TOPIC: HELP IN TIME OF BURN-OUT
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-21
19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth 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 juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
Also Read : THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE 1 Kings 18:20-46
TOPIC: HELP IN TIME OF BURN-OUT 1 Kings 19:1-21
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: 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.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
TOPIC: HELP IN TIME OF BURN-OUT 1 Kings 19:1-21
Servants of the Lord are not super-humans! They are ordinary human beings indwelt by the supernatural Spirit of God. Whatever the magnitude of their services for God, they remain human. So, they need to observe some important issues to help them in these evil days: First, they need to know how to deal with fears and threats from agents of darkness (v5.1&2). Second, they have their own private conversation often expressing their discouragements before God (vs. 3&4). At such time, they don’t need criticism, but sleep and rest (with good food) to recuperate and replenish their energy (vs.5-9). Third, they need someone with whom they can share their deep needs and also pray with them so they may find their bearing (v.96). The fourth is to have an open communication with heaven (vs.96-18), and to have trained personnel to whom authority can be delegated (vs. 19-21). Can you identify more lessons our leaders must learn from today’s passage? What encouragement can you derive from v.18? See also 1 Cor. 10:13. Our battles in life may be more than half-won if we always realize we are not alone at the battlefront!
Thought: Jesus knows all about our struggles! He will guide till the day is done!
Missions: SWITZERLAND – Pray for greater awareness and sense of responsibility in Swiss churches for world evangelization, and of support for the commendably large missionary force Swiss society and indeed most Swiss Christians are ill-equipped to handle these changes in the religious population. Pray also for the less evangelised groups like the Catonis, Latinos, and Muslims. – TOPIC: HELP IN TIME OF BURN-OUT 1 Kings 19:1-21
Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 1-3 is done!
Prayer: Sing this song prayerfully: Christian seek not yet repose. Watch and Pray! ==> The Rapture: SOONER THAN WE THINK 2 Peter 3:1-10
Key verse: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted. How also provide a way out so that you can endure (1 Cor. 10:13)
TOPIC: HELP IN TIME OF BURN-OUT 1 Kings 19:1-21
