Second Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2019

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: 1 Kings 19:13-15
Theme: From Confusion To Clarity


Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

The rage and fury of humanity can be quelled by a single, solemn word from the Almighty. The anxiety and turbulence of our hearts is pacified by the promise of Him who is not panicked by any schemes all the powers of evil can muster. He says, “Do not be anxious about anything…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”1 And again, from the 23rd Psalm, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies,”2 that is, foes, and adversaries, including Satan himself, must look on helplessly as we enjoy God’s generous provision in the safety of His care.

This calming truth was important for the prophet Elijah today. Elijah was running scared. After defeating the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (450 against one3, mind you) queen Jezebel wanted his head. He was suddenly a fugitive in his own land. His mood was now in stark contrast to the bravery and boldness shown on Mount Carmel. The false prophets had been discredited, and the people, being gripped by God’s awesome display of power, fell prostrate and said, “The Lord- He is God! The Lord- He is God.”4 Still, the secular authorities remained in power and they were not impressed with Elijah’s revival of the worship of Yahweh, the true God. He had upset the apple cart. The wicked queen had him in her sights, so he was still very unsettled.

So, Elijah flees. Leaving his servant in safety he journeyed a day into the desert, sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said, ‘Take my life; I am no better than my anscestors.’”5 Not surprisingly, the Lord doesn’t comply. Instead, He sends an angel who supplies provisions of food and drink, and then sends him on a forty-day journey to Horeb. Horeb, known as the ‘mountain of God’, was Mount Sinai where the Lord met Moses to give Him the Ten Commandments.

There, on the same mountain where God revealed Himself to Moses, God now manifests His presence to Elijah. In succession, Elijah experiences a powerful windstorm, an earthquake, and a fire. Yet, it wasn’t through these powerful demonstrations that God speaks to him. Instead, it was a firm, quiet word. It was time for God to have a serious heart-to-heart with His prophet. Elijah was at the end of his tether. He needed more than a pep talk from an angel. So, the Spirit moved Elijah from confusion to clarity, from doubt to certainty. Humanly, from Elijah’s perspective, the situation seemed hopeless. It was beyond Him. He couldn’t see a way forward. But the Almighty was still in control. Elijah needed to be strengthened by His presence. God came to him in his distress.

Elijah had to leave the mountain- God had things for him to do- but that didn’t mean he was being left to fend for Himself. Dear friends, the Lord never forsakes you, not even in your most acute frailty, not even in the time of your darkest sin. The Scripture says, “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it.”6

The God of Elijah is our God. He is a speaking God. His word is powerful and effective. His word must rebuke so that it can save. It must put to death our sinful, unbelieving, and selfish natures so that it can raise us to a new spiritual life that looks to Christ for every blessing. His word brings His name, His presence, His promises. His word is the word of the gospel- the Good News of salvation, the word of truth, the word of life, the word of hope. Jesus is the Word incarnate; Immanuel- God With Us.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”7 The same incarnate Jesus offered up His life on the altar of the cross. There He made atonement for your sins and mine. He endured the punishment that we rightly deserve. He satisfied the justice of God reconciling us to the Father. The horror of hell no longer hangs over us like an insurmountable threat. He rose from the grave securing the power of incorruptible life. We can live freely and authentically as His children.

We said last week that Christianity is not a society of spectators. The church is not a club or a charity organization. It is a hospital for sinners. It is a collection of ambassadors carrying the Good News into a bad news world. We are the fellowship of God’s people united by faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ through the one Spirit. The church is the communion of the baptised. We dine at His holy table receiving the power of His own body and blood. Elijah feared he was one of the only members of the church left. The Lord told him there were still 70008 who had not fallen away.

Dear friends, if our energies, our attitudes, and our resources aren’t going to support the kingdom, then where are they going? What are our priorities? God wills stability in society and we’re commanded to participate to that end. But He doesn’t command indulgence for selfishness’s sake. He doesn’t want us to be obsessed with worldly pursuits. He calls us to humility and self-sacrifice knowing that only His kingdom will endure eternally. Love for our neighbours necessarily entails concern for their souls. He doesn’t say it will be easy, but there are eternal rewards.

A man named Bob Vernon formerly worked for the Los Angeles Police Department. He tells of how the Department would test bullet-proof vests and demonstrate to rookie officers their value by placing them on mannequins and then shooting round after round at them. They'd then check to see if any of the rounds penetrated the vests. Invariably the vests would pass the test with flying colours. Vernon would then turn to the rookie officers and ask, "So who wants to wear it now instead of the mannequin?" You can imagine the apprehension at volunteering! How much more important still is our spiritual armor! The Scripture says, “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”9

Today, Elijah was ready to throw in the towel. God had different ideas. His part in the narrative was far from over. How easily, dear friends, do we underappreciate the gift of life each day! We have no entitlement to it. God is not obligated to provide it. Yet, how tragic if this life is just spent in selfish indulgence while eternity in God’s presence is forfeited.

Solomon put it vividly when he said, “Anyone who is among the living has hope- even a live dog is better off than a dead lion.”10 It doesn’t matter how bleak things look from human perspective, God can raise life from the ashes. When we’re mired in darkness and doubt, the Spirit shines light and certainty into our lives. Christ lives. No truth is more important and the lives of all believers- including yours- are wrapped up in this profound mystery. Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Second Sunday After Pentecost
23 June 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Philippians 4:6-7
2 Psalm 23:5
3 See 1 Kings 18:22
4 1 Kings 18:39
5 1 Kings 19:4 6 Deuteronomy 30:14
7 John 1:14 8 See 1 Kings 19:18
9 Ephesians 6:16 10 Ecclesiastes 9:4