Storms of Life Elijah

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Storms of Life Elijah

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

Pastor Dave Martin Cross Creek Community Church
Oct 28, 2007
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• Job 141 Man born of woman is of few days and
  full of trouble.
• Psalms 11971 It was good for me to be afflicted
  so that I might learn your decrees.

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I. Israels Failure

• King Ahab leads Israel Deeper into Sin.
• 1 Kings 1629-33 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.

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II. Gods Formula

• Raises up Elijah to Make a Difference.
• 1 Kings 171 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."

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• Miraculous Drought, Provision and Encounter
• Direct assault against false god Baal
• Drought intensifies while hearts are sensitized

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III. Ahabs Frustration

• Elijah Challenges Ahab with a Test.
• 1 Kings 1817-21 "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

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• 1Kings 1820-21,24b 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.
• 24b The god who answers by fire--he is God"

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• Elijah confronts Ahabs wickedness to his face.
  
• Many people 850 false prophets gather on Mt
  Carmel.
• Either the Lord is God or Baal, choose wisely.
  
• False prophets fail Elijah prays and fire
  falls.
• False Prophets killed, drought ended.

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Elijah

• Gods Man
• Gods Place
• Gods Time
• Gods Way
• Gods Power
• Gods Blessing

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IV. Elijahs Fear

• Storm Arose Over the Sea
• and in His Heart
• 1 Kings 191-4 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."

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• Spiritual High to Spiritual Low, with Fear and
  Discouragement.
• Downward Stages

1.) Discouragement 2.) Confusion 3.)
Depression (suicidal) 4.) Loss of Vision 5.)
Disorientation 6.) Withdrawal 7.) Despair
8.) Defeat
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V. Personal Factors

• Be Spiritually Physically Healthy
• 1 Kings 197 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."

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V. Personal Factors

• Be Spiritually Physically Healthy
• Be Quiet and Alone Before the Lord
• 1 Kings 199a There he went into a cave and spent
  the night.

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V. Personal Factors

• Be Spiritually Physically Healthy
• Be Quiet and Alone Before the Lord
• Be in Gods Word and Prayer
• 1 Kings 199-10 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

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V. Personal Factors

• Be Spiritually Physically Healthy
• Be Quiet and Alone Before the Lord
• Be in Gods Word and Prayer
• Be Sensitive to Hear and Obey
• 1 Kings 1911-12 11 The LORD said, "Go out and
  stand on the mountain in the presence of the
  LORD the LORD was not in the wind the LORD was
  not in the earthquake the LORD was not in the
  fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper
  13 When Elijah heard it 19 So Elijah went

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• God still speaks today in a gentle whisper

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• Next Week
• Dont Leave Your Brain at the Door
• Dr. Dave Earley