Title: Devote yourself where you are!
Text: Luck22:42-43 1Kings19:4
Purpose: Christians find out their calling in their own place.
Content: Crying Elijah/ Jesus’ prayer/ Devote yourself where you are!
Halleluiah! God is love. I am sure God will make our way when we are right to God. Let us be the one.
Crying Elijah
As you are able to imagine the work of Elijah was so hard for him. One of the prophets of God, Elijah proclaimed God’s will to every person of Israelites, even to the King of Israelites. Because of his work, people blamed the prophet and dislike to hear what he said.
There were a king, Ahab and queen, Jezebel. The king seemed not brave but the queen had hardened minded. She brought her own gods from Sidon and let Ahab worship Baal. “32First he built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria 33Then set up an Asherah pole.”(1Kings 16:31-33) Could you imagine how God hates when God’s people worship those false gods?
Elijah was the one who knew what Israelites should do? Because God gave him God’s words what to say to the people of Israelites. Elijah called for the contest to prove God of Israelites if the only true God. After all kinds of trials 850 false prophets of Baal and Asherah fail to prove that their gods is true one. But Elijah did showed that the God of Israelites is living God. He let people kill all of those false prophets. Because of this event, Jezebel sent a message to Elijah that she was going to kill him.
By this message, Elijah was so disturbed, as he wanted to die. He said to God “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life.” He was afraid and lonely. God heard his prayer and responded. When he was slipping under the broom tree, God helped him to cheer him up. God sent an angel took care of him and fed him. God already knew Elijah was exhausted and needed help.
Moreover, God told Elijah what plan God had for Ahab and Jezebel. God let him anoint three new figures, Hazael to be king of Aram, Jehu son of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and Elisha to replace Elijah himself. What was the will of God was that God will judge the people who worshiped Baal and Asherah among Israelites.
I want you to remember that God knows how Christians live their life and will judge all of us by God’s will. Ahab and Jezebel seemed strong as they were able to rob Naboth’s Vineyard, however they got God’s final judgment according to their behavior (1Kings 21: ). Elijah seemed weaker than them but God enabled him to take his mission. You may weak but God is strong God. You may not clever enough but your God is the wisdom itself. Once Elijah cried out where he was, God helped him. God of Elijah will hear your cry.
Jesus’ Prayer
Today’s text shows us that Jesus might be lonely there when he was praying. The mount of Olives Jesus and his disciples went was their usual place for prayer. However, what Jesus said to the disciples was unusual. “Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation (Luke22:40).”
What was the situation was that Jesus, the Son of God, was not welcomed by the people of God. The teachers and leaders of Israelites refuse to believe him as the Son of God and his every word. They were so bad in this point. Because of that Jesus told them believe him not by his saying but by his doing (John14:11). However, they did not respect even God so; they harmed Jesus himself to the cross.
Do you know why Jesus needed to be crucified? Because God loved us so much as God died for human beings. God is just. God will not let sin exist. God have to judge sinful people. In this situation God chose to sacrifice for us than give up all of us in this world. Jesus was the one who fulfill God’s plan for us.
Personally, Jesus was struggling with his mission. That was so painful for Jesus to accept people’s denial toward him. Jesus felt lonely when he alone faced his cross in near future. At that time, God sent an angel to remind him that the way he was aiming was the right way. The text said “an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.(Luke22:43)”
Devote yourself where you are!
Jesus and Elijah had real harsh moment when they worked for God. However, God comforted them since God knows every event of the people of God. Elijah was desperate to quit his mission what God mended him to carry on. Because he felt that he was left alone but that was not true. Sometimes obstacles stop our mission for God because we are weak. But our God is strong. How kind God is as an angel of God fed Elijah on right time. How thoughtful God is as an angel of God came to Jesus and encouraged him.
You must remember that God is looking after you. You must not think you live by yourself. That is unbelief. God feeds you. God clothes you. God protects you. And finally, God will take you from sinful world to the heaven.
Do not ask why you are there as a rebellious question. But Pray to God know you why you are there now. Find our your calling from God in your place. Devote yourself while you are living with your people.
Let’s Pray.
O God! God of love, God of mercy, we praise you. We want you to know us what kind of work you want to do with us. Let us find your will and follow it. Let us love our family and people around us. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
MustardSeedChurch.KMC Pastor. Rev. Seung Joo Lee
238-9 2nd fl. Sinwol1dong, Yangchungu, Seoul, 158-831
Tel.02)2693-0525
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