Sunday, September 2, 2007

Here's today sermon- closing msg on series of Running With The Winners

Elijah
-Winning When The Whole World Is Falling Apart
1 Kings 19:1-18 Rev Melvyn Mak

James 5:17 "Elijah was a man just like us." Though he did and saw God's miracles, he was still just one of us. And he comes down and says. "Hey, you can win even when your world is falling apart."The question is 'How?'

1.Release our burdens
-God can carry them much better than us

1 Kings 19:10 "He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Isrealites have rejected your covenant, broken down your alters, and put your prophets to death by the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

Elijah was emotionally worn out. In other words, stressed. Galatians 6:2 says that we should "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fufill the law of Christ." But in Galatians 6:5, it says that we should carry our own load. So which to follow? Both. Carrying each other's burdens refers to giving good advice to someone who comes to you for help and not bear or suffer the same burden as the other party. We don't take the responsibility of change in his/her life but instead we offer up the burdens to the Lord. He has His appointed time to things. When we surrender our load, we will find rest from stress, in the Lord.

What is the difference between rowing a boat and sailing a boat?
We use our ALL our strength to make the boat move when we row a boat. But when we sail a boat, we let the wind move the boat.
Similarly, we let the Holy Spirit move us as we follow.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

2.Re-tune to God's voice
-God is speaking to you

In 1 Kings 19:11-12, God revealed Himself to Elijah in a gentle whisper. Yet, He was not in the wind, earthquake or fire. God only speaks when we quieten our hearts, when we are still. When we don't tune in to God's voice, we will be depressed and worn out. We hear 4 voices everyday:-
the Satan's, other's, our's and God's. So most of the time, it is like 3 voice vs 1 voice. Thus, we have to be sensitive to God's. If not, often we drown ourselves out with fear or anxiety when God's voice is drowned out from our lives. But how do we hear the small still voice of God?

a.Be available-
Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and yound men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

b.Be obedient

3.Return to God's calling
-God wants to give us a new beginning

Read 1 Kings 19:15-16. God tells us, "Go back the way you came". God is giving Elijah a new way of doing things and He also wants to give us a new way.