By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: 1 Kings 19:1-5a,11-18 

There is no need to hide from the stigma of discouragement. I say stigma because it is usually the one discouraged who places the stigma upon himself or herself. If you have ever faced a period of great discouragement, who was harder on you? You or those around you? We begin to beat ourselves up, perhaps feeling we have let too many people down. This can lead to extended periods of isolation and further discouragement. But, there is always hope. Read that last sentence again.

Meanwhile, things were looking great for Elijah. He was riding on the clouds of successive victories. God was declared to be God again. Even the drought was over. So, why are we talking about discouragement? [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: 1 Kings 18:20-26, 31-39 

If this were the Old West, we should expect to be hearing faint whistling in the background, followed by ominous music, and topped off with tumbleweeds rolling across a dusty street in what resembles a ghost town. Our focus would be upon the two combatants meeting at high noon to settle things once and for all.

Leading up to our passage for this week, Elijah confronted Ahab face to face. Ahab labeled Elijah the troubler of Israel, and Elijah responded in kind due to Ahab’s forsaking the Word of God and practicing Baal worship. Cue the whistling, music, and tumbleweeds.

1 Kings 18:20-21

Have you ever noticed how one really good question can resonate for centuries? Julius Caesar, “Et tu, Brute”? God questioning Adam, “Where are you?” And Elijah on Mt. Carmel, “How long will you waver between two opinions?”  [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: 1 Kings 17:17-24 

Do you remember the incident in the lives of the disciples when they could not heal a man’s son possessed with a spirit? Jesus, coming back from the mountain of transfiguration, walked into the confusion. Jesus proceeds to drive out the deaf and dumb spirit. The disciples privately question Jesus about their inability to drive out the spirit, in which He responds, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer (Mark 9:29b, NASB).”

It seems odd that the disciples who had been given authority over the unclean spirits struggled to do so in this instance. Jesus would teach them a valuable lesson that day. And in our passage, God brings Elijah and the widow’s faith into the crucible of devastating loss. The only recourse available to them will be prayer. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: 1 Kings 17:7-16 

This week we pick up right where we left Elijah last week. He taught us about serving God with courage. The funny thing about courage is that it may place us in even more difficult circumstances. When we find ourselves in those places, then we come to understand the need to serve God with trust. 

Remember what Elijah is up against. Ahab has become king, and his wickedness exceeds his predecessors. Furthermore, Ahab married Jezebel, who is the daughter of the king of the Sidonians. The Sidonians practice the worship of Baal, the fertility and weather god, particularly the rain and the dew. Those are two critical factors in that terrain and climate for good crop production. But, we will see God’s sovereignty.

Fittingly, God raises up the prophet Elijah to combat this insidious idolatry. The miracles done by God through Elijah show God’s clear superiority over the false god Baal, which is really no god at all. Elijah is serving God with trust. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: I Kings 16:29-33; 17:1-6 

We are embarking on a new study for the remainder of this quarter. We will walk through the exciting life and times of Elijah the prophet, particularly his dealings with Ahab and Jezebel, and then his passing the mantle on to Elisha. 

Elijah’s name means Yahweh is God. And this is exactly what we see demonstrated in his life. But, we must be careful not to make a superhero out of Elijah.

Don’t get me wrong. Elijah stands out as a giant in the Scripture. His significance spans throughout the Bible. At one point, we witness Elijah boldly standing against the prophets of Baal and whipping them on Mt. Carmel, and then at another point we are cowardly running with Elijah like a whipped dog out into the wilderness fleeing the murderous threats of Jezebel.  [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: Revelation 3:14-22 

This passage brings back memories. In seminary, I had the daunting task of writing a 20-22 page paper on this letter to Laodicea. Where was I going to locate enough source material to fulfill the assignment? This venture haunted this procrastinator’s dreams. I digress. Let’s carry on!

When we look at Laodicea we discover a self-sufficient city. They were famous for their banking, their black wool, and their eye ointment. But for all their wealth and fame, they were beset with a water supply problem. Suffice it to say at this juncture, that their physical water supply problem was eclipsed by their spiritual water supply problem. Our sufficiency is found in Christ alone.

Revelation 3:14-17: The pattern holds form. The angel is addressed, followed by a pertinent description of Jesus, and then a statement of knowledge that will commend the church or chastise the church, or both. Laodicea receives the all-knowing gaze of the faithful and true Witness, without any words of commendation. In fact, the language utilized here speaks of being absolutely repulsed by the taste of their works.  [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: Revelation 3:7-13

Welcome to the church of brotherly love. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? When we live up to our name, particularly the name Christian, the church and all those around the church benefit from such integrity.

This church at Philadelphia also stood as one that did not hear the voice of Jesus saying, “But I have this against you.” Walking together with Jesus in obedient fellowship is joyfully satisfying. It is refreshing to the individual, the family, the church, and the community. Let’s enter through the door and listen to the voice of Jesus. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: Revelation 3:1-6

Welcome to sleepy Sardis. This city was known to have natural defenses that seemed impenetrable by invading forces. In fact, the thought of capturing Sardis was equated with the impossible. But, things are not always what they seem.

Sardis developed a huge blindspot because of its natural setting. Thus, the armies of Sardis paid little attention to a certain area surrounding the city. Her enemies eventually discovered the weakness. Their complacency proved to be the beginning of their downfall. And so it can be with us. Complacency lulls us into a false confidence, one that can be easily exposed. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: Revelation 2:18-29 

If you have ever tasted water from a clear, crisp, and cool mountain stream, then you can testify to the refreshing nature of that experience. If you have tasted water from a muddy creek meandering through a cow pasture because you were that thirsty, then you can testify to the somewhat repulsive nature of that experience. Purity makes a difference. And so it is with the church of the living God.

Revelation 2:18-19

Though Thyatira is the least of these seven cities, it receives the longest letter from the Savior. This city had Apollo, the sun god, as its chief deity. He is the son of Zeus, the chief god in Greek mythology. The reason for the reference to Christ as the Son of God is readily apparent. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: Revelation 2:12-17 

I trust that you have already jotted down several thoughts about what kind of church God desires. If you have not, then now is your chance. You may even jot down a few more thoughts as we progress, for the purpose of comparing these initial thoughts with the words of Christ in His letters to the churches in Revelation. 

One set of questions that every church must answer relates to the truth of God’s Word. Where will we stand in relation to His clearly revealed truth? Will we compromise anywhere for the sake of convenience or comfort? Are miniscule deviations from the truth that serious? 

We might ask astronauts if consistently miscalculating their reentry numbers mattered at all. You may remember the scene from the movie Apollo 13 where one of the astronauts is concerned that they were coming in shallow and might skip off the earth’s atmosphere. I think the slightest deviations mattered to them. How much more should it matter concerning the truth pertaining to Christ? It’s an eternal difference. [Read more…]