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Elijah

Elijah. The shaping of a servant of God Part 2 1 Kings 19:1-18. Elijah abandons his mission 1Kings 19:1-5a. The death threat from Jezebel – the final straw No genuine repentance even though Yahweh had defeated Baal on Carmel Fearing for his life he runs beyond the southern border of Judah

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Elijah

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  1. Elijah The shaping of a servant of God Part 2 1 Kings 19:1-18

  2. Elijah abandons his mission 1Kings 19:1-5a • The death threat from Jezebel – the final straw • No genuine repentance even though Yahweh had defeated Baal on Carmel • Fearing for his life he runs beyond the southern border of Judah 1 Kings 19:3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life • For previous crises, he’d looked to Yahweh for direction • The widow, the widow’s son, engaging Obadiah, the Baal contest, the rain prayer • On this occasion he employs his own strategy 1 Kings 19:5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. • Shades of Jonah

  3. Elijah abandons his mission 1Kings 19:1-5a • Elijah is so despondent, he asks God to end his life • He, like those before him had been unable to bring about repentance 1 Kings 19:4b  “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” • Ironically, this is one prayer of Elijah’s that God chose not to answer Food for thought • Can we feel we have failed in ministry because:- • Our expectations differ from God’s expectations? • We are focusing on the crisis when we should be looking to the LORD? • Our strategy is not in line with God’s strategy? Mallick

  4. God does not abandon Elijah 1 Kings 19:5-9 • God refreshes and supports him on his desert pilgrimage 1 Kings 19:8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. • Shades of Moses and the children of Israel Food for thought • Our God is loving and gracious enough to treat our lapses as learning experiences. Gal 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

  5. God talks with Elijah on the mountain 1 Kings 19:5-18 • He asks Elijah to explain why he abandoned his mission 1 Kings 19:10He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. … and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” • Expectations? Focus? Strategy? • He demonstrates his latest strategy for his long term plan • Not in the rock fall, nor the wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire • Rather, a small whisper • No longer by remarkable demonstrations of his power, but a quiet voice working in the background Zech4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

  6. God talks with Elijah on the mountain 1 Kings 19:5-18 • He recommissions Elijah • Sends him back to his ministry area - the wilderness of Damascus • Describes his ministry - anoint Hazael, Jehu and Elisha • He reveals his strategy • Judgement, not mercy - disobedient Israel punished • Focus on the remnant - 7 000 who remain faithful 1 Kings 19:19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat,

  7. Elijah was a man with a nature just like ours • He needed to learn that • Our expectations are not necessarily God’s expectations • Focussing on the LORD is far more useful than focusing on the crisis • Our strategies are not necessarily God’s strategies • Yahweh is loving enough to treat our lapses as learning experiences • He is the God of the second chance • He proved by his loyalty and zeal that he was a man after God’s heart James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

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