GOD’S PROMISES NEVER CHANGE
Every school year is different, and as the days march on toward the start of a new year, we need to recall:
- One year can be a “great” school year.
- Then other years might be “challenging” ones. &
- During those years, it’s so easy to forget all the previous “great” years.
Even when everything around us changes, God’s Promises Never Change.
- A person can go from a mountaintop high to a spiritually low valley.
- A person can feel all alone, as if he is the only one suffering.
You can feel depressed, and the only thing you may know to do is run & hide from the situation.
In Elijah’s case, he felt that he needed to hide from Queen Jezebel.
In The First Book of the Kings, chapter 18 we read how—
- Elijah met with the prophets of Baal on top of Mount Carmel.
- He faced their pagan gods.
- Through the power of Yahweh, Elijah won the battle as the LORD rained fire from heaven.
The fire burned up: the oxen, the wood on the altar, the altar, and the trench of water surrounding the altar.
THAT’S WHERE WE ARE REMINDED OF GOD’S POWER.
A great victory in the Lord can often be closely followed by a season of depression and loneliness.
- God’s prophet Elijah felt both.
- Elijah had just been used by God in a mighty way, and one chapter later, we find him running for his life.
Queen Jezebel worshipped the pagan god Baal, and when she heard about Elijah’s victory at Mount Carmel, she sent a messenger to Elijah with the words: I am going to take away your life by this time tomorrow.
Elijah ran into the wilderness and hid under a juniper tree.
Just like Elijah, we need to remember that even when we feel threatened, God may not be finished with us.
- God was not finished with Elijah.
- The Lord sent an angel to give Elijah food and rest.
- This prepared Elijah with the strength needed for where the Lord was sending him next.
- God was sending him to Mount Sinai.
It was 250 miles, a 40-day journey to Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai)—“the mountain of God.”
God’s 1st Lesson for the New School Year—
- WE NEED GOD’S PROMISED REST & WE NEED GOD’S DAILY NOURISHMENT.
- HIS SABBATH REST—PHYSICAL—MENTAL—SOCIAL—EMOTIONAL—SPIRITUAL
- BECAUSE WE BELONG TO GOD—BEFORE—WE BELONG TO OUR WORK.
Jesus Himself told His disciples to pray, asking God:
“Give us this day our daily bread.” (The Gospel According to Matthew 6: 11 NASB)
- He knows what we need daily.
- He knows we are weak vessels. &
- He sees how we become depleted.
God is the only one who can supply our needs.
This new school year, may we not forget to pray, asking God to meet our needs.
God’s 2nd Lesson for the New School Year—
- FEELINGS ARE LEGITIMATE BUT THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE.
- GOD WILL SUSTAIN HIS OWN.
Pause to READ The 1st Book of the Kings 19: 9-14
Often, during our suffering, we feel defeated and we ask:
- God, why am I suffering?
- God, can’t you see that I am suffering all alone?
In our lowest valleys, it’s good for us to freely call on Him, to unburden our hearts.
- God knows we need a close encounter with Him.
- God knew exactly where Elijah was and exactly who Elijah was running from. &
- God knew Queen Jezebel wanted to harm His servant.
Elijah was hiding in a cleft of a cave.
He thought the Lord had forgotten all that he had just done for Him.
- GOD NEVER FORGETS.
- GOD REMEMBERS. &
- GOD REMINDED ELIJAH THAT HIS PRESENCE REMAINS.
God asks him twice: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (verse 9 & 13)
- God knows where His servants are serving Him.
- God knows our needs.
- God knows our struggles, our fears, & our concerns.
- GOD CARES FOR HIS OWN!
We must REMEMBER God sometimes works in through His “still small voice.”
- We cannot miss the way God is speaking to us.
No matter how dark our cave might feel or how alone we might be—
- NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM JESUS.
- GOD WILL CARRY US THROUGH!
God’s 3rd Lesson for the New School Year—
EVEN WHEN WE FEEL AT OUR LOWEST, GOD STILL HAS WORK FOR US TO DO.
Pause to READ The 1st Book of the Kings 19: 15-16
God gave His servant Elijah a task to help him not focus on himself and his situation,
To help him focus on what God wanted him to accomplish.
WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON GOD.
The world can seem out of control, even the school world, but God’s purposes and plans have not changed.
- Elijah had to choose to step out of the cave, to listen to the voice of God. &
- Elijah had to choose to be obedient to the Lord’s will for his life.
- We do too.
- God gave Elijah the task to anoint the next kings over Aram and Israel.
- God revealed a successor and friend for Elijah.
- God ALSO reveals a remnant of 7,000 believers, that Elijah is NOT ALONE.
Jesus told us THE SAME in Matthew when He gave us His Great Commission.
In Hebrew, Elijah means “My God is Yahweh” and Elisha means “My God is Salvation.”
The Bible is filled with examples of people God called and used for His will,
EVEN WHEN THEY WERE ALREADY BUSY SERVING IN OTHER WAYS.
- God called Gideon while he was hiding in the well threshing wheat.
- God called David while he was still a boy out tending his Jesse’s sheep.
- God called Peter while he was mending his nets for the next day’s catch of fish.
GOD CALLS THE ACTIVE, NOT THE IDLE.
WE MUST LEARN TO SERVE BEFORE WE LEAD BECAUSE LEADERSHIP IS REALLY ABOUT SERVING.
Mark Twain once said that he had lived through many TERRIBLE experiences, most of which NEVER happened.
Worry will not strengthen us.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 55:22 that we are to invite God’s strength into our struggles. &
When we do, he will never allow us to be shaken.
WHAT AN AMAZING PROMISE OF GOD!
- MAY WE Always Love God First.
- MAY WE Believe the Lord is with us, that He will help us when we ask.
- MAY WE Call on God every day and throughout the day.
- MAY WE HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR AS WE SERVE OUR LORD WHEREVER HE HAS PLACED US.