Sermons – Wichita Falls Baptist Church

When Elijah despaired and asked God to take his life, God cared for him physically. Yet, God then also renewed Elijah’s mind and revived his spirit.  All three elements of our life must be considered when we deal with ourselves and others.

In this sin cursed world mourning is normal, but one day it will be removed. Sometimes our mourning is not temporary, but lasting and debilitating.  What do we do?  We should care for people the way God made us and that is caring for body, mind, and soul. We often focus on one or two of these to the exclusion of the others, and when we do we only harm ourselves.  Thus, we must consider God’s instructions in all these areas.  This sermon focuses on the first, and the following sermon will delve into renewing the mind and reviving the spirit.

For us to know, love, and obey God, we must know both the Old and the New Testament.  All of it reveals God and His unfolding, redeeming plan for the world. How in the world does 1 Kings 19 play into that idea? Pastor Jeremy Mollenkopf explains.

Keith Pond continues his sermons series through the "Little Johns," delving into John's final epistle, a letter to the beloved Gaius. In eight short verses we see the expression of vital fellowship manifest itself in specific prayers for the saints in the church and in the provision for those who have committed their lives to Gospel ministry, two extraordinary activities every church and every saint within the church should be about.

Elijah’s “sight” moves from God to Jezebel and rather than continuing with confidence, he flees with fear.  He thought Carmel would be the ushering in of God’s kingdom, but God had other plans. Elijah not only gets his eyes off of God, but he begins to think he is the only one faithful to God.  In the midst of this God provides, rebukes, and reassures.

Some Jewish believers in Galatia have found hope in the gospel, but they say that all Christians (even Gentiles) must follow the Mosaic law to be pleasing to God.  Paul makes clear that no other gospel is the gospel, and that they should be willing to hear no deviations from the gospel (even from Him, angels, or anyone).

This well known story calls us to be faithful to God knowing that He will be victorious.  We may appear to be on “the wrong side of history,” but that is only momentarily.  God will win and prove himself to be victorious over all.  Let’s live in light of God’s eternal victory, today.

Ahab may have turned from God’s word, but God calls him back through the prophetElijah.  Yet, while Elijah begins his ministry with a call of God’s judgment for Israel's sin, Elijah then goes to the wilderness and then to Sidon.  Amidst it travels, God shows that he rules and reigns over all, not Baal, the god of Ahab and Jezebel. Thus, God alone can be trusted for provision and life.

Pastor Mollenkopf notes that looking at six kings of Israel may seem tedious and boring, but those kings highlight important truths to us.  First, God’s promised judgment will come.  Second, if we continue in the sins of those who've gone before us, we can expect the same negative repercussions. Third, we may appear to be living a life that is noteworthy, but in God’s eyes, if we are not living for Him, our greatest achievements are irrelevant.  Finally, we see that sin never actually helps a person or nation, but rather degrades them more and more.  True freedom only comes in submission to God and His will for us.

The narrative  in Kings--the actual historic narrative--now returns from following Jeroboam in the north (Israel) to discussing the next three kings of Judah in the south.  Tragically, the first two kings (Rehoboam and Abijam) follow the path of Jeroboam into sin, but while they rebel, God’s promises to David allow a lamp to continue to shine.  Then God raises up Asa, a godly leader who brings restoration to the kingdom.  Well, that is for most of his life.  At the end of his life he stops trusting God and turns to His own schemes and plans.