Touched by an Angel [Part 1]

Alan Wright, pastor, Bible teacher, and author of his latest book, The Power to Bless. I know the voice of shame can lie in the gutter with us when we're in our lowest moments of failure. But what's surprising that we learn from Elijah's story is that the voice of shame can come on the heels of your greatest victory. Please understand this, shame is not relegated to those who have fallen in disgrace.

Shame also comes to those who are at the pinnacle of society. That's Pastor Alan Wright. Welcome to another message of good news that will help you see your life in a whole new light. I'm Daniel Britt, excited for you to hear the teaching today in the series Miracle Man as presented at Rinaldo Church in North Carolina. If you're not able to stay with us throughout the entire program, I'd like to make sure you know how to get our special resource right now. It can be yours for your donation this month to Alan Wright Ministries.

So as you listen to today's message, go deeper as we send you today's special offer. Contact us at PastorAlan.org. That's PastorAlan.org. Or call 877-544-4860.

That's 877-544-4860. More on this later in the program. But now, let's get started with today's teaching. Here's Alan Wright. You ready for some good news?

Yes. You have a great journey in front of you. And sometimes when you're discouraged, it's just the seed of a thought, the sprinkling of a rain, that can let you know that though a drought can seem endless, it is not.

And that God has plans and a future for you, a hope for you. And when you're at your most discouraged, that's what God's Word brings to you. And we have such a word today from 1 Kings chapter 19 as we continue to learn from the life of this miracle man Elijah, whose life in many ways points us to the true miracle man, Jesus. Elijah has won an unbelievable, miraculous victory at Mount Carmel in chapter 18.

And then we come to something that's, well, it's quite surprising in chapter 19. It's the kind of story that almost shocks you that the Lord would be so honest to take His great heroes of faith and show us at their most vulnerable. And here is one such story of the mighty prophet Elijah becoming discouraged to the point of giving up. In 1 Kings chapter 19 verse 1, Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he'd killed all the prophets with the sword.

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, So may the gods do to me and more also if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow. Then he was afraid and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba which belongs to Judah and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree.

And he asked that he might die saying, It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life for I am no better than my father's. And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold an angel touched him and said to him, Arise and eat. And he looked and behold there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came a second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat. For the journey is too great for you.

And he arose and ate and drank and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. Well my Baylor Bears are struggling to make it to the NCAA playoffs. They are on their way to fight to get into the big dance. It was looking bleak for the Bears basketball team because they started out the conference play two and seven. And then they started winning some games.

Started getting a glimmer of hope maybe they could make it. Won a few games in a row and on Monday night they had a must win situation. When they were playing the Longhorns in Austin. They needed to beat Texas and Texas is beatable and we were on the road so I was listening to the game on ESPN radio. And the Bears were leading most of the game. Got up by as much as nine points and were up by four or five points most of the game. And it got down to just a couple minutes left and I got that worried feeling. Like they'd lost so many this year at the last minute just you know that feeling of snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory. And I was worried about the Bears but they kept hanging in there and they had the lead getting down to two minutes. And then even at a minute left they still had a lead and I'm thinking they've got it.

And then you know how these things go. Texas sinks a surprising three pointer. Missed shot or two for Baylor and next thing you know you thought you had the game one. You know that feeling where you think you've won.

I played sports as a kid and it was a very hard thing psychologically. When you get close to winning like I played tennis and I won the first set and then I've got the second set and I'm up maybe five three. And you start thinking about how nice it's going to be when everybody congratulates you on your good win. You know I mean the Bears I'm sure they're starting to think with just 30 seconds left in the game about the bus ride back to Waco. How fun it is as a team to go in the locker room.

What kind of little dance am I going to do of celebration after this. To start thinking about the possibilities of making the NCAA playoffs. It's hard not to put your mind on there at the end of a game that you think you've won.

I wonder if they were thinking like that. They shouldn't have because like I said a missed shot here or there surprising three pointer from the Longhorns and clock ends overtime. You know what overtime is?

It's where you thought you'd won and yet you hadn't won yet. Because they're going to put five more minutes on the clock and you're going to huddle up for a few minutes. You got to get back out on the court. You'd already been dancing in the locker room in your head. But now you got to get back out there and play and play harder than you were before.

And now you got a couple guys in foul trouble. Overtime. You know it happens in life sometimes doesn't it? I'm talking about those moments where you think you've arrived only to find out the battles continuing. You know when I'm talking about those moments where you've been through the chemotherapy. And you think you're done. And the doctor says there's one spot I'm still concerned about.

We should do radiation also. Overtime. Where you have raised your kids. And you take a deep breath. Only to have your daughter call and say my marriage is in trouble. Can I come home for a while. You know overtime. Moments in life where maybe you've reached the pinnacle.

And you think that because you have that everything should be smooth sailing downhill coast from there. Only to find out the spiritual battle is still at hand. That's what happened to Elijah. In 1 Kings chapter 18 we see him in one of the great miracles of all the Old Testament. Where he having prayed that there would be a drought and seeing God's faithfulness. And he having seen God come down in fire of judgment upon the altar. To expose the folly of idolatry and the phoniness of Baal. He saw God move so mightily and validate his own prophetic ministry that indeed he was speaking the word of God. And those 450 prophets that had been rebelling against God. They died that day.

It was a powerful unbelievable mountain top experience. And how then can it be we come to the very next scene in his life. The next chapter and he's running in fear from one woman. I want to talk to you about those overtime moments in life. About the nature of discouragement. Some plain talk about depression. But mainly I want to point you to how God ministers to the discouraged.

So that all of us today would have that hope erupt in us afresh. Just walk through the story with me. Verse 1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done. And how he killed all the prophets with the sword.

I think the problem here you know it's hard you can't read the tone of these words. But I think the problem with Ahab was he was too mousy. And his wife was the one who was ruling the roost and she was a pagan. I mean if ever there was a time where Ahab should have come home and said. I've just found out who the true God is.

This was the time right. I mean he had just seen miracle on top of Mount Carmel. But he also had seen the prophetic ministry of Elijah. He had heard of the wonders God was working through Elijah. And now he saw it with his own eyes. And this awesome powerful God who had manifest himself. And the people the own prophets that Jezebel had sponsored. And those prophets of Baal they have said the Lord he is God. And if ever there was a time it should have been now that Ahab came home and said. Honey good news I have discovered the one true living God. Honey I know you love Baal.

But I need to tell you he's phony. We got to get these idols out of here. We're going to tear down the Asherah poles.

We're going to eliminate the fertility rights on the high places. I'm the king I tell you and I'm going to tell you right now. We need to make some changes around here honey. And he just I don't think that's what he did.

I think he came up and said Jezebel Elijah just killed all our prophets. And I don't know what we're going to do now. That's Alan Wright and we'll have more teaching in a moment from today's important series. Do you ever feel like something's holding you back as if you lack an important key that could change everything?

Is there someone you love who seems stuck? You'd like to help them but how? What's missing? Blessing. We all need a positive faith-filled vision spoken over our lives. You can learn how to embrace the biblical practice of blessing through Pastor Alan Wright's new book The Power to Bless which quickly became an Amazon number one bestseller after its recent release. Now the hardcover book has only been available through retail sales but this month Alan Wright Ministries wants to send you the book as our thank you for your donation. When you give this month you'll not only receive the bestselling book but you'll also receive a free five session video course in which Pastor Alan teaches how to bless and covers content not found in the book.

The video course includes a detailed study guide perfect for personal growth or small group discussion. Make your gift today and discover the power to bless. The gospel is shared when you give to Alan Wright Ministries. This broadcast is only possible because of listener financial support.

When you give today we will send you today's special offer. We are happy to send this to you as our thanks from Alan Wright Ministries. Call us at 877-544-4860. That's 877-544-4860. Or come to our website pastoralan.org.

Today's teaching now continues. Here once again is Alan Wright. Jezebel because she's Jezebel she decided to take matters into her own hands. Jezebel verse 2 sent a messenger to Elijah saying so may the gods do to me and more also if I do not make your life is the life of one of them by this time tomorrow. It is a voice of threat and shame that comes on the heels of Elijah's great victory. See when sin entered the world so did shame.

No sooner had Adam and Eve disobeyed God then there was this diabolical voice that slithered in next to them and said look at you now. Now you're flawed. So you should cover yourselves hide from God hide from each other because you're just not acceptable anymore. You don't measure up. You've messed up. And so you're a failure.

You are unworthy of anything good in your life. So you might as well just start covering it all. So they did. They hid from each other. They hid from God. A voice of shame is so gnawing and poisonous because it conveys a message of hopelessness and doom. Because I am hopelessly flawed I am therefore doomed and cannot be fully accepted and therefore I need to cover up and not let anybody know how flawed I am.

That's the voice of shame. And we try to cover ourselves in all these different ways maybe with a substance. Maybe this will make you feel less ashamed for a little while.

Maybe it's an activity. Might do the trick for just a little while. And for many, and I think this has been more the camp I've tended to be in, we try to cover it by answering the voice that says you're not enough by saying I'll prove to you I am enough. I'll do more. I'll be better. This is the seed of perfectionism.

I will perform well enough to be accepted. And here becomes a particularly dangerous point for anybody who's ever had that feeling. What do you do when you feel like that you've had your Mount Carmel and you've done your best and that voice is still there trying to shame you even in the middle of your success? I know the voice of shame can lie in the gutter with us when we're in our lowest moments of failure. But what's surprising that we learn from Elijah's story is that the voice of shame can come on the heels of your greatest victory.

Please understand this. Shame is not relegated to those who have fallen in disgrace. Shame also comes to those who are at the pinnacle of society. And here is Elijah with this voice.

Let's be clear, you could rise up to the presidency of the third grade or of the PTA or the presidency of the bank or the presidency of the United States. The voice of shame is not going to leave you alone. There will always be a Jezebel. She lives by idols and vows. May the gods deal with me ever so severely if I don't make Elijah your life like one of those prophets that's been slain.

Hell operates by vows, demonic commitments. And this is Jezebel. She is seething with hate. She eats and feeds upon fear and dispenses fear. She is a picture of the diabolical nature of all shame.

This is where we think, okay, that's fine. This is Jezebel. She's threatened him.

One woman, so what? Elijah will just flicker away like a flea. He just defeated 450 prophets of Baal.

He's the man of God. He's going to just ignore her. He's going to keep dancing his victory dance. He'll just mock her gods the way he mocked the prophets when Baal didn't show up. But that's not what happens. Isn't it surprising?

In the next verse, verse 3, Then Elijah was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life. Forget her, Elijah. She's a flea. She's a nothing. She's a gnat, squatter. Let her bluster.

Let her rant and rave, but just dismiss her. Take a little vacation. Go down to the Dead Sea. Get a little sun. Float in the water. Drink some pineapple juice.

You'll be fine. You just need a little rest. Instead, this prophet who James says is the model for miraculous prayer doesn't pray.

Isn't that weird? Sometimes the mighty people of prayer don't pray when they most need to. This man who was the voice of God to the people, who lived by the word of the Lord, this man instead began living by the word of Jezebel.

Note it well, and don't be astonished. In your own life or someone else's, how much things shift if you move from living by the word of God to living by the word of some Jezebel. It changes everything. And it did for Elijah. And he was exhausted, and he was drained, and this man who had said atop Mount Carmel in full faith, answer me, O God, and come down in fire now has no answers at all. And instead of taking his shame, exhaustion, and fear to the Lord, he decides to try to bear it himself in isolation. Verse 3 said he was afraid. He rose.

He ran for his life, came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. Strange. Why is it when we most need people, we most don't want to be with people?

I've seen this for 30 years. If there's somebody I don't see, all of a sudden in the body of Christ, chances are something's wrong. The times where you most need the body of Christ, there's some powerful temptation to pull away, and Elijah did that.

He even took his servant. He felt so alone that he just wanted to make himself alone. See, sometimes what you do is you have such feelings of isolation that you want your life to actually mirror what you're feeling on the inside, even though we need to do the opposite.

He left him there, and he went out some distance away by himself. In author Gordon Dalby's words, the effort to hide the truth of your inadequacy and bear your shame consumes you and sabotages your destiny. When all your energies focus on an enemy, you have no energy or vision left to discern and fulfill your calling in life. The enemy thereby begins to define you.

Hell, therefore, could aptly be described as trying to bear your own shame, as living a lie forever sandbagging against the rising tide of truth, an eternally exhausting distraction from your holy destiny. Allen Wright. Today's teaching touched by an angel from the series Miracle Man. Allen is back in a moment with additional insight on this for your life and a final word. Ever feel like something's holding you back, as if you lack an important key that could change everything?

Is there someone you love who seems stuck? You'd like to help them, but how? What's missing? Blessing. We all need a positive, faith-filled vision spoken over our lives. You can learn how to embrace the biblical practice of blessing through Pastor Alan Wright's new book, The Power to Bless, which quickly became an Amazon number one bestseller after its recent release. Until now, the hardcover book has only been available through retail sales, but this month, Allen Wright Ministries wants to send you the book as our thank you for your donation. When you give this month, you'll not only receive the bestselling book, but you'll also receive a free five-session video course in which Pastor Alan teaches how to bless and covers content not found in the book.

The video course includes a detailed study guide perfect for personal growth or small group discussion. Make your gift today and discover the power to bless. Call us at 877-544-4860.

That's 877-544-4860. Or come to our website, pastorallen.org. Allen, if we need that touch today, if we're praying for a miracle in our life, whatever's wrong, whatever's broken, God is there, and we may be longing for that touch.

What's next? Well, Elijah, who was used by God in such a dramatic way at Mount Carmel, and then finds himself running and depressed and discouraged and the great man of God is ready to give up. Well, I think there's some part of that, isn't it, Daniel, that's encouraging us to say, listen, no matter how long you've walked with God, you can go through times of profound discouragement, but God is ready to bring encouragement to you. Open up your heart. He's ready to comfort you and encourage you and strengthen you because there's still a journey in front of you. Today's good news message is a listener supported production of Allen Wright Ministries.