Jealous Faith

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Jealous Faith

Text: Hebrews 11. 2.

Introduction:

A. Elijah, ur hero for today's study, is introduced as

a Tishbite of the inhabitants of Gilead, I Kings 17: 1.

B. He ann1unced the coming judgment upon Israel: three years without rain.

C. He is be~t remembered for his contest with the pro- phets O~Baal, I Kings 18:17-40.

D. The eve ts of this lesson immediately follow that glorious victory.

E. Crushin despondency often follows an exciting accomp ishment.

1. It y be spiritual or physical exhaustion.

2. An a hlete, so hyper last evening, may be listless and we the next day.

I. THE DESPONDENT PROPHET, I Kings 19: 1-4.

A. The coritest with the prophets of Baal had been excitingl and the results had been positively good.

B. perhapSbElijah had expected that now every soul in Israel w uld stand by him for God.

C. As JonJh, he may have even been disappointed with Gotl.

D. Because,1of the poor response by Israel, he reasoned that his life was empty and useless.

1. He j,0uld simply give up the fight.

2. Peo~le are positively inclined to evil, so why bother with Itrying to get them saved?

E. Elijah'SIxperience is not peculiar to him.

1. Man today feel the same way; they can identify with him.

2. The robJem is: the people have moved; God is the sam.

II. DIVINELY$USTAINED, I Kings 19:5-8.

A. Elijah prayed for relief by way of death, vs 4.

B. Death t1 a child of God is indeed relief.

1. In t e midst of his trials, Job longed for death.

2. Paul declared, "To die is gain," Philippians 1:21.

C. God responded to His servant's prayer.

1. But fud not relieve him by death.

2. Rather, e was given a new mission_.a new challenge.

3. Paul so ght relief from a "thorn in the flesh,"and God respond d by giving him more grace, II Corinthians J2:7-10. D_ God will d cide when His servants are no longer needed, an then He will give them blessed relief.

E. God sent angel with food and drink for the despond en prophet, and Elijah went on in the strength 0 that food for forty days, vs 8.

III. DIVINELY QU STIONED, I Kings 19:9,13.

A. God's ques ions are sometimes designed to elicit a confession.

1. As, "Wh re art thou?" Genesis 3:9.

2. As, "Wh re is Abel thy brother?" Genesis 4:9.

3. As, "Wh t hast thou done?"I Samuel 13:11.

B. Elijah's co plaint.

1. He had' been very jealous [zealous] for the Lord."

2. He tho ht he was the only person living who still served od. .

3. He spok well of himself and ill of his nation.

4. He was gry and depressed because the people would not liste to him.

5. He was raid of Jezebel, who had sworn to kill him.

C. Every chu h member would do well to consider:

1. What ar you doing here?

2. Are you ngaged in God-honoringwork?

D. Many wh once were faithful have become unfaithful.

1. There is 0 real happiness to those who are out of the Lord's s rvice.

2. I plead ith such to hear God's call and then get busy in His s ice.

IV. DMNELY ASS RED, I Kings 19:11-13.

A. "Go forth, d stand ... before the Lord," vs 11.

1. God's se ant needs to spend time in His presence.

2. Men an women of power with God have been men and wo en of prayer.

a. Abr am prayed for Lot.

b. Jesu prayed for His disciples.

c. Paul prayed for his people, Romans 10:1.

B. Elijah was sured that God was near.

C. He w assured that he was not alone in the worsh p of God. Seven thousand had not bowed their ees to Baal, vs 18.

D. The h locaust:

1. ·Th re came a mighty wind, vs II.

2. An earthquake caused the earth to tremble, heave and s e.

3. Th n came a fire. But God was in none of these.

a. They were symbols of judgment.

b. Elijah, like Jonah, may have derived some satisfaction from the prospects of judgment upon the idolaters.

c. But the time of judgment was not now. Present- ly, God was merciful, kind, gracious and longsuf- fering, not willing that any should perish (cf II Peter 3:9).

4. Th n a still small voice again asked, "What doest thou he e?" and again the prophet speaks well of himself an ill of the people, verses 13 and 14.

E. He w assured that God yet had much work for him t do, vs 15.

V. DIVINEL COMMISSIONED, I Kings 19: 15-17.

A. Comm ioned to anoint two new kings, and a proph t.

1. "H zael to be king over Syria," and

2. "Je u ... to be king over Israel."

3. A rophet to take his place when his work should be pleted.

a. "Elisha the son of Shaphat."

b. Every Christian should endeavor to win at least one other to take his place when his life's work is done.

(1) Jesus won and trained the "twelve."

(2) Paul trained Timothy, Titus and others.

B. Winni g souls to Christ and train-ing them to serve Him is what the church is all about, Matthew 28: 19,20.

1. Th fields are white already to harvest, John 4:35.

2. Bu the laborers are few; we are to pray that the Lord of t e harvest will send others, Matthew 9:37,38.

3. "~my Father hath sent me, even so send I you,"John 202l.

4. "N w then we are ambassadors for Christ," II Corinthians 5:20.

5. He/ladsong: "Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?"

Conclusion:

A. Are y~u often despondent?

1. T~en look to Christ, and claim His promises.

2. He never leaves us, nor forsakes His own, Matthew 28~20;Hebrews 13:5.

B. As Ghd spoke to Elijah, He speaks to this gener~tion: "Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not yourJJarts,- Hebrews 3:15.

C. To th~ unsaved, He says:

1. N~w is the time to be saved, II Corinthians 6:2.

2. "SWvationis of the Lord," Jonah 2:9.

3. Ttiere is salvation in no other, Acts 4:12.

4. BJlieve and be saved, Acts 16:31;Romans 10:13.

Index