Pass it On 2 Kings 2:1-15

Sermon Nuggets week of March 29 2010

Sermon Nuggets Mon March 29, 2010

Theme- Pass it On

Verses- 2 Kings 2:1-15

Mantle Carriers

Two quotes: “The error youth is to believer that intelligence is a substitute for experience, while the error of age is to believe that experience is a substitute for intelligence.”

Secondly, from Edgar Master’s Spoon River Anthology: “In youth my wings were strong and tireless, But I did not know the mountains. In age I knew the mountains But my weary wings could not follow my vision-- Genius is wisdom and youth...”

As one grows older there are lessons of life that are understood differently from those who have never gone through them. I can know truth by reading the Bible. I understand truth by living through experiences when those truths are applied to life experiences in many ways.

We transition today from the life of Elijah to the life of Elisha. God instructed Elijah, the fiery prophet of God to mentor and prepare Elisha for the position of being a prophet. Nothing is said about who was helpful for Elijah in his earlier days. But we learn lessons of life from others in direct or indirect ways.

When I came to Stanchfield and asked people how they came to the church the names of Melvin and Amy Christenson were mentioned as folks to took them in, made them feel welcome, visited them and introduced them to others to get to know them. Even when I met them in their older years I found they invited people in their home for meal.

Amy’s stroke kept her from cooking or cleaning, so all of this responsibility fell on Melvin. It would have been easy to just stay at home and use his energy to care for Amy but that was not their heart. They prayed for people, had Bible studies, gave some money. I wondered after they passed away who would take up that mantle. In one sense no one could be Amy and Melvin. But in another sense that spirit of serving the Lord and reaching out to others is a needed ministry in every church. That attitude of serving instead of being served is a sign of spiritual maturity. The culture has moved in years to pay people to do ministry instead of the emphasis that we all do ministry together for God.

In our passage today we see a great saint being taken from earth and the continued ministry fall upon his servant, Elisha. Elisha takes the mantle, or cloak, of Elijah and continues the ministry to which God had called him.

This week we will look at characteristics important in passing that ministry to another.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues March 30- Perseverance

Verses- II Kings 2:1-6 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," Elisha replied, "but do not speak of it."

4 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," he replied, "but do not speak of it."

6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you."

Demonstrating Perseverance.

Elisha was a student for 8 years and also a servant. He was from a wealthy farming family He had servants himself as a foreman of work detail, but when the call of God came upon his life, he left it all to follow God's will. He was willing to be a servant himself and give up his inheritance and money. But after a while the novelty of doing something easily wears off for most adventuresome spirits. There is a time when what seemed excited to do is no longer fun. That is when persistence and perseverance to complete and carry on a worthy task makes one effective.

Living out the Christian life in a church setting for years is an illustration of the perseverance of the believer. So many new converts quit. They drop out of church, and their faith is no longer important to them. People want to know: Is this stuff really true? Does it really work in the tough situations of life?

When a couple's child dies, does their faith carry them through, or is it based on happy results to prayer requests? When financial struggles come, or marital difficulties arise perseverance is a characteristic developed when one matures in the Lord.

The gospel is a life-long proclamation, not a half-hour message. It is the persistent and patient walk with the Lord in the good and the bad

times that add to one's effectiveness.

Part of Elisha's training was to be patient and persistent. Each time Elijah instructed Elisha to stay in the town, Elisha was not to be dissuaded. He was persistent in following him to the end. He was persistent in his learning in his love and in his service, even through difficulty and inconvenience, and grief.

A Moravian missionary named George Smith when to Africa. He had been there only a short time and had only one convert, a poor woman when he was driven from the country. He died shortly afterward on his knees, praying for Africa. He was considered a failure.

100 years later his mission counted more than 13,000 living converts who had sprung from the ministry of George Smith and the way God used that poor woman who turned her life over to the Lord. It is not important what we accomplish with our life, as it is that we be faithful to God and persistent in what we know his will to be. It is God that gives the increase. It is God who moves in the hearts of others. That is what makes one effective to the Lord.

Part of persistence is obedience to what you believe is God's will and task for you and not to quit.

Elizabeth Elliot says, "Throughout the Bible..when God asked a man to do something, the methods, means, materials and specific directions were always provided. The man had one thing to do: obey."

Elisha stayed with Elijah since he was called to be a servant and a student. He knew that the Lord was going to take his master from him. He knew as did all the rest of the seminary students, these sons of the prophets that Elijah’s work on the world was done. Who was going to carry it on? God had picked Elisha. Elisha was willing to obey, and persistent in the tasks before him.

One doesn’t have to be preparing for full time Christian service. I have been ministered best by the persistent commitment laymen and women at Stanchfield who love the Lord and use their gifts year after year. It is a witness to our community. It is not always fun or easy. But it is godly to be persistent in doing His will when we feel like it or not.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds March 31

Verses- II Kings 2:7-10 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan.

8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.

10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours-- otherwise not."

Demonstrates Desire

There are many in ministry, or with church responsibilities, that look at their service as a job and many who look at it as a calling. Elisha knew his position was a calling from God. But he also knew that he needed to learn some things from his mentor, Elijah. It was his desire to be an effective servant of God.

What is in the heart of a person? Is it advancement, is it performance, is it money, is it fame? We not only saw the commitment of Elisha at the time of his calling, but the desire of his heart to be passionate in service.

“What is it I can do for you”, the older asks the younger.

Elisha had just witnessed a miracle. He knew about the parting of the sea in the wilderness wanderings. He knew about the parting of river Jordan when the people entered into the promised land. Now in this passage Elisha watches as Elijah takes his cloak and rolls it up and touches the river and watches it part. They walk across on dry ground.

How do you teach someone how to do that? What skills does one learn about parting water? Never has that been taught in seminary or Sunday School class. That is only given by God as a gift.

But what we see in the student is not a desire to be better than Elijah but the passion to service with the same zeal for the Lord and to do ministry with excellence. There are skill we learn and abilities and gifts that one does not learn. It is given by God. Likewise it is important to learn lessons in church, mission or ministry. We can learn how to teach better, use study skill to understand the Bible, how to send out cards of encouragement or make visits. But the touch of the Spirit of God on a life desiring to be used is not something to be taught, but to be caught.

What do people do to improve in their jobs? There are those who learn all they can and seek to apply what they see in others that are doing it well. They learn by example.

When people have coaches in some sport they want to improve their skills but realize they have something the other doesn’t have. There are God given gifts and there are fundamentals and advanced techniques that one learns by watching those he or she admires.

What does Elijah see in Elijah? A power from God to be certain, but a desire to be all God wants him to be. He sees a relationship that Elijah has with God that Elisha wants with all his heart. To walk and talk with the Lord is beyond books and lectures. It is vital in witnessing the intimacy and living it out in the spirit.

Elisha's heart desire is to have a double portion of his spirit. A double portion does not mean twice as much power as Elijah but rather to be considered as his son who will receive his spiritual inheritance. He is asking for the blessing and for the spiritual power that his mentor had. He knew he had more to learn. Elisha felt that there was yet something he needed if he was to face the task alone. Till then his only comfort and hope was to stay by Elijah.

The desire of the heart of Elisha was to have the Spirit of God like he had seen in Elijah. It wasn’t for personal advancement or envy, but to be a tool effective for the service of God.

To learn all we can is important in any job or responsibility. To do things well and with excellence is admirable when one applies himself or herself. But spiritual desire comes when you realize God is God and you want Him more than anything else, not for what you can do, but for who He is. It comes not by our choice nor by our training but by the grace of the Lord responding to the desires of our heart.

That is what Elijah tells his student. This is a gift from God. Ask for it. Desire it. And let God give you what God wants to give you. Be ready and willing to receive whatever God has for you while you continue your journey with the tasks at hand. And what it is God gives to you, do it with excellence and let Him take it from there.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs April 1- Faith

Verses- 11 Kings 2:11-14 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.

13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

Demonstrating Faith

The Spiritual power of God is not something one obtains by teaching or learning certain principles. One does not observe another and practice what he does and automatically receive the supernatural infilling of the Spirit of God. God doesn't work that way. However the example of faith is something people can see in others and evaluate in their lives as others are living in believing God and His word and power. Does one perform duties and techniques learned from men, or trust in what God chooses to do in His people?

The important thing about growing in faith is not so much how much faith someone has, but rather the object in which faith is placed. There comes a time in Elisha’s training when he moves from what he can learn from Elijah to what he learns from God.

When I went on my first airplane ride I was quite nervous. I had seen others fly. I had heard their experiences. I would watch as planes would go up and down, but this idea of being in mid air with something that weights tons didn’t seem to make any sense, since I also understood about gravity.

However, learning a bit about aerodynamics helped in my growth of understanding. But the time came when I needed to get on the plane. I did what I could to help lift the plane in the air by pulling up on the arm rests on the seat. I thought about the point of no return where it is too late to turn back- one either flies or crashes. I prayed to the Lord for safety.

After awhile people were walking about the plane and standing and visiting with friends. The stewardess was delivering drinks and then passing out food (this was a number of years ago).

The more I started to understand about planes and experience them the more my faith in them grew. I trusted it with my life. It is now an enjoyable experience. If I had no faith in planes, regardless of how safe they were I would not have experienced their benefits personally. If the plane I was to get on was faulty and had no gas, no matter how much faith I had in it I would be in danger for the object of my faith was deficient.

Elisha learned about God by watching Elijah live out his faith. He trusted in God. The time came when Elisha did not just go through the motions but took that step from the faith of his friend to his own commitment of trusting in God and learning along the way more about Him.

The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Rom 10:17

The more we know the Lord the more faith grows until we trust and obey, not based on our good works, but relying on the power of God to work through us His way and in His timing.

People can go to classes, Bible study groups and training seminars for many years and some do. But that does not assure anyone of the power of the Holy Spirit. One learns more about God, but the time times to exercise faith in not one knows but in the person of Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit since Christ dwells within. One is far more likely to discover God's power while on your knees and in personal communication with the Lord from the Bible.

We see in a most dramatic manner that Elijah is translated in a unique and different way than anyone else on this earth. He was a fiery personality, and in that same bold manner the Lord takes him to heaven in a whirlwind separated by a fiery chariot with horses. Elisha tears his clothes, expresses grief and picks us the mantle of Elijah and returns to the river Jordan believing God has place His hand upon him. He exercises his faith by taking this clock of Elijah and God parts the water just like he did with Elijah.

Elisha was not to go in the power of Elijah, or in the wisdom of Elijah, or in the intelligence of Elijah, or in the experience and training that he had, but in the power of the Lord and the wisdom of God, and the leading of the Spirit. He knew Him whom he trusted.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri April 2

Verses- II Ki 2:14-15 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Participation

There is no indication here that Elijah died the human and normal death of the rest of us. The Lord translated him from his life to the next. When the prophets looked for a body, they found none. His resurrection came much earlier than the rest of the world. But the mantle was left. Elisha picked it up and continued the ministry. Now that he had been called and trained, it was time for him to participate and get involved in the ministry to which God called him. He went boldly on.

Many can come up with excuses not to serve by thinking they don’t have enough training, they don’t have the gifts of their predecessor, they aren’t smart enough, or talented enough, but God uses those who are willing to participate.

I recently spoke on Moses and the burning bush last fall. One pastor entitled his sermon, “Any Ol’ Bush Would do”. It wasn’t about one of our former presidents. It was about God meeting Moses in the wilderness through a burning bush. There really wasn’t anything special about the bush as it was the power of God through the bush. Any ol’ bush would do if God chooses to show his wonder and miracles through it.

The same would be true of people God chooses. Any person would do if God chose them for some task or purpose. People in our society would run back that bush and charge admission to look at it in some museum or possibly charge $1,000 for a sliver of it. They would make it into an idol. God is desirous of glory for Himself alone.

The Bible says that the Spirit gives gifts as he wills to whomever he wills. Such power is an act of grace. God only can answer such a prayer. The power that Elisha sought was not for Elijah to give. Elijah does tell him that if he can witness his departure then God will grant him his prayer.

Indeed God's plan was to empower Elisha. A willing and humble spirit was what God wanted from Elisha. That would be one difference between a bush and a human. We can disobey and be filled with selfish and evil desires. An inanimate object is as God created it to be.

God came upon Elisha as he returned to the same Jordan river and touched the water with Elijah's cloak. Like before, it separated. There was nothing magical about the cloak or mantle. Interestingly, God did not give to him the special power of Elijah until he needed it. He often makes men wait in faith for a gift until the very moment that it is required.

As a minister I admire many people God had marvelously used in different areas. I wish I could evangelize like Billy Graham, or be involved with social concerns like James Dobson, or be as astute to political and Christian responsibilities like Chuck Colson, but that is unrealistic and that is not want God wants of Dale Cope. He has not given me their ministry and has not given them my ministry. He has not given you my ministry or given to me yours. He wants us to use all of our interests today and together in the power of the spirit.

The world ranks people one way, God ranks them differently. He doesn't rank by occupation: Rahab was a hero of the faith and she was a prostitute. He doesn't rank by notoriety; the protagonists of Jesus' parables were unknowns.

Just as in a relay race one passes the baton to another as they all run their course for their team. The concept of discipleship is for a time one takes the baton given to them by God, usually from someone who went before us, and carry it with faithfulness and humility until we pass it on to another. Get in the race. Do so with the willingness to do our best and watch what God chooses to do in and through us. God is not calling you to do everything, but I believe he is calling you to do something.

There are those who have gone on before us that have influenced us in ways that God used. There will be those who follow us for whom God want us to invest time and ministry to will be a blessing to the next generation. Carry the baton with a willingness to glorify God. Then pass it on.

Pastor Dale

Greener Grass 1 Kings 21

Sermon Nuggets week of March 22, 2010

Sermon nuggets -Mon March 22

Theme- Greener Grass

Verses- I Kings 21:1-6
1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
2 Ahab said to Naboth, "Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth."
3 But Naboth replied, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, "Why are you so sullen? Why won't you eat?"
6 He answered her, "Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, 'Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"

Greener Grass

There was a young man at the movie theatre who went out to get popcorn. Returning he leaned over and asked the woman sitting on the aisle, “Did I step on your feet when I left?”
Ready to accept his apology smiled and said, “Why as a matter of act, you did.”

“Good,” explained the man squeezing past her, “Then this is the right row.”

There are a number of people that can only see their world through their own eyes. They are completely oblivious as to the concerns and considerations of others. We come in conflict very early in life. We do not always get our own way. We are born with an egocentric world that lack self discipline and real enjoyment.

If a person does not know how to control his desires he falls prey to the snares of lust, gluttony, intemperance, laziness and other vices.

Have you ever practiced the discipline of fasting? During this season many within liturgical churches practice Lent. It is an observance for 40 days to deny oneself of some thing they enjoy, or a habit they wish to change, as means of preparing themselves spiritually for Easter. Often it is not eating meat on Fridays or giving up smoking or desserts for that period of time. Many will chose to say no to some other pleasures which they enjoy, to reflect on how Jesus denied himself of his heavenly pleasures and even fasted in the wilderness before His public call and temptation by Satan.

It is not a bad idea to say no to your feelings of indulgence. It is good to deny yourself things that are fine just for the purpose of controlling your wants. It is part of learning to do what you know to be right even if you don’t feel like doing it. Cultivating discipline in the physical life helps us become discipline in the spiritual life.

We have been talking about Elijah for the past weeks. There are three more times that his name is mentioned in the Old Testament. Twice he comes as a prophet from God to give words of judgments to the King. Kings are seldom questioned or contradicted. One in such power finds it hard to say no to his desires and wants for his personal benefits.

As a background to this passage it has been six or seven years since King Ahab had seen Elijah. King Ahab desires some property that he does not own. He wants to make a garden from the adjoining land belonging to Nabath. But his neighbor does not want to sell for religious reasons and to honor his family since this was an inheritance from his ancestors.

Ahab is frustrated and mopes around the palace. His wife, the wicked queen Jezebel notices this. With his consent she uses her powers by committing a crime. Through lying, bribery and murder the king gets what he wants.

Not only is God a God of forgiveness but also a God of vengeance. Elijah serves to remind us of this through uttering judgments on the King and his wife.

Elijah speaks judgment upon this royal family.

It does us all well to think of areas of our lives where we need to confess and repent of sinful ways and desires.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues March 23, 2010

Verses- I King 21:4-7
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, "Why are you so sullen? Why won't you eat?"
6 He answered her, "Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, 'Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"
7 Jezebel his wife said, "Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

From Desire to Envy

The heart of the King moves from desire to envy. Naboth lives next door to one of the palaces. Ahab thinks it would be nice to have a vegetable garden and looks around and the grass is always greener on the other side. When he realizes this land he wants doesn’t belong to him he inquires about the possibility of getting it. There is some bargaining going on and rightly and fairly the King offers Naboth a better piece of land elsewhere or even money on a fair trade. So far there isn’t any problem. Wanting something you do not have is not necessarily a sin. We would never buy anything if that were the case. The acquiring of possession however seldom if never satisfies.

Naboth is one of the Jehovah worshippers it appears. Perhaps he was one who heard the might of God on Mount Carmel and returned to his faith in God. Maybe he was a secret follower all his life. Either way the context indicates he sought to keep the laws of the Lord. But for a vow made and family rights the property was more than just a piece of land it was part of a religious and family commitment to keep it.

Lev 25:23 taught, “The land must not be sold permanently because the land is mine and you are aliens and my tenants.”

When the land was divided at the time of Joshua various people claimed the land as from the Lord. Numbers 36:7 “So shall not the inheritance the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.”

Growing up in Detroit allowed me to see the difference of attitude about homeland. In a mobile environment people loved their homes, but it wasn’t a big deal to move. But I noticed out in the country when land was homesteaded by the early Swedish immigrants and farms have been part of the family for years there is a greater attachment and commitment of keeping it in the family. It is not uncommon for people to retire and return to their roots of the childhood or of the grandparents in Stanchfield.

Yet in Israel there was more that type of thinking since this land was not just for the sake of historic nostalgia. It was a gift from God to them. That is why there is fighting going on over the West Bank or Palestinians. The Jewish people reclaimed the land given back according to the laws of Leviticus and saying it is God given and we must buy, steal or force it back into our possession. So even though Naboth was offered better land he could not sell his rights.

He also had a right of protection to his property by the existing government. Ahab was King and even though he was cruel God ordained leadership and civil government to uphold the rules so to provide order and peace. Stealing by anyone’s standards is not acceptable. He was suppose to be protected by the laws of the land and even the King could do nothing about it. So Ahab couldn’t get what he wanted and envy resulted. He moped around.

Desire leads to covetousness and covetousness is a sin. He wanted his neighbor’s property. It did not belong to him. He was unable to buy or trade it. He had enough of his own but there is something about not having what you want that makes it more attractive.

Do you eve see that in yourself? Children are especially that way. Someone can’t have a bicycle or motorcycle or a new dress, or can’t go on a date and the mop and pout because they can’t get what they want. Not only that if someone else has it they feel envious. Wanting something that someone else has is breaking one of the 10 commands. Not just desires it, but starting to feel envy is also holding something against the other for having what we want.

Many adults do that also n a different level. Maybe it is something they cannot afford and they think about it until it affects their attitude. Many are wrapped up in personal possessions with disillusionment that if only I can have it, it will make my day but it never does because then there is something else they want and then something else and this desire is never satisfied.

Jezebel saw her husband in this mood. She comes up with a plan. Her standards certainly aren’t to protect he rights of the citizens. Her value system is what the King wants the King gets. It is a matter of power. The issue becomes bigger than a plot a land.

Pastor Dale

Sermon nuggets Weds March 24, 2010

Verses-
I King 21:7-13 Jezebel his wife said, "Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city with him.
9 In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."
11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people.
13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth has cursed both God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

Envy to Sin

Growing up there was a controversy between private and public rights of land. If government deemed property worthy of public interest they could take someone land or property for a price. This principle is now called eminent domain. In the United States, it's limited by the Bill of Rights, which grants a right to due process of law and fair compensation when the government takes a person's property. A public purpose can include anything from building a new freeway ramp to declaring your soggy back acres a protected wetland.

Of course this can and is easily abused not only in public life but in private sectors as well. Many developers will force older people out of their homes “for the good of the community” sometimes for a fair price and often not. Desires turn into envy which turns into greed and falls into sin. Many are innocent victims whose rights and properties are stolen though for the books it is done in legal ways.

This story of Naboth’s land being taken comes after legal means have been exhausted so the King can get a vegetable garden. The queen sees Ahab moping around and tells him to cheer up she will get the land for him. Jezebel hypocritically proclaims a day of fasting. Although she personally denies the laws of Jehovah she uses this fast as means to falsely accuse Naboth. She instructs the elders of the city to set up Naboth so that two witnesses can testify against him claiming he cursed God and King That way he can be stoned to death and that is exactly what happened.

We are told citizens are guaranteed the right of a fair trial. The King’s family sideswipes the law and affect the whole city into a charade just so Ahab can get a vegetable garden Elders are willing to be bribed and follow the dictates of immoral and lying queen. Scoundrels and scum are more interested in money than lives. They lie in front of the tribune and claim to have heard him curse God and king, which he would never do. They publically keep the law by stoning him to death. He was an innocent victim. With Naboth gone the land was now available to King Ahab. Power over the innocent is achieved once again.

Desire turns to envy which turns into sin in order to get what does not belong.

King David committed adultery and in order to cover up his sin brings Bathsheba’ husband, an honorable and righteous soldier back from war so he could sleep with his wife and think the child was his. But out of duty to God and country he refused to sleep with his wife because of his vow during battle. David arranges he be put in the front lines and kills and then marries his widow and she has his baby.

Kings manipulate and kill people for their wants. This is what happened to Jesus. The High Priest Caiaphas wanted his innocent victim, sinless son of God killed and since Jesus did no wrong the best they could do was have two witnesses bribed with money to tell lies that Jesus committed something worthy of death.

History repeats itself over and again. The strong get their way at the expense of the weak. King Henry the 8th killed Sir Thomas More, a bishop, by false witnesses because he refused to acknowledge the Kings marriage after he divorced one of his wives.

There are many unfair stories of lying ad cover ups and even deaths to fill envious desires for material things. Powerful people use whatever means they can to get what they want and sin grows. There are many defenseless victims who lose houses, land, money property and even lives. It isn’t’ fair. But there is one who keeps the final books. There comes a day of reckoning. It is God who is the final judge.

Perhaps in a less dramatic way but no less sin stealing and cheating become means of acquiring things that do not belong to us. It can be as serious as stealing cars, snowmobiles or money. It can be as simple as lying on filling out our time sheet or income tax forms.

Influencing others to get what we want is common. To do so in deceitful and sinful ways results in activity opposed by God.

The Psalmist prays Ps 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Pastor Dale

Thurs March 25, 2010

Verses-I King 21:15-20 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead."
16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth's vineyard.
17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
18 "Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood-- yes, yours!'"
20 Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!" "I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD.

Exposed

The Lord sends Elijah to this vineyard and there he meets with the King. Ahab is thrilled that he has the land finally for his garden. “So here you are my enemy” says Elijah.

Remember that earlier Jezebel was looking for Elijah to kill him. Notice the change of focus. “It wasn’t you who found me, but I have found you.” Who is looking for whom? Who is guilty and in hiding? Elijah is no longer afraid of the King or his wife. He met the Lord as we mentioned earlier and faith is strong again. We see God continues to use Elijah and his abilities to carry out the work. He is strengthened and there are tasks for him to perform

Vs. 20 Notice how he puts that, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. Sold yourself to evil. Bargained away his soul so to speak.

I was in a play called Dr. Faustus which is an old morality play from Christopher Marlowe. R. Faustus sells his soul to the devil for things of the world. He is about to die and Mephistopheles (Satan) allows him to live a few more years and during that time his finds a beautiful woman, gets lots of money. He achieves fame as a physician, acquires respected intelligence and wisdom. He becomes politically powerful. But the time comes when his days are up. In anguish we see him descending into hell.

There comes a time we are faced with our folly, our evil, our sin. There comes a times when we see life the way God sees it and self is uncovered. The lies are exposed. Our evil is seen for what it is. For some that time comes early like Denny Hecker, or Bernie Madoff, or Tom Peters. For others it isn’t revealed until folks stand before God but justice will prevail as God will have his way.

Many will do evil acts like Ahab. Many more will do selfish, prideful and greedy acts which ignore Christ. Our world is telling us a lie and too often truth is drowned out by lies.

There is another part of the story. Naboth was innocently killed. But that is not forgotten by God. He is omniscient. He is all knowing. He is the one who said “Vengeance in mine”. Does not a sparrow fall to the ground and the Father knows it?

Yes, there are innocent martyrs. Our hearts cry out, “unfair, unfair.” There were 3 million Jews gassed to death in Germany. Men women and children. There are churches burned in Nigeria with believers in them this month. There are drug lords in Columbia and Mexico killing journalist who will report against them. There are judges bribed to give verdicts in favor of the powerful and rich. There are bad police and greedy preachers.

I wish we could understand this with the eyes of the Lord and not eyes that are so focused on this world that we are blinded to eternal truth. When God promises us protection and care it is not necessarily protection and care from earthly powers. We may be beaten and slandered an lose law suits, and fired unjustly. That is not what we are protected from. The word say, “o not fear that which can kill your body, but that which kills both body and soul”

I would much rather be Naboth falsely accused and stoned to death than Ahab standing in a garden condemned by God. But few people understand that. They would much rather be Ahab the winner than Naboth the loser. Satan blinds their eyes and they sell their souls to evil. Sin must be reckoned with. Ahab stands condemned for his sin.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Friday March 26, 2010-


Verses I King 21:17-29
17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 "Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood-- yes, yours!'"
20 Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!" "I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD.
21 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel-- slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.' 23 "And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.'
24 "Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country."
25 (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."

From Condemnation to Death

Nobody likes to hear bad news. Warnings to turn from sin before it is too late are not taken as good news. When Elijah confronts the King with his sin and the consequences of their actions Elijah had become his enemy and Ahab wanted him killed. Now this last time of meeting Elijah reveals again the sin of the murder of Naboth the Kings neighbor. There will be death and destruction to the household of Ahab.

The consequences for Ahab are dramatic however for his sins. He will lose all ties with the Kingdom. All his family will be killed and Jezebel will be killed. The dogs will eat her flesh. That is the worse public humiliation -instead of these vast tombs that kings and queens are buried in. But more than that, they lose their own soul.

To be out of eternal fellowship with the Lord is the worse of all consequences. That is exactly what happens. As we conclude the book of 1 Kings and read more into 2 Kings we see the drama played out. Within three years Ahab disguises himself as a common soldier and in battle an arrow flies and hits him between the folds of his armor. He suffers watching his men lose the battle. He loses his life and his body is lying in a pool blood. Surrounding his body are scavengers, not pets like we think, but more like the coyotes, curs lapping up the blood of Ahab.

Jezebel later is thrown from a balcony by her servants and her blood splattered all over the wall surrounding the palace and horses trample over her. The dogs came and ate away all her flesh so only the bones stood.

Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria, the capital of Israel, the Northern Kingdom. All had their heads put in a basket. Jehu, the commander of the armies, killed everyone who remained in the house of Ahab as well as all his chef advisors and close friends and priests leaving him no survivors.

We see the truth of the warning of James. “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15) This story is the illustration of the truth of the consequences of yielding to sinful desires.

There is however a glimmer of hope in the last 3 verses of this chapter. It shows Ahab for the first time in Scripture coming to repentance. He tears his clothes and humbled himself before the Lord. So God by his mercy relents and says the disaster to Ahab’s household will happen after he dies. We see the demise of his family in the stories of 2 Kings. The Lord’s judgment was delayed.

It was too bad that humility was only for a short time. If Ahab kept his promises things might have been different. There are consequences to sin. Judgment faces us all. When King David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba there were consequences, but with his humility and repentance his descendents were established by the promise of God until the coming of Jesus Christ, who will reign forever.

Peter sinned and repented and used of God in dramatic ways to establish the church. Saul met the Lord and had a heart chance and God uses his writing today as Scriptures for our teaching and obedience.

The Lord’s promises for the faithful result in blessing by his mercy. For the one who continues in sin there is warning and then condemnation. This is a message of hope and of despair. Which shall it be? For God is faithful. And will right the wrongs.

I am reminded of the challenge of the words of Joshua when the nation was established in this new land. Deut 30:19 “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

Pastor Dale

Call of God -1 Kings 19:15-21

Sermon Nuggets Mon March 15

Theme- Call of God

Verses 1 Kings 19:15-21

Commitment

On April 21st, in the year 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez sailed into the harbor of Vera Cruz, Mexico. He brought with him only about 600 men, and yet over the next two years his vastly outnumbered forces were able to defeat Montezuma and all the warriors of the Aztec empire, making Cortez the conqueror of all Mexico. How was this incredible feat accomplished, when two prior expeditions had failed even to establish a colony on Mexican soil? Here’s the secret. Cortez knew from the very beginning that he and his men faced incredible odds. He knew that the road before them would be dangerous and difficult. He knew that his men would be tempted to abandon their quest and return to Spain. And so, as soon as Cortez and his men had come ashore and unloaded their provisions, he ordered their entire fleet of eleven ships destroyed. His men stood on the shore and watched as their only possibility of retreat burned and sank. And from that point on, they knew beyond any doubt there was no return, no turning back. Nothing lay behind them but empty ocean. Their only option was to go forward, to conquer or die.

There are many people so caught up in the things of this world that they do not realize how it chokes them not only of life, but of God.

What is it God is calling you to?

I believe there are three types of calls in our lives. There is the call of God unto Salvation. God calls us into His family. He calls us to faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to following Him. If you are here this morning and have never make a prayer commitment giving your life to Jesus Christ, you need to do that in order for God to have his complete way with you. You need to be saved.

There is a second call, I believe for all Christians to live lives in holiness and righteousness. We are all called to be witnesses in whatever we do and to become light and salt to our world. If you are a Christian you are called to serving him with the gifts and talents that he has given to you and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I believe there is a third call for some. It is the call of God for special service, ministry, or witness. Some people are used of God in powerful and specific ways. Now I would like us to think of the Biblical principles of how God is using the prophet Elisha as I begin a new series throughout this summer.

I've preached on the life of Elijah who was a very different person. What kind of people does God use?

These next few weeks as we see the Prophet Elijah winding down his ministry we will see the baton of responsibility being handed to a hand picked servant, Elisha. He was a farmer. Now God had a specific and different plan for his life.

Let’s look at the heart of Elisa. We will see by his actions of sacrificing his oxen and burning his plow that there was a committed heart that said to him- There is no turning back!

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues March 15

Verses 1 King 19:15-19

15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.

16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.

17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.

18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-- all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.

GOD Desires a PREPARED HEART.

First I want to say that God picks and chooses whomever He desires. But there is something that is true for all. He prepares them by life’s circumstances that makes them usable.

Not everyone is desirous to serve the Lord. We have examples like Moses or Jonah, but others like Isaiah or Elisha fall into the category that get the call from God to serve in a unique manner and do not need much convincing. That is the heart that blesses the Lord and He desires of all of us.

For the next assignment Elijah needed to regain his perspective on the Lord. He was not where the Lord wanted him when he ran away and was far from the place where the Lord wanted him to be. So God needed to do an attitude adjustment.

The Lord gave Elijah a job to perform. So much of depression is frankly nothing more than self-pity, physical exhaustion, and not being in a right relationship with God. Work helps me get rid of depression most of the time. I stop feeling sorry for myself when my mind is concentrated on activity.

Now for Elijah to be used of God he had to get his heart right again. The Lord can't be served very effectively with a discouraged person. He had to show Elijah that God is still alive and well, and that he has a plan for his life an for ours. God had something for Elijah to do and notice he had something for Hazael to do, and Jehu to do, and now we see he has a plan for the life of Elisha.

God also told him that in the Northern nation of Israel there were 7,000 people who had not bowed down to Baal and whose hearts were prepared to serve God. God knows a lot more that is going on than what we realize.

From time to time I am happily surprise to hear of someone in the church whom I thought was uninvolved helped someone by giving them a card, phone call or visit. There are many people in many ways serving God. It really isn’t important that I know about that, but God knows and it is Him they are serving. There are many whose names do not get in the bulletin, published in the papers, or called to be preachers, or evangelists or missionaries, or Christian workers. I am excited that the call of God affects us all for God does have a wonderful plan for your life and wants to use you for His glory and your blessing, and the blessing of others.

Marshall Shelly says, "According to historic Christianity, the church was not structured to accomplish measurable goals. It was established by God to be something. Yet it's vital that we do ministry, and do it well, it's even more important that we be God's people" or Watchman Nee "To what are we to be consecrated? Not to Christian work, but to the will of God, to be and to do whatever he requires."

What does it mean to have a prepared heart? I believe it means three things. First it means that you are saved. God calls us to come to Christ by faith. It means giving up your control of your life and turning it over to Jesus.

Secondly I believe a prepared heart is one that is cleansed from sin. Certainly, Christians sin. Elijah needed to look at God once again and not others and himself. A prepared heart desires the Holy Spirit to search him, examine him and find the sinful ways that keep him from being useful.

Thirdly, having a prepared heart is living the way the Lord would have us live. Not just getting sin out, but living in whatever occupation we do honestly, uprightly, and in the joy of the Lord. Elisha was farming. He was industrious, and hard working. God seldom calls an idle man. Luke 16:11 "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

Elisha was honoring his parents. He was showing respect and love to his servants. He was being a man of God in his normal life. God desires a prepared heart which is already serving the Lord where he or she is.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds March 17

Verse I King 19:20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"

GOD desires A WILLING HEART

Elisha demonstrated a willing heart by responding obediently when Elijah told him God wanted him for service. God had chosen Elisha. Elisha was chosen by God for the task some time before he was called to it by Elijah. God had decided all this before Elisha was given the opportunity of deciding.

A prepared heart is a heart that knows the Lord and is living for

Him. A willing heart is desirous to serve Him according to the gifts He has given us. It is doing what our hands find to do. If you are walking in the desire to serve our Lord then do what comes your way as being God's person. The most important part of the call is willingness to be what He wants us to be and if He should open us to a specific task He will make it known.

In the culture the cloak, or mantle, of the prophet had special meaning. Elijah threw it around Elisha and started walking away. Elisha knew what that meant. It was the outward sign of the call to come and be under the teaching and training of Elijah. The cloak of the prophet was symbolic of His spiritual power from God. This was an invitation to follow Elijah the prophet of God and follow God's call.

I was called to God at the age of 9 to be his child. I was convicted in Junior and Senior High School to be willing offer my life to do whatever God wanted me to do and serve him in wherever He leads. I remember even praying, "Lord if you want me to be a farmer, I'll be the best farmer I can be to your glory."

Can you imagine a city slicker from Detroit, not know the difference between a combine or a harvester praying something like that? God made it plain to me in High School that He wanted me to study for the ministry. I liked people. I enjoyed counseling, psychology and sociology. I did not like to speak in front of people. I felt shy and very uncomfortable about people I did not know. I had to learn by sweat, blood, and tears how to teach and preach in public. Those were not natural gifts. Administration is not a part of the pastorate I particularly like nor do I feel gifted in, but I do it because it comes with the job. I am not fond of committee work, finances, and conflict. I am not particularly knowledgeable in mechanical things, or trustee type work but I learned that is part of being a pastor and instead of resenting them, I accept them. A willing heart isn't a heart that is desirous of things one likes to do, but willing to do things that you do not like to do too if that is part of the task.

Elisha was willing to go, but first needed to bid his folks farewell. Elijah’s response seems somewhat harsh to me, "Go back. What have I done to you?"

I believe what he is saying is something like this, "I wasn't the one that called you. The Lord did. You do what you want. If you are interested in your parents more than in your summons to serve God, why not return home? I am only a messenger. You must make up your own mind. When you are certain that it is a challenge from God to devote your life to his service then respond."

I do not think Elisha's desire is wrong. He was making preparations to leave. He was to leave his family and immediate friends to become a missionary to King Ahab and others.

I think of the willingness and desirous spirit of Jim Elliot, missionary martyr. He said, "I dare not stay home while the Quichuas perish; what if the well filled church in the homeland needs stirring? They have the Scriptures, Moses and the prophets and a whole lot more. Their condemnation is written on their bankbook and in the dust of their Bible covers."

Jim Elliot's heart was willing. He knew in his heart he could do nothing else. He had to go as soon as possible, and so did Elisha

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs March 18, 2010

Verses- I King 19:19-21 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.

20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"

21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

GOD desires a SEPARATED HEART

A separated heart is a heart that is separated from the cares of this world. It is separated from us the things that keep us from God's priority. A separated life is a sacrificial life. Elisha left the oxen, left parents, left his servants, left his inheritance, and separated himself to God because that was God's call for him. They can be good things, they can be acceptable things, they can be important things, but not what God wants for us now.

I feel Elisha took drastic steps when as a son of a rich farmer and having 11 other servants over his direction took the oxen and slaughtered them for the servants, family and friends to eat. Then he took his plow and burned it. He was blessed for these very things. He was a good son, a hard worker, a good employer, and faithful to the vocation of his family, but when called to a different service the temptations of staying were burned as a visible reminder that he was not to go back. He committed himself to whatever God wanted. Every man who has done any great work for God in the world has been more or less deeply impressed with this sense of special Divine call and commission.

Now remember that Elijah and Elisha were very different people. There is nothing in the Bible to say that we all act alike and serve alike. Elijah is the rugged individualist, ascetic and recluse. Elijah was the powerful prophet standing before 1,000s to proclaim the judgment of God. But Elisha was the prophet of the nation domestic, peaceable, helpful and somewhat quieter as we will remain to see. He does the same task but in a much different way with the same spirit. Elisha was not Elijah. Joshua was not a Moses, a Timothy is not a Paul, and there is no reason to be so.

All Christians are called to do service and different people have different things that are on their heart to do and must not judge another for not having that same particular burden, other than to be faithful to God.

I believe, however, each Christian must evaluate his life and ask if she is living by the priorities God would have for her. What needs to be cut out? One cannot seek to be faithful student of the word of God and spend 20 hours or more a week watching TV. One cannot know his people and spend half his time with personal hobbies. One must become disciplined, and seek those things which are above. We must not only decide the good, but the best things leaving out some of the good.

St. Francis of Assisi was born to a clothing merchant of Assisi in Italy. He was somewhat of a playboy and not very serious. He joined the army and was taken prisoner for awhile. When he was let out he was riding to Rome and in somewhat the same fashion as Paul had a vision to restore the fallen house of God. He took that literally and sold clothes from his father’s warehouses to rebuild the ruined churches. He was ruining the family profits so his father stood him before the bishop as a public act of disowning him. To which Francis stripped himself of his clothes and took on a simple tunic and turned his back on all his wealth and sought to serve the less fortunate with whom he was now identifying.

Francis went around preaching repentance and the Kingdom of God without money. Eating only what was given to him. He would imitate Christ and obey Christ' commands in absolute poverty. Others follow St. Francis and they went 2 X 2 preaching repentance signing much, aiding peasants in their work, caring for the lepers and outcasts.

I am not saying we must be like Elisha or St. Francis of Assisi. That was God’s call on their lives. But a separated heart is willing to turn our backs on things that allure us away from Christ and His prioiries for us.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri March 19, 2010

Verses- 1 Kings 19: 21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

GOD desires a HUMBLED HEART

We need to understand that when Elisha said yes to the call of God he did so leaving not only wealth, but responsibility as a son of a master. He was a boss and now would become a servant to assist Elijah. He was not only a learner, but in this role he would do the servant’s tasks. That is a humble position. He was willing even to do lowly things and dirty tasks, but in so doing them, learning and watching and being taught from the senior prophet.

Jesus was willing to take the towel and bowl as he washed the feet of his disciples. Paul was still a tentmaker, and a prisoner, doing menial tasks. Being in God's service not means always being respect or honored, or exalted.

It is exciting to have a ministry linking people to God and teaching eternal values and seeing lives changed by the Lord. It is significant to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and considered worthy to do so. It is fun to watch Christians grow in their faith and begin to love the Lord and desire to know more of His Word. It is especially gratifying to see people become reproducers themselves for God's kingdom.

Jesus is once again our example when he says we are called to serve, not to be served. That is Christian maturity.

Billy Graham was having a question and answer session at seminary with a student. One young man tired of Greek and Hebrew and theology and more eager to get into the ministry, Ask, "Dr. Graham, If you were my age, with the world in the shape it is in, would you still spend several years just in training?"

His answer, "Young man, I cannot think of a better use for your time right now than developing the gifts God has given you. If you were told to go into the wood to cut down trees and were given an ax that was made of good steel but was dull, the time spent to sharpen the ax would not be considered wasted. Stay in school and sharpen your ax."

Elijah taught Elisha for some 8 years. Paul took 14 years out before preaching Timothy and Titus learned form Paul for several years. The disciples at least had 3 years of seminary training. It seems that there is a time for learning and a time for serving and a time when you must be doing both. One's gifts often seem to be in a process of developing just like our character,-we have never succeeded but we should be teaching and helping other in developing like Elijah. and we should be seeking to improve our learning such as Elisha.

The call of God requires a prepared heart, a willing heart, a separated heart, and a humbled heart. May God find that the hearts in this congregation that way, so we can say, ‘Here am I send and use me.’

Pastor Dale