Elijah: A Testament to God's Supremacy and Power
Summary
### Summary
Today, we embarked on a journey to understand the greatness of our God through the lens of the prophet Elijah. We began with a lively song, "My God is So Big," to remind ourselves of God's omnipotence. This set the stage for our exploration of the theme "Big God," which aims to help us recognize God's power, understand the importance of discipline and obedience, and confidently stand out for Jesus.
We delved into the story of Elijah, a prophet who demonstrated God's might in extraordinary ways. Elijah lived during a time when Israel was led astray by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who promoted the worship of Baal, a false god. Elijah boldly declared that there would be no rain, a direct challenge to Baal, who was believed to control fertility and rain. For three and a half years, there was no rain, proving the impotence of Baal and the supremacy of Jehovah.
Elijah's most notable confrontation with the prophets of Baal took place on Mount Carmel. He challenged them to a divine showdown: both would prepare sacrifices, but only the true God would answer by fire. Despite their fervent cries and self-harm, Baal's prophets received no response. Elijah, confident in God's power, drenched his altar with water and prayed. God answered with fire, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and even the water. This miraculous event led the people to proclaim, "The Lord, He is God!"
We reflected on how this story applies to us today. Just as the Israelites wavered between God and Baal, we too can be tempted to divide our loyalties. We discussed modern parallels to Baal worship, such as idolatry, self-harm, and moral compromise. We were challenged to examine our own lives for broken promises to God and to take practical steps to renew our commitment to Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Supremacy Over False Idols: Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal highlights the futility of worshipping false gods. Despite their fervent efforts, Baal's prophets could not elicit a response. This story reminds us that only the true God has the power to intervene in our lives and perform miracles. We must be vigilant against modern forms of idolatry that can subtly divert our devotion from God. [49:04]
2. The Power of Fervent Prayer: Elijah's prayer was simple yet powerful. He prayed with confidence, knowing that God would reveal His power. This teaches us the importance of praying with faith and expectancy. When we align our prayers with God's will, we can trust that He will act in His perfect timing and way. [58:05]
3. The Danger of Divided Loyalties: The Israelites' wavering between God and Baal serves as a cautionary tale. God desires our full devotion, not a divided heart. We must examine our lives for areas where we may be compromising our faith and take deliberate steps to align our actions with our professed beliefs. [01:07:17]
4. The Importance of Spiritual Accountability: Elijah felt isolated in his stand for God, which led to moments of deep despair. This underscores the need for spiritual community and accountability. Having someone to support and encourage us in our faith journey can help us stay committed to our promises to God. [01:23:18]
5. God's Faithfulness to His Promises: Despite the Israelites' repeated failures, God remained faithful. He answered Elijah's prayer and demonstrated His power, leading the people back to Him. This reassures us that God is always ready to forgive and restore us when we turn back to Him with sincere hearts. [01:27:05]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[43:40] - Children's Song: "My God is So Big"
[45:42] - Introduction to the Series: Big God
[49:04] - Memory Verse Hangman: Daniel 11:32b
[50:46] - The Challenge: Learning the Memory Verse
[52:57] - The Amplified Version Challenge for Adults
[54:27] - Introduction to Elijah
[56:01] - Discussion: What Do You Know About Elijah?
[58:05] - Elijah's Nature and Miracles
[59:39] - The Evil Reign of Ahab and Jezebel
[01:01:10] - Elijah's Miracles and God's Provision
[01:02:36] - Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal
[01:04:06] - Understanding Baal Worship
[01:07:17] - Elijah's Challenge to the People
[01:09:08] - The Showdown on Mount Carmel
[01:12:57] - God's Miraculous Answer by Fire
[01:14:34] - Reflecting on Our Own Loyalties
[01:19:41] - Modern Parallels to Baal Worship
[01:20:58] - Worksheet Activity: Reflecting on Promises to God
[01:24:56] - Homework: Learning from Elijah's Story
[01:27:05] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 18:20-40 - The showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
2. Daniel 11:32b - "But the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits."
### Observation Questions
1. What was the challenge Elijah issued to the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel? ([01:09:08])
2. How did Elijah prepare his altar differently from the prophets of Baal? ([01:10:52])
3. What was the reaction of the people after God answered Elijah's prayer with fire? ([01:12:57])
4. According to Daniel 11:32b, what are the characteristics of the people who know their God?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Elijah was so confident in God's power during the showdown with the prophets of Baal? ([01:09:08])
2. How does the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal illustrate the futility of worshipping false gods? ([01:05:47])
3. What does Elijah's fervent prayer teach us about the nature of effective prayer? ([01:12:57])
4. How can divided loyalties, as seen in the Israelites' wavering between God and Baal, affect our spiritual lives today? ([01:07:17])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any modern "idols" that might be diverting your devotion from God? How can you identify and remove these distractions? ([01:14:34])
2. Elijah prayed with confidence and faith. How can you cultivate a similar attitude in your prayer life? What specific steps can you take to pray more fervently? ([01:12:57])
3. The Israelites struggled with divided loyalties. Are there areas in your life where you feel torn between following God and other influences? How can you address these conflicts? ([01:07:17])
4. Elijah felt isolated in his stand for God. Do you have a spiritual community or accountability partner to support you in your faith journey? If not, how can you find or create one? ([01:23:18])
5. Think about a promise you have made to God but have not kept. What steps can you take to fulfill that promise? How can you ensure you stay committed this time? ([01:20:58])
6. Elijah's story shows God's faithfulness despite the Israelites' failures. How does this encourage you in your own walk with God, especially when you fall short? ([01:27:05])
7. Identify one specific way you can stand out for Jesus in your daily life this week. What practical actions will you take to make this happen? ([49:04])
Devotional
Day 1: God's Supremacy Over False Idols
Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal is a powerful reminder of the futility of worshipping false gods. Despite their fervent efforts, Baal's prophets could not elicit a response, highlighting the impotence of their deity. This story underscores the truth that only the true God has the power to intervene in our lives and perform miracles. In our modern context, idolatry can take many forms, such as materialism, career obsession, or even relationships that divert our devotion from God. We must be vigilant against these subtle diversions and remain steadfast in our worship of the one true God. [49:04]
1 Kings 18:21 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Identify one modern "idol" in your life that competes for your devotion to God. What practical steps can you take today to refocus your worship solely on Him?
Day 2: The Power of Fervent Prayer
Elijah's prayer on Mount Carmel was simple yet powerful. He prayed with confidence, fully expecting God to reveal His power. This teaches us the importance of praying with faith and expectancy. When we align our prayers with God's will, we can trust that He will act in His perfect timing and way. Elijah's example encourages us to approach God with boldness, knowing that He hears us and is capable of doing immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. [58:05]
James 5:16b-18 (ESV): "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit."
Reflection: Think of a specific situation in your life where you need God's intervention. How can you pray with faith and expectancy, trusting in His perfect timing and will?
Day 3: The Danger of Divided Loyalties
The Israelites' wavering between God and Baal serves as a cautionary tale about the danger of divided loyalties. God desires our full devotion, not a divided heart. We must examine our lives for areas where we may be compromising our faith and take deliberate steps to align our actions with our professed beliefs. This means making tough choices and sometimes standing out from the crowd to remain faithful to God. [01:07:17]
Matthew 6:24 (ESV): "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel torn between following God and pursuing something else. What steps can you take today to fully commit that area to God?
Day 4: The Importance of Spiritual Accountability
Elijah felt isolated in his stand for God, which led to moments of deep despair. This underscores the need for spiritual community and accountability. Having someone to support and encourage us in our faith journey can help us stay committed to our promises to God. Spiritual accountability provides the strength and encouragement we need to persevere, especially during challenging times. [01:23:18]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: Identify a person in your life who can hold you accountable in your spiritual journey. How can you initiate a conversation with them about supporting each other in faith?
Day 5: God's Faithfulness to His Promises
Despite the Israelites' repeated failures, God remained faithful. He answered Elijah's prayer and demonstrated His power, leading the people back to Him. This reassures us that God is always ready to forgive and restore us when we turn back to Him with sincere hearts. God's faithfulness is unwavering, and He continually invites us to return to Him, no matter how far we have strayed. [01:27:05]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness despite your shortcomings. How can you express your gratitude to Him today and renew your commitment to follow Him faithfully?
Quotes
1. "The point of the series at the end of this series we're hoping that students will be able to identify different ways to know God that they will understand the impact of discipline and obedience and that they will confidently be able to stand out for Jesus." [49:04] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Bible says that Elijah was a man with a nature like us. Now, I grew up knowing it as Elijah was a man just like us. So, when he wake up in the morning, he would have stinky breath just like us. He might have a little bit of gas and want some hot tea to drink in the morning." [58:05] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So, when it's time for the sacrifices, the prophets and the people they would gather wrong they would hurt themselves they would be doing the rudeness and all kind of thing around the altar and sacrificing babies and give and and if if they didn't like it which is what happened with some of the the prophets of God they would also sacrifice humans towards their god." [01:05:47] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "How much longer will you waver hobbling between two opinions if the Lord is God follow him but if beal is God then follow him now remember this took place with the children of Israel the children of Israel were the people who supposed to serve yahweh God jehovah right but ever so often they kept going back and worshiping beal so they were back and forth back and forth." [01:06:47] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So, Elijah said you know what let's do an experiment let's do a test to see whose God is the real God so he gathered all the prophets of baal now by this time the prophets of baal had wiped out quite a lot of the prophets of God so Elijah was practically the only one left right there were a few they were hiding in caves trying to you know save save their skins stay alive." [01:09:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "So, Elijah said you know what let's do an experiment let's do a test to see whose God is the real God so he gathered all the prophets of baal now by this time the prophets of baal had wiped out quite a lot of the prophets of God so Elijah was practically the only one left right there were a few they were hiding in caves trying to you know save save their skins stay alive." [01:09:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "So, Elijah said you know what let's do an experiment let's do a test to see whose God is the real God so he gathered all the prophets of baal now by this time the prophets of baal had wiped out quite a lot of the prophets of God so Elijah was practically the only one left right there were a few they were hiding in caves trying to you know save save their skins stay alive." [01:09:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "So, Elijah said you know what let's do an experiment let's do a test to see whose God is the real God so he gathered all the prophets of baal now by this time the prophets of baal had wiped out quite a lot of the prophets of God so Elijah was practically the only one left right there were a few they were hiding in caves trying to you know save save their skins stay alive." [01:09:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "So, Elijah said you know what let's do an experiment let's do a test to see whose God is the real God so he gathered all the prophets of baal now by this time the prophets of baal had wiped out quite a lot of the prophets of God so Elijah was practically the only one left right there were a few they were hiding in caves trying to you know save save their skins stay alive." [01:09:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "So, Elijah said you know what let's do an experiment let's do a test to see whose God is the real God so he gathered all the prophets of baal now by this time the prophets of baal had wiped out quite a lot of the prophets of God so Elijah was practically the only one left right there were a few they were hiding in caves trying to you know save save their skins stay alive." [01:09:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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