The god of open options - Audio
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Good morning big congrats to Tom and Aaron Bennett they're over there with the kids right now serving our trek youth but they're pregnant again we're very excited for them their second child and also want to make you aware of some visitors we have Robin and Karen Wood from Camp Allen Dale it's good to have our missionaries in town we love you guys and we're excited about this pending building project I want to hear more about it maybe we'll give you a chance to say a few words during the annual meeting if you want to stick around if you don't it's okay I wouldn't stick around for a meeting either and also would you pray for Mike Gibson he's in Haiti right now he's making some contacts down there in preparation for a lot of mission trips in 2013 for our church and others and continued efforts to build a new orphanage for my zone so we have a lot of opportunities a lot of needs and let's go before the Lord in a word of prayer would you stand with me as we pray let's pray Father God we thank you for this morning thank you for our church thank you God that we're a community a family that is focused on you that wants to serve you honor you with our time our resources our gifts we thank you God for those who are going out from our church in your name thank you for Robin and Karen all they do at Camp Allendale such a vital and critical ministry reaching out to the children and teenagers who are so emotionally and physically afflicted Lord thank you for that ministry thank you for Mike Gibson and Kerry all their work in Haiti we pray your blessings upon Mike right now as he makes important contacts and plans in preparation for the future would you as you've already provided a new home for Zunfung La Kai the boys and girls home would you now provide a new home for the orphanage God would you continue to bless our church thank you for the praise of Tom and Aaron and the new baby that's coming blessings on David and Megan the baby that's coming their way and God would just we look around we see so many good things and yet still many are sick too would you bless those who are hurting and ill at home now as we open up your word would you speak to us as only you can in Jesus name you pray amen you may be seated if you have a Bible turn to first Kings 18 first Kings 18 beginning in verse 19 going to verse 21 a little backdrop to the story Elijah the prophet is in front of a wicked king named Ahab and Ahab his wife Jezebel and all of Israel have been worshiping false gods they've been worshiping idols they've been turning their eyes away from the Lord God and turning their eyes upon lesser things upon false gods upon idols upon the things of this world in Elijah the prophet was a lonely man he looked around Israel and he couldn't find anyone he see he thought who was righteous he couldn't find anyone who he thought was striving with the Lord and there were confrontations multiple ones between him Ahab Jezebel and all of Israel and this is one such confrontation that we know all too well in our Bible stories as children this is the story of when Elijah met up with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel but this is the precursor to that event take a look at verse 17 then it happened when Ahab saw Elijah that King Ahab said to him is that you a traveler of Israel and Elijah answered and said I've not troubled Israel but you and your father's house have in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the bales the false gods verse 19 now therefore sinned and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel and 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table verse 20 so Ahab sent for all the children of Israel and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel and Elijah came to all the people and said how long will you falter between two opinions if the
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Pastor Neil discusses the myriad options constantly presented to each of us and reminds us to be honorable in our commitments and to set aside unnecessary distractions in favor of times of spiritual refreshment and growth.