2. Doing All Things Through Christ

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Hymns: 355 Day by Day 134 Why do I Sing About Jesus Jesus   325 A Shelter in the Time of Storm

Life of Elijah

(Light in the Midst Gross Darkness)

Doing All Things Through Christ

1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

 

OUTLINE

  • Obedience to His Word (v2-5)
  • Trusting in His Care (v6-7)

 

INTRODUCTION

Life with God is that of simple dependence and faith upon His providential care in our lives as He accomplishes His purpose through us as we yield ourselves to Him daily. The Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 4:11-13:

 Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 Indeed, as one pastor puts it, “The process of contentment is a learning process. It doesn’t come easy. I’ve had to learn it. If we have come to this point of contentment, we have learned it.”[1]

 The Apostle Paul said he can do all things “through Christ.” He was writing this epistle whilst he was in prison. How can he be doing anything being bound in chains? Yet he declared I can do all things because Christ was with him. What faith, what courage, what contentment and comfort for every suffering saint.

In all occasions, our God is there to guide, guard and give, meeting our needs, sheltering and shielding from evil and every storm.

 It is interesting to observe how in the modern versions of the Bible, the word “Christ” has been removed by all the Roman Catholic, Modernist Protestant, and Neo-Evangelical institutions and churches that use the false Westcott and Hort, critical type Greek New Testament text.”[2]

Last week, we were given a background the times in which God called Elijah to minister as His prophet – a light amidst gross darkness. Very much like Martin Luther in the 16th century in the darkness of the Roman Church when God called him to put the Word of God in the hands of the common people.

Israel was in a state of great apostasy in the reign of Ahab, the worst king yet in the Northern Kingdom. God had been “dethroned” as it were in the land and replaced by false gods. Are things out of control? No!

God called Eliajh, to stand in such critical times, to declare to the king there would be a drought coming. A judgement for their defiance against the living and true God of heaven. A drought not for a day or for a month but for years to come. It was like pronouncing a death sentence, this life-threatening announcement, will be a slow death as the land would see their water supply depleting itself without visible relief. It was a direct challenge by the living God of heaven that He is the sovereign Ruler overall versus Baal, the god of Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, the power behind the throne.[3]

Recall this was Elijah’s declaration, coming out of nowhere, he confronted Ahab in the palace.

 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

 He seemed to be at the height of his prophetic career in one moment, in the next, he was asked to run and hide himself. As Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:12.

 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

 

(1) Obedience to His Word (v2-5)

2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

God did not want Elijah to remain in the palace after the announcement to Ahab of the coming drought. He was told to flee and hide himself. The word “to hide” has the sense “to conceal”. He was to disappear from the scene. God has seen the imminent danger of His servant and He sought the safest place to shelter him from the wrath of the king and the fury of the drought.

 God told him to move to an obscure place beyond Jordan to this place called Cherith. It was a place of provision. It did not appear to be such an appealing place for Elijah. It was in the midst of the wilderness. It can hardly be called a place of refuge. But it was the place of obedience. A sanctuary that God had provided for the safety and security of His servant.

Elijah had to yield himself to God’s leading that he may be sheltered.

Imagine the preposterous idea – that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

The Apostle Paul was to go to Rome and in prison, God would accomplish His purpose.

Interesting, it was there in prison that the Apostle Paul would write three of his prison epistles.

 John Bunyan was imprisoned for his faith. He could not understand why God would silence him. But it was there he wrote the famous “Pilgrim’s Progress.” It was a place of obedience. A place of God’s provision and blessing. Imagine, in the land, there would be grave famine because of the drought. There would be chaos in Israel during this time. But he would be safely kept and provided for.

 5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

 Elijah was ready to serve God wherever His Lord would send Him. From a place of prominence, he was now sent to obscurity. He gladly followed His Lord’s instructions. We see God guiding us in different circumstances and situations in life and we need to know that we are still to trust Him.

 

(2) Trusting In His Care (v6-7)

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

There at the brook was flowing fresh water that he could drink to the full. It was a place specially provided by God for him. And very interestingly, miraculously, the ravens would bring him two meals a day, most reliable catering service.

He could not ask for more. Remember, in the land was utter chaos. Ahab must be conducting a search to find Elijah to prosecuting him for the mayhem that he has created by his pronouncement.

Truly, we see that we serve a living God. He is there to meet your need.

 Psalm 46:1-11 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 As we walk with God through life, we can trust in His care all the way. The Apostle Paul declared 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

From the experience which Paul had in these various circumstances of life, he comes here to the general conclusion that he could “do all things.” He could bear any trial, perform any duty, subdue any evil propensity of his nature, and meet all the temptations incident to any condition of prosperity or adversity. His own experience in the various changes of life had warranted him in arriving at this conclusion and he now expresses the firm confidence that nothing would be required of him which he would not be able to perform. In Paul, this declaration was not a vain self-reliance, nor was it the mere result of his former experience. He knew well where the strength was to be obtained by which to do all things, and on that arm that was able to uphold him he confidently relied. [Albert Barnes]

We serve indeed, a living God who is very much alive to help us till we reach safely in the shores of heaven.

 

CONCLUSION

How can we do all things through Christ – by obedience to His Word (v2-5) and confidence in His Care (v6-7). Amen.

  

[1] D.A. Waite, Philippians, The Bible for Today Press, 2003, 125.

[2] Ibid., 127-128.

[3] Charles Swindoll, Elijah – A Man of Heroism and Humility, Thomson Nelson, 2000, 24-25.