Wednesday, 22nd September 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
God was preparing Elijah, at the same time, God was also examining into Ahab’s life and the lives of Israelites. God loved the tribe of Judah as well as the other tribes of Israel, and He was waiting for them to return. In the three-year’s period, God was preparing and training Elijah’s faith, and through the famine and drought, He was waiting for the people of Israel to repent. God also prepared Jesus for three years until His timing was right. God always rules and reigns, His reign will not change despite of the change of environment and the people.
Section One V1-16 God’s Timing
God knew the battle Elijah had to fight was difficult, therefore He used three-year’s time to prepare Elijah, through the famine, through the drought, and through the widow’s household. God knows us, He knows our weaknesses and He will use environment to train us and prepare us. Elijah was willing to wait for God’s timing, he could have prayed for the rain before the end of the three years, but he didn’t. Then when Elijah was at the widow’s house in Sidon, he could have stayed there, because all his miracles could have made him famous there. But when God’s timing come, Elijah left Sidon and went back to Ahab.
Are we also willing to wait for God’s timing? When God wants us to move, are we willing to leave our comfort zone and follow God’s guidance? It was not easy for Elijah to go, God didn’t only tell Elijah to see Ahab, but for Ahab to see him. At the time Ahab was struggling to find food for people and for livestock, it was hard even to keep the horses and mules alive! But despite this, Ahab was unwilling to seek God. It was such a hard time, when God wanted Elijah to go back.
Ahab asked Obadiah, who was in charge of his house, to find grass for the livestock. Obadiah was Ahab’s well-trusted servant and even though Ahab was a wicked king, his servant Obadiah feared the Lord. God has His timing and His way of doing things, Obadiah knew Ahab’s wickedness, but he didn’t run away, instead through him, God saved one hundred prophets during the time of the famine. Obadiah to the one hundred prophets was like the raven to Elijah, to provide food and water to sustain their lives. Why did God keep the one hundred prophets? Because God still remembered the Israelites and He was still waiting for them to repent. They were God’s chosen ones, and He did not give up on them. Do we also see ourselves as God’s chosen ones? Do we also believe that God would not give up on us?
Section Two V17-29 Men said Nothing
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And Elijah answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals.” Elijah was not afraid of Ahab, he pointed out his mistake and told him the truth behind the famine. Furthermore, Elijah challenged the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table. Elijah was not afraid to speak out the truth and point out the people’s mistakes. But the people said nothing.
When we hear the Word of God every morning, do we respond by faith? Or do we also say nothing like the people of Israel? When God pointed out the problems in our lives through our authority, do we say nothing? God wants to bless us, but sin separates us from Him. We must open our mouth to respond, to pray and to repent. When the people did not respond, Elijah started to build the altar.
At noon, that Elijah mocked the false prophets, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention. These people knew God but they were relying on Baal for the material gains. Do we really believe God will provide us with everything we need? Or do we still seek the things of this world to give us security and comfort?
Section Three V30-46 Jehovah is the Only God
God rules and reigns, He has His timing, and even though the people stay quiet, it doesn’t change the fact that He is the only true God. Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. God wants us to set our lives apart for Him, to take an action of faith and show our trust in Him. Then when the people came, Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. Elijah was demonstrating to the people that they must repair the altar of the Lord, not for other gods. Elijah was using visual to educate the Israelites, to bring back their memories and to remind them of their origins. Elijah could have just prayed then the rain would come, but because the Israelites stayed quiet, so Elijah used this opportunity to make sure they knew what they should do as the people of God.
Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” All of Elijah’s preparation work was to educate the people and remind them of the true God. So when the fire of the Lord fell, the people believed. Why are we scared of people? Because we don’t believe in God, we try to please people instead of saying the truth. When God wants us to teach, do we speak the words of truth for Him?
Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” Elijah did not want Ahab to influence him, he did not want to fall into the temptation of Ahab. After Ahab left, Elijah went up to the mountain to pray. We must set our lives apart for God, don’t let ourselves fall into temptation but to really focus on seeking God. Elijah prayed again and again for seven times, and finally the rain came. Do we also believe in God and pray non-stop? And when God answers our prayers, can we run away from temptation? Elijah ran away from the people because he didn’t want the people to see him but to see God’s Work.
Do we also let people see the Work of God? Or do people only see us instead of God and our authority? Let us humble ourselves, submit to God, to see more of God, and less of people.
Worship: Lord, I Praise You with All of My Heart我要一心稱謝你 https://youtu.be/oSrGuuhX1O0
Prayer & Pursuit
This morning, God’s Spirit is with us, He is talking to the people He has gathered. He knows our hearts, that we rely on God but at the same time, we rely on this world. We are not willing to let go and to trust in Him completely. Let us come before Him and ask for His forgiveness.
Lord, we come before You and ask for Your forgiveness. We said we trust in You but at the same time we trust in this world, and we trust in ourselves. Lord, forgive us that we forgot about You, we did not put You first, instead we focus on our family, our work, and other things. Forgive us for sinning against You, take away our fear and worries, give us faith so we can see You are the only One True God. You have always prepared and provided for us, we just want to seek You and put our trust in You. Let Your Word dwell not only in our head but also in our heart. Amen.
2021年9月22日 星期三
潘锡安牧师
耶罗波安王给之后的以色列王带下的是叛逆的水流，如今到亚哈的王朝，先知们离开以色列国（17章），没有再服事君王。神在观看亚哈，也在观看他所爱的以色列十个支派。众先知之一的以利亚被神带离以色列，甚至到达王后耶洗别的家乡，有三年之久（18:1）。当初主耶稣在地上传道的时间也是三年，直到他按照神所预定的时间离开。无论环境、时空如何改变，神都作王掌权。
一、神的时间 V1-16
V1 神在三年时间里用溪水旁的乌鸦和和西顿的寡妇家来预备以利亚，因为他知道这场仗是不容易打的。神知道我们的软弱，也会用环境来训练我们。以利亚顺服神的带领，当时间到的时候，耶和华的话就临到他。当初以利亚在溪水旁接受乌鸦喂食的时候他直到溪水干了都没有祷告要降雨（因为他曾说“这几年我若不祷告，必不降露不下雨”-17:1），他没有倚靠自己的力量满足自己的需要。后来他被带领去了寡妇家（17:8-24），行了种种神迹奇事，有吃有住，也肯定在当地名声大噪，但当神呼召他离开安逸的西顿，回到以色列面对亚哈王的时候，以利亚顺服了。这是神对以利亚的考验，以利亚听到神的吩咐，没有拖延，真的起身去见亚哈王，并也“要使亚哈得见”他。我们听到神的呼召，是否也能如此起身前行，离开我们以前的舒适区，面对前方的挑战？
V2-6 撒马利亚是以色列的新首都。俄巴底是亚哈王最信任的家宰，被召来一起为骡马牲畜找食物。在以色列地因干旱闹大饥荒，亚哈已经走投无路了，他却还没有寻求神，只想要靠自己的方式来解决问题，但既然全地没有雨水，他这样做是行不通的。
V7-15 俄巴底一看到以利亚就认出他来，因为他是“敬畏耶和华”的人（V3）。在以色列有亚哈如此堕落的王，神竟然将敬虔的俄巴底放在他身边。他不惧王后耶洗别的逼迫，收藏了100个先知，仿佛就像那供养以利亚的乌鸦一样。在干旱的时候偷偷照顾100个人是不容易的，我们若是俄巴底，愿意有这样的勇气顺服神的安排，留在亚哈身边而不是逃走吗？神有他自己的时间和做事方式，他借着俄巴底为以色列人存留100个先知，没有让以色列完全离开神，因为以色列也是神所拣选的。我们是否看到自己是蒙召的的人，又是如何回应神对我们的拣选呢？
二、人一言不发 17-29
V17-19 亚哈一见到以利亚就将以色列不下雨的灾殃怪罪到以利亚身上，但以利亚单刀直入告诉亚哈这是亚哈和他家自己因得罪神而造成的问题。以利亚这样跟一个王说话是很危险的，但他还继续吩咐亚哈去“招聚以色列众人”和850个侍奉偶像的假先知。他们人多势众，以利亚却只有一个人，这需要很大的勇气。
V20-21 众民听了以利亚的问话之后，都“一言不答”。我们每一天在晨祷中听到神的话语、呼召之后，是否只是在听别人回应，自己却在做自己的事情或者闭口不言？神借着每一天的晨祷在清理我们里面的垃圾，使我们不再因罪与神隔绝，我们是否愿意回应神，愿意祷告、认罪，愿意在敬拜中用心灵和诚实来敬拜神，还是像这些以色列民一样一言不发？
V29 这些拜巴力的先知费尽心思都没有使祭物烧着。“从午后直到献晚祭的时候，他们狂呼乱叫”-“狂呼乱叫”原文意思是不断说预言。有些时候我们可能会讲很多“预言”，但都不是从神而来，所以“没有声音，没有应允的，也没有理会的”。这些在乱发预言的人并不是敬拜神的人，我们是否就像他们一样，不相信神，侍奉巴力，以为可以从巴力得到财富？我们是否相信只有神能供应我们一切所需？没有神的同在，我们就不会经历真正的祝福。
三、耶和华是唯一的 V30-46
V30-37 人不愿意悔改，但神还是万军之耶和华，众神之上，谁能像他？以利亚首先吩咐以色列众民“你们到我这里来。”神是要我们用行动分别为圣的，我们不能在偶像那边经历神。以色列众民听了以利亚的话，将自己分别为圣，来到以利亚那里。然后以利亚“便重修已经毁坏耶和华的坛”，用以色列人能够看明白的方式来向以色列众民示范，他们该敬拜的只有耶和华神而不是偶像。其实以利亚在借着视觉冲击的方式来教育以色列人。以利亚用12块石头提醒以色列人他们曾经是12个支派一起被神带领出了埃及、过了约旦河进入应许之地。以利亚本来可以直接祷告就好了，但因为以色列民之前的“一言不答”，他就利用这个机会不断用众民能看到的视觉演示方式来教导以色列人，让他们回想起神是“亚伯拉罕、以撒、以色列（雅各)的神”（V36)。以利亚没有按照传统的方式说“…雅各的神”，因为当初是雅各带以色列人进入埃及，所以以利亚提醒众民不要再回埃及。以利亚做这一切都希望人看到是神在做事，因此在他简短的祷告说“使这民知道你耶和华是神”（V36-37）。我们是否做很多事情都想让人知道是我们的辛苦和功劳？
V38-40 以利亚做这一切教育的事情，并没有说很多的话，是希望人能回转向神。看到神大能地回应以利亚的祷告，人终于从“一言不发”变成众口归荣耀给神。当人清醒之后，他们就将巴力的先知抓起来处决了。神其实是在亚哈王面前高举以利亚，因为人如今都听以利亚的话。我们是否相信神，还是只想讨好别人，怕人受伤或离开我们而不敢讲真理？我们要在人前做一个神所喜悦的人。
V41-42 亚哈是恶人，于是以利亚让他此刻离开，让自己可以分别为圣亲近神，不然亚哈可能会因以利亚行的神迹说要为他建一个庙。以利亚没有让自己陷入试探，而是上到山顶，完全俯伏在神面前祷告。
V43-44 以利亚没有因为过去的神迹骄傲，而是耐心祷告完七次 – “七”这个数字在圣经里就代表完全。我们是否能像他这样不放弃地向神祷告？
V45-46 耶和华无论在什么环境都是唯一的，我们是否愿意相信他？为何“耶和华的灵降在以利亚身上”他就拔腿奔跑？之前在迦密山观看的是以色列十个支派的人，现在又看到大雨降下，他们很可能就要拥戴以利亚为王，所以以利亚要赶快离开。神知道人的软弱，所以他的灵在坚固以利亚。当初耶稣所差派的门徒在行完很多神迹奇事后回来跟耶稣报告，耶稣也是这样带门徒离开簇拥他们的人群。我们是卫星网络教会，每个人从我们的牧者那里受托付而照顾下面的人，但我们是否让他们停留在神迹奇事的阶段，让那些被我们关怀的人只看到是我们多厉害多努力，却没有让他们看到是我们的牧师师母在背后的关心？我们不要拿走不属于我们的功劳。我们是五重执事的教会，我们所做的是否在支持神给我们的使徒？我们能走到如今都是神的恩典，所以能做的就是要感谢赞美神！
*追求和回应：
今天早上，神的灵在这里，神对每一个他所召聚的人说话。神知道我们心持两意。求神饶恕我们心持两意，我们不是单一依靠他，我们还依靠自己、世界、金钱。我们不相信神，不愿意完全放手。让我们一起祷告、认罪。
耶和华我们唯一的神，求你赦免我们没有把你当作我们唯一真神，我们里面还是拜偶像、金钱和贪爱世界，我们被世界吸引，带我们离开你。我们倚靠自己的双手，我们睁开眼第一件做的都是自己想做的事，把读经祷告放到最后，我们来到你的面前却想要得到世界。求神赦免我们，挪去我们里面的惧怕和担忧，看到从过去到如今你都供应我们一切需要，求主挪去我们一切的重担。主帮助我们单单定睛在你身上，每天先来寻求你，将你的话语放进我们心里，并活出我们的生命，将人带到你的殿中敬拜你！奉主耶稣基督的名祷告，阿门！