Our 3rd annual CHURCH CAMP Sermon Series begins this weekend…and I have to admit…I’m a little torn. I’m torn, not because I don’t know what to teach, but because there’s SO MUCH I want to teach. I’m praying that I’m capable of pulling it all off, to be honest.
I have all these experiences in my memory, having grown up in the church. Are you familiar with the term “mountain top moments” in the church? It’s the experience of extreme presence of God. The moments spent at camps around altars, or in a week-long conference worshipping and praising every day all day. When God seems to heal your heart, inspire your soul, and inform your mind all at once, and you feel so close to Him, so changed, that you think everyone must see the change in you so clearly. Your perspective, your mindset, your place in the world, all seem to shift so powerfully.
I have this picture in my mind of the mountain top experiences in the Bible. I imagine that they are the physical representation of my camp or conference experience. I picture the work it takes to get to the top, the exhaustion, the sleepless nights and long days. Always looking ahead, how much longer, how much father….building your expectation, rehearsing the questions over and over in your mind.
When you finally arrive, God speaks, the very world shifts before you…
In Exodus, Moses met with God on the mountain, and when he came down, his face shined!
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah asked God to defy the prophets of Baal and rain down fire from heaven on his altar. An entire nation of people convinced in a moment.
In Matthew 17, Jesus was transfigured and for a moment, Peter, James, and John got to hang out with Moses and Elijah, can you imagine overhearing that conversation? Who would want to leave that place?
All of these incredible moments happened on mountain tops. How do you stomach leaving that place?
Read:
1 Kings 18
verse 19, “Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”
God’s not hiding from a fight.
Are there any situations you’re hiding your faith from?
Do a little research…what kind of gods were Baal and Asherah?
verse 21, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. “
Wavering means you’re going no where.
Is there anything that you’re wavering on? How can you fix it?
verse 22, “Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.”
EVERYone can be saying one thing, but EVERYONE can be wrong.
Is there a place in your life where you’re following the crowd, instead of following God?