Finding Hope in God's Gentle Whisper
Summary
### Summary
Today, we continued our journey through the story of Elijah, focusing on his season of deep sorrow and his encounter with God on Mount Sinai. Elijah, feeling threatened and alone, fled into the wilderness, where he experienced profound despair. God’s initial response to Elijah’s distress was simple yet profound: rest and nourishment. Elijah then traveled to Mount Sinai, where he had a powerful encounter with God. Despite witnessing God’s might through wind, earthquake, and fire, it was in a gentle whisper that God spoke to Elijah, asking him, "What are you doing here?" This question was not about Elijah's physical location but his emotional and spiritual state.
Elijah expressed his feelings of isolation and hopelessness, believing he was the only faithful one left. However, God gently corrected him, revealing that there were still 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. This encounter highlights the importance of seeking God’s truth amidst the lies of the enemy. The enemy often deceives us into believing we are alone or that our situation is hopeless, but God’s truth brings clarity and hope.
We also discussed the significance of passing on our faith to the next generation, as exemplified by Elijah’s anointing of Elisha. This act symbolizes the continuation of God’s work through future generations. We are called to disciple and mentor the next generation, ensuring that the legacy of faith continues.
In practical terms, we are committed to this mission through initiatives like our upcoming residency program and our dedication to events like camp, even in challenging circumstances. We are a church that believes in the power of prayer and community support, and we invite everyone to participate in praying for our students and leaders attending camp this week.
### Key Takeaways
1. God’s Gentle Whisper: In moments of deep sorrow and exhaustion, God often speaks to us not through grand displays of power but through a gentle whisper. This gentle presence of God reminds us of His caring and fatherly nature, offering comfort and guidance when we feel most vulnerable. [26:56]
2. The Lies of the Enemy: The enemy’s primary tactic is deception, making us believe lies about our worth, our situation, and our future. These lies can lead us down paths of destruction and despair. It is crucial to seek God’s truth, which can dispel these lies and bring us back to a place of hope and clarity. [30:49]
3. Access to God’s Word: We have unprecedented access to God’s Word, which is the ultimate source of truth. Despite this, we often neglect it and fall prey to the enemy’s lies. Engaging with Scripture regularly can help us discern truth from falsehood and strengthen our faith. [33:08]
4. Passing the Mantle: Elijah’s anointing of Elisha signifies the importance of mentoring and discipling the next generation. This act ensures the continuation of God’s work and highlights our responsibility to invest in the spiritual growth of those who come after us. [41:31]
5. Community and Prayer: Our church is committed to supporting each other through prayer and community initiatives. By praying for our students and leaders, especially during events like camp, we collectively participate in God’s work and witness His transformative power in our community. [52:43]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[23:21] - Elijah's Season of Sorrow
[23:49] - Practicing Rest and Nourishment
[24:19] - Journey to Mount Sinai
[25:20] - God's Question to Elijah
[26:23] - Encounter with God's Power
[26:56] - The Gentle Whisper
[28:03] - Elijah's Despair and God's Response
[30:17] - Lies of the Enemy
[33:08] - Seeking Truth in God's Word
[37:05] - God's Plan for Elijah
[41:31] - Passing the Mantle to Elisha
[45:23] - Discipling the Next Generation
[49:58] - Commitment to Camp and Residency Program
[52:43] - Praying for Our Students and Leaders
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Kings 19:9-18 (NIV)
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Elijah's emotional and spiritual state when he fled into the wilderness? ([23:21])
2. How did God initially respond to Elijah's distress in the wilderness? ([23:49])
3. Describe the different ways God’s presence was manifested on Mount Sinai before He spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper. ([26:23])
4. What was Elijah’s response when God asked him, "What are you doing here?" and how did God correct him? ([25:52])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose to speak to Elijah in a gentle whisper rather than through the wind, earthquake, or fire? ([26:56])
2. How does Elijah’s belief that he was the only faithful one left reflect the lies of the enemy? ([30:17])
3. What does Elijah’s anointing of Elisha signify about the importance of mentoring and passing on faith to the next generation? ([41:31])
4. How does the story of Elijah and Elisha illustrate the importance of community and support in our spiritual journey? ([52:43])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt deep sorrow or exhaustion. How did you experience God’s presence during that time? Did it come as a gentle whisper or in another form? ([26:56])
2. Identify a lie from the enemy that you have believed about yourself or your situation. How can you seek God’s truth to dispel this lie? ([30:17])
3. How can you make engaging with Scripture a regular part of your life to help discern truth from falsehood? What specific steps will you take this week? ([33:08])
4. Think of someone in your life who could benefit from mentorship or discipleship. How can you take a step to invest in their spiritual growth this week? ([41:31])
5. Our church is committed to supporting each other through prayer and community initiatives. How can you actively participate in this mission, especially in praying for our students and leaders attending camp this week? ([52:43])
6. Elijah felt isolated and hopeless, but God revealed that there were still 7,000 faithful in Israel. How can you remind yourself of the community of believers around you when you feel alone? ([37:40])
7. Elisha left his old life behind to follow Elijah. What is one thing you need to leave behind to fully embrace your new life in Christ? ([42:03])
Devotional
### Day 1: God’s Gentle Whisper
Description: In moments of deep sorrow and exhaustion, God often speaks to us not through grand displays of power but through a gentle whisper. This gentle presence of God reminds us of His caring and fatherly nature, offering comfort and guidance when we feel most vulnerable. Elijah, in his moment of despair, experienced God’s presence not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. This encounter teaches us that God’s voice can be found in the quiet moments of our lives, urging us to slow down and listen. [26:56]
Bible Passage: "And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave." (1 Kings 19:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt overwhelmed and exhausted. How can you create space in your life today to listen for God’s gentle whisper?
### Day 2: The Lies of the Enemy
Description: The enemy’s primary tactic is deception, making us believe lies about our worth, our situation, and our future. These lies can lead us down paths of destruction and despair. Elijah believed he was the only faithful one left, but God revealed the truth that there were still 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. It is crucial to seek God’s truth, which can dispel these lies and bring us back to a place of hope and clarity. [30:49]
Bible Passage: "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a lie you have believed about yourself or your situation. How can you replace this lie with God’s truth today?
### Day 3: Access to God’s Word
Description: We have unprecedented access to God’s Word, which is the ultimate source of truth. Despite this, we often neglect it and fall prey to the enemy’s lies. Engaging with Scripture regularly can help us discern truth from falsehood and strengthen our faith. Elijah’s story reminds us of the importance of grounding ourselves in God’s truth to navigate the challenges of life. [33:08]
Bible Passage: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate regular Bible reading into your daily routine to better discern truth from falsehood?
### Day 4: Passing the Mantle
Description: Elijah’s anointing of Elisha signifies the importance of mentoring and discipling the next generation. This act ensures the continuation of God’s work and highlights our responsibility to invest in the spiritual growth of those who come after us. By passing the mantle, Elijah demonstrated the importance of legacy and the ongoing mission of God’s people. [41:31]
Bible Passage: "And Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, 'Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.' And he said to him, 'Go back again, for what have I done to you?'" (1 Kings 19:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can mentor or disciple? What steps can you take today to invest in their spiritual growth?
### Day 5: Community and Prayer
Description: Our church is committed to supporting each other through prayer and community initiatives. By praying for our students and leaders, especially during events like camp, we collectively participate in God’s work and witness His transformative power in our community. This commitment to prayer and community support is a vital aspect of our faith journey. [52:43]
Bible Passage: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church community through prayer and support this week? Who can you specifically pray for today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I believe that following Jesus is the best decision that anyone can make, and so we celebrate that regularly around here, and if you've never made that decision, I want to encourage you that this new life that we get to step into as followers of Jesus is the best. It's the best gift that could exist in the entire universe. It will change your life in every way that you can imagine, and some that you can't." [42:38] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We have the source of all truth. We're going to read about the truth that God shares with Elijah here in a moment, but in your life you have the source of all truth. You have God's word. Every word in here is true. Every word in here is powerful. Everything in here is a word from God." [33:08] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We have more and better access than really any point in history. The access that we have to the word of God is incredible. Guys, for the first 1500 years after Jesus' death on the cross, almost no one outside of church leaders were able to read scripture for themselves. It was really not accessible to anyone." [34:17] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We have been invited into a new life with Jesus. We have the opportunity to follow him, to say, you know what, I'm going to leave what is old behind, and I'm going to step into something new." [42:38] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I believe with every fiber of my being, that if the gates of Hades will not overcome his church, then the Millennials or Gen Z or Gen Alpha, they're not going to ruin it either. That he will continue. That his church will continue to do his work. That his church will continue to be the hands and the feet of Jesus, and we're called to that." [47:43] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Elijah is buying into a lie that all hope is lost, that everything is gone, that there's no one left, and the Lord is going to correct him here in a minute. But before we get to that, I want to ask you today, what lies from the enemy are you believing?" [30:17] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The lies of the enemy are so powerful in our life. And so I want to encourage you today to do what's going to happen for Elijah here in a moment and to seek truth. Because we have the source of all truth." [32:31] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Cross point, if we will pursue God's word, if we will seek his truth in our lives, our God will separate the lies from the truth. And when we hold up what we believe about ourselves, when we hold up what we believe about our world to the truth of God, he will separate the lies from the truth. And he will point the truth out. And he will point the truth out to us. And that truth, it will set us free." [39:57] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And so I was grateful for that. So, Elijah takes his nap, kind of a couple naps, eats some food, gets up and journeys to this mountain, this Mount Sinai, which is a powerful, important, historic spot. It is where God met Moses. They have this conversation with a burning bush happens there and then later, Moses meets God on that mountain again and he gives him his laws, these ten commandments for us." [24:19] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And I'm so thankful, guys, to be a part of a church that 18 years in, this is our story. I mean, this is so much our story as a church. It's one of my favorite things about Crosspoint. Is that we have now adults and young adults who've grown up around here, who are full-time missionaries, who are seeking to be student ministry directors and worship directors and life group directors and lead pastors grew up around here, okay?" [48:19] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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