1 00:00:37,939 --> 00:00:41,699 Well, praise the Lord for that song. Amen. Well, good evening. Good 2 00:00:41,699 --> 00:00:44,899 to be with you tonight. Most of you know me. I'm Noah. I'm the 3 00:00:44,899 --> 00:00:49,059 children's pastor here. Most of y' all know me my whole life, 4 00:00:49,059 --> 00:00:53,139 which that's awesome. And it's been a pleasure to be able to serve 5 00:00:53,219 --> 00:00:56,349 you guys here at my home church. I think it's just a really 6 00:00:56,429 --> 00:00:59,749 unique thing how there's many people in this room that have ministered 7 00:00:59,749 --> 00:01:02,869 to me my whole life, and now I get to minister back to them. And 8 00:01:02,869 --> 00:01:05,789 I think it's a very cool experience. And by the way, you guys 9 00:01:05,789 --> 00:01:08,589 are still ministering to me as I'm ministering to you. And it's 10 00:01:08,589 --> 00:01:11,549 just a blessing to be here tonight with you. If you have your 11 00:01:11,549 --> 00:01:17,629 bibles, turn to First Kings, chapter 19 and hold your place there. 12 00:01:17,629 --> 00:01:20,389 We're going to jump back to chapter 18 to get a little bit of 13 00:01:20,389 --> 00:01:25,239 context, but our main text tonight will be in chapter 19 of 14 00:01:25,239 --> 00:01:30,039 First Kings. To set the stage here, if you don't, if you're not 15 00:01:30,039 --> 00:01:35,959 familiar with this passage, this is the passage of the fire coming 16 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:40,039 down on Mount Carmel when Elijah challenges the prophets of 17 00:01:40,039 --> 00:01:43,399 baal. And it's such a great victory. And we'll see that here 18 00:01:43,399 --> 00:01:47,839 in a moment of how great of a victory it is during a time of really 19 00:01:48,869 --> 00:01:52,789 a heavy darkness on Israel. And you'll see how far the people 20 00:01:52,789 --> 00:01:56,989 have come that there's lots of them that have turned to worshiping 21 00:01:56,989 --> 00:02:00,509 baal, but also worshiping God at the same time. And it's just kind 22 00:02:00,509 --> 00:02:04,749 of how in Revelation chapter 3, Just God describes as very lukewarm 23 00:02:04,749 --> 00:02:07,829 and just. It's more gross that they're just in this in between, 24 00:02:08,869 --> 00:02:12,829 this in between status, right, of worshiping BAAL and worshiping 25 00:02:12,829 --> 00:02:18,619 God at the same time. And, and Elijah kind of challenges this. And 26 00:02:18,619 --> 00:02:21,379 we'll see here in a moment. Let's just go ahead and read in verse 27 00:02:21,379 --> 00:02:24,339 number. Let's look at verse number one of chapter 18 of First 28 00:02:24,339 --> 00:02:28,899 Kings. It says, and it came to pass after many days that the word 29 00:02:28,899 --> 00:02:33,499 of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, go show thyself 30 00:02:33,499 --> 00:02:38,099 unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. And Elijah went 31 00:02:38,099 --> 00:02:42,059 to show himself unto Ahab, and there was a sore famine in Samaria. 32 00:02:42,059 --> 00:02:44,579 So this, these two verses really set the scene here, right? 33 00:02:45,069 --> 00:02:48,429 And we know that there's a famine in the land. And God's been 34 00:02:48,429 --> 00:02:51,309 saying here, I'm about to bring land or about to bring rain 35 00:02:51,309 --> 00:02:54,469 back to the land. And this is what you gotta do first Elijah, go 36 00:02:54,469 --> 00:02:57,309 see Ahab. And this is gonna kinda get the ball rolling here, 37 00:02:57,309 --> 00:03:01,669 right? Jump now to verse number 17. It says, and it came to 38 00:03:01,669 --> 00:03:06,469 pass when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, art thou 39 00:03:06,469 --> 00:03:10,709 he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled 40 00:03:10,709 --> 00:03:15,689 Israel, but they thou and thy father's house in that ye have forsaken 41 00:03:15,689 --> 00:03:21,169 the commandments of the Lord and thou hast followed Balaam. Now 42 00:03:21,169 --> 00:03:24,729 therefore send and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel, 43 00:03:24,729 --> 00:03:30,169 and the prophets of Baal 450 and the prophets of the Groves 400, 44 00:03:30,329 --> 00:03:34,889 which eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent unto all the children 45 00:03:34,889 --> 00:03:38,609 of Israel and gathered the prophets together unto unto Mount 46 00:03:38,609 --> 00:03:45,289 Carmel. So we're about to see here this challenge, right? If this 47 00:03:45,289 --> 00:03:48,369 is, if you kind of look into this text, if this does not remind 48 00:03:48,369 --> 00:03:51,489 you of what has happened to our nation the past, I don't know, 49 00:03:51,489 --> 00:03:55,929 20 years, this constant back and forth battle between, oh no, 50 00:03:55,929 --> 00:03:58,689 you're the problem with the nation, oh no, you're the problem 51 00:03:58,689 --> 00:04:01,689 with America right now. And it's just this constant bickering 52 00:04:01,689 --> 00:04:06,279 back and forth. And now we see, we can see the parallel here, 53 00:04:06,279 --> 00:04:09,999 that it's. Now Christians are really starting to challenge this 54 00:04:09,999 --> 00:04:14,079 idea and putting it to the test. And we see here in verse number, 55 00:04:14,479 --> 00:04:16,959 verse number 29. Let's jump down here to verse number 29. It 56 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:19,799 says, and Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, choose you one 57 00:04:19,799 --> 00:04:24,639 bullock for yourselves, and dress it for ye are many. And call 58 00:04:24,639 --> 00:04:28,839 on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took 59 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,599 the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it and called 60 00:04:31,599 --> 00:04:35,449 the name of BAAL from morning even until noon, saying, oh, baal, 61 00:04:35,449 --> 00:04:41,249 hear us. But there was no voice, nor any, I'm sorry, nor nor 62 00:04:41,249 --> 00:04:45,049 any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 63 00:04:45,289 --> 00:04:47,569 And that didn't work either. Look at verse number 27. It came 64 00:04:47,569 --> 00:04:51,049 to pass at noon that Elijah mocked them and said, cry aloud, 65 00:04:51,049 --> 00:04:55,689 for he is a God. Either he is talking or he is pursuing, or he 66 00:04:55,689 --> 00:04:59,529 is in a journey or peradventure, he's. He sleepeth, 67 00:05:00,159 --> 00:05:04,639 it must be awake. And they cried aloud and cut themselves after 68 00:05:04,639 --> 00:05:08,639 their manner with knives and lancets till the blood gushed out 69 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:14,239 upon them. And it came to pass when midday was past, and they prophesied 70 00:05:14,319 --> 00:05:18,079 until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice that there 71 00:05:18,479 --> 00:05:24,479 was neither voice nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. Now 72 00:05:24,479 --> 00:05:30,259 let's jump down real fast to verse number, verse number 36. Real 73 00:05:30,259 --> 00:05:34,979 fast. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of evening 74 00:05:35,059 --> 00:05:39,299 time of the offering of eating sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet 75 00:05:39,299 --> 00:05:43,539 came near and said, lord God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, 76 00:05:43,939 --> 00:05:48,019 let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel and that I 77 00:05:48,019 --> 00:05:52,019 am thy servant and that I have done all these things at thy word. 78 00:05:52,259 --> 00:05:55,829 Hear me, O Lord. Hear me that this. That this people may know that 79 00:05:55,829 --> 00:06:00,149 thou art the Lord God and that thou has turned their heart back 80 00:06:00,149 --> 00:06:04,749 again. Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt 81 00:06:04,749 --> 00:06:07,909 sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up 82 00:06:07,909 --> 00:06:10,989 the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw 83 00:06:10,989 --> 00:06:16,029 it, they fell on their faces and they said, the Lord he is the 84 00:06:16,029 --> 00:06:20,869 God. The Lord he is the God. And Elijah said unto them, take the 85 00:06:20,869 --> 00:06:24,669 prophets of baal, Let not one of them escape. And they took them. 86 00:06:24,669 --> 00:06:29,629 And Elijah brought them down to the brook, Kishon, and slew them 87 00:06:29,629 --> 00:06:34,549 there. Now jump now to verse number 45. And it came to pass in 88 00:06:34,549 --> 00:06:38,629 the meanwhile that the heaven was black with clouds and wind and 89 00:06:38,629 --> 00:06:43,749 there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And 90 00:06:43,749 --> 00:06:47,429 the hand of the Lord was on Elijah. And he. And he girded up 91 00:06:47,429 --> 00:06:52,599 his loins and ran before Ahab and to the entrance of Jezreel. Now, 92 00:06:52,599 --> 00:06:55,599 just to kind of. This is just kind of introduction because our 93 00:06:55,599 --> 00:06:59,799 main. Pat. Our main texture is in chapter 19. But I wanted you all 94 00:06:59,799 --> 00:07:03,599 to see this because we see such a great victory that Elijah 95 00:07:03,599 --> 00:07:06,879 has in his life, in his ministry right here. This is probably 96 00:07:06,879 --> 00:07:09,559 one of the biggest victories you could ever find in the Bible. 97 00:07:10,279 --> 00:07:14,519 If you really go back and look at the passage, Elijah made this 98 00:07:14,519 --> 00:07:18,179 impossible, for this to be some sort of magic trick, this to 99 00:07:18,179 --> 00:07:23,979 be some sort of illusion. They poured several barrels onto the altar, 100 00:07:23,979 --> 00:07:27,379 and it was soaked full of water. And that trench that was. 101 00:07:27,379 --> 00:07:30,779 That they dug around, it was even full of water, just to show 102 00:07:30,779 --> 00:07:34,499 how much water had been poured onto this altar. And the fire that 103 00:07:34,499 --> 00:07:38,859 God sent down from heaven came down and it just. Just engulfed that 104 00:07:38,859 --> 00:07:42,379 whole altar. Nothing was left. Even the dust around it was taken 105 00:07:42,379 --> 00:07:46,649 up. And everyone in Israel then knew that. That God was the 106 00:07:46,649 --> 00:07:50,689 true God of Israel. This great victory that you see. And then you 107 00:07:50,929 --> 00:07:53,609 kind of read in the passage that Elijah basically says, all right, 108 00:07:53,609 --> 00:07:57,049 Ahab, go tell Jezebel about what just happened. Because rain's 109 00:07:57,049 --> 00:07:59,369 coming, and it's gonna be a lot of rain, so it may slow you down, 110 00:07:59,369 --> 00:08:01,889 so you better get going. Right? Of course, the rain comes 111 00:08:01,889 --> 00:08:06,769 and Then Elijah kind of runs after Ahab and he's expecting Jezebel 112 00:08:06,769 --> 00:08:09,809 to be surrendering at this point, right? He thinks that this, 113 00:08:09,809 --> 00:08:15,399 this is. This is the turning point of Israel. It is time to for 114 00:08:15,399 --> 00:08:19,439 revival in Israel. The people are on board with me now. And Jezebel 115 00:08:19,439 --> 00:08:25,079 is about to go down, right? We see here in verse number 19 how things 116 00:08:25,719 --> 00:08:29,079 happen a little bit differently. Look at chapter 19, 117 00:08:29,238 --> 00:08:33,479 verse number one. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had 118 00:08:33,479 --> 00:08:38,279 done, and with all he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 119 00:08:39,089 --> 00:08:43,449 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, so let the gods 120 00:08:43,449 --> 00:08:48,449 do to me, and more also if I make not thy life as the life of 121 00:08:48,449 --> 00:08:54,049 one of them by tomorrow about this time. And when he saw that he 122 00:08:54,049 --> 00:08:59,049 arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongeth 123 00:08:59,049 --> 00:09:03,929 to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's 124 00:09:03,929 --> 00:09:08,048 journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper 125 00:09:08,048 --> 00:09:13,128 tree, and he requested for himself that he might die and said, 126 00:09:14,008 --> 00:09:19,448 it is enough now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than 127 00:09:19,448 --> 00:09:23,488 my father's. Let's pray real fast. Lord, I want to thank you again 128 00:09:23,488 --> 00:09:26,288 for allowing me to preach tonight, Lord, to my home church. 129 00:09:26,288 --> 00:09:29,728 It's just such a great honor and privilege, Lord. I know that 130 00:09:29,728 --> 00:09:32,528 you've laid this message on my heart tonight, Lord, and I know this 131 00:09:32,528 --> 00:09:36,329 is the one you want me to preach. Lord, I pray that you'd hide 132 00:09:36,329 --> 00:09:39,249 me behind your cross and that you'd speak through me and that it 133 00:09:39,249 --> 00:09:41,369 would be the words that you wanted to say and not the words that 134 00:09:41,369 --> 00:09:44,489 I want to say. Lord, we love you, Lord. In Jesus name I pray. 135 00:09:44,569 --> 00:09:49,769 Amen. Going to public school growing up, I'll kind of give you 136 00:09:49,769 --> 00:09:55,089 a little context there. Going. I started out in homeschool, and 137 00:09:55,089 --> 00:09:58,849 I was homeschooled up till about third grade. And then we had 138 00:09:58,849 --> 00:10:05,079 our first kind of trial run, first little trial run of the academy 139 00:10:05,239 --> 00:10:08,679 in fourth grade. So I went to Heritage Christian Academy when it 140 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,839 first started in fourth through fifth grade. And then the 141 00:10:11,839 --> 00:10:14,959 academy had to shut down. We just weren't ready for it yet. And 142 00:10:14,959 --> 00:10:17,679 then in sixth through ninth grade, I actually went to public 143 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,719 school before I went back to Heritage Christian Academy, of course, 144 00:10:21,719 --> 00:10:25,959 graduated from here as well. But that time of being in public 145 00:10:25,959 --> 00:10:30,579 school was a very detrimental time to my life because this was 146 00:10:30,579 --> 00:10:34,339 the time of my life where I started to slowly become a man. I, 147 00:10:34,339 --> 00:10:40,459 you know, I started maturing physically and mentally. This is 148 00:10:40,459 --> 00:10:44,019 the time that I started to get involved with the youth department 149 00:10:44,019 --> 00:10:47,539 and get more involved with the church. And I remember going to public 150 00:10:47,539 --> 00:10:51,499 school and I went to Boyd public school system out there in 151 00:10:51,499 --> 00:10:55,819 Boyd. I lived out there during the time at time. And I remember 152 00:10:56,299 --> 00:11:01,859 feeling like I was the only Christian there. Now that was not 153 00:11:01,859 --> 00:11:05,459 true. It wasn't. There were several other Christians that were 154 00:11:05,459 --> 00:11:08,939 there that went to school with me. They may have not been of the 155 00:11:08,939 --> 00:11:14,179 same. The same color or banner, I should say, maybe not quite 156 00:11:14,179 --> 00:11:16,419 a Baptist or something like that, but they were a Christian, 157 00:11:16,419 --> 00:11:20,479 right? I do believe that they were a saved individual, but. So 158 00:11:20,479 --> 00:11:23,319 there were some differences there. But I really did feel like 159 00:11:23,319 --> 00:11:27,839 I was the only one that strived to live right. And it really 160 00:11:27,839 --> 00:11:31,999 waned on me. And I felt so alone that I kind of started giving 161 00:11:31,999 --> 00:11:36,599 up on it. And I regret to say that I did not live a Christian life 162 00:11:36,599 --> 00:11:40,479 like I wish I did, especially during my junior high years. I did 163 00:11:40,479 --> 00:11:43,919 not live the life that I wish I would have lived. I was not the 164 00:11:43,919 --> 00:11:49,089 witness that I was supposed to be. And my classmates, some of their 165 00:11:49,089 --> 00:11:52,209 names still ring in my head of going, man, what would have happened 166 00:11:52,209 --> 00:11:55,529 if I told them about Jesus? And I never did. And that regret 167 00:11:55,529 --> 00:12:00,089 has always lived there. But I draw attention to I felt so alone 168 00:12:00,089 --> 00:12:04,009 that I felt like I had to fit in, or I felt so alone that I almost 169 00:12:04,009 --> 00:12:10,409 felt like an outcast. Have you ever felt like an outcast at this 170 00:12:10,409 --> 00:12:13,749 time in our nation in regards to the. The terrible things that 171 00:12:13,749 --> 00:12:16,909 have just happened in the past few weeks, and specifically what 172 00:12:17,309 --> 00:12:21,189 happened last week with the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a 173 00:12:21,189 --> 00:12:25,269 great Christian man, by the way, Christians are now faced with 174 00:12:25,269 --> 00:12:31,269 a choice. Those choices are to run and hide or to stand and shine 175 00:12:31,269 --> 00:12:35,669 brighter. Right now, Christians cannot help but feel alone 176 00:12:35,669 --> 00:12:41,599 at times like this. Some may even get discouraged and some begin 177 00:12:41,599 --> 00:12:47,199 to fill up with fear. However, there are still many Christians in 178 00:12:47,199 --> 00:12:51,839 this nation that are choosing to stand. And in times of persecution 179 00:12:51,839 --> 00:12:56,719 and loneliness, what choice are you making? Tonight I would like 180 00:12:56,719 --> 00:13:02,679 to bring up the three lessons of the alone Christians. And we will 181 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:07,079 see here in chapter 19 of the lesson that Elijah is about to learn. 182 00:13:07,079 --> 00:13:12,679 Here, let's jump down to verse number nine of chapter 19. It says, 183 00:13:13,879 --> 00:13:17,199 and he came thither unto a cave and lodged there. And behold, 184 00:13:17,199 --> 00:13:22,639 the word of the Lord came to him. And he said unto him, what doest 185 00:13:22,639 --> 00:13:27,359 thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous. For 186 00:13:27,359 --> 00:13:31,399 the Lord God of hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken 187 00:13:31,399 --> 00:13:36,189 thy covenants, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets 188 00:13:36,189 --> 00:13:43,309 with the sword And I, even I only am left. And they seek my life 189 00:13:43,869 --> 00:13:49,469 to take it away. The first lesson I'd like us to see is lesson 190 00:13:49,469 --> 00:13:57,109 one. Recognize the power of God. Recognize the power of God. 191 00:13:57,109 --> 00:14:00,209 Look at this in verse number 11. It's. This is what the Bible 192 00:14:00,209 --> 00:14:03,609 says, right? And he said, go forth, this is God speaking. And 193 00:14:03,609 --> 00:14:07,649 stand upon the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed 194 00:14:07,649 --> 00:14:12,809 by. And a great strong wind rent the mountains and break in pieces 195 00:14:12,809 --> 00:14:16,329 the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. And 196 00:14:16,329 --> 00:14:19,729 after the wind an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. 197 00:14:19,729 --> 00:14:23,209 Verse number 12. And after the earthquake, a fire. But the Lord 198 00:14:23,209 --> 00:14:28,489 was not in the fire. And after the fire a still small voice. And 199 00:14:28,489 --> 00:14:33,329 it was so when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle 200 00:14:33,489 --> 00:14:38,249 and went out and stood in the entering in of the cave. And behold, 201 00:14:38,249 --> 00:14:43,809 there came a voice unto him and said, what doest thou here, Elijah? 202 00:14:45,169 --> 00:14:50,969 The power of God is unmeasurable. You look throughout 203 00:14:50,969 --> 00:14:55,209 the entire Bible and it's just story after story. And this isn't 204 00:14:55,209 --> 00:14:59,369 just fairy tales. This is actual history of the power of God 205 00:14:59,369 --> 00:15:03,969 being displayed time after time after time. Again, just a few 206 00:15:03,969 --> 00:15:08,009 things that I think, I think of in Genesis chapter 6, verses 6 207 00:15:08,009 --> 00:15:12,889 through 8. I can think of the flood in Exodus 7, I can think of 208 00:15:12,889 --> 00:15:16,049 the 10 plagues, Exodus 7 through 11. I can think of the parting 209 00:15:16,049 --> 00:15:20,169 of the Red Sea that's found in Exodus 14. Just now we just read 210 00:15:20,169 --> 00:15:24,959 the fire from heaven. I think of the virgin birth. I think of the. 211 00:15:25,029 --> 00:15:29,149 The miracles of Jesus. I think of the miracle of his resurrection. 212 00:15:29,149 --> 00:15:33,869 I think of Peter being set free from prison. I think of Paul 213 00:15:33,869 --> 00:15:37,309 escaping death time and time after again. And throughout the whole 214 00:15:37,309 --> 00:15:40,789 word of God we can just see the power and the power and the power 215 00:15:40,789 --> 00:15:45,429 of God showing once again, once again to remind his people that 216 00:15:45,429 --> 00:15:49,549 he's still in control and he's still on the throne. Why does God 217 00:15:49,549 --> 00:15:52,959 do these things? It's to show us how great he really is. There's 218 00:15:52,959 --> 00:15:58,679 nothing that can match it. There's no rival. God has is in this 219 00:15:58,679 --> 00:16:02,839 passage was showing Elijah once again his great power. Elijah 220 00:16:02,839 --> 00:16:07,199 just witnessed this great victory. He saw the fire from heaven 221 00:16:07,199 --> 00:16:14,359 come down and engulf that altar. And he slain the 450 prophets 222 00:16:14,359 --> 00:16:18,319 of Baal by his own sword. And he sees this great victory in his 223 00:16:18,319 --> 00:16:21,499 life. And then you finally see he's come to this point now where 224 00:16:21,499 --> 00:16:25,059 now he's cowering in a cave because now he's fearful of his life. 225 00:16:25,059 --> 00:16:30,179 Even after seeing the power of God. God was once again, he was trying 226 00:16:30,179 --> 00:16:34,939 to get the attention of Elijah. You know what happened? I 227 00:16:34,939 --> 00:16:37,859 see right here at the beginning of chapter 19, Elijah got 228 00:16:37,859 --> 00:16:41,019 his eyes off the Lord and started looking at himself and started 229 00:16:41,019 --> 00:16:44,659 thinking pity upon himself because they were seeking his life. 230 00:16:47,709 --> 00:16:52,069 He was in a place of discouragement and loneliness. But 231 00:16:52,069 --> 00:16:55,269 may I just remind you tonight we could sit here and point the figure 232 00:16:55,269 --> 00:17:03,189 back at Elijah. But can I just remind you, he is human. And I probably 233 00:17:03,189 --> 00:17:08,909 would do the same exact thing right here. After the display of 234 00:17:08,909 --> 00:17:13,749 power, God speaks to Elijah in this still, small voice. You know, 235 00:17:13,749 --> 00:17:16,909 God shows all his power. He sends this wind that's able to just 236 00:17:16,909 --> 00:17:21,069 destroy mountains. He sends this mighty earthquake. It's probably 237 00:17:21,069 --> 00:17:27,869 so intense. It's so. It's so. It's so almost unfathomable that 238 00:17:27,869 --> 00:17:31,509 Elijah's now probably. He's fled back into the cave. It seems 239 00:17:31,509 --> 00:17:34,629 like then this great fire comes, and it's just kind of out 240 00:17:34,629 --> 00:17:37,509 of nowhere. And then all of a sudden, it all just stops. And then 241 00:17:37,509 --> 00:17:42,269 God speaks to him. The still, small voice. God understood what 242 00:17:42,589 --> 00:17:46,829 Elijah was feeling at the moment. Not necessarily that he was 243 00:17:46,829 --> 00:17:51,629 excusing it, but God's being sensitive to Elijah right here. He's 244 00:17:51,629 --> 00:17:56,349 saying, elijah, I know that you are getting discouraged and you 245 00:17:56,349 --> 00:18:00,429 feel lonely, but we're about to see right here that God's about 246 00:18:00,429 --> 00:18:06,009 to ask Elijah one more time, what are you doing here? Are you 247 00:18:06,009 --> 00:18:14,689 not my servant? Are my powers not good enough for you? It's kind 248 00:18:14,689 --> 00:18:20,448 of what he's showing Elijah right here. The Lord was trying to 249 00:18:20,448 --> 00:18:24,129 set Elijah back on his feet, saying, hey, it's okay. I got you. 250 00:18:24,129 --> 00:18:28,129 If I can control the wind, if I can control the earthquakes, if 251 00:18:28,129 --> 00:18:31,569 I can control fire and still speak to you in that still small 252 00:18:31,569 --> 00:18:34,429 voice that just touches your heart, and you can still do this. 253 00:18:34,429 --> 00:18:38,469 Elijah, get back up on your feet. He gave him time to rest. You 254 00:18:38,469 --> 00:18:41,909 can see right here in this verses six through eight. You'll 255 00:18:41,909 --> 00:18:45,549 see that Elijah actually took some time to rest, and the Lord allowed 256 00:18:45,549 --> 00:18:49,189 him to do that. And may I just remind you, Christians do need a 257 00:18:49,189 --> 00:18:51,709 time of rest. Don't ever think that Christians don't need time of 258 00:18:51,709 --> 00:18:57,509 rest. He gave him time to process the situation. God comes 259 00:18:57,509 --> 00:19:01,879 to Elijah. He's asking, Elijah, hey, Elijah, what's going 260 00:19:01,879 --> 00:19:07,879 on? Why are you here? Why are you cowering this cave? And Elijah 261 00:19:07,879 --> 00:19:12,479 is, of course, he's lonely. He's distraught right now. And he's 262 00:19:12,479 --> 00:19:16,599 given Elijah time to process what Elijah just asked from him a 263 00:19:16,599 --> 00:19:20,439 few verses earlier, saying that God Just kill me now, because 264 00:19:20,439 --> 00:19:26,199 I'm done, right? I'm done with doing all this. It was a false victory. 265 00:19:26,279 --> 00:19:30,409 I. I don't care if I solve the fire on the mountain. I'm just done. 266 00:19:30,409 --> 00:19:33,249 I give up. I don't wanna do this more. I don't wanna live here 267 00:19:33,249 --> 00:19:36,649 anymore. And God's going back to Elijah saying, okay, I'm gonna 268 00:19:36,649 --> 00:19:39,889 let you process your emotions for a second. I'm gonna show you 269 00:19:39,889 --> 00:19:43,049 my power, and then I'm gonna come back to you again and we're 270 00:19:43,049 --> 00:19:50,129 gonna talk about this. He's about to give Elijah a choice. God 271 00:19:50,129 --> 00:19:55,779 wants your attention tonight. His word, the word of God is designed 272 00:19:55,779 --> 00:20:00,139 to get our attention and show us the victory that God has already 273 00:20:00,139 --> 00:20:04,339 given us. If you are waiting or looking for some great sign in 274 00:20:04,339 --> 00:20:09,379 the sky for God to give you, to move in your place, you are looking 275 00:20:09,379 --> 00:20:13,379 in the wrong place. What you are truly looking for is what is 276 00:20:13,379 --> 00:20:16,779 found in between these leather bindings. And it's not the pages. 277 00:20:17,419 --> 00:20:20,629 It's not the paper, it's. It's not the ink, but it's the very words 278 00:20:20,629 --> 00:20:24,429 of God that you need in your life right now. That's what you're 279 00:20:24,429 --> 00:20:29,269 searching for. He is giving you the decision. You have a decision 280 00:20:29,349 --> 00:20:33,149 tonight. He is giving you a decision. He is speaking to you in 281 00:20:33,149 --> 00:20:37,189 a still, small voice. And here's the question. Are you listening? 282 00:20:40,949 --> 00:20:45,889 You know, the times where I find it's maybe tough to hear from 283 00:20:45,889 --> 00:20:49,609 God. And I feel like, man, the Lord's not really speaking to me 284 00:20:49,609 --> 00:20:53,449 like I thought he would. He's not really. I don't feel like he's 285 00:20:53,449 --> 00:20:56,329 leading me right now. I don't know what's going on. I have to remind 286 00:20:56,329 --> 00:21:00,769 myself that I shouldn't be looking for some weird miracle in 287 00:21:00,769 --> 00:21:03,969 the sky. I don't need some message written in the clouds. I 288 00:21:03,969 --> 00:21:07,649 don't need a certain writing on the wall, a physical writing on 289 00:21:07,649 --> 00:21:11,489 the wall. I need to go back to the word of God and search the scriptures 290 00:21:11,539 --> 00:21:20,249 of. Of what God wants from me. Lesson one. We must recognize the 291 00:21:20,249 --> 00:21:28,329 power of God in lesson two. We must recognize the decision in chapter 292 00:21:28,329 --> 00:21:30,809 19. I'm going to call. I'm going to call you to the attention 293 00:21:30,809 --> 00:21:34,609 of verse number four one more time. But he himself went a day's 294 00:21:34,609 --> 00:21:38,799 journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper 295 00:21:38,799 --> 00:21:42,999 tree, and he requested for himself that he might die and said, 296 00:21:43,159 --> 00:21:47,559 it is enough. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better 297 00:21:47,959 --> 00:21:53,119 than my fathers. Let me remind you, Elijah just saw the victory 298 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:57,439 on the Mount Carmel, right? We just looked at that. We kind of skipped 299 00:21:57,439 --> 00:21:59,999 through it a little bit. I just wanted to set that stage for 300 00:21:59,999 --> 00:22:04,679 you a little bit. But we just saw this amazing victory that God 301 00:22:04,679 --> 00:22:08,309 brought to Elijah's life. And. And he has now come to the point 302 00:22:08,389 --> 00:22:13,389 where he's like, you know, I'm just done. And how often do we sit 303 00:22:13,389 --> 00:22:17,669 here and do the same thing? How often do we do we wake up in 304 00:22:17,669 --> 00:22:20,149 the morning, we look in the mirror and just say, oh, Lord, I'm 305 00:22:20,149 --> 00:22:23,589 just done with life like this. I don't know what you're trying to 306 00:22:23,589 --> 00:22:27,269 do. I don't know what you want from me, but Lord, I don't care anymore. 307 00:22:27,669 --> 00:22:35,999 I'm done. Elijah truly did feel alone. Look at verse number 308 00:22:35,999 --> 00:22:41,039 14. Remember, God asks Him a second time. This is the second time 309 00:22:41,039 --> 00:22:45,799 God asked him, what doest thou here, Elijah? Verse number 14. And 310 00:22:45,799 --> 00:22:50,239 he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, 311 00:22:50,239 --> 00:22:54,159 because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown 312 00:22:54,159 --> 00:22:58,049 down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword. And, 313 00:22:58,199 --> 00:23:04,399 and I, even I only am left, and they seek my life to take it 314 00:23:04,399 --> 00:23:12,079 away. And the Lord said unto him, go, return on thy way to the 315 00:23:12,079 --> 00:23:17,119 wilderness of Damascus. And when thou comest, anoint Hazael to 316 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:22,639 be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi, shalt thou anoint 317 00:23:22,639 --> 00:23:27,989 to be king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat, of Abel, 318 00:23:28,709 --> 00:23:34,949 Meholah, shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall 319 00:23:34,949 --> 00:23:40,309 come to pass that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall 320 00:23:40,388 --> 00:23:45,109 Jehu slay. And him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall 321 00:23:45,109 --> 00:23:51,839 Elisha slay. We're going to pause right there for a moment. Elijah 322 00:23:51,839 --> 00:23:58,119 made the choice. God asked him the first time, and he recognized 323 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,039 that. Elijah's probably a little emotional at this point. And 324 00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:04,799 God's going to give him a second chance here. God's saying, 325 00:24:04,799 --> 00:24:09,319 all right, Elijah, are you sure this is what you want? What 326 00:24:09,319 --> 00:24:13,279 are you doing here? I'm giving you a second chance to answer this. 327 00:24:16,089 --> 00:24:19,889 And you know what Elijah said? He stuck to it and said, nope, I 328 00:24:19,889 --> 00:24:25,609 told you before God, I'm done. How often has God come to us, the 329 00:24:25,609 --> 00:24:29,649 third, fourth or fifth time and asked us, when are you gonna 330 00:24:29,649 --> 00:24:34,689 start serving me? When are you gonna go back to serving me? Are 331 00:24:34,689 --> 00:24:37,889 you done throwing the pity party or are you still wanna lie 332 00:24:37,889 --> 00:24:42,169 here in your self pity? And how often do we look at God in the 333 00:24:42,169 --> 00:24:47,109 face and say, say, nope. I'm still done. God, it's not worth it 334 00:24:47,109 --> 00:24:54,789 anymore. Elijah chose to give up. After all the victories, after 335 00:24:54,789 --> 00:24:58,909 witnessing the great wonders of God, after being given a second 336 00:24:59,069 --> 00:25:08,269 chance, he chose defeat. God is giving you a decision. Here are 337 00:25:08,269 --> 00:25:12,769 the two decisions that God has given you. You can either live and 338 00:25:12,769 --> 00:25:16,929 stand for him. And guess what that brings. That brings blessing. 339 00:25:17,089 --> 00:25:23,089 We'll see that here in a moment. Protection. Reward. But here's 340 00:25:23,089 --> 00:25:29,729 your second choice. You can deny and run from him. And guess 341 00:25:29,729 --> 00:25:33,969 what? Here's what you get from this. You can avoid persecution. 342 00:25:35,329 --> 00:25:40,549 You get to live your life the way you want to live It Sounds pretty 343 00:25:40,549 --> 00:25:51,829 good. But guess what? You'll wind up feeling all alone. Look around 344 00:25:51,829 --> 00:25:56,669 you tonight. Look at our nation right now. Look at everything 345 00:25:56,669 --> 00:26:02,429 that's transpiring in the world right now. It's time to decide 346 00:26:03,389 --> 00:26:09,879 what you're going to do. The time is up for being lukewarm Christians. 347 00:26:12,039 --> 00:26:16,479 The time is now to take a stand for what you believe and to 348 00:26:16,479 --> 00:26:21,839 speak out against the evil that's against you. It's time to 349 00:26:21,839 --> 00:26:25,919 stand and speak against the sin that is plaguing not just our 350 00:26:25,919 --> 00:26:30,759 nation, but our world tonight. I'm not saying go out and pick fights, 351 00:26:30,759 --> 00:26:34,179 but I am saying you. You should know what you believe, and 352 00:26:34,179 --> 00:26:36,819 you should be willing to give an answer to everyone that asks a 353 00:26:36,819 --> 00:26:44,139 question. And even I'm preaching to myself tonight. So, 354 00:26:44,139 --> 00:26:49,899 lesson one. We see that we must recognize God's power in lesson 355 00:26:49,899 --> 00:26:57,379 two. We must recognize the decision that must be made. But here's 356 00:26:57,379 --> 00:27:04,409 the third lesson. We must recognize the plan that God has. 357 00:27:04,969 --> 00:27:08,329 Let's look back in verse number 19 or, sorry, chapter 19. 358 00:27:08,409 --> 00:27:14,049 And verse number 18, it says, yet I have left me 7,000 Israel. 359 00:27:14,049 --> 00:27:17,929 This is God speaking. All the knees which have not bowed unto BAAL, 360 00:27:18,249 --> 00:27:22,729 and every mouth hath not kissed him. So he departed thence 361 00:27:22,729 --> 00:27:26,539 and found. So this is Elijah. See, he departed thence and found 362 00:27:26,539 --> 00:27:30,659 Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen 363 00:27:30,659 --> 00:27:35,779 before him. And he with the 12th of. And Elijah passed by him 364 00:27:35,939 --> 00:27:40,539 and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after 365 00:27:40,539 --> 00:27:44,579 Elijah and said, let me, I pray thee, kiss my Father and my 366 00:27:44,579 --> 00:27:49,699 mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, go back 367 00:27:49,699 --> 00:27:54,749 again, for what have I done to thee. And he returned back forth 368 00:27:54,749 --> 00:27:59,189 from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slew them and boiled their 369 00:27:59,189 --> 00:28:03,389 flesh with the instruments of of the oxen and gave unto the people, 370 00:28:03,549 --> 00:28:08,829 and they did eat. Then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered 371 00:28:08,829 --> 00:28:18,629 unto him. You see, God was not done with Elijah. Elijah may have 372 00:28:18,629 --> 00:28:25,599 been done, but God wasn't done with Elijah. God still had a plan, 373 00:28:25,599 --> 00:28:29,279 as you can see. After Elijah gave the answer, God said, okay, 374 00:28:30,159 --> 00:28:35,359 if that's your decision, Elijah, I've got a couple more tasks 375 00:28:35,839 --> 00:28:43,039 for you to do. I want you to go down, and I want you to anoint 376 00:28:43,599 --> 00:28:49,149 Hazael to be the king, right, of Syria. And I want you to go down, 377 00:28:49,149 --> 00:28:54,549 and I want you to go to Jehu, and I want you to anoint him to be 378 00:28:54,549 --> 00:29:00,189 king over Israel. And then I want you to go to Elisha, and Elisha 379 00:29:00,189 --> 00:29:04,309 is going to take your place, Elijah. And guess what? No one's 380 00:29:04,309 --> 00:29:09,149 going to escape the sword of Hazael, Jehu, or Elisha. That's what 381 00:29:09,149 --> 00:29:13,239 God says. If they escape Hazael, they will not escape Jehu. 382 00:29:13,239 --> 00:29:16,999 And they escape Jehu, they won't escape Elisha. You know why? 383 00:29:16,999 --> 00:29:20,479 Because that was God's plan. That's God saying, they're not going 384 00:29:20,479 --> 00:29:25,039 to escape me. But, Elijah, I have this one thing for you. There 385 00:29:25,039 --> 00:29:31,759 are still 7,000 knees in Israel that have not bowed the knee 386 00:29:31,919 --> 00:29:36,079 to baal. And you're telling me right now, Elijah, that you're the 387 00:29:36,079 --> 00:29:39,399 only one left, when I have three other people that are about 388 00:29:39,399 --> 00:29:43,399 to take a place of leadership that you're supposed to be fulfilling 389 00:29:43,399 --> 00:29:46,359 right now. And they're gonna take your place because you're the 390 00:29:46,359 --> 00:29:49,159 only one saying that you're the only one left. And how often 391 00:29:49,319 --> 00:29:52,639 do we look at our own lives and we say, God, I'm the only one 392 00:29:52,639 --> 00:29:54,999 left. If I'm the only one left, I'm done. I don't want to do 393 00:29:54,999 --> 00:29:57,679 this anymore. I don't want to be a Christian anymore. I just want 394 00:29:57,679 --> 00:30:00,559 to live my life the way I want to live it. I want you to get out 395 00:30:00,559 --> 00:30:04,359 of my life, God. Because I'm done. I'm done with all the defeats. 396 00:30:04,359 --> 00:30:07,479 I'm done with all. All the verses. I'm done with the word of 397 00:30:07,479 --> 00:30:09,759 God. I'm done with all the hymns. I'm done with church. I'm 398 00:30:09,759 --> 00:30:12,879 done with all this. Because it seems like I'm the only one that's 399 00:30:12,879 --> 00:30:15,919 left, and it's not making a difference. How often do we say that 400 00:30:15,919 --> 00:30:26,159 to God? God is not done with you. He has a plan for you. I don't 401 00:30:26,159 --> 00:30:29,719 care if you're 10 years old. I don't care if you're 15, if you're 402 00:30:29,719 --> 00:30:33,499 25, if you're 30, if you're 130 years old. I don't care. God 403 00:30:33,499 --> 00:30:36,459 still has a plan for your life. If you still draw breath here 404 00:30:36,459 --> 00:30:40,419 tonight as a Christian, God still has a plan and a purpose for 405 00:30:40,419 --> 00:30:47,659 your life. He's not done with you. He still has a remnant on this 406 00:30:47,659 --> 00:30:54,899 earth. Even in the darkest parts of this earth, there is still 407 00:30:54,899 --> 00:31:00,269 revival breaking out in the Philippines. There's still underground 408 00:31:00,269 --> 00:31:07,269 Christians over there in China. There's still missionaries 409 00:31:07,269 --> 00:31:13,909 going to the Middle East. Are you sure we're the only ones left? 410 00:31:16,389 --> 00:31:19,709 Are we the only ones that can sit here and have the right to say 411 00:31:19,709 --> 00:31:24,309 it's all doom and gloom? As my friend, persecution hasn't come yet. 412 00:31:25,949 --> 00:31:34,189 We haven't seen half of it. And guess what? If you are done, 413 00:31:35,149 --> 00:31:42,949 it's okay. God still has the next generation in mind. I get the 414 00:31:42,949 --> 00:31:47,109 privilege of preaching to your kiddos every single Sunday and saying 415 00:31:47,109 --> 00:31:50,069 good morning to them every single Sunday. And I love hearing 416 00:31:50,069 --> 00:31:52,819 from them. I love hearing about their. What's going on in their 417 00:31:52,819 --> 00:31:55,739 life. A lot of them are telling me about their baseball games 418 00:31:55,739 --> 00:31:58,699 or their volleyball games or their soccer games, and I love hearing 419 00:31:58,699 --> 00:32:02,859 about it. By the way, do not tell your kids any secrets, because 420 00:32:02,859 --> 00:32:05,419 they'll probably tell them to me. Okay? I just want to let you 421 00:32:05,419 --> 00:32:12,499 know. But I look at each and every one of those children and I 422 00:32:12,499 --> 00:32:17,019 say, lord, just let me have. Just let me influence them just a 423 00:32:17,019 --> 00:32:22,799 little bit that they would stay and that after I'm gone, there's 424 00:32:22,799 --> 00:32:26,439 still someone here preaching the word of God. I'm not trying to 425 00:32:26,439 --> 00:32:29,479 draw attention to myself. I'm not a great preacher. I'm not one 426 00:32:29,479 --> 00:32:40,159 at all. But God has a plan for the next generation. And the way 427 00:32:40,159 --> 00:32:47,529 I look at it, as we can set them up for failure, we can set them 428 00:32:47,529 --> 00:32:53,769 up for even more success. And Elijah right here is giving the opportunity. 429 00:32:53,769 --> 00:32:58,969 He does spend a little bit of time with Elisha. But if Elijah didn't 430 00:32:58,969 --> 00:33:01,449 tell say to God that he was done, there's a good chance that 431 00:33:01,449 --> 00:33:06,969 Elijah probably could have done more. He could have done it 432 00:33:06,969 --> 00:33:13,019 alongside Elisha. And Elisha's going to see a lot more victories 433 00:33:13,019 --> 00:33:20,819 in his life than Elijah never did. I'm going to have you turn with 434 00:33:20,819 --> 00:33:26,138 me with a moment to Matthew, chapter five. Matthew, chapter five. 435 00:33:31,499 --> 00:33:35,579 I didn't mark it down, so let me get there, too. Matthew, chapter 436 00:33:35,579 --> 00:33:43,439 five. Look at verse number one. And seeing the multitudes, this 437 00:33:43,439 --> 00:33:48,399 is Jesus. He went up into a mountain. And when he was set, his 438 00:33:48,399 --> 00:33:53,799 disciples came unto him. And they opened his mouth and Sorry. 439 00:33:53,799 --> 00:33:58,079 And he opened his mouth and taught them saying, blessed are the 440 00:33:58,079 --> 00:34:02,329 poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are 441 00:34:02,329 --> 00:34:07,289 they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the 442 00:34:07,289 --> 00:34:12,449 meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which 443 00:34:12,449 --> 00:34:16,809 do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be 444 00:34:16,809 --> 00:34:21,009 filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 445 00:34:22,049 --> 00:34:29,379 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are 446 00:34:29,379 --> 00:34:32,499 the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. 447 00:34:34,419 --> 00:34:38,179 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, 448 00:34:38,579 --> 00:34:42,939 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall 449 00:34:42,939 --> 00:34:48,899 revile you, persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against 450 00:34:48,899 --> 00:34:57,658 you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for 451 00:34:57,658 --> 00:35:03,458 great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they, the prophets 452 00:35:04,338 --> 00:35:12,858 which were before you. You say, brother Noah, how do I not feel 453 00:35:12,858 --> 00:35:23,429 so alone? How do I take a stand for the glory of God? How do 454 00:35:23,429 --> 00:35:27,909 I give the answers? How do I live the life that I'm supposed to 455 00:35:27,909 --> 00:35:32,709 live, that I don't fall into this trap that Elijah fell into and 456 00:35:32,709 --> 00:35:40,829 give up on everything? The answer is Christ. Look to Christ. 457 00:35:43,229 --> 00:35:49,059 We just read here, they call this the Beatitudes. This is basically 458 00:35:50,259 --> 00:35:55,059 God's welcome letter to the Christian life. If you want a welcome 459 00:35:55,059 --> 00:36:00,539 letter to the Christian life, here it is. You will be blessed if 460 00:36:00,539 --> 00:36:05,619 you are poor in spirit, recognizing that you have a need 461 00:36:05,619 --> 00:36:11,219 for spiritual food. Blessed are they that mourn. It's okay to 462 00:36:11,219 --> 00:36:16,589 mourn. You're going to be comforted. Blessed are the meek. 463 00:36:16,749 --> 00:36:20,509 That's humility. Blessed are those who stay humble because they 464 00:36:20,509 --> 00:36:25,949 shall inherit more than what their humility might show. Blessed 465 00:36:25,949 --> 00:36:30,549 are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they 466 00:36:30,549 --> 00:36:34,269 shall be filled. I mean, it just goes on and on. And what Jesus 467 00:36:34,269 --> 00:36:38,099 trying to get across is saying what the world tells you to do. I. 468 00:36:38,249 --> 00:36:43,809 I am telling you to do the exact opposite. And guess what? If 469 00:36:43,809 --> 00:36:51,169 you do these things, blessing is on your life. And Jesus says right 470 00:36:51,169 --> 00:36:55,289 here in the last couple of verses, he says, you will be persecuted. 471 00:36:56,569 --> 00:37:01,129 It will happen. You'll be made fun of. You'll be looked at. In a 472 00:37:01,129 --> 00:37:05,969 weird way, as we saw last week, someone was killed for taking 473 00:37:05,969 --> 00:37:10,489 a stand for conservative beliefs and for Christian beliefs. 474 00:37:16,089 --> 00:37:24,009 Christ is not done with you. Christ has the power. Christ should 475 00:37:24,009 --> 00:37:30,169 be your decision, but he gives you that decision to make. And Christ 476 00:37:31,209 --> 00:37:40,219 has and always will be the plan. You are not alone. The Lord 477 00:37:40,219 --> 00:37:48,419 is with you. And he promised that. I think it's been long enough 478 00:37:48,498 --> 00:37:51,979 that many Christians in our nation have just sat on the sidelines 479 00:37:51,979 --> 00:37:58,939 and said, I'm good with where I'm at. In fact, I tried the whole 480 00:37:58,939 --> 00:38:04,819 living for God thing. This just didn't work out for me. I'm 481 00:38:04,819 --> 00:38:12,579 done. How many victories does God have to bring your life for you 482 00:38:12,579 --> 00:38:19,859 to recognize that he's not done with you? This lost world needs 483 00:38:19,859 --> 00:38:23,579 to see the Christians stand up. Right now. Especially in this 484 00:38:23,579 --> 00:38:30,029 time in our nation, they need to see the Christians stand. So let 485 00:38:30,029 --> 00:38:40,949 me ask you, what will you decide? I'm not trying to make put 486 00:38:40,949 --> 00:38:44,749 myself on a pedestal. That is not my heart at all. In fact, I would 487 00:38:44,749 --> 00:38:50,269 say, do not look at me. I'm the worst example to look at. What 488 00:38:50,269 --> 00:38:53,109 I am calling you to do is I'm calling you to stand with God as 489 00:38:53,109 --> 00:38:59,629 he will stand with you. And that if you look at the victories 490 00:38:59,629 --> 00:39:09,349 that God has brought in your very life, why would you quit? There 491 00:39:09,349 --> 00:39:15,949 still is. There's still a church in Haslett, Texas that I hope 492 00:39:15,949 --> 00:39:23,559 will still stand for the word of God. We haven't seen persecution 493 00:39:23,559 --> 00:39:35,599 yet. But let me ask you this. When it does come, and it will, what 494 00:39:35,599 --> 00:39:41,359 decision will you be making? With every head bowed, every eyes 495 00:39:41,359 --> 00:39:47,849 closed, as the musicians get ready to do the invitation, I wonder 496 00:39:47,849 --> 00:39:51,249 tonight if anyone's in here who has not accepted Jesus Christ 497 00:39:51,249 --> 00:39:57,009 as their personal savior. Maybe they don't have that comfort 498 00:39:57,009 --> 00:40:01,968 because they have never accepted Christ. Maybe that's you 499 00:40:01,968 --> 00:40:05,449 and I that feel so alone because you have not accepted Jesus 500 00:40:05,449 --> 00:40:10,209 Christ as your personal savior. He died on the cross for 501 00:40:10,209 --> 00:40:14,169 your sins so that you could live a life that's worth the living, 502 00:40:14,409 --> 00:40:17,689 a life that's more abundant living. And that you could spend 503 00:40:17,689 --> 00:40:22,249 an eternity with him when you pass on or when he calls you home. 504 00:40:24,729 --> 00:40:28,488 I wonder tonight if there's hearts that are full of loneliness 505 00:40:28,488 --> 00:40:34,249 because they just. All they see is the defeat. But if they just 506 00:40:34,249 --> 00:40:38,779 take a step back and look at what God is trying to do in our world 507 00:40:38,779 --> 00:40:44,339 today and they will see that revival is right around the corner. 508 00:40:44,339 --> 00:40:49,659 And it starts with me. My prayer is that tonight you make that 509 00:40:49,659 --> 00:40:57,219 decision to stand with God and that you won't look at him in the 510 00:40:57,219 --> 00:40:59,579 face and say, I'm done. But you say, God, I'm still right here 511 00:40:59,579 --> 00:41:09,469 with you. Keep using me. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you again for 512 00:41:09,629 --> 00:41:12,029 this sermon. Lord. Lord, this is a message I've wanted to preach 513 00:41:12,029 --> 00:41:16,509 for quite some time now. And you laid it on my heart last night. 514 00:41:16,509 --> 00:41:20,749 Lord. Lord, I pray that I said every word that you'd want me to 515 00:41:20,749 --> 00:41:23,789 say, God, that I did not speak. No. A day's message, Lord. 516 00:41:23,789 --> 00:41:27,309 I spoke your message, Lord. Lord, I pray if there's any heart 517 00:41:27,389 --> 00:41:29,759 that's in here tonight that just needs to go to the altar and 518 00:41:30,309 --> 00:41:32,509 needs to get something right with you, I pray that they'd get 519 00:41:32,509 --> 00:41:34,829 that settled tonight, Lord. Whether that's salvation or some 520 00:41:34,829 --> 00:41:37,349 other issue, Lord, whether they just want to praise you for 521 00:41:37,349 --> 00:41:42,229 who you are. God. Lord, we love you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.