WHO? WHAT? AND WHERE?
THE LIFE OF ELIJAH THE PROPHET
Tonight we continue our character study = and we will look at the prophet Elijah. Elijah exploded on the scene in Israel. Out of nowhere he takes his stand on the prophet’s platform, having no introduction. He offered no geneology, or produced no certificate of degree from a known school of the prophets or any recognized yeshiva.
The name Elijah means “Yahweh is God”. Against the backdrop of Baal worship and the corruption of Ahab and Jezebel he shinned like a diamond compared to the goings-on around him.
He was God’s man…
1 KINGS 17:2-16 read & pray
LIFE LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ELIJAH:
1. THE WHO? I AM CREDENTIALED BY GOD!
Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except by my word.” 1Kings 17:1
He was God’s man… what gave him the right to stop the rain? The authority of the creator did; and what did he hope to gain? The repentance of the children of Israel.
Elijah brought nothing with him except the anointing of God almighty… He produced no certificate of degree from a known school yet he bore the divine imprimatur of God in his life…
Elijah was like many other representatives of God, possessing no credentials recognized by the world and oftentimes having no-official approval from the arena of organized religion.. yet he bore the approval of God in his life.
(Pastor Bruce visit… threatened by home… questions my time in ministry… questioned my education… then proceeded to voluntarily give me his resume… > the next day I receive a call from 4square naming me the soutland superintendent, overseeing 7 4square churches) not a self “brag-a-mony” but a testament of what God can do with a life of a man who has gone thru this Men’s Home.
Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5
These biblical characters that we are studying hold no man-made credentials… what seminary did they graduate from? They gained the approval of the Most High God (El-Elyon) and therefore obtained the right to speak to Earth on behalf of Heaven.
Our credentials & authority come through Christ alone… sure we can gain an education… learn what we can to draw closer to God… not just for head knowledge, but for relational purposes. I will one day earn my masters degree in biblical studies… but no matter if I do or don’t… I am credentialed by El-Elyon… authorized by God Almighty to speak to earth on heavens behalf… as are many of us here tonight.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
To gain God’s approval and possess His credentials, you must belong WHOLLY (holy) to Him, and be able to say with John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrees.” you cannot waver with one foot on the altar and one foot in the world > God cannot speak FULLY to a ½ filled vessel.
You are credentialed when you die to yourself and you start depending of God… have you died to self today…. It’s a lifelong killing process…
2. THE WHAT? I AM DEPENDANT UPON GOD ALONE!
1 Kings 17:2-16 (review)
The Lord sent Elijah into hiding to the brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan river, and there HE supernaturally provided for the prophet. Elijah drank water from the brook and ravens brought him meat both morning and evening. The prophetic word that he brought to the nation was indeed one of judgment and his presence was unwelcome in the land… he had no friends, no family and no community, just God. He was in a wilderness experience where he was forced to depend on the Lord for everything.
Finally the drought dried up the brook and the Spirit of the Lord led him to the house of a Gentile widow for his daily support. What was God doing? After all, Elijah had given Him everything; no-friends, no means of self-support. He was exactly where God wanted him, in a place of total dependence. The brook and the ravens were all provisions of the Almighty (El-Shaddai) and now the prophet must trust the Lord, in everything, and for everything.
Psalm 33:13-22
Every Christian must come to the “brook of Cherith” in their walk with God. A place where they realize that dependence of God is a path for growth and maturity. Let this church… the home… the here and now be your brook…
Self reliance is a false safety net of worldly thinking and only leads to Spiritual retardation… to trust God for your daily bread and not your employer,; to believe the Lord for your promotion and not your own skill; to raise your hands in surrender for all your tomorrows, this is dependence.
At times the ravens will bring you meat, at other times the widows will bring you flour. But al all times God is seeking for your total dependence upon HIM.
Don’t depend on my abilities to minister… rather depend upon God’s provision in all areas… are you trusting HIM for EVERYTHING today? Where should you start you ask???
3. THE WHERE? THE PLACE OF THE SHOWDOWN IS THE ALTAR OF GOD
1 Kings 18:1-40 (review (Ahab &) Elijah on Mt. Carmel defeating the prophets of Baal by calling down fire from heaven.)
The ground was dry and the trees and grass had all turned brown because of the drought caused by Israel’s sin. It was the darkness of Ahabs heart that brought the judgement of Jehovah against the land, yet he addressed Elijah as the troubler of Israel.
Elijah challenged Ahab and the false prophets to a showdown on Mount Carmel, to prove who was the true God of Israel. But before the contest he addressed the “Hebrew” people with words that must have stung like a cat-o- nine tails… “how long will you hesistate between two opinions, if the Lord is God then follow HIM, if Baal is god then follow him.
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts of fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing and from now on you will be at war. 2 Chronicles 16:9
The challenge was to follow God fully. No longer were they permitted to serve Him with a divided heart. God revealed Himself to Moses on Mt. Sanai as a jealous God. He was unwilling to share His people’s love with false gods. Mount Carmel became the place of the showdown between the supreme God of the universe and the man-made idol of Baal.
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. Numbers 14:24
Every human must traverse this mountain some time in his or her walk with God. Every Christian must make a decision to follow their Lord fully and longer straddle the fence of indecision. Only God will answer by fire as He did for Elijah on Mt. Carmel, and every idol of the human hand will fail in the hour of need.
The place of the showdown is the altar of God which is where you live and the time is now to give your heart FULLY to God and watch Him send the fire and devour the water of doubt in your life… send the fire of the power of the Holy Spirit upon you…
Mount Carmel is the place of the crucible, where the metal of your walk with God is refined, this altar is your Mount Carmel so make the journey up here and take your stand and allow the fire of God refine your walk with Him…
