AUGUST, SATURDAY 24TH, 2024.
TOPIC: Elijah
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Kings 18:2
[2]And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
FOCUS: Malachi 4:5
[5]Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Elijah was a mighty prophet during a turbulent time in the history of Israel. The Nation had turned away from the Lord to worship Baal, and King Ahab had allied with Sidon by marrying their princess, Jezebel.
Elijah was sent to show Israel the evil of their ways and encourage them to return to the Lord and even in the face of adversity and discouragement, Elijah remained faithful.
Throughout the Bible, he is held up as an example of godliness and might. Not only is he mentioned later in the Old Testament, but also in all the four gospels and two epistles. He even appears at the transfiguration with Jesus, and when Jesus began his ministry, some thought that he was Elijah returned to earth.
The story of Elijah can be a comfort and encouragement to us. Being a strong person of God does not mean that we will never feel discouraged, but rather it means looking to God when faced with difficulties, Elijah felt alone and didn’t understand God’s plan, but still searched God out.
In return, he constantly saw God’s power displayed through his weakness, like when he brought the widow’s son back from the dead, when he triumphed on Mount Carmel, and when he rained down fire from heaven upon the king’s men. For his faithfulness, Elijah was one of the few individuals who was taken to heaven without experiencing death.
LESSON: 1 Kings 17:1
[1]And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
God called Elijah for some difficult and daunting stuff. First, God sent him to King Ahab to tell the king there would be no rain or dew in the land of Isreal for the next several years, why? That was because the northern kingdom of Isreal had forsaken the LORD’S commandments and given themselves over to unstrained wickedness atrocities and idolatries.
Some lessons from the life of Elijah.
- Total dependence on God
- Fearlessness in the face of adversity
- Obedience to God’s instruction.
- Faith in the God of Israel.
We are to trust the Lord, our Saviour, step by step and word by word.
When we faithfully do what he called us to do, working and waiting in that place he last sent us, it is there that we can expect to hear his instruction for the next step for us and trust in his perfect timing.
As we are faithful in whatever that may be, though it might be difficult, we can be sure it will ultimately be glorious and that God will be glorified.
PERSONAL CONFESSION: My trust is absolutely in God.
PERSONAL PRAYER: Father, I receive Grace to depend absolutely on you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Living a life of total dependence on God will always birth the supernatural.
NOTE: When you fear God, you will have nothing to fear.