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1 Kings 19:1\u201319<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Often we are most tempted to give up and give in when we\nbelieve everyone else already has. We\nmust remember that God always reserves a remnant of believers to follow\nhim. You are not alone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tom Hanks is a\ngifted actor. I have seen him play a\ndiverse type of characters over the years, and in every role he turns in an\nimpressive performance. One of my\nfavorite examples of his acting skills is the movie Castaway. By the way, I cant believe that it is a 19\nyear old movie! For over an hour Tom\nHanks is alone with no other actors. He\nportrays a Fed Ex man whose plane went down in the Caribbean. He was able to get to a deserted island and\nhe was forced to survive for 4 years before we was eventually rescued. The movie shows how man was not meant to be\nalone. The agony of loneliness was\nvividly portrayed by this masterful actor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loneliness is\none of the greatest tools in the Devil\u2019s arsenal. With this weapon he causes many strong men to\nbecome weak, afraid, faint, even to the point of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week we\nsaw that folks become discouraged when they confuse Karma with Grace. They get bitter at God when they mistakenly\nthink that He has mistreated them by not giving them what they deserved. We discovered that Grace actually deliver us\nfrom what we deserve and gives us what we don\u2019t deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week as\nwe continue our series on Failing Faith, we will look at another tool Satan\nuses to destroy believers. As we consider the tactics of our enemy, we must\nremember that nothing can separate us from the love of God. As believers, we can never be alone. So the only thing Satan can do is to try to\ndeceive us with the illusion of isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elijah had\njust gone through an epic spiritual battle. \nThe people of Israel were being seduced by the false god, BAAL. The prophet prayed that it would not rain for\nthree and a half years. He had a show\ndown asking for the real God to rain down fire on the altar they prepared. Baal failed, Jehovah God did not! The scorched soot stained spot on the ground\nstood as a testimony that the real God answered with fire! After that the drought ended. 450 prophets of Baal were killed. Rain came! \nVictory was sweet…. but there was a counter attack. Elijah was made blinded by the delusion of\nisolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Kings 19:4 KJV 1900<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But he himself went a day\u2019s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 After great spiritual victory\nwe are often vulnerable to the greatest spiritual attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Elijah expected a nation wide\nrevival after such a great demonstration of God\u2019s power\u2026 instead the queen had\nvowed to destroy him in 24 hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 After 3 1\/2 years of struggle\nand after the showdown with the prophets of Baal, he thought it must be over\u2026\nbut apparently it was not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Elijah ran to Beersheba in the\nextreme southern part of Judah\u2026 about 103 miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He was disappointed, exhausted,\nand spent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 In a moment of human weakness\nhe longed for death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He did not dare take his own\nlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 He did tell God he had had\nenough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 That all came from a belief\nthat he was no better than his fathers\u2026 he was no more effective in ridding the\nland of Baal idolatry than they were. \nSince he was a failure, there was no reason to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 An angel<\/strong> came to feed\nhim and prepare him for a journey. 200\nmiles to the same Mount where Moses met God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 There was still more for Elijah\nto do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God still\nsends His messengers today – pastors\u2026 leaders.. friends<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Take your rest<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Take your food<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 There is still a journey ahead\nof you…. God is not done with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Kings 19:9 KJV 1900<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and,\nbehold, the word of the Lord came<\/em>\nto him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Kings 19:10 KJV 1900<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Elijah was directed to the\nmount of God, not to the cave or fear and isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 This time God\u2019s voice came, not\njust His messenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 The revelation was a\nquestion: \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 I have been jealous for God<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Israel has turned from Your\ncovenant<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Israel has thrown down your\naltars<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 The prophets have been killed<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 I am the only one left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you in\na cave of isolation rather than meeting with God?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 You feel like you are the only\nbeliever truly standing<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Our church is the only one\nwithout compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 When directed to the place to\nmeet God (church) you are curled up isolated in your mind and heart, not\ntalking to anyone or open to any intervention….God gives you the same command\nas He gave Elijah\u2026 stand upon the mount before the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Chapter 19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the\nLORD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 God can reveal Himself in many\ndifferent ways, but He is tenderest when we need that the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Sometimes God is seen in the\nmidst of storms and tempest\u2026 not this time<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Chapter 19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Sometimes God is seen in the\nmidst of instability and crumbling foundations\u2026 but not this time<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Chapter 19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Sometimes God is seen in fiery\ntrials that burn the impurities out of our lives\u2026 but not this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ...and after the fire a still small voice. 13\u00a0And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 God, in His tenderness knows\nthat his exhausted and bewildered servant that thinks he is alone needs a still\nsmall voice. When you hear it\u2026 come to\nthe opening of the cave\u2026there is something life changing about to happen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Chapter 19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What doest thou here, Elijah?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 God asked the convicting\nquestion again in a still small voice. \nThe truth cut through\u2026 you are in the wrong place. I\u2019ve still got stuff for you to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 In verses 15-17 Elijah recieved instruction. You are not be be ashamed\u2026 I have work for\nyou<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 You do not have to be afraid \u2026\nI have work for you to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 You do not have to feel like\nyou are alone\u2026 You are not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Kings 19:18 KJV 1900<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh believer\nfriend. Have you slipped into deep dark\ndepression thinking that you have failed to make a difference and that there is\nno reason to continue? Listen to God\u2019s\nmessenger, you need strength\u2026 eat, rest and get ready for the journey God has\nfor you. Are you hiding in a cave\nisolated and afraid? Listen to the voice\nof God that calls you into His presence. \nYou have heard God in the wind before and He has calmed your storms. You have heard God in the earthquake before\nand He has brought stability. You have\nheard God in the fire before and He has refined you. But today He comes to you at this very moment\nin a still small voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you\nstill doing here? I have work for\nyou. Your isolation is just a\ndelusion. You are not alone! <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 1 Kings 19:1\u201319 Often we are most tempted to give up and give in when we believe everyone else already has. We must remember that God always reserves a remnant of believers to follow him. You are not alone! Tom Hanks is a gifted actor. I have seen him play a diverse type of characters … Continue reading The Delusion of Isolation<\/span> I Feel All Alone and Afraid- Everyone is Against Me <\/h1>\n\n\n\n
I Feel Alone and I am Wrong- I AM NOT ALONE<\/h1>\n\n\n\n