Strength For The Journey
By Senior Pastor Dr. Bill Rains | April 21, 2024
Let’s turn our Bibles to the Old Testament, to 1 Kings chapter 19, verses 1 through 8. This message, entitled "Strength For The Journey," is the 12th in our series on encounters with angels. As we’re all on a journey through life, I admit I need strength from God—not just once, but on a regular basis. Let’s pray: Father, thank You for this assembly today, for our guests, and for the Bible. Thank You for the story of Elijah under the juniper tree and the power in prayer that can change eternal destinies. Strengthen us for our journey, and help us to arise and eat in Jesus’ name, Amen.
In 1 Kings 19:1-8, we find Elijah, a mighty prophet, facing a moment of deep despair after a great victory. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. Frightened, Elijah fled into the wilderness, sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life. But God sent an angel to provide food and water, saying, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. Strengthened by this provision, he went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
We All Face Circumstances That Bring Fear and Depression
Elijah’s story teaches us that even the greatest among us face circumstances that bring fear and depression. After boldly confronting Ahab and defeating 450 false prophets with fire from heaven, Elijah was terrified by Jezebel’s threat. He fled, leaving his servant behind, and in exhaustion and discouragement, he begged God, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t faced such moments. I’ve experienced times of sudden despair, tears rolling down my face without knowing why. Yet, these moments don’t mean God has abandoned us. As the poem "Footprints" illustrates, when we see only one set of footprints in the sand during our toughest times, it’s because God is carrying us. He never leaves or forsakes us.
We Are All Human and Need Constant Spiritual Strength
Elijah’s humanity shines through in this story. Just days before, he was full of spiritual power, shutting up the heavens and calling down fire. But now, weakened physically and spiritually, he needed replenishing. God sent an angel to cook him a meal, not once but twice, saying, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. We’re all human—from the pastor to the pew—and we need constant spiritual strength. The journey to heaven is too great for any of us alone. Before we even start, we’re without strength, as Romans 5:6 says, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Salvation gets us on the road, but we need ongoing provision—through church, the Word, and prayer—to keep going. Without it, even I’d backslide in two weeks!
We Must Be Willing to Consume God’s Strengthening Supplies
Finally, we must choose to consume God’s strengthening supplies. The angel didn’t force-feed Elijah; he said, Arise and eat, and Elijah chose to obey. We have free will to accept God’s provision. What are these supplies? The Lord Himself (The Lord is my light and my salvation…the strength of my life - Psalm 27:1), the church (Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion - Psalm 20:2), the Word of God (As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby - 1 Peter 2:2), good Christian fellowship (Strengthen thy brethren - Luke 22:32), the joy of the Lord (The joy of the Lord is your strength - Nehemiah 8:10), trials that refine us (My strength is made perfect in weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9), prayer (In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul - Psalm 138:3), and quiet trust in God (In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength - Isaiah 30:15). I’ve seen this in life—like a waitress who found strength in God after losing her parents. We need Him every step of the way. So, arise and eat—trust and obey—because the journey is too great for thee.
