance when in times of crisis or need (let the reader understand):

 

• Money

• Health insurance

• Medical treatment/prescriptions

• Social Security

• Retirement plans and IRA's

• Credit cards/consolidation loans

• Pleasure/entertainment/recreation/sports

• Sex

• Friends (to deliver us from loneliness)

• Counselors

• Lawsuits

• Filing bankruptcy

 

 

Fire Not Water

Water was what Israel needed, there had been 42 months of drought—so why wouldn't Elijah say the God who answers by water, he is whom you will serve? The Mt. Carmel experience was more than meeting a need—rain—it was to reestablish the Lord as God!

Yes, there are times that we need to ask specific things of our God, but there are other times that we need to see the fire of God—His sovereignty that reestablishes Him as the Lord of my entire life, not just my specific area of need!

The question is do I want relief or sovereignty; do I want rain or fire?

Call

Contrast:

Prophets of Baal: Hours of being seen

Elijah: repair (mend/cure) (repent) the Word of the Lord—12 tribes (stones) and 12 barrels of water

Stones are my strength; water is my effort and all of it needs to be consumed by the fire that is God!

 

Session 2 Sermon 11

Keeping the Battle on the Proper Field

Text: 1 Kings 18:17-26

The Spirit of Elijah—understanding the operation of this spirit as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.

It is not personal—earthly—but spiritual; that is, heavenly. Elijah wasn't out to prove to Ahab or to the people who were the "troublers" of Israel; rather, he was out to prove that Jehovah, not Baal, was God.

Not Elijah versus Ahab

It was not Ahab versus Elijah, or the king's words against the prophet's, because ultimately it will not be a battle of words but of power.

1. 1 Corinthians 4:20, "For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power."
   
   1. Real religion, does not consist in words, but in the power of God ruling the heart—Wesley
      
      1. "The people did not answer him a word" (1 Kings 18:21)
         
      2. "But when they heard it, they went away one by one…" (John 8:9).
         
      3. Luke 24:32—hearts burned as He opened up the Scripture
         
         1. Words—Elijah began the "proof" with a question whose principle was in Scripture (1 Kings 18:21 compared to Exodus 20:3)
            
         2. Deeds—Continued with the practice of the Scripture as he rebuilt the altar, time of sacrifice
            

Not a Personal Vindication

"Vindication or defense or whatever reaction there may be should come from God, not from man" (Watchman Nee) (1 Kings 18:36).

1. No self-justification
   
   1. Personal—Luke 10:29
      
      1. Overcoming the need to justify ourselves by our own works
         
         1. Luke 7:4, 5
            
         2. Luke 18:10-14
            
      2. Embracing the fact that only by faith can we be justified; and through His mercy and grace can we do His works—for without Him we can do nothing
         
         1. Typified by Baal's prophets (1 Kings 18:21, 26)
            
         2. God is found not in outward expressions but in the secret place
            
   2. Corporate—Luke 16:15
      
      1. No desire for Elijah to exalt himself before the people
         

It was Proper Fear

The courage of the Lord's messenger is founded on the conviction that, whatever happens, he cannot drift beyond the love of God. He knows that his times are forever in God's hands; that God will not leave him or forsake him; that he is surrounded forever by God's care. If that is so—of whom then shall we be afraid?

1. No fear of man, but God
   
   1. 1 Kings 18:22
      
      1. Standing alone
         
         1. Moses, Exodus 6:9—God is looking for those who will be obedient to His Word regardless of what others will say
            
   2. Matthew 10:26-31
      
      1. Verses 26, 27—double fearlessness
         
         1. Truth will triumph
            
         2. Speak with boldness that which was received
            
            1. He who would teach and preach must first in the secret place listen and learns.
               
      2. Courage of the "Right"
         
         1. No punishment of man can compare to the ultimate punishment prepared for the unbeliever
            
            1. 1 John 4:18
               
      3. God "Cares"
         
         1. Much more than the sparrow
            

Close

Time of prayer

 

Session 2 Sermon 10

This message was based on a direct word from the Holy Spirit in a Monday night prayer meeting. An outline of the interpretation is below.

Interpretation

JULY 6, 2009, MONDAY -

-My people, I say to you tonight, do not be afraid. Do not be afraid to call Me; do not be afraid to hold me to My promises.

- I am a promise keeper

- I have set the date, do not refute that. Hold me, challenge Me, believe Me.

- I am sending the help you need

- You have been faithful in many things

- The time is short

- Look around you. Are your needs not met?

- (I have beckoned you in the night)

- Do not ignore me when I call you

- I beckon you

- Because of your faithfulness and prayers I am answering your needs

- You are faithful

- I will bless you

- I am breathing on you

- But heed to my warning. Satan is like a roaring lion. He will not give up easily. You must stay on your face before me. I am the victory giver.

- (I will lead you from victory to victory)

- Stay on your face before me. I have instructed you, do not stray from that. Keep my word. Keep my word. Keep my instructions before you. I will be faithful to bless you when the need is there. Remember my warning. Beware of those that profess Me but are not of Me.

Message Text

The Holy Spirit's admonition for continued prayer by staying on our faces before was the message's focus with the Scripture text found in 1 Chronicles 7:1, 2.

Important Requisites

1. Preparation
   
   1. Camp
      
   2. Standard
      
2. Battle
   
   1. Rampart
      
   2. Pickets
      
   3. Garrisons
      

Names

1. Shimron
   
   1. Guardianship
      
2. Jashub
   
   1. He will return
      
3. Puah
   
   1. A blast
      
4. Tola
   
   1. Worm
      

Worm

1. Job 25:6
   
   1. Rimmah—maggot
      
   2. Tola—crimson grub
      

Whether men like it or not, man by his depraved sin nature is symbolized in God's Word as a "rimmah;" a maggot. But the Lord Himself is symbolized as a "tola;" a crimson grub. In ancient times the crimson grub, a very rare worm, was actually kept, bred, and cultivated by the Jews as well as some other nations. When several thousand of these crimson grubs were mature; fully grown, then they were crushed to death. Out of the crushed bodies of those crimson grubs would flow a deep red blood, which was used for a dye. When cloth or clothes were washed in this dye, they would be dyed a beautiful crimson red. This lovely color never faded, and could never be washed out or removed.

In Job 25:6 both words are used, "How much less man, that is a worm [rimmah; maggot]? and the Son of man, which is a worm [tola; crimson grub]? Then in Psalm 22:6, the Lord declared of Himself, "But I am a worm [tola; crimson grub], and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people."

While men by their very depraved sin nature are symbolized as "maggots" in the Scriptures, the Lord Jesus Christ is symbolized as the rare "crimson grub" whose body was crushed for us on Calvary's cross, Genesis 3:15. When we then receive Him as our Savior, we are washed from our sin in the precious blood that flowed from His body. His blood dyes our very soul a beautiful red that never fades and can never be removed.

Application

2 Corinthians 10: 3, 4

Session 2 Sermon 9

What to Say to Your People

What to say to your people is a question that pastors ask a regular basis, a weekly if not daily basis. My mind was filled with various thoughts on what to share this week: the mundane in drought; from silence to proclamation; defining a power encounter; if the mountain could speak, the history of Mt. Carmel, etc.

 And so I sat down and started to prepare the sermon --- session 2, sermon nine --- and started to key my outline. But the problem was that my heart didn't connect to my mind and I was reminded of a conversation I had earlier in the day about Crimson House being a contemporary church. And so rather than force my way into a stylized sermon, I'm going to just share what's on my heart... and maybe it will just encompass all my previous thought.

 As we worked yesterday and the sweat saturated our shirts I thought how the mental state of Israel must have been with no rain for 3 1/2 years. I thought of just how tired this past heat wave has affected us, how it zaps our energy, frays our nerves, and seemingly makes life so much more difficult. I thought of your faithfulness, the congregation of Crimson House, entering into a place that's difficult to cool and yet still making the effort. I thought of God's goodness how that, by his grace, this day, Sunday, was one chosen for a relief as temperatures cooled following the early morning rain. In one way I felt it was done especially for us so we can worship tonight a bit more comfortable than we have the last few Sundays; and how it would give each one of you a much-needed break before starting another week doing battle with the "no-gods" of this world.

 What is a "no-god"? The Scriptures reveal that the gods of the nations are "no-gods": they are not realities in themselves; they are powerless to save their followers. In essence they are demons who manipulate the pagan god system and actually received homage paid to the "no-gods." You do battle with "no-gods" every day: the god of this world is a no-god, he has no power to save, he has no life, only death -- he came to steal and kill and destroy. The "no- gods" of enterprise, alluded to last week are alive and well in this world; the no gods of promiscuity; the no gods of mammoth, all desiring to bring drought to your very being. Thus, in essence we have a power encounter every day. Will I limp along, halted between two opinions, or will I stand alone. But then we're really not alone.

 Jesus said, " "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:18). And then, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).

 My peace - Such as I [Jesus] only can impart; the special peace which my religion is fitted to impart.
Not as the world -

1.      Not as the objects which men commonly pursue - pleasure, fame, wealth. They leave care, anxiety, remorse. They do not meet the desires of the immortal mind, and they are incapable of affording that peace which the soul needs.
2.      Not as the men of the world give. They salute you with empty and flattering words, but their professed friendship is often reigned and has no sincerity. You cannot be sure that they are sincere, but I am.
3.      Not as systems of philosophy and false religion give. They profess to give peace, but it is not real. It does not still the voice of conscience; it does not take away sin; it does not reconcile the soul to God.
4.      My peace is such as meets all the wants of the soul, silences the alarms of conscience, is fixed and sure amid all external changes, and will abide in the hour of death and forever. How desirable, in a world of anxiety and care, to possess this peace!

Think with me of His grace, think with me of His love, think with me of His care, think with me of His goodness...and give Him praise!

Session 2 Sermon 8

To be Blameless

"Is it you, you troubler of Israel?"

Scripture Texts: 1 Kings 18:17-19; Philippians 2:12-16

Blame: to place the responsibility for

Definitions

Crooked: "curved, crooked," was especially used (a) of a way, Luk_3:5, with spiritual import (see Pro_28:18, Sept.); it is set in contrast to orthos and euthus, "straight"; (b) metaphorically, of what is morally "crooked," perverse, froward, of people belonging to a particular generation, Act_2:40 (KJV, "untoward"); Phi_2:15;

Perverse (Twisted): "to distort, twist" (dia, "through," and strepho), is translated "to pervert" in Luk_23:2 (cf. No. 1 in Luk_23:14); Act_13:10 [in Act_13:8, "to turn aside" (KJV, "away")]; in the perfect participle, passive voice, it is translated "perverse," lit., "turned aside, corrupted," in Mat_17:17; Luk_9:41; Act_20:30; Phi_2:15.

Progression: Twisted to perverse to reprobate (visual thesaurus)

And harmless - Margin, "sincere." The Greek word (akeraios) means properly that which is unmixed; and then pure, sincere. The idea here is, that they should be artless, simple, without guile. Then they would injure no one. The word occurs only in Mat_10:16; Phi_2:15, where it is rendered "harmless," and Rom_16:19, where it is rendered "sincere"; see the Mat_10:16 note, and Rom_16:19 note.

 

Close

1 Thessalonians 5:23

1. Body—Luke 12:4
   
2. Spirit—Mark 3:22
   
3. Soul—Matthew 5:11, 12
   

 

Session 2 Sermon 7

The Spirit of Ahab

Text: 1 Kings 16:30-34; 18:16-18

Introduction

While much has been said about Jezebel, we must understand that with Ahab there would have been no Jezebel.

Aspects seen in the spirit of Ahab

1. Considering the things of Yahweh as trivial
   
   1. "a light thing" –be of little account
      
      1. No consideration in the historic and established Truth
         
2. No regard for the marriage institution
   
   1. Married contrary to the Word of God—and probably for wrong reasons
      
      1. No consideration or respect for God's plan in marriage
         
3. Served and worshipped other gods
   
   1. Embraced the baals
      
      1. Created environment for abdominal idolatry
         
   2. A spirit of enterprise
      
      1. Will cause men to sacrifice their children for the sake of their jobs.
         

Close

As Joshua, the leader and captain of the Jewish theocracy, is a type of Christ, so is Jericho to be taken (with all Christian expositors) as a type of the powers opposed to Christ and His cause.