Elijah’s Challenge – Part 12, Lessons…
2004 : Week 42  |  Printer Friendly Version  

This is our final message in this Series on Elijah. This story has taught us many truths, and we pray it has been a blessing to you. We followed Elijah through times of triumph and times of desperation. We saw him with a razor sharp focus on God, and we saw the trials of life shift his focus away from God. We’ve seen a fearless warrior for God, but we’ve also seen that warrior lose his courage and run scared.

We thought we’d end this series with a summary of some of the lessons the Holy Spirit has revealed to us. The story of Elijah is an example of the goodness and abundant provision of God. Like those watching as the Lord poured down fire on Elijah’s sacrifice, all we can do is cry out, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God." (1 Kings 18:39)

Lessons from Elijah’s Encounter with the Prophets of Baal

God prepared Elijah to confront Ahab and his wicked ways, and God will prepare you for your tasks. The God who worked so greatly in the life of Elijah is the same God at work in your life.

Elijah’s faith and obedience to God should be an example for us. Despite the danger he faced, he confronted hundreds of people at God’s command.

Many people worship false gods, and they are as passionate as the prophets of Baal were; they are also as wrong as the prophets of Baal were. False gods don’t provide truth for life:

	29 …there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.
	1 Kings 18:29 (NASB)

It doesn’t matter how many people believe a lie; in the end, it’s still a lie.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’ (John 14:6) Jesus Christ is truth; everything else is just someone’s opinion.

Like Elijah, Sometimes we must stand-alone for God. In those times, even in the face of incredible opposition, we should have faith and confidence; our God will be with us in the storm.

How fortunate we are to have God speak to us: be it in a thunderous roar, the words of the Bible or in a still small voice. Jesus will answer you with truth, love, hope and with life ever lasting. Our God is not silent, because our God is alive.

We are not called to be the show. We are called to preach God to the world; God will capture the hearts and minds of people.

We can remain calm during the storm. God does not desert us; He loves us and has a plan for our lives. Others, seeing the peace in us, will realize it comes from God and will want it in their lives as well.

When God answers a prayer, He does it in a manner that can take our breath away. Elijah’s story is a perfect example of the truth contained in the verses of the book of Ephesians:

	20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen
	Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB)

We should never fear bringing our God to the attention of others. Let them compare what they believe in to our God. The truth, purity and power of our Lord will shine through, and He will always be victorious.

We need not worry about God answering our prayers for Him to be glorified and lifted up. God will always honor the prayers of His servants when they are meant to bring honor and glory to Him.

We will have times of pain, but we will never walk through them alone. God will be with us to minister and heal us, until we’re ready to go forward again.

One day, all Christians will partake in the eternal bliss of Heaven: one day. For now, we go on having moments at the top of the mountain and moments in the valley of the shadow of death.

God knows how frail we can be in this fallen world; we don’t have to tell Him when a burden is too much to bear. God can provide us with miraculous comfort, healing and strength in those times.

We’re all called to be a living sacrifice for the Lord. We have no right to tell Him how to use us. We have no right to tell Him when to use us, and we have no right to tell Him when we’d like Him to stop using us. Our job is to make sure we are ready and willing to go forward when we are called: tired, worn or energized; the Lord will take care of the rest.

God is the one giving us strength; if He calls us to a task, He will give us what is required to succeed. The Bible is full of people who did things they were, in and of themselves, incapable of doing, yet by the power of God, the impossible became possible.

Our understanding of God, His Law and His grace effects everything we do. The more time we spend meditating on those things, the closer we will walk with Him.

God’s Word restores the soul, gives wisdom to the simple, brings rejoicing to the heart and enlightens the eyes. When our souls are weary, when we are tired, when we are depressed or need wisdom, we can pick up the Bible and read again about God’s mighty provision, Law and grace.

All Christians have all been the recipients of the grace and patience of the Lord. We were utterly lost and depraved, yet the Lord still saved us. Further, we have all continued to be the recipients of the Lord's grace and patience after our salvation. Even with all our imperfections, the Lord still loves those he has called.

We all need time to heal when we are hurt. How much time we require will vary from person to person and situation to situation. God, however, knows exactly how much time we need.

It’s important for us to wait until we are led by God to begin our next task. There are times when God wants us to wait before we move forward again. God has much to teach us in these times: patience, obedience, etc. Strong prayerful communion with the Lord will help us discern when it’s time to move forward again.

God’s timing is not our timing. When he calls us to a task, despite what we feel, we must move forward with it. Our response isn’t based on our feeling emotionally prepared to carry out our assigned tasks; it’s based on understanding that God is King, and we are His loyal subjects.

The Bible is full of infinite wisdom, and you should meditate on it reverently and slowly. Digest the contents with your heart, soul and mind and see the sweet blessings the Lord has deposited within. Go directly to the source, if you’d like to see how important God thinks His Word is:

	8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
	Joshua 1:8 (NASB)

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you today and always…

**Words of Jesus in red



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