Point of Grace Church

View Original

"CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 4 - Lonely, Not Alone

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

20190721 "CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 4 - Lonely, Not Alone Mark Liebenow

SERMON NOTES:  

Israel’s old history calls us today to lives of renewed faith-full-ness to Jesus, to lives of refreshing contrast!  It’s a set apart life! 

Living a life of contrast is lonely, but we are never alone! 

Elijah Flees to Horeb 

1 Kings 19  Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. 

What do we do when we don’t hear God?  Don’t despair , instead depend!  

The LORD Appears to Elijah  

And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"       

God is speaking.  Are you really listening? 

Living a life of contrast is lonely, but we are never alone! 


Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week:
Monday – Luke 24:18-32

Tuesday – 1 Kings 19:1-8

Wednesday – 1 Kings 19:9-18

Thursday –  1 Kings 19:19-21

Friday – Jonah 4:1-11

Saturday – Psalm 146

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7