A. QUESTIONS 1: WHAT DID ELIJAH DO RIGHT? (I KINGS 17:1 – 19:16)
This series is not about sin but about mistakes
1. He responded to the call of God, “The Word of the Lord came unto him” (I Kings 17:2).
2. His provisions supplied by God, “The ravens brought him bread and meat” (17:6).
3. His prayers were answered, “Elias . . . prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not . . . three years and six months” (James 5:17).
4. He spoke God’s Word, “Elijah said . . . thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waste” (17:14).
5. He raised the dead; Elijah prayed, “Let the child’s soul come into him again” (17:21).
6. He confronted King Ahab, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” (18:17).
7. He defeated Baal, “If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him” (18:21).
8. He prayed fire out of heaven, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel . . . then the fire of the Lord fell” (18:36, 38).
9. He had the prophets of Baal slain, “Let not one of them escape . . . slew them there” (18:40).
B. QUESTION 2: WHAT HAPPENED?
1. He was challenged, “Jezebel sent a messager . . . I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow” (19:2).
2. He ran across two nations – Israel and Judah – to hide in the wilderness, “He came to Beersheba” (19:3).
3. He thought no one could find him there.
4. He wept under a weeping willow, “He sat down” (19:4).
5. He saw no deliverance, no miracle, and no future in the future, so; “He requested for himself that he might die” (19:4).
6. He gave up, “Lord, take away my life” (19:5).
C. QUESTION 3: WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM FAILURE?
1. One success does not guarantee another success. Elijah had several encounters for God and several answers to prayer.
2. We can fail after we’ve had our greatest victory. Sunday is victorious, but Monday can be disastrous.
3. We think we’re a failure by letting our last mistake control us.
4. We usually succeed with friends, but failure seeks loneliness.
5. The worst thing about failure is it robs us of the future.
6. One failure usually breeds another failure.
7. We usually run from God after failing. “What doest thou here, Elijah?” (19:13).
8. While we get energy from success (Elijah ran 20 miles, 18:46). Failure saps our strength, i.e., all energy, spiritual, mental, emotional and physical. “He lay and slept” (19:5).
D. QUESTION 4: WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM GOD?
1. You can’t run from God, “An angel touched him” (19:5).
2. God is present in your wilderness, “He came unto a cave . . . the word of the Lord came to him” (19:9).
3. God cares about our physical condition. “Arise and eat” (19:5). “The second time . . . rise and eat” (19:7).
4. The questions you ask yourself usually come from God, “What doest thou here?” (19:9, 13).
a. God does not begin with condemnation.
b. Questions make us examine ourselves.
c. Questions motivate us to action.
5. God’s direction is not in the extraordinary, but in “a still small voice” (19:12).
6. God usually gives us a job to break our depression. “Go . . . anoint Hazael king over Syria . . . Jehu, king over Israel . . . and Elisha to be prophet in thy room” (19:16).
E. QUESTION 5: WHAT WILL I DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME?
1. Fear is usually greater than our circumstances, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt
2. Don’t run away, run toward God.
3. Look after your physical strength when you feel spiritually defeated.
4. Listen for God’s question, “What doest thou here? (19:9, 13).
5. Remember God won’t answer your prayer in defeat. “He requested from himself to die” (19:4).
6. Find strength in God’s word, “A still small voice” (19:12).
7. Break despondency by going to work (19:15-16).
8. When God doesn’t answer, He may have something better!
God had a chariot and whirlwind in Elijah’s future.
