Hearing Things, Seeing Things: The Elijah Cycle (3)
Call to Worship, Psalm 5
Children, Matthew
6.9-13 (Lord’s Prayer)
6.9-13 (Lord’s Prayer)
Message, 1 Kings 18.41-46
Review:
Drought
declared (Baal’s death)
declared (Baal’s death)
Showdown
of the gods/prophets
of the gods/prophets
Prayer
for rain … not Baal’s new life, but God’s grace
for rain … not Baal’s new life, but God’s grace
Elijah prays and acts on things
that he hears, things he sees – that no one else hears or sees. It is what
distinguishes the “prayer of faith” and what ushers in the gift of the Spirit.
that he hears, things he sees – that no one else hears or sees. It is what
distinguishes the “prayer of faith” and what ushers in the gift of the Spirit.
Future things:
Elijah
Eat
now, rain is coming
now, rain is coming
Leave
now, ahead of the storm
now, ahead of the storm
Jacques Ellul: Understand and
dominate the present by means of the future
dominate the present by means of the future
Our
call:
call:
Act
with confidence
with confidence
Pray
with expectation
with expectation
Stand
on the promise
on the promise
So
often, however, we live in fear, often afraid of failure
often, however, we live in fear, often afraid of failure
2 Timothy 1:7 God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but
rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
College
search fraught with rejection anxiety – rain is coming!
search fraught with rejection anxiety – rain is coming!
Human things:
Story
of man in flood, praying for God to deliver him
of man in flood, praying for God to deliver him
Bruce
Almighty looking for a sign
Almighty looking for a sign
Elijah:
Cloud
the SHAPE of human hand a sign of the work of God
the SHAPE of human hand a sign of the work of God
Jo
Slapinski:
Slapinski:
Confirmation
testimonies … sign, the church in good hands
testimonies … sign, the church in good hands
Jo
… a sign that we are open to the emerging face of the ch
… a sign that we are open to the emerging face of the ch
Last
year’s high school graduates:
year’s high school graduates:
Kailee,
mission trip this summer to the Czech Republic
mission trip this summer to the Czech Republic
Steven,
Habitat for Humanity team
Habitat for Humanity team
Small things:
Elijah
Cloud
the SIZE of human hand a sign
the SIZE of human hand a sign
Discipline
of paying attention to small things
of paying attention to small things
Not
the focus of obsessives, but the focus of the grateful
the focus of obsessives, but the focus of the grateful
Thanks
for doing the dishes
for doing the dishes
Zechariah 4:10 “Who despises the day of small things?
Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. (NIV)
Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. (NIV)
Elijah’s “Prayer offered in faith” (James 5) is a prayer that ACTS on future
things, human things, small things.
things, human things, small things.
Gift of the Spirit
Not
an explicit connection, but a resonance
an explicit connection, but a resonance
Rain
as a metaphor in the prophets for the Spirit
as a metaphor in the prophets for the Spirit
Joel 2:23 O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the
LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has
poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before.
LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has
poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before.
Joel 2:26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and
praise the name of the LORD your God
praise the name of the LORD your God
Joel 2:28-29 Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on
all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall
dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female
slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall
dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female
slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
7
times looking to the sky
times looking to the sky
7
weeks from Passover (cross) to Pentecost (Spirit)
weeks from Passover (cross) to Pentecost (Spirit)
7
days (10?) from Ascension to Pentecost
days (10?) from Ascension to Pentecost
Baptismal
laying on of hands
“The Holy Spirit work within
you”
laying on of hands
“The Holy Spirit work within
you”
Our
thirst for God, and a prayer that God delights to answer
thirst for God, and a prayer that God delights to answer
Psalm 104:30 When you send forth your spirit, they are
created; and you renew the face of the ground.
created; and you renew the face of the ground.