Lessons I have learned from the life of Elijah

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Lessons I have learned from the life of Elijah

• Tim Snyder
• July 13, 2008

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Fire from Heaven 1 Kings 18 NIV
Elijah

• God always shows up on time.

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Discouragement
Elijah

• 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."
• 1 Kings 19 3-4 NIV

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Discouragement 1 Kings 19 3-4 NIV
Elijah

• God will always meet all of our needs.
• Physically
• Spiritually
• Emotionally
• Socially

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Discouragement stats

• Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each
  month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or
  contention in their churches.
• Fifty percent of pastors marriages will end in
  divorce.
• Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent
  of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged
  in their role as pastors.
• Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that
  they would leave the ministry if they could, but
  have no other way of making a living.
• Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school
  graduates who enter the ministry will leave the
  ministry within the first five years.

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Discouragement stats

• Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight
  depression.
• Almost forty percent polled said they have had an
  extra-marital affair since beginning their
  ministry.
• Seventy percent said the only time they spend
  studying the Word is when they are preparing
  their sermons.
• Eighty percent of pastors spouses feel their
  spouse is overworked.
• Eighty percent of pastors spouses wish their
  spouse would choose another profession.
• The majority of pastors wives surveyed said that
  the most destructive event that has occurred in
  their marriage and family was the day they
  entered the ministry.

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Whats next?
Elijah

• 15 The Lord said to him, "Go back the way you
  came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you
  get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.
• 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over
  Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from
  Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.
• 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the
  sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any
  who escape the sword of Jehu.
• 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all
  whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all
  whose mouths have not kissed him."
• 1 Kings 19 15 -18 NIV

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Whats next?
Elijah

• God always has a plan.
• God had a remnant
• God had removed the obstacle
• God had Elijahs replacement ready

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THANK -YOU