Saturday, March 19, 2016

ELIJAH

            From Moses is a lesson on intercessory prayer, unselfish in nature. From Job is a lesson on prayer in life’s darker moments, sensing His sovereignty. From Samuel is a lesson on knowing the voice of God, the One speaking and giving the guidance. From David is a lesson on blending petitions and praise, with praise focusing on the Lord and petitions focusing on needs. From Solomon is a lesson on asking, making requests acknowledges dependence. From Elijah is a lesson on passionate praying, and also misguided prayers.
            The Bible reveals not only the zealous exploits of the prophet but also his frustrations and failures. Anyone on account of any series of events has the potential of becoming the glory or the scandal of grace.

The Challenge

            And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” (1 Kings 18:36-37 ESV)
            One of the more famous stories in the older covenant involves the promoters of idolatry contending with the prophet of God. (1 Kings 18) Elijah challenged chief idolaters to a duel. Which divine being was truly supreme? Which ruling force existed and could actually listen? At a location overseeing the Mediterranean Sea, the contest had been arranged. He proclaimed, “If Jehovah be God then serve Him, if Baal be god then serve him.”
            The promoters of deceit and falsehood were given first opportunity to invoke a sleeping god. They performed their dance routine eagerly and fervently, using every technic in their parchment of hocus-pocus. Nothing achieved the desired outcome.
            The prophet of honesty and authenticity came forward. He dampened his chances for success, taking the results completely out of his hands. Only the one True God could bring about the preferred results. Jehovah responded and the fake was exposed and eliminated.
            The content of Elijah’s prayer is a mirror of his heart. His sole passion was to restore the thoughts of the people back to God. He was praying a “whatever it takes” kind of prayer. The miraculous demonstration of might that followed returned the people to the one True God. The people fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord – He is God.” They recognized that Baal was no god at all.

The Toll

            I grew up in a musical family, everyone played instruments and/or sang. As a teenager, I played the saxophone in a rock band and was a backup singer. After committing my life to Christ, I auditioned and was selected as a member of a statewide gospel choir, spending three weeks in the Hawaiian Islands performing concerts. In the Air Force I was a regular soloist in a local church. While attending college, I led the singing in the weekly worship services and directed an Easter cantata. In the ministry assignment following college, I started the first choir in the history of that church.
            My second ministry assignment intensified the music focus. The pastor wanted a Singing Christmas Tree event. I had heard about this new kind of evangelism tool but had never seen one. Some men in the church came up with a tree design and helped construct the set. I created a musical called, “Christmas Around the World.” The church hosted the first singing Christmas tree in the community and was featured on the local news.
            The pastor’s wife was the church pianist and a great encouragement. Together we created a children’s Christmas musical. The viewing audience and parents of the kids loved it. Another church in the State used the script for several years.
            Resurrection Sunday was filled with music but in place of an Easter musical a springtime Festival of Praise was created and produced, performed the weekend before Mother’s Day. The event became a highlight of the season.
            Through years of church ministry, I was privileged to direct various choirs for Minister Ordination Services, Mission Conventions, and occasionally lead the singing at statewide Minister Retreats, all requiring special practices and lots of logistical coordination. I knew well the emotional toll caused by producing and directing heart-stirring events.
            Pastoral ministry eventually brought me to a musically gifted church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I flew in for the initial interview and met some impassioned believers in Christ. After the formal dialogue at a church member’s home, the group mingled together while enjoying refreshments. The conversations I overheard seemed to focus primarily on music. All of a sudden four of the women went to a piano for an impromptu practice and started singing an upcoming song. Their voices were fantastic, the blending was superb, and the spontaneous rehearsal was virtually flawless.
            Up to this time in church ministry my wife and I had never seen such a musically talented church. The orchestra and choir were of a professional quality. The three seasonal musical events performed each year were the talk of the suburbs. People came great distances to attend one of the numerous performances. Each production was presented to packed-out crowds. Numerous decisions for Christ occurred in every presentation.
            The various Ministers of Music serving with me were the best. They worked tirelessly for months to achieve phenomenal results, almost to their detriment. Since I had created and overseen my fair share of special happenings, I took careful interest in their emotional wellbeing when an event was over. I demanded they take extra time away from the office and give additional time to spiritual and family connections.
            One particular servant of the Lord struggled with my instructions to have downtime. The adrenaline rush from the high-pitch emotional experience often lingered and he wanted to keep going in high gear. I literally had to forbid him from coming to work. Later he saw the wisdom of my actions and thanked me.
            What happened to Elijah after Mount Carmel can happen to anyone. (1 Kings 19) The emotional drain from a highly successful extravaganza leaves a person vulnerable to intensely low feelings. The mood swings are often extreme. Unfortunately, no one was in a place of authority to watch out for the prophet, telling him to cool his jets and quit trying to compete with superman.
            Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:3-4 ESV)
            When the reputation of God is at stake, prayers are passionate and actions are intense. Yet watch out for what often happens next. An unhealthy mental outlook easily follows.

A time for everything

            There is a time to pray passionately and a time to rest guardedly. Prayers when exhausted and depressed easily become emotional pleadings that contradict God’s nature and grace. The Lord does not condemn misguided prayers when life seems overwhelming, and thankfully He does not respond as dictated by the errant request.
            Physically and mentally drained, Elijah requested to escape earth by death. God had greater plans for him, a whirlwind escape while riding a chariot of fire. Thank God for unanswered prayers during depleted moments.
            Pray with passion, especially when God’s honor is involved, yet pray cautiously when weary and worn.

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