Torah Reading: 1Ki 19:1-21
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the elohim do to me , and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3 And when he saw that , he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Yahudah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O YHWH, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of YHWH came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of Elohim.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of YHWH came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for YHWH Elohim of hosts: for the children of Yisra'El have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before YHWH. And, behold, YHWH passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before YHWH; but YHWH was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but YHWH was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but YHWH was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so , when Elijah heard it , that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for YHWH Elohim of hosts: because the children of Yisra'El have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And YHWH said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Yisra'El: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Yisra'El, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Why Do Today What You Can Put Off Till Tomorrow???
Mat 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Master, Master open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Why do we wait until the last minute to do things? Why do we continually put things off when we could take care of them right now and be done with them?
Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Fear & Worry causes us to put things on a back burner
· What if I don't do it right - Better to do something wrong than not to do anything at all!
· We procrastinate, make excuses we become distracted.
· If we don't do what needs to be done then obviously we can't fail.
· But we fail in not taking action!
· We must change our focus, our thinking and our belief in ourselves
· Failing isn't a negative thing, rather it is a stepping stone to success
Pro 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
2Ti 1:7 For YHWH hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Mic 3:8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of YHWH
Laziness also is a contributor
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Many people never think at all!
Amo 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
Zep 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, YHWH will not do good, neither will he do evil.
Mat 24:48-51 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My master delayeth his coming; (49) And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; (50) The Master of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, (51) And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
· There's always something we hate doing - things that have to be done but we put off.
· Do it! See the task as finished.. and the joy you have from being done with it.. and then go and do it.
· Usually it isn't nearly as bad as you think.
· Tomorrow may never come!
Gen 19:15-17 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. (16) And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; YHWH being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. (17) And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Heb 3:7-17 Wherefore (as the Set Apart Spirit saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (8) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (9) When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. (10) Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (11) So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) (12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living Elohim. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we are made partakers of Messiah, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (16) For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. (17) But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Pro 6:6-11 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: (7) Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, (8) Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. (9) How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? (10) Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: (11) So shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Pro 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Luk 12:19-20 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (20) But YHWH said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Thinking there is no good reason to do something is a factor as well...
· What am I doing?
· Why am I doing it?
Procrastination is often Disobedience!!!
Jos 18:1-3 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. (2) And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. (3) And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which YHWH Elohim of your fathers hath given you?
Too many times we delay doing jobs that seem too big, too difficult, boring, or disagreeable. This delay shows a Lack of discipline, Poor stewardship & Disobedience
Act 22:12-16 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, (13) Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. (14) And he said, The Elohim of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. (15) For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. (16) And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name YHWH.
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily (with the Spirit of completion), as to YHWH, and not unto men;
Sometimes we falsely assume that something else is more important!
Mat 8:21-22 And another of his disciples said unto him, Master, suffer me first to go and bury my father. (22) But YHWSHUA said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Act 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
1Ki 19:19-21 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. (20) And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? (21) And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Luk 14:16-24 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (17) And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. (18) And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. (19) And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. (20) And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. (21) So that servant came, and shewed his master these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. (22) And the servant said, Master, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. (23) And The Master said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (24) For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Listen for YHWH's direction.. and then take action!
Procrastination Leads to an Unproductive Lifestyle...
1) Listen
Num 9:8 And Moses said... Stand still, and I will hear what YHWH will command concerning you.
Psa 25:14 The secret of YHWH is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
Pro 3:5-6 Trust in YHWH with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
1Co 11:23 For I have received of The Master that which also I delivered unto you...
1Ki 19:11-12 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before YHWH. And, behold, YHWH passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before YHWH; but YHWH was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but YHWH was not in the earthquake: (12) And after the earthquake a fire; but YHWH was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Some people do things that they think are of YHWH.. when they never heard YHWH in the first place!
2) Make goals
Don't put it off till tomorrow or next wek.. or after New Year's... start NOW! Do it Today!!
It's not possible do everything at once, so make a list, prioritise, but don't put off till tomorrow what can be done today - Something postponed till tomorrow very often never gets done
Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from YHWH.
What is the most important thing that I could be doing at this very moment (Living in the now)
"Iron while the iron is hot" - "act now"
"One today is worth a thousand tomorrows"
Most Important "6 To Do" List - Every night.. write the most important things that need to be done! Then in the AM Do Them!
Warning: Don't micro manage your plans... Allow the Spirit of YHWH room to move in your life!
3) Enact your Plan!
1Ki 19:13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out...
Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
Luk 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
4) Don't allow the enemy (your mind) to get you so busy that you never have time for YHWH, Your Family, or yourself!
Joh 4:34 YHWSHUA saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
· Meditate
· Take time to smell the Roses...
· Get out and Play.. Have Fun "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"!