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[0:00] As the Lord may enable me, I would direct your attention this evening to the first book of Kings, the 19th chapter, and the last clause in the 13th verse.

[0:17] The first book of Kings, chapter 19, and the last clause in verse 13. What doest thou here, Elijah?

[0:32] What doest thou here, Elijah? Elijah, who has been given that title, and I feel rightly so, a prophet of iron.

[0:49] He was that, as God helped him, especially upon Mount Carmel, as he stood alone before Israel and before King Ahab, and how the Lord appeared and vindicated his cause, and granted that wondrous sign of the fire from heaven, which lit up, not only consumed the sacrifice, but lit up the water that was in the trench, making it very clear that God, and it is indeed a wondrous account.

[1:43] One might say, in coming to this word this evening, oh, that God would in his mercy raise up, and those that he has raised up, that he might make them mighty in word and deed, and grant even in England today, a gracious reviving, a returning unto the Lord God of Israel.

[2:13] For he alone is worthy to be served. He alone has power to save. He alone has power, eternal, everlasting power.

[2:27] He alone has power to save. That same God, who stood by Elijah upon Mount Carmel, still reigns and rules in the affairs of men in our day.

[2:43] And if it could be his holy pleasure, we would desire to see a gracious reviving in England.

[2:53] and I do feel this one wonders sometimes what is coming upon this nation we have indeed forsaken the God of Israel as the children of Israel had done in Ahab's death and yet it is encouraging to think that even in Ahab's court there was a godly Obadiah one who feared the Lord greatly one who had done all within his power as God had enabled him to preserve the Lord's prophets and I feel this that we perhaps often overlook this fact that I believe that the Lord still has those even in England who have not bowed the knee to Baal those that still are seeking for that God would return in mercy desire because I believe this that this is where real revival begins it begins in the church of God it begins as we read in Hezekiah's day when Hezekiah was enabled to open the doors of the house of the Lord and to set things in order we find this that God had prepared the hearts of the people and I would ask you this question in passing this evening are we truly concerned that His kingdom might come that His will might be done in earth as it is in heaven have we any concern in our hearts that there might be a bringing forth of children when Zion travail she brought forth her children oh how one feels if one may speak one's own feelings in this oh that God would grant that travail in Zion

[5:34] I believe it is going on but we do need the Lord to revive it and grant this that Elijah though he had seen God's wondrous power upon Mount Carmel and it was and you know God is still the same God today how he showed his approval and granted that fire from heaven you will often find in the word of God that when God accepted the sacrifices that were offered he granted fire from heaven this was the sign of his smile his approval but Elijah I feel this that the way into such blessings as was granted at this time even the sound of abundance of rain that sacred forerunner of blessing how did it begin it began with

[6:47] Elijah upon the top of Carmel and he cast himself down from the earth and put his face between his knees all that God would grant to us such an experience as this it's something that I feel to need in my own soul's experience more and more a humbling of oneself under the mighty hand of God and Elijah this was his posture the prophet of the Lord this was his posture in other words he could not get lower he could not get lower than this with his face between his knees upon the earth this I believe is the way to God's blessing it is when there is granted a humbling under the mighty hand of God do you desire to know more of this more of thy image let me bear direct thy throne within my heart and reign without arrival there the Lord

[8:08] Jesus Christ said was here upon earth and I feel there is much in it if thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of light oh to know more of that single eye to the glory of God this was what Elijah had he had a single eye his desire was that God would in mercy come and so demonstrate his power that the people as we find them saying the Lord he is the God the Lord he is the God that Elijah in our text and in this chapter how soon we find him fleeing for his life fleeing for his life and it is only by the help of God that we can continue it is only by his help that the

[9:12] Lord's servants can continue in the solemn work of the ministry and how often one has been in this same place as Elijah fleeing for our life and to think of this that he was fleeing from an ungodly woman fleeing from an ungodly woman the day almost the day previous to this he had stood alone and he had taken those four hundred prophets of Baal and slain them take the prophets of Baal let not one of them escape and they took them and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slew them there then he flees before the threats of one woman how this shows us this that without the help of God we cannot stand no not for one day one hour we cannot stand without the help of God we cannot continue without his help

[10:33] Elijah the Lord had a purpose in this I feel this is wonderful the Lord had a purpose in this even though Elijah was fleeing for his life the Lord had a purpose in it there may be someone in this chapel this evening that in your soul's experience you are fleeing for your life perhaps you are full of fear at this time God only knows what is in your pathway God only knows that that is laying with weight upon your heart even at this time you may be full of fears you may be fleeing for your life from the enemy how many enemies there are and God only knows in this assembly this evening what our enemies are I believe that every child of

[11:35] God has their own peculiar enemies those things that often are with them those things that follow them sometimes day in and day out how merciful God was with his servant even though he was fleeing for his life yet even in the wilderness God provided food for him and strengthened him for his journey now in our text he is brought to Horeb the mount of God he comes to Horeb his journey I understand by the gracious records of godly men that Elijah could have made this journey in perhaps four or five days to

[12:35] Horeb but he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God God had a purpose in this God had a purpose in this with Elijah you know sometimes the Lord brings his people in most mysterious ways that he may bless them in their souls he brings them into a wilderness experience he brings them into a place where there is no sustenance he brings them into a pathway where perhaps they feel to be alone feel that no man stands by them feel to be alone I believe that sometimes even with husbands and wives there are those times when they are brought off even their health and comfort of their loved ones they have to come into a solitary pathway into a place where God is going to speak to them

[13:52] Elijah this was his condition God had a purpose in this God had a purpose in and I believe this that sometimes the Lord brings his people by a most mysterious route that he brings them he brings them to a place where they are going to hear his voice is this what some of you have been praying for are there those in this congregation that have some peculiar burden some peculiar trial something that perhaps lays before you and looms up before you as a mountain for its size wonder where the scene will end well I would say this for your encouragement I believe the Lord is bringing you in this way he is going to speak to you and I believe this that the farther you go on in this condition the more you will cry for the

[15:09] Lord to appear and I believe this that this is the way the Lord works he works with his people in such a way that when he does speak when he does speak we shall know that it is his voice it will be attended with power oh that we might if we are in such a pathway as this and have feelingly been fleeing for our life and one knows something of this pathway it was only the other morning the morning that I had a phone message to come to Eastbourne that one was in this condition in one's own experience fleeing for one's life fearful of the future wondering what the issue would be and that is why I have ventured with this word this evening because

[16:12] I had hardly been to work on Wednesday morning when this phone message came and this word had been with me that morning what doest thou hear Elijah in the first place he comes unto Horeb the mountain of God this mount of God this holy mountain this mount Sinai where the children of Israel had seen the lightnings and the thunders the thunderings had seen the fire and the effect of it upon them had been that they shrank on this holy man setting forth the holiness of God this holy place this place where God had appeared and shown his glory this place where he had given to Moses the law this same mountain where

[17:25] Moses had come to many years before Moses had come to this mountain where the Lord spake to him and gave him that divine command he should go down into Egypt to bring up his people from Egypt and Moses had seen the glory of God upon Mount Hore he had seen that bush that was burning with fire that was not consumed setting forth I believe the mercy of God in Jesus Christ this mountain had been a place where many had trembled and now Elijah comes to him he came thither unto a cave and lodged there and behold the word of the Lord came to him this was the first time as he arrives here the word of the Lord came to him are there those in this chapel this evening that have been asking the Lord for a word a word of direction a word of comfort whatever that word may be the Lord knows how many there are here or if there is one soul that feels to need a word from the

[18:54] Lord behold the word of the Lord came to him and he said unto him what doest thou hear Elijah oh how Elijah must have trembled as he heard the voice of God what was the effect of it upon him and he said I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts 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 how often when the Lord's people are brought into deep a deep pathway brought into a place where they cannot see any way out how soon how soon we begin to tremble how soon we begin to think sometimes almost as if we're the only one how full of fear we are my mind goes to

[20:12] Joshua after Jericho had been delivered and God had said that the children of Israel should not take of that accursed thing and there is found one who has coveted that that he had seen and taken the gold and the silver and that Babylonish garment and hid it in his tent Achan but you know when the children of Israel went to go forth to besiege Ai and the children of Israel how soon they fled before their enemies and Joshua how he trembled and how he began to say would that we had remained on the other side of Jordan how full of fear we are when left to ourselves how full of fear we are sometimes as the future looms up before us how full fear sometimes we are as to our future pathway in life but all the answer that Elijah had was this and he said go forth and stand upon the mount before the

[21:42] Lord this was a divine command Elijah the Lord said it would seem as if he took no notice for Elijah's complaint but he says to him go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord what a position what a position he was in here was Elijah he had come to the mount of God God had spoken to him God commanded him to go forth and stand upon the mount of the Lord then the Lord sends his messengers the Lord sends his messengers to Elijah behold the Lord passed by and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and breaking pieces the rocks before the

[22:46] Lord this mighty wind the same effect as had been known in previous days when Moses had gone up the children of Israel had stood that same power had been put forth there the holiness of God made known and breaking pieces the rocks before the Lord but the Lord was not in the wind the Lord was not in the wind you know sometimes the Lord in his dealings with his people they they have to experience this the strong winds of temptation strong winds of temptation and they are tempted all hope to resign they are tempted that the good that they seek they near shall obtain they are tempted that it's no use praying anymore the

[23:49] Lord has forsaken them and Satan comes in like a flood and tells them that their religion is false how solemn a wind this is the wind of temptation what a solemn power it has the temptations that assail the Lord's people and sometimes when brought into a pathway of affliction and they become low in their in hell and then the enemy comes in like a flower the power of temptation but what is most solemn is that sometimes the Lord is silent in this the Lord is silent how solemn it is when under the power of temptation solemn temptation what is more solemn when the

[24:50] Lord seems to be silent have you known this experience the Lord silence who can bear it who can bear the Lord silence the Lord was not in the wind and after the wind an earthquake you know an earthquake although I have never experienced it myself but even only during this past week there has been an earthquake and many have lost their lives but Elijah experienced this at this time an earthquake you know an earthquake is a very solemn thing the earth trembles everything seems to shame the earth opens you know sometimes the Lord's people come into a pathway where everything seems shaken shaken about their ears everything that they had hoped in seems to have come to nothing very solemn experience especially when that word is fulfilled

[26:04] Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he might sift you as wheat perhaps there is someone here this evening that is in this experience it seems with you as if your religion everything has gone through the sea seems nothing left very solemn experience especially as this word is fulfilled but the Lord was not in the earthquake oh what a trembling there is there what a trembling when everything seems shaken about our ears when there is perhaps would seem almost as if the earth opens ready to swallow us up and we fear that we shall come and sink at last how solemn it is to feel that we are sinking to rise no more feeling our experience as if we shall soon be in our grave and most solemn of all the

[27:18] Lord is not seems to be silent even in the earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake how Elijah must have trembled perhaps there are those here tonight that are trembling and after the earthquake of fire that the Lord was not in the fire this also is a very real experience and the Lord has said that the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is you know often times when the Lord has granted perhaps a season of sacred his sacred smile when perhaps there has been that blessing known in the heart and there has been that walking in the light of his countenance Job knew this Job knew it he knew what it was to have the candle of the Lord shining round about him when through his light he walked through darkness you know

[28:31] Job everything that Job had went into the fire what a solemn time it was what a solemn time first of all the Lord saw fit to allow Satan to take away his flocks and his hurts yes Satan has a terrible power he goeth about as a roaring lion he is seeking to devour the Lord's people he is seeking to devour them you know Job not only did he lose his cattle and his flocks and his herds but he lost his children then he was afflicted in his body and even his wife said curse God and die Job you know what grace was given to him at that time he was wonderfully sustained because no living man could ever say the Lord gave and the

[29:35] Lord had taken away blessed be the name of the Lord without divine hand without the help of God then he had to go deeper into the fire than this he had to know what it was that even his friends didn't understand him no his friends didn't understand him they misjudged him as the Lord Jesus Christ he knew this pathway his own disciples forsook him and fled you know I believe that it is decreed that most must walk the darkest paths alone the fire how solemn when sometimes we have been in this experience to be in our feelings either in circumstance or in our in providence or in soul trouble to be in the fire the fire the furnace but how solemn when the Lord is not in the fire you know those three

[30:44] Hebrew children as they were cast into that burning fiery furnace you know all they lost was their hosen their hats their clothes that they were unscathed and why was it because Jesus Christ was in the fire with them when Jesus Christ is with us in the fire when there is this still small voice known and found the sweet voice of the gospel the voice of Jesus Christ the voice of the Holy Spirit the voice of God in his mercy what a difference this makes but the Lord was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice you see though

[31:45] Elijah was favoured with these things and it was so when Elijah heard it there oh when he heard this still small voice when he heard this still small voice this what an effect it had on it.

[32:11] We read this and it was so when Elijah heard that so when he heard that oh this this still small voice this voice of the gospel this voice of the word of God when that is heard oh this begins to raise again in our hearts experience that courage to hold on our way that courage is given to continue in the race that is set before us and then there is a looking unto Jesus and when it was so when Elijah heard that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out oh how humbling it is to hear the still small voice how humbling when the Lord condescends to whisper a word

[33:12] I shall never forget my own dear father saying to me on one occasion when very tried very tried concerning the ministry he said well my son I do hope you'll hear that still small voice that whisper oh to have our hearts tuned our ears attuned to hear this still small voice what a difference it makes what a sacred difference it makes to the whole scene when the Lord in his mercy appears and grants us a word in season a word from himself a word that we may continue but the effect of it upon Elijah sacred effect he wrapped his face in his mantle yes what deep humility it brought forth what a sacred humbling in his heart to think that God had condescended to come to come even in that place where he was though he'd been fleeing for his life yet God should return in his mercy and speak a word to him give him further directions as to what he was to do and he went out there came a voice unto him and said what doest thou here

[34:46] Elijah the time has gone I would ask this question in conclusion what are we doing in this house of prayer tonight the motive that has brought us the Lord only sees what doest thou hear Elijah are you concerned to hear God's voice or are you unconcerned concerned are you concerned as to know how it will be with you when you come to die are you concerned as to know whether the Lord is with you are you concerned to know whether God that same God is with you God in Christ are we concerned to know this or are we unconcerned what doest thou hear

[35:50] Elijah what are we doing in this chapel this evening have we come seeking a portion for our soul or are we unconcerned now eternity lies before each one of us a never ending eternity and our life will soon come to a cloud what doest thou hear Elijah amen in 667 in north upon the earth on the earth my love my fortune and my living brave in and my care we tell you from death destruction and despair 667 here that was here we can't

[37:04] AC see you Amen. Amen.

[38:07] Amen. Amen.

[39:07] Amen. Amen.

[40:07] Amen. Amen.

[41:07] Amen. Amen. Gracious God, we do ask for thy forgiving love over all that has been amiss in our service this evening.

[41:28] Amen. Do pray that thou wouldest get to thyself honour and glory and grant great God that there may be something that shall remain with us, that shall be indeed need to strengthen us in the journey of life.

[41:51] May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the sweet communion and fellowship of the Holy Spirit rest and remain among you and the whole Israel of God everywhere, now and for evermore. Amen.