Christian Life Church
January 28, 2024 at 8:30am & 10:00am
Psalm 46:1-7 NKJV God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Magnificent Desolation 1.28.24
Psalm 46:1-7 NKJV God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 62:5-6 NKJV My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
1.A Great Tribulation
A. God’s People intend to escape the Great Tribulation, but in fact, we intend to escape all tribulation.
B. 2 Timothy 3:12
C. John 15:18-19
D. Yet there is a place of protection.
1) Some have called it “immunity,” and they are partly right.
2) The value of the Psalms (Psalm 91)
3) Paul
a. We will never be tempted beyond our ability to escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
b. We will face tests that are often, if not always, beyond our ability to endure. (2 Corinthians1:8-11)
4) As we see from Hebrews 11…
a. There is a time for escaping.
b. There is a time for enduring.
2.Our problems can drive us to seek this Holy Place of Protection, but so can our passion (our love, hunger, and thirst for righteousness).
A. Passion drove Jesus to that place. Problems drove Elijah to that place. Passion and problems drove Moses to that place.
3.What is driving us?
A. We may be driven by either, or both. But let’s focus today on “a man of similar battles as all of us” Elijah.
B. Not a surface treatment
C. It is the place we begin to realize the Greatest Commandment of all is “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.”
D. The difference between King Saul and King David
1) Saul
a. Never tested
b. Never in wilderness
c. He was the best the flesh could produce.
2) David
a. Thoroughly tested
b. A decade in the wilderness
c. Refined by God
E. Horeb means “desolation.”
F. It is a place of…
1) Clarification
2) Cleansing
3) Covering
a. “It is a place designed not for the perfecting of faith, but rather for the destruction of the flesh.”
4. What is the purpose of Horeb?
A. The primary purpose of God was not to send Elijah back into the battle, but rather to bring him back to the basics.
B. We realize it is by God’s design that our journey is “too great for us.” “It is enough!”
C. We often find God unseating our idols of self-sufficiency.
1) Example: “I have been zealous for the God of Israel.”
2) “Perhaps Elijah’s greatest virtue was his zeal. Indeed, twice in his communication with God, Elijah speaks of having been “very zealous for the Lord.” But zeal unaccompanied by wisdom eventually becomes its own god. It compels us toward expectations that are unrealistic and outside the timing and anointing of The Lord. To remain balanced zeal must be reined in and harnessed by strategic encounters by the living God. Otherwise, we become frustrated with people and discouraged with delays. We step outside our place of strength and spiritual protection.” – Francis Frangipane
Christian Life Lessons
1. The time is coming when Heaven will release both fire and rain on the same day!
2. Our biggest battle is usually not with the world, but rather with disillusionment.
A. Remember – the fact that our journey is “too great for us” is by God’s design.
3. The Greatest Commandment doesn’t center on perfection or even on soul winning – it is to love The Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
4. You usually find yourself alone on Mt. Horeb.
A. Like Elijah, we leave everyone behind and then complain about being alone.
B. Business on Mt. Horeb is usually very specific and intense.
We are learning to become “naked and not ashamed"
Psalm 46:1-7 NKJV God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 62:5-6 NKJV My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
1.A Great Tribulation
A. God’s People intend to escape the Great Tribulation, but in fact, we intend to escape all tribulation.
B. 2 Timothy 3:12
C. John 15:18-19
D. Yet there is a place of protection.
1) Some have called it “immunity,” and they are partly right.
2) The value of the Psalms (Psalm 91)
3) Paul
a. We will never be tempted beyond our ability to escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
b. We will face tests that are often, if not always, beyond our ability to endure. (2 Corinthians1:8-11)
4) As we see from Hebrews 11…
a. There is a time for escaping.
b. There is a time for enduring.
2.Our problems can drive us to seek this Holy Place of Protection, but so can our passion (our love, hunger, and thirst for righteousness).
A. Passion drove Jesus to that place. Problems drove Elijah to that place. Passion and problems drove Moses to that place.
3.What is driving us?
A. We may be driven by either, or both. But let’s focus today on “a man of similar battles as all of us” Elijah.
B. Not a surface treatment
C. It is the place we begin to realize the Greatest Commandment of all is “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.”
D. The difference between King Saul and King David
1) Saul
a. Never tested
b. Never in wilderness
c. He was the best the flesh could produce.
2) David
a. Thoroughly tested
b. A decade in the wilderness
c. Refined by God
E. Horeb means “desolation.”
F. It is a place of…
1) Clarification
2) Cleansing
3) Covering
a. “It is a place designed not for the perfecting of faith, but rather for the destruction of the flesh.”
4. What is the purpose of Horeb?
A. The primary purpose of God was not to send Elijah back into the battle, but rather to bring him back to the basics.
B. We realize it is by God’s design that our journey is “too great for us.” “It is enough!”
C. We often find God unseating our idols of self-sufficiency.
1) Example: “I have been zealous for the God of Israel.”
2) “Perhaps Elijah’s greatest virtue was his zeal. Indeed, twice in his communication with God, Elijah speaks of having been “very zealous for the Lord.” But zeal unaccompanied by wisdom eventually becomes its own god. It compels us toward expectations that are unrealistic and outside the timing and anointing of The Lord. To remain balanced zeal must be reined in and harnessed by strategic encounters by the living God. Otherwise, we become frustrated with people and discouraged with delays. We step outside our place of strength and spiritual protection.” – Francis Frangipane
Christian Life Lessons
1. The time is coming when Heaven will release both fire and rain on the same day!
2. Our biggest battle is usually not with the world, but rather with disillusionment.
A. Remember – the fact that our journey is “too great for us” is by God’s design.
3. The Greatest Commandment doesn’t center on perfection or even on soul winning – it is to love The Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
4. You usually find yourself alone on Mt. Horeb.
A. Like Elijah, we leave everyone behind and then complain about being alone.
B. Business on Mt. Horeb is usually very specific and intense.
We are learning to become “naked and not ashamed"