WHEN YOUR SITUATION SEEMS DEAD
Living And Leading With Spiritual Courage-Part 4
July 28, 2024
Pastor Daven Hee and Pastor Shayne Tauaefa
Innovative Concepts Mission:
Reaching and redeeming the Unchurched, Making Disciples,
and Multiplying Leaders who establish vibrant churches,
bringing hope and renewal to every community we serve,
to further the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
INTRO
A few weeks ago we left off in the story of Elijah in Zarephath.
God sometimes sends us away to an uncomfortable place to experience
the miraculous and God’s divine providence.
Today, what does your Zarephath represent to you in this season?
Spiritually our Zarephath is the church.
At least we don’t have to be like Elijah and do our assignment
and mission alone in a drought season, having to travel
hundreds of miles by slippahs, and being fed by ravens.
As we continue the journey of Elijah and we see how God is with him
every step of the way even in unfavorable and unfamiliar situations.
In the toughest times, times when it seems hopeless, dead,
God will never quit or abandon us.
He will always find a way. He does the heavy lifting for us.
He is always working in our favor!
TEXT
“Some time later the woman’s son became sick.
He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.
Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God,
what have you done to me?
Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”
But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.”
And he took the child’s body from her arms,
carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying,
and laid the body on his bed.
Then Elijah cried out to the Lord,
“O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow
who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”
And he stretched himself out over the child three times
and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God,
please let this child’s life return to him.”
The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer,
and the life of the child returned, and he revived!” —1 Kings 17:17-22 NLT
WHEN OUR SITUATION LOOKS HOPELESS [DEAD]
• My personal experience in extreme, intense difficult situations.
• What I’m learning in this season of my life.
• When God is all you have…You pray, listen, and wait.
• The word I heard is “Revolt.”
DEFINITION FOR REVOLT
verb (used without object)
• to break away from or rise against constituted authority,
as by open rebellion; cast off allegiance or subjection to those
in authority; rebel; mutiny:
“to revolt against the present government.”
• to turn away in mental rebellion, utter disgust, or abhorrence
(usually followed by from): “He revolts from eating meat.”
• to rebel in feeling (usually followed by against):
“to revolt against parental authority.”
• to feel horror or aversion (usually followed by at):
“to revolt at the sight of blood.”
• to affect with disgust or abhorrence:
“Such low behavior revolts me.”
• the act of revolting; an insurrection or rebellion.
• an expression or movement of spirited protest or dissent:
“a voter revolt at the polls.”
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN PEOPLE REVOLT AGAINST YOU
• Don’t get swept up in your emotions. Listen to what God
is saying to you. [It’s a very small, faint, gentle whisper]
• Focus on God’s Presence, Process and Principles.
“As a leader it’s not about making things happen, but responding to who
God is and what God does.” l —~Pastor Steve Murrel
• Restrain from reacting emotionally. Anger, frustration, revenge,
even fear, can sometimes prolong the process and prevent you
from achieving the results you want or need.
• It takes discipline to not retaliate. Choose to lead from your faith
and belief in God’s promises. It will go against all of your natural
and normal human reactions.
• Take the Higher Road. Don’t slander people, gossip, talk stink.
• Be cautious and careful who you listen to.
Not every expert or professional has the heart of God.
Be discerning, wise [akamai]. Filter stuff out.
• Stay in prayer. It requires a lot of patience and perseverance in the
midst of resolving your situation for the best results.
• Practice the Silence, Solitude, and Soaking. Quiet the noises and
voices from everyone. Go before God. It’s a practiced discipline.
“Go out and stand before me
on the mountain,” the Lord told him.
And as Elijah stood there,
the Lord passed by,
and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain.
It was such a terrible blast
that the rocks were torn loose,
but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
And after the earthquake there was a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” —1 Kings 19:11-12 NLT
• In the revolt, God reveals; God resolves. There’s divine revelation,
breakthrough and results for you.
Things you haven’t experienced yet. [you don’t know everything]
“He compares God’s people to wheat.
The process of a harvest always involves threshing,
but the point of threshing isn’t to destroy the wheat—it’s to make it
usable. It exposes what’s valuable in it.” —“The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible” by Tara-Leigh Cobble
GOD IS BIGGER THAN ALL OF OUR CHALLENGES, TROUBLES, AND TRIALS
“God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” —Psalms 46:1-3 NLT
• Each new level represents a new lesson for us to grow and mature.
• We’re all here to serve God’s purposes and plans.
Not our own selfish ambitions. Even in our suffering and problems.
“I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.
Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.
I will rescue you for my sake— yes, for my own sake!
I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not
share my glory with idols!” —Isaiah 48:10-11 NLT
• God uses whomever and whatever He wants.
Even the wicked, and unchurched people are used to accomplish
what He needs. God uses the good, the bad, and evil
to fulfill His plans.
• When people pursue their own dreams and desires,
it doesn’t work out long term. [Psalms 127]
“I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you.
Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.
Only I can tell you the future before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.” —Isaiah 46:4, 9-10 NLT
WEARINESS IN THE WAITING
• As we wait on the next steps, instructions from God, stay in prayer
and His word to sustain you. Get support from other people.
• All of the stress and strife can cause weariness and exhaustion.
Rest, Relax, and Refresh knowing God has everything under control
and is working in your favor. He always has the better outcome.
“Isaiah tells Israel to trust God because He’s doing things they can’t
possibly understand and He’s capable of more than they can imagine.
In 40:31 he says to wait for God because God will renew
their strength as they wait for Him.
The word wait is the Hebrew word qavah, which means
“to bind together, to be joined, to meet, to expect,
to be confident, trust, endure.”
If we read this verse with all those definitions included,
it would say, “Those who are bound together with the LORD,
joined with the LORD, who meet with the LORD,
who confidently expect and trust
and endure … will renew their strength.”
The image here is more than just an expression of time;
it’s an expression of UNITY.
It’s about relationship—knowing Him, trusting His character.
When we live in that space, He strengthens us for whatever
we’re enduring.
God is with them—which is all they need for qavah-ing.
He’s in charge of things and three times He says not to fear.
This is a big theme throughout Scripture; the call not to fear
shows up 366 times—one for every day, even in leap years.
God promises to provide for and protect His people,
which should set their hearts at ease.
Those who don’t believe Him are the ones who fall prey
to worshiping idols, because as they perceive an absence
of His protection and provision, they seek it elsewhere.”
[self, people pleasing, worry, mistrust can be idols]
“Fear speaks with urgency; God whispers, “Trust.”
“Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you… .
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.”
It feels like Isaiah is saying, “You don’t have to try so hard.
You’re striving, afraid things are going to go terribly
if you don’t step in with your solution. [control]
But slow down long enough to ask God what He has to say about this.
He’s ready to answer you if you’ll just ask.”
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
‘This is the way, walk in it,’
when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (30:20–21).
Thank God He promises to teach us and guide us.
In fact, He’s so serious about it that it’s a title
He has given Himself: Teacher, Guide.
He invites us to seek Him for wisdom.
This invitation isn’t supposed to be paralyzing;
it’s supposed to free us up to talk to Him.”
“The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible”
by Tara-Leigh Cobble
APPLICATION
1) Go back to when you first got saved, and you didn’t know anything
about following Christ [Innocence and openness].
“In chapter 12, Hosea recounts the story of Israel’s patriarch Jacob,
and he urges them to live in the relationship
God began with them back then.
He lets them know they’re not alone and reminds them
that God is the one who started all this and that God
can be trusted to continue it: “By the help of your God,
return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually
for your God” (v. 6).
Their hope lies in the fact that God will help them do
what He has called them to do.
He’ll equip them with what they need to repent and remain faithful.”
2) Spend time in Solitude, Silence, and Soaking.
Reconnecting and Remembering His promises to you.
Reconnect with God on a deeper level.
3) Give your situation over to God. Commit to trusting in Him.
4) Don’t react out of emotions or retaliate in the name of justice.
God is just and fair. He is sovereign.
5) Listen to what God is telling you. Let Him work the way He needs
and wants to. Give God full autonomy and authority.
Get and stay out of the way. You don’t know what you’re doing.
6) Wait patiently for the next step or directions.
SMALL GROUP DISCIPLESHIP/CONVO [Transformation Table]
What situation are you facing now that might involve obstacles,
roadblocks, or a dead end?
Have you seen any progress or results so far?
If so, what kind?
How close are you to resolving it completely?
Is it difficult for you to chill out and trust God? Not control. Why?
What have you been getting in God’s Word for directions or instructions?
“Then His disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures:
“Passion for God’s house will consume me.” —John 2:17 NLT
GIVING OPPORTUNITY
