A Man of like Passions with Us

In this part of the sermon: The first reason for Elijah's dejection is identified as the immense physical and emotional drain from his recent intense ministry, intercession, and strenuous journey…

Martin quotes a servant of God on the mysterious sympathy between the body and spirit, where mental engagement can temporarily invigorate the body, but its cessation reveals inherent weakness.

First of all, one of the factors which led to this present condition was the physical drain of the past days of ministry. One of the servants of God who has written most ably upon this section of Holy Scripture comments in this fashion, and I quote, In our complex humanity there is a mysterious sympathy between the body and the spirit. When the mind is earnestly engaged, it gives for the time its vigor and energy to the body. Any man who's preached with the help of God knows what this is.

27:17 - 27:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first reason for Elijah's dejection is identified as the immense physical and emotional drain from his recent intense ministry, intercession, and strenuous journey…

Martin recounts the story of John Knox, who, though physically decrepit and needing support to enter the pulpit, became so vigorous during his sermon that he seemed ready to 'ding the pulpit in blads,' illustrating the spiritual animation overcoming physical weakness.

When the spirit and mind earnestly engage, it gives for a period of time some of its vigor. The vigor of the mind and spirit gives energy to the body so that we're not surprised to hear of John Knox that in his last days he had to be supported into the pulpit by a servant each side of him. Get the picture. The old decrepit man of God carried up into the pulpit.

27:56 - 28:18 Read in full sermon

The point: You cannot deny the body its legitimate needs, and then expect that you can get away with it. And even at times when we're involved in the ministry, and there are drains upon us in ministering to others, let's beware, an…

Martin uses Jesus' weariness at the well in Samaria as an example that even with the Spirit without measure, physical drain is real, supporting the idea that Elijah's physical exhaustion was a significant factor.

But listen, when God comes upon his servants in supernatural strength to give them supernatural ability for a task, it's not as though he bypasses the draining influence of their physical train. For our Lord himself had the Spirit given to him without measure, and yet he knew what it was to be weary, so weary that at noontime he had to prop himself up on a well in Samaria. And so there's been this tremendous drain. Now add to that a journey of 90 to 95 miles, and now another day's journey into the wilderness, and he's not involved, you see, in spiritual conflict.

30:57 - 31:35 Read in full sermon

The point: You cannot deny the body its legitimate needs, and then expect that you can get away with it. And even at times when we're involved in the ministry, and there are drains upon us in ministering to others, let's beware, an…

Martin shares a personal counseling experience where he advised someone with spiritual problems to prioritize sleep for several weeks, convinced that many 'spiritual' issues were rooted in physical exhaustion.

I remember someone came with some problems a while ago, and I was so convinced that much of it was physical that I said, I don't want to hear a thing about your spiritual problems until you've had at least three or four weeks with some decent seven or eight-hour nights of sleep. And I said, then you come on back, and I think your list of problems will be shrunk about 90%. I'm convinced of that. Others of you know I've told you the same thing in similar situations.

33:02 - 33:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second factor contributing to Elijah's state is his deep sense of loneliness, expressed in his lament 'I, even I, only am left.' Martin emphasizes the biblical principle that…

Martin uses God's statement 'It's not good for man to be alone' to Adam in the Garden of Eden to illustrate the inherent human need for companionship, even before sin.

It was God who came to Adam and said, It's not good for man to be alone. Adam wasn't sitting on a log somewhere there in the garden, scratching his beard or the side of his cheek, whatever he had on that. I don't know. I wonder if Adam had a beard.

36:06 - 36:22 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Well, it all depends why you want to die. If it's like Paul, I want to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. That's a good one. But if it's like Elijah, then what's the use of living? No sense going ahead. Let …

Martin lists several biblical pairs (Aaron/Moses, David/Jonathan, Peter/John, Paul/Timothy) and historical figures (Luther/Melanchthon, Calvin/Beza) to demonstrate that God rarely calls men to serve in a solitary manner, emphasizing the need for companionship.

I wonder what's wrong with me. No, it was God who came and said, It's not good for the man to be alone. He brought in help, meat for him, answering to his needs. It was God who gave Aaron to Moses.

36:39 - 36:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third and most crucial reason is a blurring of Elijah's spiritual perspective. Previously, he 'endured as seeing Him who was invisible,' but now he saw only Jezebel's rage…

Martin recounts Chrysostom's response to an empress's threat: 'I fear nothing but sin,' illustrating a sharp spiritual vision that sees beyond human threats to God.

But the moment that perspective got blurred and he began to look at the situation pan, he showed himself to be a man made of the same stuff of which you and I are made. He lost his spiritual perspective. And it seems as though the wording of scripture is emphatic at this point, for it says in verse 3, And when he saw that, he arose and he went for his life. The servant comes and upon his lips are the oath, are the words of the oath of Jezebel.

42:42 - 43:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third and most crucial reason is a blurring of Elijah's spiritual perspective. Previously, he 'endured as seeing Him who was invisible,' but now he saw only Jezebel's rage…

Martin tells of Luther's courage in going to the Diet of Worms despite warnings, declaring he would go 'though every tile and every roof... was a devil,' demonstrating a proper spiritual perspective rooted in God's sovereignty.

And when he sees that, that is that expression of her rage and her determination to slay him, no indication that he looked above and beyond that painted witch sent the servant back with perhaps the words that Chrysostom, one of the great preachers in the early history of the church, sent back to an empress who sends a threatening note to him. He said, You go on back and tell that empress I fear nothing but sin. You see Chrysostom had sharp spiritual vision. When Luther was summoned to the Diet of Worms to go and defend his cause and people warned him not to go.

43:13 - 43:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third and most crucial reason is a blurring of Elijah's spiritual perspective. Previously, he 'endured as seeing Him who was invisible,' but now he saw only Jezebel's rage…

Martin quotes lines from Luther's hymn 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God' to exemplify a man with 'proper 2020 spiritual vision and perspective' who sees God above all threats.

Because he saw God who stood above the devil and all his hosts. Don't you catch that note in his famous hymn? Almighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. He says, And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for he has willed his truth to triumph.

44:08 - 44:31 Read in full sermon

The point: If you and I would be kept from these Elijah-like experiences of dejection, whether it is in our labor with our children, whether it's in our concern for unsaved loved ones, whether it's in the advancement of the kingdom…

Martin quotes William Cowper's hymn to illustrate that God's work often goes 'underground' and is not always visible, warning against 'blind unbelief' that scans God's work in vain.

And I would say by way of application if you and I would be kept from these Elijah-like experiences of dejection, whether it is in our labor with our children, whether it's in our concern for unsaved loved ones, whether it's in the advancement of the kingdom of Christ in our own assembly or in the larger circle of the work of God in our generation, we must remember that oft times God's work goes underground and much of it is being wrought outside the circle of what we can see. God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps on the sea and rides upon the storm. Blin...

50:47 - 51:42 Read in full sermon