EXPERIENCING GOD ON THE ROLLER COASTER
Life is full of ups and downs.
This is a certainty in a fallen world.
Questions:
Do you have difficulty at times experiencing God when things are difficult?
Do you ever have a great day one day only to have a bad day the next?
Could even apply to same-day negative experiences after great ones.
The reality is:
We were designed for the Garden and connection with God.
This world in its instability can cause many troubles in this life.
But –
God’s passion has always been restoration with us.
Life seems like a roller coaster at times
But God is our stability and strength.
Let’s look at the life of Elijah as an example.
Set the stage
Kingdom split into Judah and Israel
Along the line of kings in Israel:
Ahab comes along
1 Kings 16:29–33 NLT
Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
Elijah, the great prophet tasked by God to bring his people back
Obadiah is a great believer in the Lord
Needless to say, Ahab has hatred for Elijah
Elijah asks Obadiah to tell Ahab that Elijah is here.
1 Kings 18:16–21 NLT
So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah. When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”
“I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”
So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
Notice the line in the sand Elijah drew
“How much longer will you waiver?…”
“If the Lord is God, follow him! …”
This line is seen in the Scripture elsewhere:
Joshua –
“Choose you this day who you will serve…”
Jesus –
“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.”
Paul –
Roman 6:16
Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
1 Kings 18:22–24 NLT
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it.Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed.
Both had equal confidence in their God.
Elijah believed in the right one.
What does the other place their faith in?
Do they even know?
Look at the insanity of false belief!
1 Kings 18:25–29 NLT
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”
So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”
So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.
1 Kings 18:30–39 NLT
Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lordthat had been torn down. He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons. He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.
Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”
After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
It would seem like God is showing off!
But he is alive and powerful.
When confronted with a mighty God, everyone has to come around.
No matter what you believe in!
Just because you may not believe in God, Himself, does not mean God does not exist.
Brings to mind the real power gap between God and every other god.
Trust that God is way more powerful than any other god created by Satan and people’s minds.
Jesus sent out the 72. They came back amazed.
Luke 10:17–18
The 72 returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
He also said to them,
“ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that spirit submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Now comes a shift and what is about to happen that we need to pay attention to.
A human shift
The experiences of the divine morph into the darkness of the flesh and self-perception.
1 Kings 19:1-4 NLT
When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
A threat came
The human response?
Forget God?
Fear
Isolation
Despair
An extreme from what he had experienced a short time before.
Let’s look at God’s response.
1 Kings 19:5–8 NLT
Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.
Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.
What was God’s response?
Angel came to feed him, twice
God met the most immediate need.
Elijah probably neglected himself physically
That’s what despair will do
God gave enough for him to move on
God always sees what we are going through.
He is compassionate and will always meet us in the darkest places.
Elijah probably did not see it that way.
We don’t as well.
Have a hard time experiencing God in our dark places.
1 Kings 19:9–13 NLT
There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.
But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
“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. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Note:
God did not confront him in his despair.
“What are you doing here, Elijah?”
After he spent the night.
Elijah still felt the sting of rejection and complain to God.
How did God reveal himself?
Not in the windstorm that tore loose the rocks in the mountain.
Not in the earthquake
Not in the fire
But in the sound of a gentle whisper
Elijah knew then God was there.
God was not in the natural.
God was not in the powerful.
God was not in the intense noise of life.
He revealed himself deep within the heart.
Takeaways
In the many ups and downs of life in an unstable world; God is our only stable and steadfast assurance.
He is steadfast
He is unwavering
James 1:17 NIV
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”
He never left Israel – He won’t leave us.
Deuteronomy 31:6–8 NLT
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
John 14:15–17 NLT
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”
Hebrews 13:5 NLT
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”
This is the God we can experience with confidence, even when we don’t have confidence in ourselves and the world.
Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest, who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find Grace to help us in our time of need.
Don’t be gullible
Definition – easily deceive or cheated; easily take in or tricked
Know what you believe and who you believe in.
Hold onto him more in times of adversity.
We are actually strengthened through adversity.
James 1:2-4 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Romans 5:1-5 NLT
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Don’t let discouragement, fear, resentment, or negative feelings about God eclipse who God truly is.
Romans 8:37-38
No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Quiet the soul, enough to experience God outside all the hype, distractions, noise, or expectations.
Develop Sabbath times
Center your life every day and even multiple times a day on God to filter out as much of life’s noise as you can.
Practice, practice, practice
Then after that – practice
Rivers always occupy the valleys
Water runs to the lowest land point
Mountains have springs that run down, but the constant flow of life giving water flows in the valley.
God is always meeting us in our lowest points to nourish us where we are.
Deuteronomy 8:6-8 NLT
“So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey.”
Psalm 23:1-4 NLT
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
Psalm 1:1-3 NLT
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
John 7:37-38 NLT
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
Conclusion
Remember:
God is our stability in an unstable world.
We can rely on Him when we can’t trust ourselves, others, and the world.
In times of adversity, always look for God’s voice within us beyond the noise of life.
Don’t let the flesh cause you to leave God when God will never leave us.
Hold onto his anchor at all times – good or bad.
Develop spiritual resiliency so that when life bends us, we will never break.
Be honest and be yourself.
God will never leave you.
Discussion
Have you ever experienced a really good day or season, only to have something happen that suddenly changed your perspective? How did you respond?
Why do you think it can be harder to recognize or experience God when life becomes difficult?
What does it mean for God to be our “stability” when everything around us feels unstable?
Elijah asked, “How much longer will you waver?” Why do you think people sometimes struggle to fully trust God?
How can we tell the difference between trusting God and simply saying that we trust God?
What are some warning signs that discouragement, fear, or disappointment may be affecting the way we see God?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
