Sermon Central
-
The Life Of Elijah
Contributed by Charles La Porte on Jun 18, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Elijah was: 1.(WHO) CREDENTIALED by God 2.(WHAT) DEPENDANT upon God Alone 3.(WHERE) the place of the SHOWDOWN is the ALTAR OF GOD
WHO? WHAT? AND WHERE?
THE LIFE OF ELIJAH THE PROPHET
Tonight we continue our character study = and we will look at the prophet Elijah. Elijah exploded on the scene in Israel. Out of nowhere he takes his stand on the prophet’s platform, having no introduction. He offered no geneology, or produced no certificate of degree from a known school of the prophets or any recognized yeshiva.
The name Elijah means “Yahweh is God”. Against the backdrop of Baal worship and the corruption of Ahab and Jezebel he shinned like a diamond compared to the goings-on around him.
He was God’s man…
1 KINGS 17:2-16 read & pray
LIFE LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ELIJAH:
1. THE WHO? I AM CREDENTIALED BY GOD!
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 by my word.” 1Kings 17:1
He was God’s man… what gave him the right to stop the rain? The authority of the creator did; and what did he hope to gain? The repentance of the children of Israel.
Elijah brought nothing with him except the anointing of God almighty… He produced no certificate of degree from a known school yet he bore the divine imprimatur of God in his life…
Elijah was like many other representatives of God, possessing no credentials recognized by the world and oftentimes having no-official approval from the arena of organized religion.. yet he bore the approval of God in his life.
(Pastor Bruce visit… threatened by home… questions my time in ministry… questioned my education… then proceeded to voluntarily give me his resume… > the next day I receive a call from 4square naming me the soutland superintendent, overseeing 7 4square churches) not a self “brag-a-mony” but a testament of what God can do with a life of a man who has gone thru this Men’s Home.
Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5
These biblical characters that we are studying hold no man-made credentials… what seminary did they graduate from? They gained the approval of the Most High God (El-Elyon) and therefore obtained the right to speak to Earth on behalf of Heaven.
Our credentials & authority come through Christ alone… sure we can gain an education… learn what we can to draw closer to God… not just for head knowledge, but for relational purposes. I will one day earn my masters degree in biblical studies… but no matter if I do or don’t… I am credentialed by El-Elyon… authorized by God Almighty to speak to earth on heavens behalf… as are many of us here tonight.
To gain God’s approval and possess His credentials, you must belong WHOLLY (holy) to Him, and be able to say with John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrees.” you cannot waver with one foot on the altar and one foot in the world > God cannot speak FULLY to a ½ filled vessel.
You are credentialed when you die to yourself and you start depending of God… have you died to self today…. It’s a lifelong killing process…
2. THE WHAT? I AM DEPENDANT UPON GOD ALONE!
1 Kings 17:2-16 (review)
The Lord sent Elijah into hiding to the brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan river, and there HE supernaturally provided for the prophet. Elijah drank water from the brook and ravens brought him meat both morning and evening. The prophetic word that he brought to the nation was indeed one of judgment and his presence was unwelcome in the land… he had no friends, no family and no community, just God. He was in a wilderness experience where he was forced to depend on the Lord for everything.
Finally the drought dried up the brook and the Spirit of the Lord led him to the house of a Gentile widow for his daily support. What was God doing? After all, Elijah had given Him everything; no-friends, no means of self-support. He was exactly where God wanted him, in a place of total dependence. The brook and the ravens were all provisions of the Almighty (El-Shaddai) and now the prophet must trust the Lord, in everything, and for everything.
Every Christian must come to the “brook of Cherith” in their walk with God. A place where they realize that dependence of God is a path for growth and maturity. Let this church… the home… the here and now be your brook…
Self reliance is a false safety net of worldly thinking and only leads to Spiritual retardation… to trust God for your daily bread and not your employer,; to believe the Lord for your promotion and not your own skill; to raise your hands in surrender for all your tomorrows, this is dependence.
