In The Box

1 Kings 19. 9-13 "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? [10] And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy 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 forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice. [13] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

Though we will not read all of the context, I do ask that each one of you go back and read the full context of these verses. This is an amazing section of Scripture, often glossed over because of the story we read here. Yet it is amazing, and has a truth to tell us that we need to apply in our lives.

The sermon that you will hear this morning and again tonight centers around two simple men who learned to look at things with new eyes. Though we will not read these texts of which I'm about to speak (they are offered for background only - read them at home and grow), let's look at a little background before we go further.

Elijah, you will remember, was one of the Great Prophets of Israel. We are told little of Elijah in the Scripture other than the fact that he was a Tishbite, one of the inhabitants of Gilead. Elijah's name, ELIYYAHU, literally means "Yah is El", or "Yahweh is God".

God used Elijah in a mighty way among the Children of Israel. When false idolatry entered in among the Children of Israel, worship of Baal, child sacrifice, God sent Elijah to stand before these 450 prophets of Baal to put them to the test. The 450 prophets were defeated (1 Kings 18.21) and destroyed, and the altars of Baal were destroyed.

This infuriated Queen Jezebel, who sent a messenger to Elijah to tell him that he himself would be killed:

1 Kings 19:2  "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."

Jezebel was Queen because she was married to King Ahab of Israel in order to "make peace" between Tyre and the Holy Nation. Such a thing should never have come to pass between the Children of God and the Baal worshipping Tyrinians. We will talk about the Law of the Unequal Yoke one day soon, but let me tell you this, Children of God: if you yoke yourself with an unbeliever, you will soon be fouled by the corruptions of that unbeliever! This applies to marriage, friendship, and to what you watch on television or in the movies. When Jezebel the "peace offering" married Ahab, she brought idolatry into the land of God. The people began to follow that idolatry and threw their own children into the fire, following Jezebel's example. But one man, full of God the Spirit, stood forward against Jezebel's priests, defeated them, and killed them, by relying on the power of the True God.

And because of this was hounded, and had to ultimately run to a cave to hide in fear for his life. While in the cave praying God told Elijah to get up out of the false security of the cave:

1 Kings 19:11-13 "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice. [13]  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

While in the false security of the cave of Horeb God would not speak to Elijah. He spoke, but enough to tell Elijah to get to the mouth of the cave. To stop worrying about Jezebel, but to stand out in the light and see the power, the only true power of God.

When we clothe ourselves in our own devices, when we hide ourselves in the dark caves, using our own power, we often blot out the very power of God in our lives. While Elijah hid himself, while he ran with his own legs, while he shrunk back into the darkness of that hidden place, God could not bless him. Elijah's blessing came when he stood before Israel, without sword or shield, and said "Hear ye the Word of the Lord". Elijah's blessing came when he, by his actions, said, "Look with new eyes at what God can do. Do not look at the 450 priests of Jezebel, Prophets of Baal. Look to God, Yahweh, the Creator of all Life - He will triumph!".

While Elijah hid in the mountain, look at this:

1 Kings 19:11-12 "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice.

While Elijah hid in the cave, depending upon his own resources, he could see the reflected Power of God, though God was not Himself in that Power. He could see the earthquake, see the wind, see the fire. These were reflections of God's power, yet God was not in them. While Elijah relied on his own power, the power of God was evident, but he could not commune with Him, he could not maintain a relationship with him. All that Elijah heard was a still small voice, indistinguishable until he got up, went to the mouth of the cave, and left his own devices behind.
 

When I was young one of the favorite toys I had was a "Jack In The Box". Did you have one of these? It was a little metal box that had a clown in it, the clown was made of springs so it could be compressed and shoved down in the box. Once you shoved the clown down in the box you pushed the lid down and it latched. When the box was closed, the only way to open it was to turn the crank on it's side. I remember turning that crank. As it was turned, it played a little tune: "Pop goes the weasel". Once the turn was ended, up popped Jack, out of the box. I don't know why, but this always fascinated me, and I'd do it over and over again.

Brothers and sisters, when we hide ourselves in the Box of our own resources we are useless to God. Many of us act like Jack in the Boxes. We build our lives by our own resources, trust in the things we have made by our own hands and then, after building, look around and say "wonder where God got off to?". God will not have a relationship with a people hidden in the caves of their hearts. He wants a people who will stand out on the Mountain so He can speak to them. When we leave ourselves, our own will, behind and stand before God saying, "I just can't do it on my own. I can't even start: please, Lord, take the reigns of my life", then God will move. Then God will empower. But when we put ourselves and our desires in the equation we "Quench the Spirit". We "Grieve the Spirit", and by our selfishness and fears separate ourselves from the only Power that can save us.

What boxes have you put yourself into? Are you hidden in a cave, in the Box of Fear like Elijah was? If so, hear this:

Psalms 121:1-2 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [2]  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth."

God says, "Stop looking at yourselves. Stop hiding yourselves in boxes, in caves. Get out into the light, put away your frail human weapons, and "look unto the hills". The God who created heaven and earth stands ready to come into your life, to empower you for service, but you have to put aside your own human devices.

Many of us stand before God and say, "God, I need your help. What can I do? I want to go to heaven when I die. Can I do something to get there? Can I live a righteous life? I want to feel Your Presence, to feel that you are real in my life. How can I do this?".

To which God replies, "Surrender to me. Get out of the box of yourself, give your life to My Christ totally. Take a chance. Trust me!".

When Elijah left the cave God spoke. When Elijah surrendered, God gave him direction. God is calling you to a life of surrender this morning. Jesus said:

Mark 8:34-38 "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [35]  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. [36]  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [37]  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? [38]  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

When Elijah got up and went, surrendering to God and not to his fear, to the mouth of the cave God began to speak to him. God began to give his life meaning and direction once more. God gave him specific things that he must do. Our God is not a vague God, not a hidden God, not a listless and apathetic God. He tells us exactly what He wants of us: and this morning, He tells you that He wants you to get up out of the cave and surrender to Him.
 

A man was giving his testimony at one of those old Salvation Army open-air street meetings. As he was testifying, a heckler in the crowd yelled, "Why don't you shut up and sit down? You're just dreaming." Immediately that heckler felt a tug on his coat. He looked down to see a little girl, who said. "Sir, may I speak to you? That man who is talking up there is my daddy. Daddy used to be a drunkard. He used to spend all of the money he made on whiskey. My mother was very sad and would cry most of the time.  "Sometimes when my daddy would come home, he would hit my mother. I didn't have shoes or a nice dress to wear to school. But look at my shoes. And see this pretty dress? My daddy bought these for me." But the little girl wasn't through with that heckler yet. "See my mother over there? She's the one with the bright smile on her face. She's happy now. She sings even when she's doing the ironing." Then the little girl said, "Mister, if my daddy is dreaming, please don't wake him up.

I remember a young boy who was scared of dying, who sought all types of devices and caves to hide in in order to avoid the very thought of death. That boy accepted Christ as Saviour, and no longer dwells on death, but looks joyfully to a time when he will pass from this sphere into the next, glorious life. I remember a young man who was afraid to speak in public, nothing much, really, but who surrendered to serving God in whatever capacity He called. After that surrender, he discovered the joy of serving and became one of God's ministers. If I'm dreaming, don't wake me up!

Get out of your box. Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. Give your life to Him for service, and you will find true joy in this life. Come!

2 Kings 6:1-6 "And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. [2]  Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. [3]  And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. [4]  So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. [5]  But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. [6]  And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim."

2 Kings 6: 15-23 "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? [16] And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. [17] And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. [18] And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. [19] And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. [20] And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. [21] And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? [22] And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. [23] And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel."

This morning we talked about Elijah, God's Prophet, and how we as people often "box ourselves in" away from God's saving power. Tonight we want to look at this subject from another viewpoint in the life of Elishah.

When Elijah got out of the cave he was hiding in, God gave him very specific instructions. Elijah had three things that he was supposed to do:

1 Kings 19:15-16 "And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: [16]  And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room."

He was supposed to anoint two kings, Hazael over Syria and Jehu over Israel. Remember last week we studied that the Lord chose and designated both Kings and Priests by anointing with oil and blood, and that God used Prophets, His mouthpieces, to do that anointing? That was what Elijah was supposed to do, to anoint new Kings over these nations, for the old Kings had moved into idolatry and were no longer fit to serve God's purposes.

Not only was Elijah supposed to anoint two new Kings, but God told him to anoint a man, Elishah, to be his replacement. Remember that Elijah went into the cave in fear for his life, in discouragement because he thought his work for the Lord had failed. God didn't tell Elijah that he was going to be spared, that He would surely save his life. God told Elijah, "Go, anoint your replacement".

God couldn't tell Elijah to do this while he hid in the cave. Had God told Elijah, "Go, anoint your replacement" while he was in hiding, Elijah, in fear, would have went deeper into the cave. Brothers and sisters, God doesn't often explain the reason that He does what He does. When we have things happen in our lives that seem troubling we often want to ask God "Why?". Our Father answers:

Romans 9:20-24 "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? [21]  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? [22]  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: [23]  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, [24]  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"

God didn't tell Elijah that he would be spared, that he would be translated and never see death (2 Kings 2.11), for God would one day send a chariot of fire and a horse of fire to carry Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind. God just said, "Do it", and Elijah in faith, not questioning, went to do it.

When we surrender to do God's will, trusting that He knows best, that we are but feeble creatures, we will be blessed. Elijah was blessed, and never saw death, because he went and did as the Creator asked. And he anointed Elishah to take his place.

Elishah was a simple but powerful man when Elijah went to anoint him (1 Kings 19.19-21). Elishah was out plowing the fields with "twelve yoke of oxen", and it takes an exceptionally strong man to control that many oxen while driving the plow in a straight path. Yet other than this apparent strength, we know very little about Elishah. His family was probably well to do, for to have twelve yoke of oxen bespoke wealth. The only thing we know personally about Elishah was that he was faithful to God, for regardless of wealth he immediately (after saying good-bye to his parents) followed Elijah. We also known this because his name, ELEISAIE, literally means "God is salvation".

After Elijah was taken up into heaven, Elishah ended his apprenticeship to Elijah and began to serve as a powerful Prophet of God. As God's Prophet he was an advisor to Kings and Priests. Elishah was significant, and we can learn much from his life, for he never placed God in a box.

Remember how we talked about the box this morning. Sometimes as believers we place ourselves in a box, inaccessible to God because of our own faithlessness or sin. We box ourselves in with pride (I can do it), with fear (I can't do it). When we are in the box of self, God will not have a free relationship, a powerful relationship with us. But there's another side to that coin.

Sometimes we place God in a box. We presume that there are things that He will or will not do in our lives. We put God away, and only ask Him for the big things, or what we consider as "big things". We pray, but we pray with an air of unbelief about us, then wonder why these prayers go unheeded. We say, "Lord, would you, but I know You won't", then wonder why prayer is unheard, why our lives are powerless instead of powerful. Because Elishah refused to limit God he experienced the very power of God in his life. Look at our first introductory verse:

2 Kings 6:1-6 "And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. [2]  Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. [3]  And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. [4] So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. [5]  But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. [6]  And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim."

The Prophets came to Elishah, their leader, and said, "The place we're staying at is too cramped (strait, TSAR, cramped, tight). Can we go to Jordan and build a better house?".  Elishah told them, "Go ahead", then they asked him to go with them, and he did.

While the prophets were cutting down wood to build their new house, the axe head came off and fell in the river. We don't know exactly where the prophets were when they lost their axe, but we do know that "Jordan" means "The Descender", the river is both deep and swift running in places. When the axe went into the river, the prophets despaired because it was certainly lost.

Often we look at the seemingly small things in our lives and say, "I can handle this on my own. There's no reason to bother God with such a trivial thing.". Yet its time you understood that, to God, there's nothing trivial in your life. Elishah could have said, "Hey, it's just an axe. I'll go see if I can find another.". Had he done so he would have put God in a box, have said, "I won't ask God about this. I'll do it myself".
 

The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"  One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.  About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took them to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.  As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."  "No," his friend replied, "This is good!"  "What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"  "If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."

Your Heavenly Father wants to be involved, no, is involved in every aspect of your life. Do not put Him in a box over the little things. Elishah refused to despair, but cut a piece of wood and threw it in the water. When he did, in faith, God caused the ax head to float and this "little thing" was restored. God will be there in the little things if you trust Him, if you turn it over to Him, if you refuse to assign the trial and God to your own man made box.

Elishah not only trusted God in the little things, but he also trusted God in the big, seemingly impossible things.

2 Kings 6: 15-17 "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? [16] And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. [17] And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

Often as believers we seem to be encompassed about by overwhelming odds. Several times the King of Syria took his troops out in battle to destroy the King of Israel, but each time he went out the King of Israel was forewarned by Elishah and was saved. This so angered the King of Syria that he sent his troops out to Dothan to surround and capture Elishah.

When Elishah woke up early in the morning he looked out and saw thousands of enemy troops surrounding him. Elishah could have fallen to his knees in defeat, given himself up under these overwhelming odds. But notice what he does first, notice what he prays first:

2 Kings 6.17 "And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see."

His first concern was that his servant see the matter with new eyes, see the matter with God's eyes. Elishah was trusting in God, and he saw all things not as men see them, but looked for the God in everything.
 

As you all know, I live in Valdosta. You can always find my house, because draped over the top of the house is an old, ancient pecan tree. The Lord gave us this house years ago, and the tree with it. A while ago we had a small storm, and one of the limbs of the pecan tree broke off and fell through the tin roof my garage. By the way, a bit of that trunk is still through the roof. As I've told you before, I don't like heights (other than in the Spirit), so I figured "leave it alone, it's not bothering anybody". As I stood in the garage one day I noticed a beautiful shaft of sunlight, shining down like a finger through the roof. I looked up and saw the piece of branch but, more important, saw that the beautiful beam of light was coming through the hole the branch made. As I moved up I could look through the roof, following the beam of light until it went up to the sun in God's Heaven. When we look at things we often miss the point, but when we look along things we may see God and His Glory.

Elishah saw God all around, the chariots of fire of God's Angels waiting to protect him at a moments notice. Elishah wanted his servant to have his eyes opened so that he could see God's provision and not fear.

Brothers and sisters, God calls you to open your eyes and stop looking at the situation. Stop looking at the invading armies, stop looking at the seemingly overwhelming odds. Look at all things with new eyes, with the eyes of Kings and Priests unto God. Look for God in the situation!

Once both Elishah and his servant were focused on God, not on the trial, God was freed to act. Elishah's next prayer was:

2 Kings 6.18-19 "And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. [19] And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria."

Once God opened the eyes of the servant, He closed the eyes of the heathen so Elishah could lead the enemy to Samaria, one of Israel's strongholds. The world is blind to God. blind to the Gospel, so full of itself, and easily mislead. The world looks with old eyes on its situation and tries to find its own solution, a solution that usually leads to destruction. God's people, people of the Covenant, people of the oil and blood, are people who should look on all things with new eyes.

The Apostle Paul said of us:

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9]  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed"

We may be attacked by people and disease, yet if we focus our eyes, looking along the trial instead of at it, we will find the hand of God quietly at work. No, I don't understand everything that has happened in my life. I don't understand some of the trials, some of the tribulations. But long after they are over I can look back and see the mighty hand of God working, working, planning and using. The battle is not ours. It is the Lord's, if we will give it to Him!

2 Kings 6.21-23 "And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? [22] And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. [23] And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master."

When God has won the battle for you, do not turn back to your evil. Do not try and put Him back in the box, but let Him reign in your life supreme. The King of Israel wanted to kill the people whom God had delivered to him, yet God tells us if He had wanted them dead, He would have done it. Do you have an enemy? Do only good to them, and pray that God will remove their blindness. Do you have a trial? When God heals it, give Him the glory, but do not crow on about how you overcame the evil. Are you being called to function in this Body? Though the call may seem overwhelming, though it may seem beyond your capabilities, trust in God. Lift up your eyes, and look out, O Christian. See the chariots of fire, the horsemen of God waiting to lift you up. You who are saved are special people to God. Take God out of the box in your life, and rest on Him.

Psalms 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. [2]  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. [3]  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
 

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