Follow Up with Clay - 10.30.24

Elijah: (1st Kings 17-19)

Elijah is one of the men from the Bible that we hear quite a lot about….

Could easily do a several week study from his life / ministry.

During the time of the divided kingdom…. (Judah / Israel)

The king of Israel was a sad / pathetic / weak / passive / evil man named Ahab.

1st Kings 16:30, And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

1st Kings 16:33, Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

Among his evil….

He built places of worship to the pagan gods Baal / Asherah.

And he chose a wife…. Jezebel…. Daughter of the pagan king of the Sidonians.

Sidon: City of wicked people / Israel failed to drive them out of Promised Land….

Unfortunately, their evil practices spread into Israel like a cancer….

Judges 10:6-7, The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel….

That cancer returns / runs rampant in the reign of Ahab / Jezebel….

This is the world in which Elijah served God as a prophet.

God used him in mighty ways….

He warns the king of God’s coming judgement in the form of a drought….

And most familiar….

He single-handedly battles 850 false prophets in an epic showdown….

They all gather at Mt. Carmel / build alters / pray for fire to come down….

The false prophets pray / dance / cut / frenzy…. (Elijah talked trash)

Elijah had water poured / drenched all over his sacrifice to God….

He prayed / God sent fire from Heaven / consumed the sacrifice.

The story that we will look at follows this most famous event….

Elijah killed all of the false prophets…. Jezebel put a hit out on Elijah….

Elijah ran away / exhausted / maybe confused….

1st Kings 19:3, Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life….

In a moment of weakness…. He was filled with self-pity…. Wanted to die….

Thought he was all alone….

He wasn’t…. 7,000 remained faithful….

God didn’t get angry…. God blessed him with rest / nourishment….

And then Elijah got up and went away as an angel had told him….

1st Kings 19:9-13, There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke 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 fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him….

We see throughout Scripture….

God has communicated through wind / earthquake / fire….

But this time…. Through a low / gentle / tiny / quiet whisper.

Elijah thought he was all alone…. He wasn’t but that didn’t change the way he felt….

He hadn’t been listening for God / maybe listening in the wrong places.

When do you feel most alone?

(Hurting / doubting / failing…. )

You aren’t alone….

Look around the campfire….

The choice is yours….

You never have to feel alone again.

Lesson: God is present…. God is speaking…. Are you listening?

I have never experienced the audible voice of God….

That’s ok…. God can speak however He chooses…. I have no complaints….

But He absolutely speaks…. And it’s just as real….

God primarily speaks through the Bible.

God speaks through the counsel of Christian friends.

God may also speak through the recall of something read / heard long ago.

Sometimes God even speaks through silence / stillness.

Psalm 46:10-11, Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

God speaks…. His Holy Spirit convicts me / shows me….

If I will start listening…. There’s potential for a lot of things to start changing.

God goes on to tell Elijah to go to a certain place / anoint the next king….

And to appoint the man that will follow him as prophet…. Elisha…. (Great story)

Elijah will never feel alone again….

He calls Elisha / trains him / God carries him away without experiencing death.

God knows / cares….

God is present…. God speaks…. Listen to Him.

I bet the times you find it most difficult to hear Him….

Is when you need to rest / recover….

God gave Elijah rest / nourishment / divine touch / healing…. Then a mission.

Lesson: God is present…. God is speaking…. Am I listening?

Questions:

When do you feel most alone?

How can we pray for you?

Who do you know that needs this group?

Next Week: Jonah (Jonah)