Today we’re in 1st Kings talking about the contest where light and darkness meet. And we see that meeting together in the nation is King Ahab vs. Elijah, the Battle of the gods. This headline is so important because it’s God Himself is going to show the nation of Israel that he is God Almighty, and is in full control of the earth of itself. Elijah, he sets the stage on Mount Carmel on a 1500 foot high limestone mountain. He tells King Ahab to take 850 of his profits to the top of the mountain. Let’s see what God speaks a true contest…

God is on the move in Elijah’s life, and he speaks directly Elijah. I love this. It says this, go and present yourself to King Ahab, tell him I will soon send rain. It says that Elijah immediately stepped into what I call live action. He didn’t hesitate argue, complain to God. He was a man on the move and he stepped into the moment. I tell you what, folks, that’s just exciting when you think about it. I love this part because Elijah isn’t looking for someone else to do it…

What made Elijah unique was he knew, and he believed, in the power of God. That made him the perfect prophet to see the miraculous. Now, I think what God does next is bizarre, he sends Elijah 100 miles northeast, into Gentile territory, enemy territory, at that God drives him back and takes him to a place where there was going to be water. And during that time, the Ravens were going to bring him both bread and water. That’s amazing. When you think about it here that the birds from the sky, God commands them to actually feed Elijah. Now, to be honest, I’ve never seen anything like this before in my own life…

We are starting a new fall teaching series called Followership. It is a different way to look at leadership. We’re going to look at two leaders, two prophets, two men of the Old Testament.

One of the prophets we will be looking at is Elijah. His name means my god is Yahweh. What a powerful name that is. Elijah is a Hebrew prophet and a miracle worker. He was a man who confronted King Ahab on the northern tribes of Israel. He was a man who came against the wicked King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel. Elijah was not afraid. He came against them as a true leader of Israel during difficult days. Elijah is the front runner of John the Baptist and a mentor to Elisha.

Elisha is the second prophet we will be looking at. His name means God is salvation. He was a Hebrew prophet, and also a miracle worker. He is the prophet who asked God for a double portion of Elijah’a spirit for his ministry. For 60 years, he held the office of profit in Israel. You can find story in 2 Kings 5:8.

Before we jump in to the lives of these two leaders in the Bible, I think it’s important for us to set the stage as to what leadership truly is, as it speaks of it in the Bible, in comparison to what leadership is being conveyed to us in modern day culture. Today we have a guest with us, a recognized guest, a man devoted to God, true Shepherd of his people. Pastor Bill Tvedt from Jubilee Family Church from right here is Oskaloosa, as we discuss leadership and followership.

To have power in prayer, you must experience God’s presence. In the beginning, James says if any of you suffered hardships, you should pray. Everyone within the sound of my voice, without a doubt today, is having some sort of hardship. Something is going on. We deal with struggles and strife every day of our lives. Isn’t that correct? A lot of people will go to Facebook. They will take time to post things about hardships that they’re dealing with in life. Whether you like it or not, it’s there. Some will ask for prayer. Sometimes you can donate money because of their hardship. And often times people post hoping, and wondering, does anyone simply care?

Today as our as our teaching series about work we’re going to look at it means of work and treasure, where your treasure is, is where your heart is oftentimes, if you want to know what hold your heart, look at where you spend your money. James deals with money in chapter five head on, he doesn’t hold back. I think it’s important for us to this morning that we do the same… 

 

Good Sunday morning. This is Mike Sereg, the voice of Vital Ministries. It is good to be with you on this Sunday. I tell you what, August is almost done. We are staring down looking at September Labor Day is on the horizon. It is amazing how fast time goes, but again hasn’t it been a wonderful summer. We have seen some incredible things enjoying the State Fair. All the activities, the fairs the the the different events that have happened amongst the different cities in our local area. It is great. I’ve just come from Florida and was gone for about six days to visit my son. And folks, I’ve gotta just tell you, I appreciate Iowa’s so much. I’m glad to be in Iowa and I’m glad I was born here. I know I’m going to die here and God is good. And we have a great place in the midst of our state and I hope the most of you have that you can appreciate the same things.

Before we get started this morning, we have a few things that we just want to get set up for you to know different events that are coming along the way and the first one is this this morning. I just want to remind you on September 8, we’re going to have the Vital Gathering. You don’t want to miss this. It is an event for everyone, men, women, children, everybody, it’s just going to be a great time we’re going to be at Debbie celebration barn. And again, that’s on September 8, we’re going to go from five to seven o’clock we’re going to feed you right the very beginning, we have some great food we have a vendor that has done a wonderful job and just encourage you to be a participate in that we’re going to have great worship music, we have a band that is just fantastic and allows the presence of the Holy Spirit to come. I will give you about a short 20 minutes teaching about what the application of how we can look at life, we’re going to look at what it means who are the real heroes in our life. So just some good things that are coming. You don’t want to miss that event again that September 8, from five to seven o’clock pm at Debbie celebration barn. What a great time for everyone to join as we gather together in the presence of God himself and allow the Holy Spirit to be with us. I just hope you don’t miss this great event. And it’s also a great opportunity to invite somebody who doesn’t know Jesus, but it’d be a great way for them to come to know Christ in a greater way. So again, what a great opportunity.

Also on 9/11 we are having our Vital men kickoff. Man, it’s hard to believe the ministry season is about to begin on 9/11. We’re going to be going from six to eight o’clock that’s on a Wednesday night 9/11 in Pella. Iowa. We’re going to be at The Well this year. We’re looking forward to that it’s gonna be a great time we’re gonna have barbecue out front. Guys are going to be barbecue and men, who doesn’t like BBQ meat? And we promise you great, great food so you’re not going to want to miss that event that again that’s on September 11. 9/11, we’ve picked that date for a purpose. And we think some great things are going to happen we’re going to have the worship band coming from the Bridge down in Ottumwa, It’s going to be great. They do a wonderful job and music and also to Marty Schmidt is going to be our guest speaker it’s all going to happen from six to eight o’clock kickoff for Vital men. You are not going to want to miss this event so I just encourage you to participate in that.

We send out devotional six days a week my for both Vital men and Vital women. We have five different writers for the men, Monday through Friday. You don’t want to miss the good stuff that comes – it gives you a nugget in the day – just a point of inspiration allow God to work and speak into your life. Great writers,

Good Sunday morning. This is Mike Sereg, the voice of Vital Ministries, and it’s good to be with you on your Sunday. It is unbelievable that this is the last day of the Iowa State Fair. I’m blown away. It’s always kind of a sad thing when I think about that a little bit, because what it does, it tells us that fall is literally around the corner, and Labor Day is in the horizon. And matter of fact, my my wife, she starts back to school on this coming Monday and the school teachers are back. And then the following week, the students go back and it’s just, you know, it’s a good time. But at the same time, it’s kind of the end of summer, and we usher in fall, and all those other different things. But it has been an incredible summer with in the state of Iowa, I’m so thankful that I lived here, and we get it. We live in four distinct seasons. And it’s just a good thing. But as we get going on today, get a few things before we get started in our teaching that I just wanted to bring to your attention. On September 8, we are having our Vital Gathering again. That’s on September 8. This is on a Sunday evening, from five to seven o’clock. This is an all, anyone can come, it’s open to everyone. Matter of fact, kids, no matter what your age are, and all that it’s just going to be a great event. We’re going to be at Debbie celebration barn here in Oskaloosa on the south side, and be from five to seven and also to it will we will have food music, a teaching and a coffee time afterward just an opportunity to experience something for a different type of experience of presence of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. And I’m just encouraging you again, that’s on September 8, write that down on your calendars make sure that you participate with us that is going to be an incredible thing of a different experience. We do that every other month. And just something we’ve started out this is our second time of doing that. So it should be a really great time and a good event.

Also September 11 is going to be our Vital Men kickoff. I’m excited about that that is going to be in Pella, Iowa at The Well. We’re going to be from six to eight o’clock. Now this is a men’s event. It’s going to be, again we’re going to have BBQ, we got some guys that can just barbecue like none other it’s going to be a great time for that. So we’re going to have food, we’re also going to bring up the bridge worship band out of a tumble Iowa. Looking forward to that. And along with that our guest speaker this year is going to be Marty Schmidt from the Bridge. Marty is man, talk about a guy that’s full of energy, and some incredible things. He just has a knack for speaking to men. I encourage you to join us, again that’s September 11 from six to eight o’clock on a Wednesday evening at The Well in Pella. The Well is located actually on the east side of Pella right next to across the street from the Hy-Vee where they have their their wine and spirits section and literally right across the street ther. It is also right next to Tony’s auto parts. So it’s just a another time to be participate.

And another great event that we have coming up also to we will will be starting a men’s ministry men’s and our five different locations you go to Vital Ministries.org and check out our website to get a location nearest to you. And I again I just another opportunity to plug in as men and grow spiritually in the in the depth of our faith. Also to one last thing, one thing that I don’t do very well and I don’t ask much. And that is something of donations. Vital Ministries is all based on faith based and of people giving donations and that’s how we survive. And you know, things are getting a little bit lean again. And I always trust, trust the Lord in it.

Good Sunday morning this is Mike Sereg, the voice of Vital Ministries and it’s too good to be with you on another beautiful Sunday in Iowa. We are having tremendous weather here we are, it is just amazing about how things are. And just thankful as you were, it’s on the crest of having a harvest season, you can just see it, feel it in the air. The days are getting growing shorter. And it just as we as we head into fall, it’s just another incredible great season that we can experience here in Iowa.

Before we get started though this morning I want to I want to bring you some updates on a few things that we’ve got coming up. The first one is this our first event is September 8. It’s called Vital Gathering. Now this event includes both men and women, children all ages are welcome to this event. We’re going to be at Debbie celebration barn again on September 8, and it’s going to go from five to seven o’clock, it’s on a Sunday evening. And what we’ll be doing will be serving food, so come hungry. We’re going to have some food there for you some time of fellowship getting to know other people will also to have a worship, praise and worship time. I just think what a great experience that is that we can really sit back and allow the Holy Spirit to move in a place that we don’t have so many contingencies of, of how many things that have to be done in a teaching or an interest in or in a period of time. We will also to will do a teaching. It will be short, it’ll be brief, but it’ll have to pertain about how we live life in the culture that we live. And I just encourage you about that. I think it’s going to be something exceptional. And also to we’ll have a coffee time afterwards. So just a great time of fellowship. A great time to ask somebody who doesn’t necessarily is unwilling to maybe go to church for whatever reason it might be but they would go to Debbie’ Celebration barn here right here in Oskaloosa, it’s on the south side, a beautiful building. Debbie has done this, and Danny, had this building and it’s exceptional to have weddings and different events and things that go on out there and it just spectacular. So just encourage you again that September 8 from five to seven o’clock.

Also too we’re going to have our Vital men kickoff coming up. It’s on 911 September 11, and we’re excited about that that is going to be at Pella at the well again that is on September 11th. That’s a Wednesday night. We’re going to start and go from six to eight. We’re gonna have BBQ and this is again, a men’s event, we’re going to have barbecue at a time of praise and worship for men, we got a praise team coming up out of Ottumwa from the Bridge with Marty Schmidt, his church. We’re excited about bringing those men up and give us a time and also to Marty Schmidt will be our guest speaker. Another time as men as we get ready to launch our new team teaching series as we discuss what it means about followership the difference between leadership that moves us to followership, we’re going to go in depth study, and First and Second Kings and steady men like Elijah and Elijah. You are not going to want to miss this event. And just another great time for for us is meant to get together and grow with each other iron sharpening iron, what a great time that’s going to be. So I just encourage you to be looking for that event, as that rapidly comes so quickly.

But we’re we are continuing our teaching series this week. We’re in our second week, and it’s about work. We all have a pre-conceived notion about what work is. Works: work hard, and good things can happen, right?

I do both ministry and own a construction company both require a lot of work to make it successful. It takes time, I have a good friend of mine who who are managed...

Good Sunday morning this is Mike Sereg the voice of Vital Ministries and it is good to be with you on this another beautiful Sunday we want to thank you for listening to KBOE 104.9 FM on your radio dial you might be traveling down the highway today. You have tuned us and we just want to thank you so much for participating and being part of this, this ministry maybe you’re driving on your way to church. Thank you for just being with us today and also to maybe you’re at home and you always see your faithfully turning us on. We just want to say a big thank you for letting us share a part of your Sunday.

But we before we jump into our teaching series this morning, we just have a few things that we want to bring to your attention on August 10 we’re going to have donuts and Devos again it’s going to be our last one we’ve done it this summer an opportunity for men we get together at seven o’clock here in Oskaloosa on a Saturday morning again August 10 and it’s at the Vital Ministries building and we have donuts the Jaarsma stuff it’s all good and then also to we’ll have a devotional together what a great time to start on your on your Saturday again that will be our last one because we will be starting back in for Vital Men back in September so we’re looking forward to that and also to with that September 8 we have another Vital Gathering coming up and you won’t want to miss this this is a Debbie’s Celebration barn just south here in Oskaloosa it’s on a Sunday evening from five to seven What a great opportunity to bring family will have food there for you will have a music last time we had a special group come in they did a knockout wonderful job a worshipful time that we can come and praise God and for who He is and then also too will have a teaching will have after that a little bit more singing and coffee and lemonade and coffee time. How often do you really get a chance to come and enjoy some fellowship together where you can come out and hang out and have just a good time and visit back and forth and chatting with each other. I am so looking forward to that event that’s coming up on on September eight so you won’t want to miss that at all.

But we’re we’re beginning as we started today just something new and and we’re beginning a new teaching series today called Work. We all do it we work away our lives to attain something don’t we. Matter of fact, it says a lot of Americans are our work. We work so much that we have become literally workaholics from sunup to sundown we work. I tell you what that depicts what I would call a lot of the Iowa generation the Iowa folks here in our great state love to work and we’re thankful that we are in a what I call a get er done state.

This past week, I had my 40th class reunion. Yes, folks, I am getting older, and I graduated in high school in 1979. The last year, last few years, the baby boomers, the generation from 1946 to 1964. My generation represents 29% of the population in America, that’s amazing to me, the generation that worked and achieve and I think that would kind of depict that this a baby boomer generation. I have a good friend of mine who who I graduated with later, who became a director of a hospital and we talked about what it meant to work in our lifetime as we as we start to focus down as is as we start to end the career start to change and, and look differently. And he looked at me and said Mike, I’ve worked 65 plus hours weekly. And what I was was salary then I gained nothing from working more hours. Matter of fact, I he said I felt like I’ve just simply have worked my life away. And I and I and that is true. So often as we as we work it becomes so much of our lives that life passes by so quickly. But he was asking me a question. He said that I pretty much that he pretty much did the same thing.