28 Feb Elijah | Part 3 “Enduring Faith”
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Key Verse: 1 Kings 18
1 Kings 18:21-39
21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, ( “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and (K)pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”
Enduring Faith
In 1 Kings 18, this is the pinnacle of Elijah’s ministry. Our faith will be tested in our life, it’s inevitable. In life there are 5 stages of grief when we lose someone: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. If you can endure these stages you will come out healed. Just like these stages, your faith also has to survive “faith” stages. Our trust needs to be in Jesus and not the culture, politics etc.
1 Kings 18:21ESV
21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.
1 Kings 18:26b ESV
“O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.
The Israelites started to trust in something else. If you start to waiver from trusting in God, you will go limping through life. Trusting in God gives us confidence and peace. Jesus is our source through every season in life.
Four Stages Our Faith Has to Endure
Q: What’s an area in your life that you have been praying and trusting for (job, marriage, kids, health) that was or is in the “invisible” stage? Did you doubt or trust in something else?
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.
Our Faith endures when we see nothing by reading God’s Word
Q: What scripture verses help your faith endure when you see nothing?
As a leader share your own and/or the following:
Colossian 1:16, Romans 10:17, Matthew 4:4, Psalm 119:105
1 Kings 18:22 ESV
Q: Have there been times when you feel you are alone or isolated in your faith, and thought, “is it worth it to follow Jesus?” Do you feel alone and isolated from culture, family, friends or coworkers?
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.
Our Faith endures through Isolation when we are in community with people who follow Jesus.
Q: How can you endure the isolation stage? Are there areas you can be more involved in your community with people who follow Jesus? How can you encourage others to be more involved in our faith community? (are you serving, attending group regularly, have people you’re accountable to)
1 Kings 18:33-35 ESV
And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
Josh shared an incredible story about his friend with cancer who with amazing faith is enduring through even the impossible. He is continuing to serve Jesus faithfully and proclaiming God’s grace and steadfast love even during his circumstances.
Share and encourage each other and tell of a time when God worked through the impossible in your life, or share a testimony of someone you know who endured through the impossible.
Our Faith endures through the impossible, when we trust God and step out in the uncomfortable.
Q: How can you get uncomfortable right where you are for God and reach others ? (at work, at church, at home, with your finances)
1 Kings 18:43-44 ESV
43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”
Q: What are some of the lies the enemy tells you? Have you felt that where you are is insignificant, and that God was doing nothing or didn’t have a plan? (At the close of the group, use this talking point to pray against the enemy and proclaim victory over these lies.)
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