1 Kings 19:1–18

[1] Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” [3] Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

[4] But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” [5] And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” [6] And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. [7] And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” [8] And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

[9] There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” [10] He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” [11] And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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 the sound of a low whisper. [13] And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” [14] He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” [15] And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. [16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. [17] And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. [18] Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

The Sabbath is about our Divine Source...

1) The Sabbath is about our Divine Source of Refreshing

2) The Sabbath is about our Divine Source of Revelation

3) The Sabbath is about our Divine Source of Reinstatement

Elijah wanted all the smoke and fire and rumble and here he peers back through it from the perspective of Eternity to see what it was all pointing to all along… Jesus himself.  Elijah is in the glory he was swept up and left the earth in as he was working with his apprentice Elisha.  

The Covenant of God with Moses, Mount Sinai, it’s like the 1 Kings 19 narrative not only captures Elijah but the shadows of Moses as well - but even Moses himself is just a foreshadowing of another as we saw just a moment ago in Luke 9

Luke 9:28–31

[28] Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. [29] And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. [30] And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, [31] who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Hebrews 3:5–11

[5] Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, [6] but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

[7] Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

[8] do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

[9] where your fathers put me to the test

and saw my works for forty years.

[10] Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

they have not known my ways.’

[11] As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

There’s certainly a warning for us here - dire consequences for not following Christ but there are blessings for those who do…

Hebrews 4:9–10

[9] So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, [10] for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Where do you find yourself today...

• In need of Salvation, your very life and soul for eternity?  

• Know the Savior that so LOVED (advent theme) the world that he gave himself as the gift of the salvation we need.

• In need of refreshing?  

• Answer the invitation to Come and Eat / Drink.  Allow the Holy Spirit to lift your eyes to see Jesus

• In need of revelation?  

• See how great our Savior, Emmanuel, is.  His faithfulness past, our hope for the future.  The strength in our weakness is from the one who gives us dreams of things to do great things for God but remember, it is the Spirit works so far beyond what we could ask or imagine.

• In need of Reinstatement?  

• Take the spirit-filled steps to develop the talents, pursue the gifts, understand the purpose, be captivated by the calling…  do all of this for the Glory of God who has accomplished everything through Christ and empowers us to live ‘from Him, through Him and to Him’ by the power of the Holy Spirit.  There’s nothing you need to attempt to earn or gain for reinstatement, that’s been done for you… enter into his rest.

Benediction: Hebrews 4:14–16

[14] Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.