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PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

Introduction:

The next two Old Testament prophets that we be dealing with are two men who played a vital role in the history of Israel–Elijah and Elisha. As we look at these two prophets we will see that they were opposites in many ways yet they were both great men and each of them was used mightily of the Lord.

Elijah was the older prophet and God used him and his ministry to call Elisha to serve. We will see how that Elisha followed Elijah and served him for approximately six years before God called Elijah home.

In the course of our study we will look at the two men separately and then possibly make a comparison of the men and their ministries.

As we think about the matter of the need for Revival and how that relates to prayer, I don’t believe we could find a better example in Scripture of the correlation between the two.  We'll look at that toward the end of this message.

I.         THE BACKGROUND OF ELIJAH.

            A.        The Name Elijah means “God Is Jehovah.”

            B.        He Is Called “The Tishbite,” Which Speaks Of Him Being From Tisbeh, A City Of Gilead.

            C.        We Know Nothing Of Him Until He Appears On The Scene, As An Established Prophet, To Rebuke Ahab. (1 Kings 17:1-2)

            D.        He Was Known For His Rugged Appearance.

2 Kings 1:7-8–“And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? 8And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

II.       THE CHARACTER OF THE MAN ELIJAH AS SEEN IN HIS WORK AND MINISTRY.

            A.        Elijah Was A Man With All The Strengths And Weaknesses Inherent In The Human Nature. (James 5:17-18)

            B.        Elijah Was Ready To Trust And Obey God When He Confronted Ahab And His Son, Ahaziah. (1 Kings 17:1-2; 21:17-29; ;2 Kings 1:1-12)

            C.        Elijah Was A Man Who Put Much Stock In Prayer.

                        (1 Kings 17:20-22; 18:36-38; James 5:17)

            D.        Elijah Was Not Afraid Of Confrontation With Civil Or Religious Leaders Who Were Wrong. (1 Kings 18:1-40)

                        1.         He let Ahab know that he was the one responsible for God's judgment on the land. (1 Kings 18:17-18)

                        2.         He called the prophets of Baal to a showdown and then destroyed them after God proved himself. (1 Kings 18:19-40)

            E.        Elijah Was Willing To Show Respect For Authority If It Was At All Possible. (1 Kings 18:41-46)

            F.        Elijah Was A Mortal Man Subject To Wrong Behavior And Erroneous Ideas.

                        1.         He became very depressed and discouraged when threatened by Jezebel.

                                    1 Kings 19:1-4)

                        2.         He drew some faulty conclusions. (1 Kings 19:14,18)

                        3.         He had both seen and performed miracles, yet he sold God short.

                                    (1 Kings 19:11-12)

            G.       Elijah Left This World In A Glorious Way. (2 Kings 2:11)

III.      ELIJAH’S LIFE AND MINISTRY SUMMARIZED.

            A.        Elijah had a ministry of judgment and was closely associated with the Law.

            B.        Elijah stood alone in open opposition to apostasy and managed to make Israel recognize that Jehovah alone is God.

            C.        Elijah served as the conscience of his country.

            D.        Elijah stands as one of Israel's greatest sons.

                        1.         Many thought that Jesus was Elijah when Jesus began his public ministry.

                                    (John 1:21; Matthew 16:14)

                        2.         Elijah’s return is said to be looked for at every Passover by orthodox Jews. (Malachi 4:5-6)

            E.        Elijah was divinely honored by appearing with Moses and Christ on the Mount of

                        Transfiguration. (Matthew 17:1-3)

            F.        Malachi 4:5-6 predicted that Elijah’s coming would precede the coming of the Messiah.

                        1.         The Angel That Appeared To Zechariah Said That John The Baptist Would Fulfill This Prophecy. (Luke 1:13-17)

                        2.         Jesus Confirmed this In Matthew 17:10-13.

                        3.         Many Scholars Believe There Is A Further And Future Fulfillment Of This Found In Revelation 11:3-12.

Although not named, many believe that Elijah may be one of these two witnesses.

IV.      WHAT DOES ELIJAH HAVE TO DO WITH PRAYER FOR REVIVAL?

            (1 Kings 18)

I’d like to borrow some things from a message I preached on this passage in January 2002.

Here we see God’s people in a crisis situation. Anywhere sin reigns there is a crisis situation.

            (Whether sin reigns in a nation, A community, a Church, a family, or an individual.)

            Proverbs 14:34–“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

In this passage, the times of blessing had long past as there had been over 100 years of wickedness. In fact, there had not been a king in Israel that did right in the sight of the Lord for a very long time.

            The spiritual condition of the nation was shown by its leadership–vs 17-18.

            They had forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and had followed Baal.

            (Baal was the chief god worshiped by the people of Canaan.)

The Israelites were tempted continually to forsake the worship of the true God of Heaven for the worship of Baal instead.

The worship of Baal was frequently connected with immorality, which is one of the reasons the Israelites were so sorely tempted toward Baal worship.

            (The Devil still uses the lust of the flesh to draw men away from God.)

            The spiritual condition of the nation was shown by its people–vs 21.

            The problem is that the people of God did not want to wholly commit unto God.

            (They were just like a lot of people today who want to ride the fence.)

They weren’t really opposed to God being worshiped, but they wanted to hang on to God and Baal at the same time.

            It just won’t work! If the LORD be God, follow him!

            The spiritual condition of the nation was shown by the condition of the altar–vs 30

            The link between Revival and prayer can be seen in what Elijah did with the altar.

            A.        THE PURPOSE OF THE ALTAR.

                        The altar was suppose to be a sacred place where a man got into contact with God.

                        1.         The Altar Was A Place Of Thanksgiving And Praise.

                        2.         The Altar Was A Place Of Confession.

                        3.         The Altar Was A Place Of Sacrifice.

                        4.         The Altar Was A Place Of Death.

                        5.         The Altar Was A Place Of Communion.

            B.        THE POLLUTING OF THE ALTAR.

                        What caused the condition of the altar?

                        1.         The Altar Had Been Misused.

                        2.         The Altar Had Been Abused.

                        3.         The Altar Had Been Neglected.

            C.        THE PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR.

                        1.         Elijah Recognized The Condition Of The Altar.

                        2.         Elijah Repaired The Altar.

                        3.         Elijah Set Things In Order Upon The Altar. (Vs 33)

                        4.         Elijah Removed All Human Possibility. (Vs 33-35)

                        5.         Elijah Reverenced God. (Vs 36-37)

                        6.         Elijah Relied Upon The Word of God. (Vs 36)

                        7.         Elijah Requested Action On The Part Of God. (Vs 37)

Conclusion

Revival came when the altar was repaired and things were set in order.

What shape is your altar in today?

How can we see the fire of God fall today?

Well we won’t see it in some things:

1.         It Is Not In The Numbers. (i.e. fitting in with the majority–850 to 1) (Vs 19, 22)

2.         It Is Not In The Noise. (i.e. how loud we cry) (Vs 26, 28)

3.         It Is Not In The Activity. (i.e how much busyness we are involved in) (vs 26, 28)

We will see it in the right things:

1.         It Is In Serving The Right God!

2.         It Is In Proper Preparation And Use Of The Altar.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!