Elemental Christianity
Four Seasons of a Christian Life
1 Kings 19.11-12, Gen. 1.14-19
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And,
11
behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains,
and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the
wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the
12
fire a still small voice.
Introduction
● Elijah had just lived through three and a half years of drought because of
his word.
● He had just been part of God's demonstration of power on the mountain in
the face of the false prophets of Baal.
● His life was threatened by Jezebel and he ran like a rabbit.
● He was at his lowest point!
Note that God uses four elements to “p ass by” Elijah:
1. The wind – but He wasn't in the wind
2. The earthquake – but He wasn't in the earthquake
3. The fire – but He wasn't in the fire
4. Then a gentle voice calling out to Elijah
There is significance in the number of times that God moved (FOUR = stability).
● The name of God (Jehovah) in Hebrew has FOUR letters
● There are FOUR Gospels
● There are FOUR cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West)
● There are FOUR classic elements (earth, air, fire, and water)
● There are FOUR seasons
● And interestingly enough
Gen. 1.14-19 “An d God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to
divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for
days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to

give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the
greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the
stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon
the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from
the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning
were the fourth day.”
It is no mere coincidence that the day in which God created the entities that
dictate the FOUR seasons of life, were created on the FOURTH day!
New Beginnings
We start by facing East.
● The dawning of a new day
● It's element is air = hot/wet
● Associated with Spring and new beginnings
● In ancient Greece the East wind (Eurus) was known to bring warmth and
rain
● Surrounding the tabernacle were the twelve tribes, on the East was
Judah/praise, Isaacar/He will bring reward, Zebulun/habitation
● Spring brings new life
● Like the birth of modern times is known as the Golden age
● But it also brings storms: The East wind blast us and leads us to travail
Labor
This travail turns us to the right and our direction is now South.
● It is mid-day - Dry and parched
● It's element is fire = hot/dry
● Associated with Summer and dryness
● The South wind is (Notus) destroyer
● The tribes on the South were Reuben/see ye a son, Simeon/hearing,
Gad/a troop cometh
● Summer brings heat/dryness/drought – but also celebration/fun and
harvest
● It is tied to the Silver age – growth
● The south wind brings dryness, but through the drought we labor and
mature
Reflection
As we mature we again turn right and into the face of the West.
● The sun is setting – shadowy
● The element is water = cold/wet
● Associated with Autumn and nearing the end
● The West wind is (Zephyrus) mild/gentle fruitfulness

● The tribes on the west were Ephraim/double fruit, Manasseh/causing to
forget, Benjamin/son of the right hand
● Autumn represents the end of the harvest/labor
● It is tied to the Bronze age – completion
● The west wind brings peace and reflection
Struggle
Our reflections turn us to the North.
● The day is done – hidden/dark
● The element is earth = cold/dry
● Associated with Winter and the unknown
● The North wind is (Boreas) – devourer
● The tribes on the north were Dan/judge, Asher/happy, Napthali/wrestling
● Winter represents a time of death and a loss of hope
● It is tied to the Iron age – decay
● The north wind brings consumption and a time of struggle
Closing
But that is not the end!
Our struggles turn us to the right, and once again we find ourselves facing the
dawning of a new day, and a new beginning.
There is a principal at work that applies to:
● Seasons
● Directions
● The Church
● Our Lives!
Ecc 3.1-8 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under
the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to
pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break
down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to
mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather
stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time
to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to
rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to
love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Don't despise your seasons, learn to use them to better yourself. “G od what can
I learn now!”