Three Essential Traits We All Need
Life Lessons From Elijah • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
1 Kings 17:1-7
1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
2 Then the Lord said to Elijah,
3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.
4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
INTRODUCTION:
A- We all have a desire to make a difference in our corner of the world.
1- Story of the young man who wanted to make a difference in the world by being a great preacher.
He listened to all of the great preachers of his day and was awed by the clarity with which they spoke. He finally went to the one that had the clearest diction of them all to find out his secret. The elder preacher told him, “Go to the beach at the ocean and seek to be able to speak clearly above the ocean waves. Next, fill your mouth with marbles and learn to speak clearly above the sound of the surf. One-by-one, remove the marbles while keeping your diction clear. Finally, when you have lost all of your marbles, you’ll be a great preacher.”
2- Loosing all of your marbles is not the best way to become a difference-maker in your world.
3- There are some traits that are demonstrated by the character in our text that are essential to you and I if we are to make a difference in our world.
I- BE A PERSON WHO LIVES A CONVICTIONAL LIFE. (1 Kings 17:1)
I- BE A PERSON WHO LIVES A CONVICTIONAL LIFE. (1 Kings 17:1)
1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
A- The conviction that there is only one God. (1 Kings 17:1a)
A- The conviction that there is only one God. (1 Kings 17:1a)
1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
1- There is no God but the Lord.
(Deut. 32:21)
21 They have roused my jealousy by worshiping things that are not God; they have provoked my anger with their useless idols. Now I will rouse their jealousy through people who are not even a people; I will provoke their anger through the foolish Gentiles.
(Deut. 4:19, 35)
19 And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.
35 “He showed you these things so you would know that the Lord is God and there is no other.
2- There is no help or salvation from any other source.
(Isa. 45:21-22)
21 Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the Lord? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me.
22 Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.
(Acts 4:12)
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
B- The conviction that God’s Word is sure.
B- The conviction that God’s Word is sure.
1- God’s word is forever settled.
(Psalm 119:89)
89 Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.
2- Not one word of it will change.
(Matthew 5:18)
18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.
3- God’s word will succeed.
(Isa. 55:11)
11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
C- The conviction that you are standing and speaking in the authority of God. (1 Kings 17:1b)
C- The conviction that you are standing and speaking in the authority of God. (1 Kings 17:1b)
1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
1- Where did Elijah’s confidence come from?
a- He was speaking the message God had given to him.
2- When you and I share the message God has given, we speak in His name and authority.
a- There is no higher authority!
II- BE A PERSON WHO STAYS IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD. (1 Kings 17:2)
II- BE A PERSON WHO STAYS IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD. (1 Kings 17:2)
2 Then the Lord said to Elijah,
A- Strive to stay in a position to hear God.
A- Strive to stay in a position to hear God.
1- Saved
(John 14:6)
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
2- Clean heart
(Psalm 66:18)
18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
(1 John 1:9)
9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
3- Yielded to Him
(Ephesians 5:18)
18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
B- Growing in intimacy with God.
B- Growing in intimacy with God.
1- Speaking with God
(Psalm 28:2)
2 Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.
Like David
2- Listening to God
(1 Samuel 3:10)
10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
3- Obedient to God
(1 Samuel 15:22)
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
III- BE A PERSON WHO COMPLETELY TRUSTS IN GOD. (1 Kings 17:3-7)
III- BE A PERSON WHO COMPLETELY TRUSTS IN GOD. (1 Kings 17:3-7)
3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.
4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
A- Trust in God for direction. (1 Kings 17:3,9)
A- Trust in God for direction. (1 Kings 17:3,9)
3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.
9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
1- You can trust in the guiding ministry of the Holy Spirit.
(John 16:13)
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
* Phillip did. (Acts 8:26-40)
* Paul did. (Acts 16:9-10)
9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
2- God has the master plan!
B- Trust in God for provision. (1 Kings 17:4,7)
B- Trust in God for provision. (1 Kings 17:4,7)
4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
1- God will provide.
(Philippians 4:19)
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
a. Sometimes through natural means.
b. Sometimes through the supernatural.
C- Trust in God when it looks impossible. (1 Kings 17:5-8)
C- Trust in God when it looks impossible. (1 Kings 17:5-8)
5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
8 Then the Lord said to Elijah,
1- Real faith is tested when circumstances look hopeless.
a. Because of a lack of personal resources.
b. Because of a lack of allies.
CONCLUSION:
I- BE A PERSON WHO LIVES A CONVICTIONAL LIFE.
II- BE A PERSON WHO STAYS IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD.
III- BE A PERSON WHO COMPLETELY TRUSTS IN GOD.