Abel’s parents had failed terribly in the garden, inflicting a curse upon all humanity, but they must have taught their second son something about God. Revival in at least one member of the first family was by faith because, “By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he’s still speaking through faith.” (Hebrews 11:4 CEB) Is Cain’s attitude also a common theme throughout history, of jealousy and murder (Jude 11)? Speaking to us still, is Abel’s testimony of a believer who offered a better sacrifice by faith.
Cain probably only gave a half-hearted offering, while his brother gave his best as we can see, “Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift.” (Genesis 4:3-5 NLT) Did he “refuse to do what is right” (Genesis 4:7 NLT), only offering “some” of his crops as a cheap religious gesture, without purity of heart? Wrong attitudes lead to wrong actions, even murder.
The leader of a revival has often been hated and sometimes even assassinated. Jealousy, pure and simple, was the motive for history’s first murder. Killed for his love of God, Abel experienced the first revival after the fall and became the first martyr for his faith.
Have churches across the world been guilty of attacking those who love God? You who scoff at Bible preaching, why do you even go to church? Killed by politics, lust for power, a desire to hear only “smooth things” (Isaiah 30:9-13) and preference for false gospels that tickle the ears, many ministries suffer opposition. Your preacher, if he preaches the Bible as best he can, is a blessing from God. Pastor, will you be faithful to the word of God, even if it means you lose your post?
Rejoice, lovers of God, though jealous people may kill you, you will live with God.
Words of Life
Prelude
Jesus spoke words that are still spirit and life. Purpose: How can mere words be spirit and life? What does that mean? Plan: Let’s discuss why Jesus’ words are described as spirit and life in John 6:56-69.
Eat My Flesh
John 6:56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.
Eating Jesus means munching, crunching or gnawing on Jesus, offensive to many. Those who gnaw on him remain in Him, and twelve disciples did. Theories, camaraderie and music are not the whole meal. They taste good for a while, but the real food is munching on Jesus.
Complaining
John 6:58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” 61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?
Murmuring and grumbling are common. We have all done it. Yet, some are remarkably silent. What’s the secret to not grumbling? Perhaps they can’t talk with their mouths full, because they continually feast on Jesus and have no desire to complain.
We offend God (Leviticus 5:19). He forgives (Isaiah 44:22). Love God’s instructions; don’t be easily offended (Psalm 119:165). God hates discord (Proverbs 6:16-19) and revenge (Leviticus 19:18). Haters quarrel. Lovers pardon (Proverbs 10:12; 18:19). Offended friends are hard to regain (Proverbs 18:19). Friendly wounds are better than backbiters kisses (Proverbs 27:5-6). Do not judge a speck in someone’s eye with a log in your own (Matthew 7:1-5). Discuss offenses privately then with witnesses, before involving the church (Matthew 18:15-17). Rebuke and forgive (Luke 17:3-4). Preaching Christ offends and is ridiculed (1 Corinthians 1:23). If I quit preaching, nobody would be offended (Galatians 5:11). Tolerate faults. Be united in peace. God forgives, so forgive (Ephesians 4:2-3; Colossians 3:13). Be slow to anger (James 1:19).
Words that are Spirit & Life
John 6:62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
What does it mean that words are spirit? Jesus’ words are spiritual. Words that are spirit can only be received in spirit. We can still receive His words today. It is not our physical traditions that bless us today, but the words of Jesus Christ which are spirit.
Deserting Jesus
John 6:66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
Does Jesus offend us? Do the same words offend many today? Church life is a constant winnowing process. The chaff is driven away and the wheat stays. What about us? Will we leave because the words of life offend, or will we stay?
To Whom Would We Go?
John 6:68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
The more we promote ourselves, our denominational "distinctives" and our man-made system, the less blessed we will be. The more we promote Jesus, the more He will bless us. When we promote Jesus Christ more than anything else, the blessings from heaven will be poured out in abundance. Words are powerful. Jesus' words speak to us today. They give us eternal life. When preachers teach the words of Jesus, they preach the words of eternal life.
Postlude
Jesus’ words are the lifeblood of Christianity. They still offend some people and others still call them nonsense, but the words of Jesus are also spirit and life.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Jesus spoke words that are still spirit and life. Purpose: How can mere words be spirit and life? What does that mean? Plan: Let’s discuss why Jesus’ words are described as spirit and life in John 6:56-69.
Eat My Flesh
John 6:56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.
Eating Jesus means munching, crunching or gnawing on Jesus, offensive to many. Those who gnaw on him remain in Him, and twelve disciples did. Theories, camaraderie and music are not the whole meal. They taste good for a while, but the real food is munching on Jesus.
Complaining
John 6:58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” 61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?
Murmuring and grumbling are common. We have all done it. Yet, some are remarkably silent. What’s the secret to not grumbling? Perhaps they can’t talk with their mouths full, because they continually feast on Jesus and have no desire to complain.
We offend God (Leviticus 5:19). He forgives (Isaiah 44:22). Love God’s instructions; don’t be easily offended (Psalm 119:165). God hates discord (Proverbs 6:16-19) and revenge (Leviticus 19:18). Haters quarrel. Lovers pardon (Proverbs 10:12; 18:19). Offended friends are hard to regain (Proverbs 18:19). Friendly wounds are better than backbiters kisses (Proverbs 27:5-6). Do not judge a speck in someone’s eye with a log in your own (Matthew 7:1-5). Discuss offenses privately then with witnesses, before involving the church (Matthew 18:15-17). Rebuke and forgive (Luke 17:3-4). Preaching Christ offends and is ridiculed (1 Corinthians 1:23). If I quit preaching, nobody would be offended (Galatians 5:11). Tolerate faults. Be united in peace. God forgives, so forgive (Ephesians 4:2-3; Colossians 3:13). Be slow to anger (James 1:19).
Words that are Spirit & Life
John 6:62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
What does it mean that words are spirit? Jesus’ words are spiritual. Words that are spirit can only be received in spirit. We can still receive His words today. It is not our physical traditions that bless us today, but the words of Jesus Christ which are spirit.
Deserting Jesus
John 6:66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
Does Jesus offend us? Do the same words offend many today? Church life is a constant winnowing process. The chaff is driven away and the wheat stays. What about us? Will we leave because the words of life offend, or will we stay?
To Whom Would We Go?
John 6:68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
The more we promote ourselves, our denominational "distinctives" and our man-made system, the less blessed we will be. The more we promote Jesus, the more He will bless us. When we promote Jesus Christ more than anything else, the blessings from heaven will be poured out in abundance. Words are powerful. Jesus' words speak to us today. They give us eternal life. When preachers teach the words of Jesus, they preach the words of eternal life.
Postlude
Jesus’ words are the lifeblood of Christianity. They still offend some people and others still call them nonsense, but the words of Jesus are also spirit and life.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Bread from Heaven
Prelude
Do I want MY religion or the religion of Jesus? Purpose: Let’s look at the religion that came from heaven. Plan: Let’s discuss the events of John 6:24-35.
The Throng
John 6:24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
This occurred immediately after feeding the 5,000. A throng, mob or crowd in a flotilla of small boats descended on Capernaum searching for Jesus. They asked Him when He got there, because He did not leave with the disciples. Did Jesus answer the question?
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
News reporters would be angry. Jesus ignored the question, not explaining His walking on the sea to get there, but spoke about motives. Are our motives for physical food or spiritual signs, for that which perishes or that which lasts forever? Do we lust for fleeting pursuits or hunger for eternal relevance?
There are two marks on offer in this world which men carry in their foreheads (thinking) and their hands (deeds). The mark of the beast is a seal that reveals a person’s trust in the kingdoms of this world, which from Daniel to Revelation are described as beasts. The other mark is the seal of God, the law written on our hearts by the Holy Spirit, a stamp of heavenly approval. Jesus said plainly that His kingdom is not of this world.
A crowd of people were looking for Jesus in Capernaum, but why? Why do we look for Jesus? The crowd had wanted to make Him a king of this world, but Jesus eluded them. They wanted a leader who would fulfill all their worldly expectations, but Jesus was not going to operate according to this world’s ways.
The Work
John 6:28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
They got the point, and asked how to be involved in God’s eternal work. This is a question that every church should ask itself, when any proposals are brought up. What is God’s work?
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
What a shocking answer! God’s work is, in the original Greek, “to have faith”? Is this a direct challenge to Protestant Reformation theology? Does Jesus actually call faith a work? Is this a work that only God does or do we join Him “that we may work the works of God?” What happened to the Protestant idea of separating faith from work? Maybe the truth is deeper than we thought.
Do we make idols of the perishable things, ignoring the important spiritual food that Jesus brings? Are we control freaks demanding our own way or letting Christ lead? The crowd asks how they too could have the power to do God’s works. But power in the wrong hands is dangerous, causing more harm than good. Instead, Jesus urged them to believe in him instead of their own ideas. Instead of simply listening they argued back, asking what sign he was going to give them. Even though they had already seen many signs such as healing the sick and feeding a large crowd and some had even admitted that he was the prophet who was to come (6:14), they were a demanding and argumentative crowd. Jesus challenges their motives as seeking perishable things when they should be seeking eternal life.
The Bread
John 6:30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
What? They had just witnessed many signs, but now ask for another?
The crowd politely called Jesus “rabbi” because they did not understand any more about him than that. They seem to be a little demanding of him, asking when he got there, obviously unaware that he walked on water to get there. Like so many reporters seeking to control an interview, they may have expected an answer to the question. Jesus often did not answer a question, but addressed the deeper issues. He chided them for seeking only physical bread and not the more important spiritual food that he brought.
John 6:32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
The Manna that temporarily nourished ancient Israel after the Exodus was only a foretaste of the true Manna from heaven, which gives eternal life. Even the unleavened bread of Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, was also only a foretaste of that Bread from heaven. Leaven symbolized the “doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6-12) and “hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).
John 6:34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
Does God care only about the temporary hunger of our bellies or is there a more permanent hunger that He can satisfy?
The crowd asked for manna like in the days of Moses. They were living in the past, fixed in past events not the living God who lives to bless us today. Do we live in the past? Are we still focused on old time religion or long past miracles? Did our Christian experience stop with an event long ago? What is God doing in our lives now? Are we blinded to how God wants to operate today or stuck on past ways? Do we look to heroes of the faith such as Moses or a favorite preacher instead of Jesus to provide bread from heaven? Is any minister or tradition or building more important than God and what he is God doing now? Every communion the bread from heaven is again freely given to us? Will we accept God’s gift?
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Should we be a consumer church? Should the church’s agenda be set by what the crowd wants, to attract new members? Self-centeredness is the agenda of the day. We want a church that satisfies our selfish desires for power or prestige or excitement or music or miracles or friendship, but not a church that teaches us to sacrifice like Jesus did. Since when should the church allow the unchurched to set the agenda? Ought not Jesus be in charge? Are we in the church more like the world than true Christians? Are we just consumers out for what we can get out of church instead of what we can give in service to others? Are we interested in the bread from heaven or the bread from here below? Did Jesus teach us to take up our cross and deny ourselves?
Whose work are we doing?
What is God’s work? Is it to preach the Gospel into all the world, feed the hungry and keep ourselves unspoiled by the corruption of the world? It certainly is, but is there another way of speaking about God’s work that puts perspective on it? Jesus says that the work of God is to believe in the One that God has sent. He said this along with working for food that does not perish and seeking eternal life. They asked, what should we do, but Jesus’ bread is not something that we do anything for. Why turn the gift of God into something that we work for? Why not just receive it? Why do we keep trying to control God’s work? What does Jesus mean by believe in the one sent? In this context it refers to trusting in Jesus.
Outro
Let’s not be control freaks, wanting our religion, the religion of our memories, or our own creation, but the religion of Jesus. Let us allow him to feed us not with bread that perishes, the bread of this world, but with the true manna from heaven.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Do I want MY religion or the religion of Jesus? Purpose: Let’s look at the religion that came from heaven. Plan: Let’s discuss the events of John 6:24-35.
The Throng
John 6:24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
This occurred immediately after feeding the 5,000. A throng, mob or crowd in a flotilla of small boats descended on Capernaum searching for Jesus. They asked Him when He got there, because He did not leave with the disciples. Did Jesus answer the question?
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
News reporters would be angry. Jesus ignored the question, not explaining His walking on the sea to get there, but spoke about motives. Are our motives for physical food or spiritual signs, for that which perishes or that which lasts forever? Do we lust for fleeting pursuits or hunger for eternal relevance?
There are two marks on offer in this world which men carry in their foreheads (thinking) and their hands (deeds). The mark of the beast is a seal that reveals a person’s trust in the kingdoms of this world, which from Daniel to Revelation are described as beasts. The other mark is the seal of God, the law written on our hearts by the Holy Spirit, a stamp of heavenly approval. Jesus said plainly that His kingdom is not of this world.
A crowd of people were looking for Jesus in Capernaum, but why? Why do we look for Jesus? The crowd had wanted to make Him a king of this world, but Jesus eluded them. They wanted a leader who would fulfill all their worldly expectations, but Jesus was not going to operate according to this world’s ways.
The Work
John 6:28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
They got the point, and asked how to be involved in God’s eternal work. This is a question that every church should ask itself, when any proposals are brought up. What is God’s work?
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
What a shocking answer! God’s work is, in the original Greek, “to have faith”? Is this a direct challenge to Protestant Reformation theology? Does Jesus actually call faith a work? Is this a work that only God does or do we join Him “that we may work the works of God?” What happened to the Protestant idea of separating faith from work? Maybe the truth is deeper than we thought.
Do we make idols of the perishable things, ignoring the important spiritual food that Jesus brings? Are we control freaks demanding our own way or letting Christ lead? The crowd asks how they too could have the power to do God’s works. But power in the wrong hands is dangerous, causing more harm than good. Instead, Jesus urged them to believe in him instead of their own ideas. Instead of simply listening they argued back, asking what sign he was going to give them. Even though they had already seen many signs such as healing the sick and feeding a large crowd and some had even admitted that he was the prophet who was to come (6:14), they were a demanding and argumentative crowd. Jesus challenges their motives as seeking perishable things when they should be seeking eternal life.
The Bread
John 6:30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
What? They had just witnessed many signs, but now ask for another?
The crowd politely called Jesus “rabbi” because they did not understand any more about him than that. They seem to be a little demanding of him, asking when he got there, obviously unaware that he walked on water to get there. Like so many reporters seeking to control an interview, they may have expected an answer to the question. Jesus often did not answer a question, but addressed the deeper issues. He chided them for seeking only physical bread and not the more important spiritual food that he brought.
John 6:32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
The Manna that temporarily nourished ancient Israel after the Exodus was only a foretaste of the true Manna from heaven, which gives eternal life. Even the unleavened bread of Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, was also only a foretaste of that Bread from heaven. Leaven symbolized the “doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6-12) and “hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).
John 6:34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
Does God care only about the temporary hunger of our bellies or is there a more permanent hunger that He can satisfy?
The crowd asked for manna like in the days of Moses. They were living in the past, fixed in past events not the living God who lives to bless us today. Do we live in the past? Are we still focused on old time religion or long past miracles? Did our Christian experience stop with an event long ago? What is God doing in our lives now? Are we blinded to how God wants to operate today or stuck on past ways? Do we look to heroes of the faith such as Moses or a favorite preacher instead of Jesus to provide bread from heaven? Is any minister or tradition or building more important than God and what he is God doing now? Every communion the bread from heaven is again freely given to us? Will we accept God’s gift?
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Should we be a consumer church? Should the church’s agenda be set by what the crowd wants, to attract new members? Self-centeredness is the agenda of the day. We want a church that satisfies our selfish desires for power or prestige or excitement or music or miracles or friendship, but not a church that teaches us to sacrifice like Jesus did. Since when should the church allow the unchurched to set the agenda? Ought not Jesus be in charge? Are we in the church more like the world than true Christians? Are we just consumers out for what we can get out of church instead of what we can give in service to others? Are we interested in the bread from heaven or the bread from here below? Did Jesus teach us to take up our cross and deny ourselves?
Whose work are we doing?
What is God’s work? Is it to preach the Gospel into all the world, feed the hungry and keep ourselves unspoiled by the corruption of the world? It certainly is, but is there another way of speaking about God’s work that puts perspective on it? Jesus says that the work of God is to believe in the One that God has sent. He said this along with working for food that does not perish and seeking eternal life. They asked, what should we do, but Jesus’ bread is not something that we do anything for. Why turn the gift of God into something that we work for? Why not just receive it? Why do we keep trying to control God’s work? What does Jesus mean by believe in the one sent? In this context it refers to trusting in Jesus.
Outro
Let’s not be control freaks, wanting our religion, the religion of our memories, or our own creation, but the religion of Jesus. Let us allow him to feed us not with bread that perishes, the bread of this world, but with the true manna from heaven.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Killing the Prophets
Prelude
Elijah’s persecution has been echoed by many ancient prophets and modern preachers. Purpose: What can we learn from this faithful messenger’s recovery from a bitter experience? Plan: Let’s look at his story in 1 Kings 19:1-21.
He Arose and Ran
After his powerful confrontation with the false prophets of Ba’al, God’s remarkable intervention, and the subsequent capital punishment of these men who betrayed Israel’s God and were probably complicit in the massacre of His prophets, a time of severe depression seems to have taken hold on Elijah.
1 Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
Even in the church age, a Jezebel is pictured, “who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” So serious is this sin that, even in the church age, capital punishment is called for her children (Revelation 2:18-29).
Faithful preachers today still teach God’s truth and fight modern false prophets, heresy and apostasy. Like the ancient Jezebel, modern church leaders seek to protect those who promote the worship of contemporary versions of Ba’al. The battle against idolatry occurs across the spectrum of Christian teaching, and preachers who are faithful to the Word of God are always going to be a target. What happened to Elijah is a familiar story in Christian history as well.
Arise and Eat
1 Kings 19:5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
When we are in the midst of persecution, sometimes a good meal and a long journey to the mountain of God is best. Whether our message is to hill tribes somewhere in Asia, or a western church that has lost its way, we will face opposition. Whether the threat is to life and limb or status and membership in a local church, we will be hated if we preach the truth and not water it down. Whether the menace is from the progressive left, the legalistic right, or the wishy-washy middle, it will come, angrily in your face at times, and covertly behind your back at other times.
What are You Doing Here
1 Kings 19:9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
In the midst of depression and a desire to escape for our lives, God may also come to us and ask what we are doing here. Like Elijah, we too may state that we have worked passionately in God’s service, and that God’s word has been ignored and we are being mistreated. There is nothing new under the sun.
The Lord Passed By
1 Kings 19:11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
There is a place for hellfire and brimstone preaching, where the preacher stomps up and down the stage shouting a warning to a wayward church. It is not, by Jesus’ own example, something that is necessary every week. However, Jesus did speak about hell more often than anyone else in the Bible. But, He also comforted people quite often. Good preaching covers both ends of the emotional continuum between warning about hell and encouragement about heaven.
One misapprehension that hellfire and brimstone preaching might leave us with is the thought that God is always like a tornado, earthquake or wildfire. Here we see that God can also be a still small voice, a gentle whisper, especially to faithful servants who are disheartened by the ugly side of church life.
What are You Doing Here
1 Kings 19:13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
This was not a strong rebuke coming crashing down upon Elijah, but an admonition nonetheless, given in a gentle, quiet manner. There was still work to do. A pastor who has had difficulties with an evil attack has two choices, either to stay and lose his life (Luke 17:33) or to shake the dust off his feet (Matthew 10:14) and move on. For the sake of peace, moving on may often be the better option. Every faithful pastor will face times like this and feel like saying, “I alone am left.” The future work will often be unknown at first, but after some rest and recovery, God will eventually give a new direction. The wounded soldier of the cross still has a valuable place in God’s army.
Return, 7000 Have not Bowed
1 Kings 19:15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
An old saying is, when you fall off a horse, get back on. The Lord told Elijah to return to the ministry. There was work to do. He also said something that we should never forget. When we are at our loneliest, feeling like nobody else is facing the false accusations of the devil with us, let’s remember the seven thousand in Israel, who also had not bowed the knee to Ba’al.
There are many faithful Christians in horrible persecution in North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia and Libya who are facing imminent death, loss of income and starvation for their faith. There are many faithful Christians in America and Europe who face ostracism from family and demotion on the job because they refuse to compromise their faith or engage in dishonest practices. Spiritually, we stand shoulder to shoulder with brothers and sisters around the world, who love God like we do.
Elisha Followed Elijah
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
So Elisha cooked up two steers for his family and friends. That’s quite a large farewell party. What a blessing to find someone teachable that we can mentor. Many in churches have talents and abilities that could fit well within God’s service, but their attitude prevents them from being used. They may be arrogant, self-willed or know-it-alls, who like Paul are persecuting Jesus and need a Damascus Road experience (Acts 9:1–9; 22:6–11; 26:9–20). Humility is such a wonderful attitude to find, and Elijah found it in Elisha. The simple words tell the whole story, “he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” When we find a true servant, who just wants to help, without a hidden agenda, we are so blessed.
Postlude
Persecution of ancient prophets and modern preachers is part of life. We must be ready for it, and look to God for help. It doesn’t end with one bad experience. Take time to rest, even wipe the dust off our feet. Then listen to God‘s quiet whisper. May He give us strength to continue on to the next divine appointment.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Elijah’s persecution has been echoed by many ancient prophets and modern preachers. Purpose: What can we learn from this faithful messenger’s recovery from a bitter experience? Plan: Let’s look at his story in 1 Kings 19:1-21.
He Arose and Ran
After his powerful confrontation with the false prophets of Ba’al, God’s remarkable intervention, and the subsequent capital punishment of these men who betrayed Israel’s God and were probably complicit in the massacre of His prophets, a time of severe depression seems to have taken hold on Elijah.
1 Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
Even in the church age, a Jezebel is pictured, “who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” So serious is this sin that, even in the church age, capital punishment is called for her children (Revelation 2:18-29).
Faithful preachers today still teach God’s truth and fight modern false prophets, heresy and apostasy. Like the ancient Jezebel, modern church leaders seek to protect those who promote the worship of contemporary versions of Ba’al. The battle against idolatry occurs across the spectrum of Christian teaching, and preachers who are faithful to the Word of God are always going to be a target. What happened to Elijah is a familiar story in Christian history as well.
Arise and Eat
1 Kings 19:5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
When we are in the midst of persecution, sometimes a good meal and a long journey to the mountain of God is best. Whether our message is to hill tribes somewhere in Asia, or a western church that has lost its way, we will face opposition. Whether the threat is to life and limb or status and membership in a local church, we will be hated if we preach the truth and not water it down. Whether the menace is from the progressive left, the legalistic right, or the wishy-washy middle, it will come, angrily in your face at times, and covertly behind your back at other times.
What are You Doing Here
1 Kings 19:9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
In the midst of depression and a desire to escape for our lives, God may also come to us and ask what we are doing here. Like Elijah, we too may state that we have worked passionately in God’s service, and that God’s word has been ignored and we are being mistreated. There is nothing new under the sun.
The Lord Passed By
1 Kings 19:11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
There is a place for hellfire and brimstone preaching, where the preacher stomps up and down the stage shouting a warning to a wayward church. It is not, by Jesus’ own example, something that is necessary every week. However, Jesus did speak about hell more often than anyone else in the Bible. But, He also comforted people quite often. Good preaching covers both ends of the emotional continuum between warning about hell and encouragement about heaven.
One misapprehension that hellfire and brimstone preaching might leave us with is the thought that God is always like a tornado, earthquake or wildfire. Here we see that God can also be a still small voice, a gentle whisper, especially to faithful servants who are disheartened by the ugly side of church life.
What are You Doing Here
1 Kings 19:13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
This was not a strong rebuke coming crashing down upon Elijah, but an admonition nonetheless, given in a gentle, quiet manner. There was still work to do. A pastor who has had difficulties with an evil attack has two choices, either to stay and lose his life (Luke 17:33) or to shake the dust off his feet (Matthew 10:14) and move on. For the sake of peace, moving on may often be the better option. Every faithful pastor will face times like this and feel like saying, “I alone am left.” The future work will often be unknown at first, but after some rest and recovery, God will eventually give a new direction. The wounded soldier of the cross still has a valuable place in God’s army.
Return, 7000 Have not Bowed
1 Kings 19:15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
An old saying is, when you fall off a horse, get back on. The Lord told Elijah to return to the ministry. There was work to do. He also said something that we should never forget. When we are at our loneliest, feeling like nobody else is facing the false accusations of the devil with us, let’s remember the seven thousand in Israel, who also had not bowed the knee to Ba’al.
There are many faithful Christians in horrible persecution in North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia and Libya who are facing imminent death, loss of income and starvation for their faith. There are many faithful Christians in America and Europe who face ostracism from family and demotion on the job because they refuse to compromise their faith or engage in dishonest practices. Spiritually, we stand shoulder to shoulder with brothers and sisters around the world, who love God like we do.
Elisha Followed Elijah
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
So Elisha cooked up two steers for his family and friends. That’s quite a large farewell party. What a blessing to find someone teachable that we can mentor. Many in churches have talents and abilities that could fit well within God’s service, but their attitude prevents them from being used. They may be arrogant, self-willed or know-it-alls, who like Paul are persecuting Jesus and need a Damascus Road experience (Acts 9:1–9; 22:6–11; 26:9–20). Humility is such a wonderful attitude to find, and Elijah found it in Elisha. The simple words tell the whole story, “he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” When we find a true servant, who just wants to help, without a hidden agenda, we are so blessed.
Postlude
Persecution of ancient prophets and modern preachers is part of life. We must be ready for it, and look to God for help. It doesn’t end with one bad experience. Take time to rest, even wipe the dust off our feet. Then listen to God‘s quiet whisper. May He give us strength to continue on to the next divine appointment.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
God Will Take Care of You
Prelude
Will God take care of us? What about cancer, catastrophe or death? Purpose: Let’s learn the truth about God’s control over life’s trials. Plan: Let’s look at John’s version of the feeding the 5000 and Jesus walking on water in John 6:1-21.
1 The Setting
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.
It was about Passover time, a spring festival in the Northern Hemisphere, a week-long according to the Jewish liturgical calendar in Leviticus 23. It starts as the sun sets beginning the 15th of the first month. That first night is celebrated with the Passover meal and no leavened bread is eaten for the remainder of the week. Holy assemblies begin and end the week. It was near this time that Jesus crossed the sea of Galilee and sat on a hill with his disciples. A huge expectant crowd kept following him. Why were they following him? It was because they saw his miraculous signs. Weak in faith, many were later offended and left. Faithful ones stumbled, as did all twelve of the apostles, but eventually stayed to the very end.
Church membership is not like a club where we go to be fed or have our needs met. Church membership is a calling from God. We should ask God whether or not He is calling us to a particular church, not whether or not all our needs are being met. The disciples were not the crowd. They were called to serve, not be served. Those sitting on the grassy slopes were not yet believers. Like Israel at the Exodus Passover, many of them later complained. There are always complainers. Even seeing the miracle of the Exodus and the Manna, they complained. God did not let that complaining generation into the promised land.
2 Miracle Food
John 6:5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
Jesus asks a significant question. Where would they buy bread to feed all these people? He knew the answer, but as a master teacher He was testing his student Philip, preparing for the lesson. Jesus often referred to where He, or the miracle wine, or the Spirit, or the living water, or His other miracles came from. Where does our ultimate help come from? Is Jesus prompting us with the same question today? Philip, the adult, says it would take months of income to pay for enough food.
John 6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
But, a young boy offers five loaves of bread made from barley and two fish. Can we also learn from the naive faith of our children? Do we say, we can’t afford it and do nothing, or do we say, we have scarce resources, let’s pray and ask what God has in mind? Wheat bread was common. Barley was a poor man’s bread and the fish may have been dried or preserved. The boy’s food may have been mum’s generous lunch for one.
John 6:10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
Jesus gave thanks. Eucharist means to give thanks. Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine ties into Holy Communion, the greatest meal of all, the meal that represents His sacrifice for us. Breaking bread is another term for the Eucharist. Like the Manna in the wilderness, God had again provided.
John 6:12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
They attempted to make Jesus fit their political idea of the prophet that they had been expecting, so He left. When the people vote you in, the people rule you. Does God walk away if we try to use Him the way we use politicians?
3 Walking on Water
John 6:16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I [lit. I am]; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
The key to this passage may be what Jesus says in verse 20, literally, “I am, fear not.” The divine name “I am” is a well-known name for God, also called Yahweh and usually translated as the LORD in the Old Testament, where He also tells people not to fear (Genesis 15:1; Isaiah 43:1; 44:2, 8). This is why Jesus is called Lord in the New Testament, the translation of YHWH in the Greek Old Testament called the Septuagint. Why were the disciples afraid of Jesus walking on water? Why are many people afraid of God, or afraid of going to church? Is it lack of faith or feelings of guilt or a lack of willingness to accept God as He is? We like to make God over in our image, as Savior but not Lord. As with ancient Israel, Jesus made a way through the sea.
Postlude
If we belong to God, He will take care of us? He looks after us in this life and even if He should allow us to die, God has a home in eternity prepared for us.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Will God take care of us? What about cancer, catastrophe or death? Purpose: Let’s learn the truth about God’s control over life’s trials. Plan: Let’s look at John’s version of the feeding the 5000 and Jesus walking on water in John 6:1-21.
1 The Setting
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.
It was about Passover time, a spring festival in the Northern Hemisphere, a week-long according to the Jewish liturgical calendar in Leviticus 23. It starts as the sun sets beginning the 15th of the first month. That first night is celebrated with the Passover meal and no leavened bread is eaten for the remainder of the week. Holy assemblies begin and end the week. It was near this time that Jesus crossed the sea of Galilee and sat on a hill with his disciples. A huge expectant crowd kept following him. Why were they following him? It was because they saw his miraculous signs. Weak in faith, many were later offended and left. Faithful ones stumbled, as did all twelve of the apostles, but eventually stayed to the very end.
Church membership is not like a club where we go to be fed or have our needs met. Church membership is a calling from God. We should ask God whether or not He is calling us to a particular church, not whether or not all our needs are being met. The disciples were not the crowd. They were called to serve, not be served. Those sitting on the grassy slopes were not yet believers. Like Israel at the Exodus Passover, many of them later complained. There are always complainers. Even seeing the miracle of the Exodus and the Manna, they complained. God did not let that complaining generation into the promised land.
2 Miracle Food
John 6:5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
Jesus asks a significant question. Where would they buy bread to feed all these people? He knew the answer, but as a master teacher He was testing his student Philip, preparing for the lesson. Jesus often referred to where He, or the miracle wine, or the Spirit, or the living water, or His other miracles came from. Where does our ultimate help come from? Is Jesus prompting us with the same question today? Philip, the adult, says it would take months of income to pay for enough food.
John 6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
But, a young boy offers five loaves of bread made from barley and two fish. Can we also learn from the naive faith of our children? Do we say, we can’t afford it and do nothing, or do we say, we have scarce resources, let’s pray and ask what God has in mind? Wheat bread was common. Barley was a poor man’s bread and the fish may have been dried or preserved. The boy’s food may have been mum’s generous lunch for one.
John 6:10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
Jesus gave thanks. Eucharist means to give thanks. Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine ties into Holy Communion, the greatest meal of all, the meal that represents His sacrifice for us. Breaking bread is another term for the Eucharist. Like the Manna in the wilderness, God had again provided.
John 6:12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
They attempted to make Jesus fit their political idea of the prophet that they had been expecting, so He left. When the people vote you in, the people rule you. Does God walk away if we try to use Him the way we use politicians?
3 Walking on Water
John 6:16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I [lit. I am]; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
The key to this passage may be what Jesus says in verse 20, literally, “I am, fear not.” The divine name “I am” is a well-known name for God, also called Yahweh and usually translated as the LORD in the Old Testament, where He also tells people not to fear (Genesis 15:1; Isaiah 43:1; 44:2, 8). This is why Jesus is called Lord in the New Testament, the translation of YHWH in the Greek Old Testament called the Septuagint. Why were the disciples afraid of Jesus walking on water? Why are many people afraid of God, or afraid of going to church? Is it lack of faith or feelings of guilt or a lack of willingness to accept God as He is? We like to make God over in our image, as Savior but not Lord. As with ancient Israel, Jesus made a way through the sea.
Postlude
If we belong to God, He will take care of us? He looks after us in this life and even if He should allow us to die, God has a home in eternity prepared for us.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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