Listen for the Whisper!

It’s easy for believers to become disillusioned in today’s messed-up world. One moment you are experiencing GOD’s great power and awesome presence only to find yourself wondering in a dry, arid desert the next. You go from the mountain-top to the valley-low in a very short time and wonder, “What happened?” Where did GOD go? You’re not alone!

Consider Elijah’s situation for a moment. He had just come off the mountain-top. He had witnessed GOD’s glorious power unleashed on the ungodly only to find himself a short time later wandering in the desert of gloom. He cried out to GOD: “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too” (1 Kings 19:10 NLT).

What happened? His prerogatives got all messed up. Church, we have been programmed to believe that the only time GOD is really moving is when the building is rocking, the lights are flashing, the sound is deafening and people are wandering around in a daze. We have been taught to create an environment that places people into the experience which is not necessarily all wrong, but not all right either.

Consider GOD’s response to Elijah: “Go out and stand before me on the mountain. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire” (vv. 11-12a).

Too often, man makes vain attempts to conjure up the presence of GOD through worldly ways only to discover GOD is not found in these things. These experiences fall short of meeting the true needs of the people. Certainly, GOD can and will work through man’s vain attempts but GOD’s way is much different. He desires to touch and impact the heart of man in a personal way. This is done through a thorough teaching and preaching of the Word of GOD from the man of GOD!  

Notice what happens next: “After the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, What are you doing here, Elijah?” (vv. 12b-13). In a gentle whisper, GOD spoke to Elijah; Elijah recognized GOD’s divine presence and was brought back to reality. Then, GOD was able to once again commission him to go out and fulfill his ministry call.

We have gotten so loud at times that we’ve drowned out the still small voice of GOD. GOD has called His church to impact its world, but the church too often has relegated itself to impacting the people that happen to make it through the doors.

The problem with today’s church is that too many church leaders have forgotten what the true mission of the church is. Believers have been duped into thinking that it’s all about me—what I can get, what blessings I can receive, what GOD wants to give me.

But, that isn’t it. It’s all about Him. It’s all about hearing from Him. It’s all about serving Him. It’s all about doing His will in and through the church. The mission of the church is to make disciples and to send them out as evangelists. Churches have lost their outward focus and turned inward. They’ve gotten caught up in trying to make something happen that was never really meant to be.

Scripture Reading: “And then he told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16 NLT).

Prayer: Father, too often I get caught up in the moment and forget Your call, purpose and plan for Your church as well as for me. I find myself being entertained rather than inspired to listen and hear from You. Help me, Lord, to just sit still for a while and enjoy Your presence and to lift up praise to You and to hear everything You have to say to me. I desire to do Your will, Oh, my GOD!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!