Emphasis Preaching Journal

Illustrations

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
In certain Hollywood movies, such as Oh, God! and Bruce Almighty, the writers had God appear as a human, but it was not in some mighty, majestic display like you might expect. It was rather in the unassuming forms of George Burns and Morgan Freeman, respectively. While these movies may not be looked upon as theologically solid, nor are they meant to be, they do make one interesting point about God: He doesn't always appear in ways we would expect.

For Elijah, God didn't appear to him in an earthquake or fire or whirlwind, as we might think he would. Instead, he came in an unassuming, quiet whisper. God bucked our expectations and came in when we weren't looking. For the ultimate example of this, we only need look to Jesus, who "had no form or majesty that we should look at him" (Isaiah 53:2).
Craig K.

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
"That was a miracle." Ronald Reagan was 11 years old in the winter of 1921-1922. Sitting beneath the iron Galena Avenue Bridge, which connected Dixon North Side to Dixon South Side, Reagan heard his first radio broadcast and for him it was a miracle. The Illinois boy was listening to KDKA broadcast a symphony orchestra playing "The Skater's Waltz" from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A young boy from a small Midwestern city just had the world of sound opened unto him. Remembering that experience Reagan said, "You know -- none of the developments that came after, talkies and television and so forth, were ever such a revelation as that day I first scratched that crystal with a wire whisker, under the bridge at Dixon."

With all the prophets being killed by Jezebel's sword, Elijah feels alone. In fear he flees the land of Israel taking refuge in a cave. He makes his case in a plea before God, "I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." Looking back we know Elijah was a great man in history and at the end of his life's story he succeeded in his calling. But, this should not lessen the impact of his present situation. Elijah was afraid. Elijah did feel isolated. Elijah did believe himself to be a failure. Huddled in a cave Elijah was in desperate need of reassurance.

Seeking God, Elijah did not find him in the great and powerful wind or in the earthquake and neither in the fire, but in "a still small voice." Elijah heard God in a gentle whisper and received a threefold mission. Confident, having heard the voice of God, Elijah departed the cave to fulfill the commission bestowed upon him. The whisper, for Elijah, was a miracle.

God's voice, carried miraculously across the airwaves, comes to us unexpectedly and mysteriously. Yet, in that voice we have both our call to service and the reassurance of God's abiding presence.
Ron L.

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Lynn recalls seeing a cartoon in a magazine with a small child asking, "Do caterpillars know they're going to be butterflies, or does God surprise them?" As Lynn reflected she recalled numerous stories from the Bible where God surprised people. There have been times in her life when she felt God's surprises as well. "I see this most often in solutions to problems that seem impossible," she explains. There was the time when she lost her wedding ring. She searched her house room by room, top to bottom still unable to find her ring. Stress got the best of her, thinking she had forever lost her ring. She gave up and stopped looking for it. Then one day as she was cleaning she moved the dresser and found her ring on the edge of the baseboard.

How many times in our lives are we ready to give up, thinking the situation is impossible, and then God surprises us with new insight or gives us a new task, and a new direction?

In our lesson God surprised Elijah. The prophet was on the run, frightened from death threats. God's surprise was an angel who brought food and water. Later Elijah was hiding in a cave. There was "a great wind," but God was "not in the wind." Then there was an earthquake followed by fire. But God was not in the earthquake or fire. It was then that God came to him in a still small voice. "What are you doing here Elijah?" God asked. Elijah had to place his trust in God.
Tim S.

Galatians 3:23-29
As a beginning piano student, you get used to your teacher correcting you at every step. Curve your fingers! Count carefully! Practice like this! A good piano teacher is a disciplinarian: he or she makes sure that students use the correct fingering, the correct hand position, the correct technique. Beginning students feel constrained by all the rules. Why can't they do it another way? It's easier to slouch or play with poor technique. But their teachers stand firm -- and rightfully so! Someday, the young beginner may grow to be an accomplished pianist. By that time, they understand all those rules that they used to think were so silly. Now they are their own police for correct technique.
Leah T.

Galatians 3:23-29
An apocryphal story is told about an agnostic who found himself in trouble. An acquaintance suggested that he might try prayer. The agnostic said, "How can I pray when I do not know whether or not there is a God?" His friend replied, "If you are lost in the forest you do not wait until you find someone before shouting for help."

For many of us there is this passive faith that ebbs and flows like the tides of the ocean. David Wilkerson said, "Saving faith is the kind born out of deep contrition for sin; out of a heart that has repudiated all iniquity and besetting sins; out of a heart totally and daily surrendered to the Lordship of Christ ... only that kind of faith guarantees grace."

So it is time to shout for help from the Christ that looks inside the heart and stands ready to cleanse our hearts!

Why wait?
(Albert Wells Jr., Inspiring Quotations [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1988], 68)
Derl K.

Luke 8:26-39
It had been several years since Patricia had been in contact with any of her family. She says that "the past has been painful with plenty of heartache." She committed a crime, was convicted, and sentenced to time in jail. Her family felt disappointed, telling her that she "disgraced them." She ran away to avoid time in jail. It is always easier to run from the past than to face it and trust in God.

Life continued to be difficult for Patricia. Once again she became involved with something illegal, found herself without a home or any possessions. "I realized my past had caught up with me," she reflects. "I acknowledged to the authorities my earlier conviction and sentence, and I went to prison."

"During my incarceration," she says, "I found God in my life stronger than I ever imagined." It was during this time that she realized that God had been there to help her face the wrongs and deal with them. God provided her new friendships. God brings the right people into our lives at the right time. Her new friends exhibited the love of God to her. For the first time in many years she felt hopeful for a better tomorrow. With their support and encouragement she reestablished her relationship with her family. She learned to place her total trust in God.

While we are tempted to discount accounts of demons in our modern world we do have to acknowledge the hold of evil intentions. In our lesson Jesus confronts a person suffering with demons and dramatically sets the man free. Jesus has the power to change or transform our lives. What dark places in our lives do we need to turn over to the liberating power of Jesus?
Tim S.

Luke 8:26-39
Bill had soldiered through the ravages of World War I. After the war his finances were destroyed by the Stock Market crash of 1929. In addition to his other problems he now came to the realization that he was a hopeless and helpless alcoholic. It was an illness that he was powerless to conquer. Bill was unapologetic when he believed "the power of God in human affairs was negligible, the Brotherhood of Man a grim jest. If there was a Devil, he seemed Boss Universal, and he certainly had me."

An old friend, Ebby, was visiting New York City in that lost year of 1939. Ebby asked if he could visit. Bill invited him over, thinking he would soon depart so he could resume his drinking once again. A short interruption in his drinking he could endure. Besides, his friend always arrived in New York inebriated, so perhaps the two could share a drink together. But, when his friend entered his home the unimaginable stood before him -- his friend was sober. Noticing Bill's confusion the companion simply said, "I've got religion." Ebby then went on to share that only through the higher power of God was he able to avoid the bottle. Bill wrote that Ebby made the blank declaration that "God had done for him what he could not do for himself." Ebby compared his transformation to being resurrected, for indeed God had raised him from the deathly life of alcoholism. Bill was astonished, realizing "here sat a miracle directly across the kitchen table."

Through this encounter and several that followed Bill realized that the only solution for alcoholism is for one alcoholic to mentor another, and for both to rely on a Higher Power. Bill W. became the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, a society that still recognizes these two principles this day.

In today's reading are we not unlike Legion -- individuals possessed by many demons. For some it could be alcohol and for others it could be credit cards. The list is really endless and none of us have only a single item recorded. We are like that man in Gerasenes, with the devil ruling our lives as Boss Universal. If we allow Jesus to approach us, as Legion did, we may experience the same exorcism. The higher power of God will cast out our demons. The new life will be for us a resurrection experience. And we too, with a joyful and renewed heart, will be able to share with others what Jesus has done for us. As it is with AA, one alcoholic mentoring another, so it will be with us, one redeemed sinner witnessing to another.
Ron L.

Luke 8:26-39
While one might think that most important aspect of running a business or a corporation is accounting or some other financial area, one of the most highly valued areas of business management is actually public relations. Getting the word out about a company or even an individual, such as an actor or politician, is vital to its success. It can also be expensive. Many large public relations firms will charge annual rates ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 or more, even for small companies. Those rates speak to the value businesses place on good PR.

When Jesus had delivered a man from several demons in the country of the Gerasenes, the man wanted to follow Jesus wherever he went (v. 38). But instead, Jesus told him, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you" (v. 39). Jesus incorporated this delivered man into his public relations team! When we come to Christ in faith, we also take on a public relations position in his service, relating his love and goodness to a fallen humanity. Are we doing our job?
Craig K.