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I KINGS 19:8-9

"WHAT DOEST THOU HERE"

Intro: Elijah had lust experienced one of the greatest victories of his
       career. Fire from  heaven.

I. WHAT DOEST THOU HERE.
        A. He was in the wilderness of Mt. Horeb.
                1. About as desolate and uninhabited as you can find.
        B. Sometimes we find ourselves in weird places.
                1. Places where we as servants of God don't belong.
                2. The place of despair.
                        a. We have given up and run.
                        b. Our greatest trials often follow our greatest
                           victories.
                        c. Our hope should always be bright .
                                1. We may lose a battle but.
                                2. Jesus won the war.
                3. The place of depression.
                a. It's no use, I can't fight the world.
                b. Our note from Cheryl. "It's no use."
                c. David said, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?"
                d. God is still on the throne.
        4. The place of fear.
                a. Elijah feared for his life.
                b. Fear is a tool of Satan.
                                1. The fear of failure has held back many
                                   from ventures  of success.
                                2. The fear of man bringeth a snare.
                                3. It will cause you to run back in defeat
                                   when you  should be running forward to
                                   victory.
                        c. God said "fear not" then He gave the greatest
                           reason --"for I  am with thee."
                                1. "Ye, though I walk through the valley
                                    of the  shadow..."
                                2. Rom. 8, "If God be for me...?" Who
                                   shall separate us  from the love of
                                   God?" ... Tribulation, distress,
                                   perverse.
        C. What doest thou here? You have no business here.
                1. You've counted yourself out when God wants to count you
                   in.

II. WHAT DOEST THOU HERE?
        A. He was hiding in the cave.
                1. He had fled from Israel through Judah to its southern
                   most border  Beersheba. Then south to Horeb.
                2. He was getting as far from the scene of action as
                   possible.
        B. He was doing nothing.
                1. His fear had driven him from the work of God.
                        a. One week calling down fire to consume the
                           sacrifice and  turning the people to Jehovah.
                        b. The next week hiding in a cave surrounded by
                           sage brush  and cactus.
                2. He wasn't really hiding, God found him, in fact was
                   with him all the  way.
                        a. He was so distressed and fearful it took him
                           a little time to  find God.
                                1. There was the wind, earthquake, fire.
                                2. God spoke in the still mall voice.

III. WHAT DOEST THOU HERE?
        A. EliIah started his little speech again offering excuses.
        B. God ignored his speech and sent him back to work.