Elijah: Faith, Idolatry, and God's Miraculous Power
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Crosspoint. Today, we continue our series on Elijah, focusing on the themes of drought and abundance. Elijah steps into a period where the Israelites have turned their backs on God, worshiping false gods under the rule of the evil King Ahab. Elijah boldly declares that there will be no rain until he says so, and God provides for him through miraculous means. Later, Elijah revives a widow's son, showcasing God's power over death for the first time in recorded history.
In Chapter 18, God instructs Elijah to confront Ahab and announce the end of the drought. Despite being hunted by Ahab, Elijah obeys without hesitation. Elijah challenges Ahab and the prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel to prove who the true God is. The prophets of Baal fail to summon their god, while Elijah, after soaking his altar with water, calls upon the Lord, who sends fire from heaven, consuming the offering and the altar. This miraculous event leads the people to acknowledge the Lord as the true God.
Elijah's story is a powerful reminder of the dangers of idolatry. The Israelites wavered between worshiping God and false gods like Baal. Today, we may not worship physical idols, but we often place other things—money, social status, political affiliations, even our children—on the throne of our lives. These modern idols promise what only God can provide. We must choose to fully surrender to God, recognizing that He alone is our provider and sustainer.
Elijah's story also highlights God's desire for reconciliation. Throughout history, God has sought to bring His people back to Himself, culminating in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This reconciliation is available to all who seek it, and it is a call to stop wavering and fully commit to God.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Provision in Times of Drought: Elijah's story begins with a declaration of drought, yet God provides for him through miraculous means—first by ravens and then by a widow whose supplies never run out. This teaches us that even in our driest seasons, God is capable of providing for our needs in unexpected ways. Trust in His provision, even when circumstances seem dire. [18:19]
2. The Power of Faith Over Death: When the widow's son dies, Elijah's faith leads him to pray for the boy's life to be restored. This is the first recorded instance of God reviving someone from death, showcasing His ultimate power over life and death. It reminds us that our faith can move mountains and that God has power over even the most final of human experiences. [19:19]
3. Confronting Idolatry: Elijah challenges the Israelites to choose between God and Baal, highlighting the dangers of wavering between two opinions. Today, our idols may not be physical statues but can be anything we place above God—money, status, politics, or even family. We must examine our lives and remove anything that takes God's rightful place on the throne of our hearts. [25:38]
4. God's Desire for Reconciliation: Elijah's prayer on Mount Carmel is not just for a display of power but for the people to recognize God and return to Him. This mirrors God's ongoing desire to reconcile with His creation, a process that culminated in Jesus' sacrifice. No matter how far we've strayed, God seeks to bring us back into a loving relationship with Him. [43:22]
5. The Incomparable Power of God: The contest on Mount Carmel ends with God sending fire from heaven, consuming the water-soaked altar. This event demonstrates that no situation is too difficult for God. He is always enough, and His power is beyond our wildest imagination. Whatever challenges we face, we can trust that God is more than capable of handling them. [39:59]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[18:19] - Elijah Declares Drought
[19:19] - Widow's Son Revived
[20:25] - God Sends Elijah to Ahab
[21:38] - Elijah's Obedience
[22:30] - Confronting Ahab
[23:43] - Challenge on Mount Carmel
[25:38] - Choosing Between God and Baal
[28:53] - Modern Idolatry
[33:07] - Elijah's Challenge to the Prophets of Baal
[39:16] - Soaking the Altar
[39:59] - God's Power Displayed
[43:22] - God's Desire for Reconciliation
[45:05] - Call to Reconciliation
[46:59] - Experiencing God's Power Today
[48:50] - False Gods vs. True God
[50:33] - Going All In for God
[54:11] - Assurance in God's Power
[56:07] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 17:1-24
2. 1 Kings 18:1-39
#### Observation Questions
1. How did God provide for Elijah during the drought? ([18:19])
2. What was Elijah's response when the widow's son died, and what was the outcome? ([19:19])
3. Describe the challenge Elijah set up on Mount Carmel. What were the results? ([23:43])
4. What was the people's reaction after God sent fire from heaven to consume Elijah's offering? ([45:05])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Elijah's provision during the drought teach us about God's ability to provide in difficult times? ([18:19])
2. How does the revival of the widow's son demonstrate the power of faith over death? ([19:19])
3. Why is it significant that Elijah soaked the altar with water before calling on God to send fire? ([39:16])
4. How does Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal highlight the dangers of idolatry? ([25:38])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "drought" in your life. How did you see God's provision during that period? ([18:19])
2. In what ways can you strengthen your faith to trust in God's power over seemingly impossible situations? ([19:19])
3. Identify any modern idols in your life (e.g., money, status, politics). What steps can you take to remove these idols and place God back on the throne of your heart? ([28:53])
4. How can you actively seek reconciliation with God and others in your life? What practical steps can you take this week? ([43:22])
5. Think about a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you remind yourself of God's incomparable power and trust Him to handle it? ([39:59])
6. How can you ensure that your children or other loved ones do not become idols in your life? What boundaries or practices can you implement to keep God first? ([32:13])
7. Reflect on the statement, "False gods promise what only the true God provides." How have you seen this truth play out in your life, and what changes can you make to rely solely on God? ([48:50])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God's Provision in Drought
Even in our driest seasons, God is capable of providing for our needs in unexpected ways. Elijah's story begins with a declaration of drought, yet God provides for him through miraculous means—first by ravens and then by a widow whose supplies never run out. This teaches us that even when circumstances seem dire, we can trust in God's provision. Elijah's unwavering faith in God's ability to provide serves as a powerful reminder that we should also trust in God's provision, no matter how bleak our situation may appear. [18:19]
1 Kings 17:6-7 (ESV): "And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt you were in a "drought" season. How did God provide for you in unexpected ways? How can you trust Him more in your current circumstances?
Day 2: Faith's Power Over Death
Elijah's faith leads him to pray for the widow's son, resulting in the first recorded instance of God reviving someone from death. This showcases God's ultimate power over life and death and reminds us that our faith can move mountains. It is a testament to the fact that God has power over even the most final of human experiences. This story encourages us to have faith in God's power to bring life and hope into seemingly hopeless situations. [19:19]
1 Kings 17:22-23 (ESV): "And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, 'See, your son lives.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a situation in your life that seems "dead" or hopeless. How can you pray with faith for God's intervention and revival in that area?
Day 3: Confronting Modern Idolatry
Elijah challenges the Israelites to choose between God and Baal, highlighting the dangers of wavering between two opinions. Today, our idols may not be physical statues but can be anything we place above God—money, status, politics, or even family. We must examine our lives and remove anything that takes God's rightful place on the throne of our hearts. This story calls us to confront and eliminate modern idolatry in our lives. [25:38]
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 "idol" in your life that you have placed above God. What steps can you take today to remove this idol and put God back on the throne of your heart?
Day 4: God's Desire for Reconciliation
Elijah's prayer on Mount Carmel is not just for a display of power but for the people to recognize God and return to Him. This mirrors God's ongoing desire to reconcile with His creation, a process that culminated in Jesus' sacrifice. No matter how far we've strayed, God seeks to bring us back into a loving relationship with Him. This story is a powerful reminder of God's relentless pursuit of reconciliation with His people. [43:22]
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with God. Are there areas where you need to seek reconciliation with Him? How can you take steps today to restore that relationship?
Day 5: The Incomparable Power of God
The contest on Mount Carmel ends with God sending fire from heaven, consuming the water-soaked altar. This event demonstrates that no situation is too difficult for God. He is always enough, and His power is beyond our wildest imagination. Whatever challenges we face, we can trust that God is more than capable of handling them. This story encourages us to rely on God's incomparable power in every aspect of our lives. [39:59]
1 Kings 18:38-39 (ESV): "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. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, 'The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.'"
Reflection: Think about a challenge you are currently facing. How can you trust in God's power to handle this situation? What steps can you take to rely more on His strength and less on your own?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "An idol is anything that you put on the throne of your life other than God. Anything that you make the most important thing in your life other than God, if anything else, is that. That's an idol in your life. For some of us, we have fallen into the idol of money or material possessions. And what is most important to us is more and more and bigger and better." [28:53] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "There is nothing too big. There's nothing that would require too much power for our God. There's nothing beyond him. There's no situation in our lives that he looks into and says that's not something I can handle. And while he doesn't always handle it the way that we think he should or the way that we want him to, we should never believe the lie that he can't. Our God is always enough." [39:59] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Cross point, God's desire is to be reconciled to you. God's desire, the work of God over and over and over again in scripture, and it doesn't start with Jesus. The work of God for hundreds and thousands of years now is to seek the reconciliation of his creation, his people, you. You are loved by him and he has been seeking after you your whole life." [43:22] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "False gods promise what only the true God provides. False gods promise what only the true God provides. And if we think about it, it is absolutely true, right? They make promises. The things that we chase after, there's a promise there. There's a hope there. But only God can provide. Only God can fulfill. Only God will never fail." [48:50] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Let's go all in on our only hope. Let's go all in on the one who we know has power beyond our wildest imagination. Let's go all in on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." [54:11] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "If Elijah had never showed up, her and her son would already be dead. But she places this blame on Elijah. And then Elijah, we get to see at the end of chapter 17, this incredible faith of Elijah as he goes upstairs with this boy's body and prays over it and asks God to breathe life back into this boy. And it is the first time in recorded history that we see God's power over death." [19:19] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I think that in many ways, we are just as polytheistic as the Israelites were. We just worship different. We practice the same thing sometimes. We as Americans, as Christians, we fall into all kinds of other idols. And here's what I mean by that. Because here's what an idol is. It's not a tiny statue. An idol is anything that you put on the throne of your life other than God." [28:53] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I believe fully that we experience the power of God all around us all the time. And not in some weird floaty way. I believe that we see the power of God when we see people who lose a loved one and somehow have peace. I don't know how that happens from a human perspective. That pain, there should never be peace again. Never a single moment of it. And yet we experience a promise from God that his spirit will bring peace that passes understanding." [46:59] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Either God is God or money is God. And look, if money is God, like go on and chase after it. Make the most important thing in your life, filling your bank account. Like you can do it. Get an extra job. It's fine if it destroys your marriage. Like go after it, right? If money is God, do it. But we know, we've seen, we've experienced that the things of this world fail, that it fades." [50:33] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Either God is God or your political party is. And this is true for us no matter which side of the aisle you sit on politically, either God's words are true, that he is the hope, that he is the restoration, that he is what will bring healing to the brokenness of this world. Or we can place our hope in a political system. And when we say it like that, when we have that moment right now, we face this moment where all of us, I think if we were really honest, we don't really believe at this point that a political system, is going to fix the real issue here on earth." [54:11] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jul 07, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?