“Storms of Life” ~Elijah

1Kings 16-19  (Page 252 in pew Bible)  Part 3 of 3

Job 14:1 “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”

Psalms 119:71 “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”

I.  Israel’s Failure  (900 years before Christ – political, economical prosperity, living in peace)

King Ahab leads Israel Deeper into Sin. (Chpt 16)

1 Kings 16:29-33 ²⁹ … Ahab… became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. ³⁰ Ahab… did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. ³¹ He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam… but he also married Jezebel…  and began to serve Baal and worship him. ³² He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. ³³ Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.

II.  God’s Formula

Raises up Elijah to Make a Difference. (Chpt 17)

1 Kings 17:1 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 at my word."

·         Miraculous Drought, Provision (Ravens) & Encounter (widow & son)

(This helped to prepare Elijah for the task ahead )

·         Which was a direct assault against the false god Baal (fertility/crop god)

·         Drought intensifies while hearts are sensitized (James 5:17 said the drought lasted 3 ½ yrs.  God allowed 3 ½ years of hard times to befall His people to soften their hearts toward Him.)  1Kings 18:2 “…the famine was severe…”

III. Ahab’s Frustration

Elijah Challenges Ahab with a Test. (Chpt 18)

1 Kings 18:17-21 ¹⁷ When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?" ¹⁸ "I have not made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed the Baals. ¹⁹ Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." ²⁰ So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 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." But the people said nothing.

1 Kings 18:24b “…The god who answers by fire--he is God…"

·         We too must choose who we will serve… God or Me??  One or the other no fence straddling (said nothing)

·         Remember Joshua?  Choose this day who you will serve – No Neutrality!

·           Elijah confronts Ahab’s wickedness to his face.  vs17-18

·           Many people & 850 false prophets gather on Mt Carmel. (1,742’ high) vs19-20

·           Elijah challenged them, Either the Lord is God or Baal, choose wisely.  vs21-24

·           False prophets fail – cutting themselves, blood flowed - Elijah prays and fire falls.  vs25-39

·           False Prophets killed, drought ended.  (consequences of sin – death) vs40-46

·         What an experience!  One man (God’s) confronting 850 false prophets (Satan’s)… God won!

Elijah: God’s Man, God’s Place, God’s Time, God’s Way, God’s Power, God’s Blessing

We have looked at storms of life with losing possessions, prestige, family, health, facing accusations…

IV.  Elijah’s Fear

Storm Arose Over the Sea and in His Heart (Chpt 19)

1 Kings 19:1-4 ¹ Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." ³ Elijah was afraid 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 desert. He came to a broom tree, 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."

Downward Stages…

1.)Discouragement  2.)Confusion  3.)Depression (suicidal)

4.)Loss of Vision  5.)Disorientation  6.)Withdrawal  7.)Despair  8.)Defeat

Over 4000 people have attempted to climb Mt Everest (29,035’ - 5 ½ miles high)… with little over half successful, there’s been close to 190 deaths (120 bodies are still up there)… most of the fatalities occur descending rather than climbing… coming off the mountain peak.  (we all experience this personally)

V.  Personal Factors

ü  Be Spiritually & Physically Healthy 19:5-8a

1 Kings 19:7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."

·         Being in relationship with the Creator through His Son Jesus Christ – spiritually born again.

·         Crackling with new spiritual energy… spiritually, emotionally, physically… (fasting)

·         Staying fit physically… eating right, taking care of your body, good habits… temple of God.

ü  Be Quiet and Alone Before the Lord 19:8b-9a

1 Kings 19:9a There he went into a cave and spent the night.

·         Turn the noise down in your life to hear from God… Shut up, be still & know that I am God.

·         Your cave may be your den, office, backyard or the local park… get alone with the Lord.

ü  Be in God’s Word and Prayer 19:9-10

1 Kings 19:9-10 And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁰ He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty…

·         Communication is essential - we cannot neglect God’s Word and prayer in our lives…

·         Elijah & the Lord communicated… and Elijah was refreshed in his spirit.

ü  Be Sensitive to Hear and Obey 19:11-19

1 Kings 19:11-12 ¹¹ The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper… ¹³ When Elijah heard it… ¹⁹ So Elijah went…

·         Notice carefully God not speaking through the cataclysmic events… wind, earthquake, fire

·         God spoke through a gentle whisper… turn the noise down, be sensitive – hear & obey

·         God wasn’t finished with Elijah yet, he commissioned Elisha who anointed two future kings.

·         Elijah ultimately went up to heaven via a whirlwind in a fiery chariot (2Kings 2)

·         As God people meet together in Church & hear God’s Word… you KNOW when he speaks

·         You sense the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart… That is awesome & good!

·         Maybe God’s telling you to get more physically fit or maybe to kick some sinful habit or…

·         Maybe to begin a new get-a-way adventure with Him to be quiet & alone or…

·         Maybe He’s convicting you to spend quality time in His Word and prayer.

·         Through the storms of life allow the Lord to speak to you… in a gentle quiet whisper.

Let’s Pray

As our heads are bowed, no one is looking around… Is God speaking to you this morning…???

·         You may be hearing God calling you into a new relationship in Christ… you need to Trust Him Today!

·         As a believer you may be hearing Him calling you to a higher plane… a richer relationship with Him!

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner.  Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord.  Forgive my sins and take control of my life and help me become the kind of person you want me to be.