Elijah
LAST WEEK
(God’s using Samson to make people uncomfortable with compromise.)
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TODAY – continue that theme + turning hearts back
Elijah
Name – His name means “The LORD is my God.”
Trajectory toward…..
1 Kg 18
37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
PROBLEMS
Ahab and weather
Widow
Elisha w/ widows son
Obadiah – prophet help / fear Ahab
DECISIONS
Weather – bold
Widow – trust God first
Elisha – widows son
Obadiah – dare to be a messenger ?
HEART
Who has a heart for God problem?
18:37
1Kings 17:1 suddenly shows up
Criteria for decisions? ( Listening to God )
The Widow’s food priority ( God’s rep )
Elijah’s prayer for widow’s son
18:1 Go send
Obadiah’s orders
The CALL TO THE PEOPLE !
THE ISSUE OF WAVERING – 1 Kings 18:21
21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
Power and Purpose of Prayer
1 Kg 18
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
APPLICATION … !
Elijah’s heart
19:
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.