Growing in the Spirit
Learning to Listen and Discern God's Voice Part 2
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: 1 Kings 19:10-18; Philippians 1:9-11; Matthew 7:7-8
Optional: 1 Kings 18:45-19:9 (background)
Memory Verse: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8 (Pre-K to grade 3)
BACKGROUND: Review briefly what Elijah was doing just before this journey and why he was running for his life. If possible start reading with 1 Kings 18:45 through 19:18. Elijah was a prophet of God in the Northern Kingdom where Ahab was King and Jezebel was Queen. She was a Baal worshiper. She had killed many of the prophets of God. Elijah appeared to King Ahab and told him to gather Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel. There was a contest between Elijah and these prophets to see whose God/god would send down fire from heaven to burn up their sacrifice. The prophets of Baal danced around their sacrifice for hours but nothing happened. Elijah poured water over his to show he had no tricks. The "I AM" sent fire down on Elijah's sacrifice, even licked up the water. All the Israelites shouted, "The LORD (I AM), he is God; the LORD, he is God.. Then Elijah executed the prophets of Baal, and then prayed for rain (after a long drought which God had sent) and it came in a downpour and Elijah outran Ahab's chariot all the way to Jezreel. Ahab told Jezebel what had happened. When she heard about Elijah's actions on Mt. Carmel she was determined to kill him by the next day and to scare him first.
Elijah fled for his life and went, with his servant as far as Beersheba and went on alone into the wilderness, sat down under a tree, asked to die and then went to sleep with exhaustion. Twice an angel woke him up and fed him. Then he got up and went on the strength of that food 40 day and 40 nights to Mt Sinai (also called Horeb), the Mountain of God, where God gave the Ten Commandments. There he stayed in a cave. See maps.
Elijah had heard and obeyed the LORD many times but now he was spiritually and physically exhausted after the struggle on Mt Carmel where God had given him supernatural strength. Now he was fearing for his life and feeling totally alone and vulnerable. (Have you ever felt like that?) So he runs away from his enemy and runs toward God at the Mountain of God. All this time God protected, fed and gave him rest and strength to go on. ( When we are exhausted and isolated, God wants us to run to HIM!
Then the word of God came to Elijah, "What are you doing here, Elijah? Word received: I want to hear all your troubles. I will listen, love you, support you and carry your troubles if you let Me. Come to Me. Look at what God promises. "Cast all your cares/anxieties on him, for He cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7) In Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. See also Matthew 7:7. "Ask, and it will be given you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Then Elijah poured out his troubles. "So he said, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.' " (1Kings 19:10) A word received: So little has changed among my people: altars are defiled by sacrifice to other gods, the leaders and teachers of the people have forsaken me, and they persecute my saints. Yet, I still want Elijah and you to wait on me and listen for my voice before you act.
God's answer was to "Go out and stand on the Mountain before the LORD."
"And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1Kings 19:11-12) A word received: Wait for my voice, listen for me, wait for me to speak to you. Word received: I will always be there. I have a plan. I love you.
"So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'" (1Kings 19:13) A word received: Will you stand and wait for me as Elijah did?
Note that Elijah knew the voice of God as distinct from the powerful fireworks God provided in the wind, earthquake and fire but was not in them. God got his attention!! (When God whispers, are we paying attention?) Covering his face was an act of awe and reverence. We have seen Indian Christian women cover their faces with their saris after receiving Holy Communion for the same reason. Word received: Elijah was able to recognize My voice. Listen to Me. Talk with Me enough and you too will recognize My voice.
Then Elijah heard the same voice asking again, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" God is not offended by Elijah's answer as Elijah repeats his troubles. "And he said, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life'" (1Kings 19:14) A word received: It is alright to speak to me as Elijah did when you are having a bad time. I know your needs -- all of them -- bring them to me. As Elijah did what God told him to do, then God revealed his plan.
Now God tells Elijah what he has for Elijah to do. First, he is to return another way, not where his fears were. Word received: When Elijah needed to hear My plan I told him. He trusted Me enough to wait for Me to share My plan at the right time. Do you trust Me?
Then Elijah did what the LORD directed but not before God reminded Elijah "I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." (vs.18) Even though we don't know them, God has his faithful ones all around us. He reminds us too that he has other faithful ones when we get to feeling along and isolated.
Reread the Memory Verse, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." We all need to work at drawing near to God, running to him when things are rough. He promises to draw near to us. Hebrews 13:5 promises, "I will never leave you or forsake you."--but sometimes we leave God. God wants us to be "single-minded" (not double minded) about our relationship and our obedience to him. Jesus reminds us that "No one can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24)
We need to pray Philippians 1:9-11 for ourselves, our children and each other. "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Notice the word "discern". Word received: To learn to discern My will, you must seek Me.
MAPS and distances: Mt Carmel to Beersheba is 165 miles as crow flies. Mt Carmel is a high ridge running South/Southeast from Haifa. Since Elijah could see the sea as he prayed on Mt Carmel it may have been 170 miles, (longer by roads). The distance from Beersheba to Mt. Sinai is 225miles as the crow flies. (maps and distances courtesy of Mark and Darlene)
Myra will hand out maps to teachers.
WORD for teachers: Elijah was a man of My choosing. Pray that I will raise up such among you--men and women who will call My people back to Me.
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 26
Please read the Study Guide first (after you have read the Scriptures). Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year. Read the lesson aloud from the Bible in class.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1.When we are scared or have troubles, God wants us to run to Him.
2. When we are in trouble or scared, God promises to be there. We just need to cry out to Him.
3. When we cry out to God, He will always respond. We just need to listen.
4. God always has a plan to take care of us. Sometimes we need to wait, listen, and keep praying.
5. To know God's will we need to seek Him. Are we willing to trust Him enough to wait for His guidance.
6. God is faithful. He will always answer.
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