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I KINGS 19:8-9

"WHAT DOEST THOU HERE"?

Intro: When you think of Elijah you think of power, you think of miracles.
       Yet he was a  man subject to the same passions as we.

I. "WHAT DOEST THOU HERE, ELIJAH?" SOMETIMES, GOD'S PEOPLE ARE  DISCOVERED
    IN UNLIKELY PLACES.
        A. Here was Elijah down in Mt. Horeb in the Southern end of the
           Sinai  peninsula.
        B. He had just experienced one of his greatest victories.
        1. He had challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest. The God
           who answers by fire.
        2. When they were defeated he destroyed them.
        3. He then prayed for rain and God ended a three year  draught
           with a cloud burst.
        C. What doest thou here, Elijah? Elijah was running from the
           threat of a  woman.
                1. When King Ahab told his wicked wife Jezebel that
                   Elijah had killed  her 450 prophets of Baal she sent
                   him a nasty note "God do the  same to me if you..."
                2. Fear filled Elijah and he ran. Fear can lead you to
                   strange places.

a. It will bring you into barren wilderness wastes.
b. Rob you of your joy & fruitfulness.
c. Turn your victories into defeats.
d. Drive you far from fellowship.
e. Fear can greatly exaggerate your condition. Makes things  look much
   worse than they really are.
                                1. "I, even I only am left."
                                2. God answered "I have 7,000."

II. AS CHRISTIANS MANY TIMES WE FIND OURSELVES IN PLACES WHERE  WE OUGHT
    NOT TO BE AND GOD SAYS TO US "WHAT DOEST THOU  HERE?"
        A. We find ourselves in the place of discouragement.
                1. The way we are acting, you would think that God had
                    vacated His  throne.
                        a. He is no longer in control.
                        b. He has forsaken His people.
        B. Sometimes we are found in feverish activities.
        1. I am zealous for the Lord, and I am doing the work of the Lord.
        2. So busy, you're neglecting your family, can't sleep nights,
           yelling  at the kids.
        3. "Lord, look how I am straining to pull this yoke" He answers,
            that's not My yoke.
        4. If it is God's work, its going to get done, we do not need to
           get distraught, we need not panic.
        5. God is perfectly capable of providing for His work, He is not
           begging you for support.
        C. Sometimes we are found in places we ought not to be.
        1. A party with the ungodly crowd.
        2. In a bar watching the show.
        3. In a dishonest business deal.
        And God speaks to us. "What doest thou here?"

III. WHAT DID GOD TELL ELIJAH TO DO?
        A. "Return."
                1. Don't stay in this wilderness. 
                2. Get back in to My work.
                3. Quit running, get busy for Me and will take care of
                   you.
        B. God did not cut him off, He just sent him back to work.