God May Be Silent But He is Not Absent from Our Lives

1 Kings 19:11-14  Then He said, “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; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantel 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?” 14 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, & killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.

In reading 1 Kings 18-19 we see a perspective of faith in a man who thought he stood alone against the false prophets of Jezebel. In truth a lesson seen from 1 Kings 19:1-2: "The spirit of Elijah brings restoration where evil has temporarily spread division and great strife." Elijah met with the false prophets and revealed his confidence in God by demonstrating the rebuilding of the altar to God in 1 Kings  18:23-40!  Each of us must have an altar before God.

 

There was going to be a showdown between Israel’s god Baal under Jezebel and the God of Elijah . Taking place on Mount Carmel, sanctuaries had been built to pagan weather deities. They faltered between two opinions: either follow Baal or follow God Who is LORD. And the people remained silent; It was the prophets of Baal that spent 6 hours crying out to their god with no response. That false Baal must have had a tug on some of their hearts. I wonder why they were hesitant to see the real God of Israel!

 We find in 1 Kings 18:26-29 that Elijah stepped out in faith and obedience to the Lord. In spite of the extreme circumstances, God never failed to provide what was needed to Elijah in the unusual and the most miraculous ways! And it was Elijah who prayed for the rain to return and it did! It proved Baal impotent to provide anything. Elijah challenged and defeated 450 prophets of Baal and confronted king Ahab, but it was one threat from Jezebel that sent Elijah on a run to the southernmost point of the city in the southern kingdom of Judah. Elijah became despondent. The king Ahab had no good ties to his own wife. It was she who ruled the kingdom with her wicked ways and thoughts in Baal worship.

Where is our heart? What opinion do we hold there? Is it of God or is it of another false god who leads us?

 

When first saved we have a love for our Lord! But we can be in danger of losing our first love when we delight more in someone else than we do Jesus. Does our soul long for fellowship with Him and Him alone? Are our thoughts during leisure moments have no sound or look like Him? Do those leisure things have the look of the world and human destruction? How about how we view the commands of God as restrictions on our life and our fun time? Do we inwardly strive for the acclaim of man rather than God?

 

 

Inheritance is that Place in Jesus….it is a kingdom: Matthew 26:62-64 NKJV and the high priest arose and said to Him, “do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answer and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Jesus answered nothing to those who testified against Him; but He did tell them of His place seated at the right hand of the Power and He would be coming on the clouds of heaven. Again He was asked the same question about those who testify against Him: Matthew 27:11-14 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the king of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “do  You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Mark 15:3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” 5 But Jesus answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

Luke 23:8-9 NKJV 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, & he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 then he questioned Him with many words, but he answered him nothing.

It was Silence that filled Jesus’ mouth when words came to question Him by many words to accuse Him. But He answered readily to those who asked Him of His heritage and that which was in and with the Father!

 

The Lord was silent before His accusers. But He spoke from the Cross:  Luke 23:39-43 Then one of the criminals who was hanged blasphemed Him, saying “If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us. 40 But the other, answering rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation.” 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “ Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.

Answers reveal where we reside. Jesus spoke of His home and of His Father with whom He would be with soon. Silence fell at the Cross, the Savior revealed. Silence for the sin took His life, and the ground shook and darkness filled the afternoon sky. Truth He was and is the Son of God. But of that day of His crucifixion it was those with the chief priests and others that had now asked:“Where now is your God?”

 The Father’s will for our sake when Jesus was crucified: Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

We are not alone. Our prayer time, that devotion set aside should be a conversation of God and our place by His side. It is a time of love, and that opportunity to ask those personal things He seems to already know about us!

It was extravagant Devotion when Mary used her hair , her covering to bless the Lord. She expressed love, a shared oneness of who He was, Her master & teacher  and where He was headed. He had called her brother Lazarus out of the Tomb in John 11:1-44, and He was going back to the Father!

Judas poured out his own oil of greed and hostility---in Judas was a heart greed for money and not for the one next to him. But Mary poured the anointed oil over Jesus’ feet, the fragrance of life and beauty..    Mary communicated her love for the Lord that would always be spoken about when the Gospel is given.

Between Judas and Mary, where are we found? I will let you be the judge of your own heart?

 

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BUT THIS IS MY LEISURE TIME!

Have you ever been asked to attend something that the pastor, himself, would not be attending? Have you ever been asked to attend something that was miles away, would take some time driving from where you live to get there and take hours out of a Saturday that you rather enjoy as "the leisure time"? About seventeen years ago, the pastor of this church we were attending asked us, the entire church, to attend this seminar being led by John C. Maxwell. Anyone who was in leadership or serving in some department was asked to attend the event. It was to be held down at SeaTac and would require all day. Although Dr. Maxwell was not literally in "the house", he was being televised in by some special means that day! And if you remember those days of the latter 1990's, names like Dr. John C. Maxwell, Andrew Carnegie, or Virginia Arcastle were commonplace. Everyone was teaching about lifting people higher to be the great leader.
I thought of this scripture today when reflecting back to another time and place. And I thought how Jesus in verse ten of John 7 went secretly to the Feast of the Jews.


John 7:1-19................7:1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?" 

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man."

Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.

14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" 

16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
NIV

Now from the scripture passage, all males were to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. It was man's wisdom thinking that Jesus should go while Jewish people came for the feast and thus gain popularity.

Now back to the day spent with Dr. John C. Maxwell! There were probably some 25 people who showed up. That was only about a 1/4 of the entire church!  Yes, it was that of an early morning arrival. We got there and wanted to see where seating was available. Then as we found seating, the pastor and his wife showed up as well. Some of us looked in awe. Was father duck, checking over the little ducklings? 
Yes, for certain, he came to see who would show up, even though all were told that he would not be attending this event on that Saturday. Well, he took note of how many came and evidently took down the names of those attending. He gave us a smile and off he went to his scheduled appointment with other pastors for that Saturday morning.

In the above scripture passage, Jesus' brothers wanted Jesus to go and draw on the popularity, of that influence He was gaining. But Jesus came to expose sin. He came to bring light to the evil in the world. The "talk" was evident with differing opinions. "Where is that man?" One testifying He was good and another that He was a deceiver.

Jesus moved in secret, not to flaunt Himself, but to remain a person without fanfare. Jesus only moved when His Father revealed it to Him by His Holy Spirit. And Jesus had the wisdom of God to teach and preach in light of the truth, even though He had not attended any rabbinic schools. 

Those who spoke evil, spoke loudly about Him, as they had the rulers on their side.But those who believed Him to be good, kept it more as a quiet speech as not to be heard by others in fear of getting into trouble with the rulers of the day!

What Jesus did was to make known of the doctrine His Father sent Him to preach. He was actually teaching from the Old Testament and gave it precisely as it was written. He did not change anything, but spoke as He was commissioned to teach it!

Jesus had the truest of hearts to obey His Father Who sent Him to do something specific. He did not come to gain the glory, but to bring glory to His Father.

When asked to do something as we were asked to do, are we willing to be obedient to do it? Are we willing to do it when others refuse to do one "simple thing" that may take a leisure day out of our week? Yes, the pastor did comment on those who did not attend. But he also had some great comments on those who did attend. He made it known that he was there for a short time to check the attendance of those who actually did "show up" what they were asked to do by him!

We came away with some great teaching of how to be a leader and be one of "influence". It was a good thing to invest the time to be taught on leadership.

Will the Lord find us doing what He has asked us to do for Him? Will we choose to obey or will we take "the leisure day" at our own expense? Do we just want to show up when the pastor is there so we can hear him say something like, "how great we are for taking a day to do his plan"? 

In any kind of ministry, we should always look at the side of it that Jesus reflected on. It was always about the purpose of fulfilling the Father's plan for salvation. And it had nothing to do with fanfare!
 If someone knows our name, may it always be known that we are one with the Lord and that it is about His glory always and not for ours.

Luke 12:51-58........51 "Do you think I have come to give peace to the earth? No! Rather, strife and division! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against-or perhaps the other way around. 53 A father will decide one way about me; his son, the other; mother and daughter will disagree; and the decision of an honored mother-in-law will be spurned by her daughter-in-law."

54 Then he turned to the crowd and said, "When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, 'Here comes a shower.' And you are right.

55 "When the south wind blows you say, 'Today will be a scorcher.' And it is. 56 Hypocrites! You interpret the sky well enough, but you refuse to notice the warnings all around you about the crisis ahead. 57 Why do you refuse to see for yourselves what is right?

58 "If you meet your accuser on the way to court, try to settle the matter before it reaches the judge, lest he sentence you to jail; 59 for if that happens, you won't be free again until the last penny is paid in full."     TLB

There will always be those who complain, and bring division. Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace to the earth. The peace He brought was that who heeds the Word of God and obeys it. They are those who live their lives to obey instructions.  There were those who listened to Him and were in awe of the wisdom of which He spoke and still others were breathing out cruelty and lies as they looked to those religious leaders to circumvent Him and keep Him from doing those things He did. He only obeyed the Father and moved as the Holy Spirit caused Him to move. Jesus was the faithful servant who did what the Father asked Him to do. He went when He needed and He taught when He should. If we have someone over us in leadership, say the church, do we follow their instruction?
Do our lives reflect that in anyway?

Jesus had the wisdom of God to make the decisions He needed as He made His way to the Cross. He was going to walk, not in fear, but knowing all that He had to speak and do was that which was ordered by God His Father.  Whatever the controversy or debate, Jesus remained faithful to follow His Father's instruction! Jesus was always "ready" to do what the Father asked Him to do! When Jesus returns for His Bride, will He find us doing as much?

Father, it is in Jesus' name we pray today. We pray to be obedient like Jesus to obey without expecting all the fanfare. We desire to be the image of Jesus, and be that person who testifies of the Word of God and of His power in our lives. May we be commissioned like Jesus to deliver the message.

Father, today we pray to be delivered from our enemies, O God. Defend us from those who rise up to do us harm. (Psalm 59:1) Fight against those who fight against us (Psalm 35:1). In YOU, O’LORD, we put our trust. Let us never be put to shame (Psalm 71:1). If you are for us, then who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?

We ask as the Word reveals to be preserved from the enemy, hide us from secret counsel of the wicked. Pull us out of any net which has been laid for us. Keep us safe from the evil of gossiping mouths. Where there has been ill spoken of us, touch the lips of those who speak it with YOUR refining fire. Let those involved be revealed. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion who seek to destroy our lives; let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish us evil (Psalm 40:14). We commit our way today unto YOU, and we know that YOU will bring to pass what we believe for to pass.

Our desire is to have total trust in You and not be afraid of what man can do to us (Psalm 56:11) for YOU have said whoever believes in YOU will not be put to shame (Romans 10:11). Lead and guide us, and be our mighty fortress and hiding place. We choose today to delight ourselves in You and it is YOU Who will give us those righteous desires of our hearts. May our light so shine before men that they see our good works and glorify YOU Lord ( Matthew 5:16 ) Amen.

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