Elijah - Faith Filled Obedience

Sometimes in life we are called to be comforters. We think about the love and forgiveness of God and Christ, and we gravitate to the Good. But there are times that we will be called to confront others. Some may be called to confront an in justice, or to stand up for someone else. We may get called to stand up for Christ, or to confront a fellow believer in brotherly love. We know all of the wondrous and mighty things that God has done. So no matter what we are called to do, will you have the faith to obey and trust in God?

Introduction

• 1 Kings 17: 1 - 7
  • Elijah was not called to comfort the Israelites, but to confront them.
  • He stated that he was sent from the Living God, the one I serve
    • Other translations state the one I am in the presence of
  • He was direct and bold in stating that it would not rain until he gave the word
  • Once he had delivered the message from God, God directed him to safety
• 1 Kings 17: 8 - 14
  • Elijah was sent to a village by God to continue to provide for him.
  • Through all of this, Elijah did not question God, and he did everything that was asked of him
  • Elijah's Faith in God went beyond what God could do for him, and extended to others
    • Elijah did not worry about the details and obeyed God fully
    • Is it easy to trust God with all of the details?

Show Down

• 1 Kings 18: 18 - 24
  • Elijah calls out the Israelites about their wavering between Baal and God.
  • Elijah had faith in God that he Boldly called the Baal prophets out to a throw down
• 1 Kings 18: 27
  • Now Elijah gets a little cocky, and taunts the prophets of Baal
  • He has so much faith in God, that he knew the outcome before things got started.
• 1 Kings 18: 30 - 40
  • He continues to walk in bold faith in God by making things more difficult in the eyes of the people
  • He sets things up to reinforce the power of God
    • When have you felt your faith in God to be the strongest?

Where's the Power?

• 1 Kings 19: 1 - 4
  • Elijah was afraid and fled for his life
  • When things got real and personal, he was afraid
• 1 Kings 19: 11 - 13
  • The all-powerful God produced a windstorm, but He was not in the wind
  • He produced an earthquake , but He was not in the earthquake
  • He produced a fire, but he was not in the fire
  • And in all of Gods Might and Power, He came in the sound of a gentle whisper

Elijah no doubt had a close relationship with God, and walked with bold faith. He saw Gods power, and was part of miracles. Yet, when his life was threatened, he ran in fear. After all that God had done for us, and from all that we read about his wonders and power in scripture, how often are we like Elijah? It is easy to pray for someone else, to talk to them and comfort and confront others. However, when things get personal, do we run away in fear like Elijah? We expect to see God's mighty power manifested in our lives. However, God does not always show up in the way we expect. Sometimes it is just a Gentle Whisper that was with us the whole time. We just need to listen and obey.