Lessons From A Restored Ministry Series

Chico Alliance Church

Elijah Series #9

“Lessons from Restored Ministry”

Introduction

So far we have extracted numerous timeless lessons or principles in our examination of Elijah’s journey of faith.

I. Lessons from the Palace where Elijah boldly announced God’s judgment for sin. 17:1

II. Lessons from the brook where Elijah learned to trust God in obscurity and isolation. 17:2-7

III. Lessons from Zarephath where Elijah learned to trust God for daily ministry 17:8-24

IV. Lessons from the Palace Part two where Elijah confronted Ahab again 18:1-19

V. Lessons from Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted Baalism 18:20-40

VI. Lessons from a Mountain Top where Elijah fervently prayed 18:41-46

VII. We extracted some lessons about Depression

VIII. Lessons from a Cave where Elijah reconnects with God and Ministry 19:1-21

A lesson can be drawn from Elisha’s service.

Possible principle

Sometimes God completely changes career or ministry direction

so pay attention to his direction.

Elisha didn’t burn his bridges – he burned his oxen yokes and slaughtered his oxen. He wasn’t going back.

IX. Lessons from restored Ministry where Elijah follows God’s direction again. 20

A. God continually intervenes in world events.

Ben-hadad the Syrian king threatened Ahab to take all his possessions and family. Ahab was ready to capitulate but consulted his elders who advised him not to.

Then Ben-hadad sent ?messengers? to him and said, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if Samaria’s dust amounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.” 1 Kings 20:10

The threat was now against God so he sent a prophet with a word for Ahab.

A prophet (Elijah?)came to Ahab king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am Yahweh.’” 1 Kings 20:13

And God did just as He said.

Possible principle #1

God sometimes communicates through wise counselors

so cultivate relationship with godly counselors and listen.

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

After the decisive victory, the prophet warned Ahab there would be another attack.

Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you." 1 Kings 20:22

Possible principle #2

There will always be another attack so prepare and be alert.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The advisers to Ben-hadad speculated that they lost because God was the God of the hills and not the plains so he made plans to regroup and attack again Israel on the plains.

Then the man of God approached and said to the king of Israel, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans have said: Yahweh is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys, I will hand over all this great army to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” 1 Kings 20:28

Again the Lord fought for the people Israel and there was a great slaughter. But Ahab spared Beh-hadad against the Lord’s explicit instructions. He would pay for that disobedience later.

The prophet said to Ahab, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you released from your hand the man I had set apart for destruction, it will be your life in place of his life and your people in place of his people.’” The king of Israel left for home resentful and angry, and he entered Samaria. 1 Kings 20:41-43

Possible Principle #3

God disciplines incomplete obedience

so don’t blame God when troubles come.

B. Elijah confronted Ahab’s sin against Naboth 21

God commissioned Elijah to Anoint Ben-hadad’s successor Hazel and Ahab’s successor Jehu and Elijah’s successor Elisha. Elijah anointed and commissioned Elisha and Elisha actually later anointed the other two successors. In chapter 21 we read of Ahab’s desire to purchase Naboth’s vineyard near his palace. Israelites considered land a precious inheritance spanning multiple generations and Naboth was unwilling to release his inheritance to Ahab for any price.

So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and didn’t eat any food. 1 Kings 21:4