June 24, 2007

When It Seems Like They're Out to Get You

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

1 Kings 19:1-8

Opening Illustration FARGO, N.D. - A man convicted of 46 felony charges involving burglary sprees across 10 counties is facing four new charges in federal court here. Edward Dean Waslaski Jr., 42, is charged in federal court with felony counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Waslaski was convicted of 46 felonies between 1984 and 2000, court records show.
"I don't know if it's a record, but that certainly is a lot of convictions," Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Reisenauer said.
Waslaski, whose last known address was a lake home near Perham, Minn., has felony burglary convictions in Cavalier, Burleigh, Pembina, Grant, McLean, Logan, Emmons, Stutsman and Stark counties in North Dakota, and Marshall County in Minnesota.
Waslaski has been jailed since December after he was arrested in Cass County on charges in a string of offenses, including terrorizing, disorderly conduct, witness tampering and violating a protection order. Some of those charges were later dropped, or amended from felonies to misdemeanors.

Lots of people in the world feel like the world is out to get them. Fee like Elijah did.

Background of Ahab and Elijah.

Elijah threatened by Jezebel. Travels to Beersheba.

Asks God to take his life and falls asleep.

Awakened twice by angel with food and water. Remains in wilderness 40 days.

God appears to him in the next story – Mt. Horeb/Sinai.

What kinds of things make us feel outnumbered today? Bills, children, illness, relationships, job, world situation.

Lessons from this passage:

First: God doesn’t abandon anyone. Contrast between God of Israel and Baal is that God is present. Baal is not.

When we get down, it can feel as though even God has abandoned you. God goes with you just like Elijah.

Second: A sense of direction carries you through times when you feel overwhelmed.

Third: Remember past experiences of God’s presence. They remind us that God is still with us. Elijah’s experience at Horeb.

Final illustration: Looking over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Conclusion: WE will all have days when we want to die. One comfort is reminding ourselves that we will not always feel that way.

Keep a sense of direction and purpose.

Remember past experiences when God did feel presence. Remind yourself that days will come when you’ll feel God’s presence again.