#1 “The Great Issues
Of Faith From Elijah’s Life” Series
"AGAINST THE OPPOSITION!"
TEXT: 1
Kings 17:1-24
INTRO: Not long
ago I listened to an interview on TV with Sam Donaldson, a liberal newscaster.
He was being asked what he thought
was wrong with
We live in a "FIX IT" society ... we
believe that we can fix anything so it really doesn't matter what we choose to
do. Take AIDS for example ... we
are spending multiple millions of dollars on a cure for the disease (nothing
wrong in that per se) but we are spending very little on teaching responsibility
for the actions that bring about AIDS.
If there is something that we as
Christians need to understand in the times we live it is that we must take
responsibility for making wise choices!
This is not a POPULAR
MESSAGE ... God's reality demands choices be
made! The world doesn't want to
hear about hell ... but they don't mind hearing about heaven. Everyone likes messages on LOVE ... but
not many "AMENS" about responsibilities!
Pressing the truth that choices have
real consequences to them will bring you
opposition quickly, or at the very least unpopularity! Yet, one of the basic expectations of an
Old Testament priest was that they teach the people of God the difference
between "the
profane and the holy" ... and encourage the people to choose wisely,
or consequences would result that they wouldn't enjoy!
PROP.
SENT:
One of the great truths of the Christian life that cannot be ignored is
that of choices and consequences!
Even in the face of great opposition we must practice and preach these
twin truths! If others don't choose
wisely ... we must!
I. CONSEQUENCES COMMUNICATED 17:1-6
A. Unpopular
Pronouncement 17:1
1. Elijah had the unpopular call to
tell King Ahab of Israel that serious consequences were in the process of coming
on Israel because of their stubborn refusal to get rid of their idols ...
especially BAAL worship, the so called god of fertility, nature. Sometimes called “Lord, Possessor, or
“husband.”
a. Baal was also a “storm” god, who brought fertility to
the land through rain, often symbolized with a lightening bolt in his hand.
b. Worship not only involved fertility
worship, but sometimes also child sacrifice!
2. A lengthy grace period had already
passed for
a. This aroused God's anger ... when
innocent life is taken God does not sit idly by!
b. The message of Elijah was intended
to bring about a change for the better, not just to hurt
people!
3. In fact, the message would directly
challenge their belief in BAAL … no rain would fall ... thus their crops would
fail, their cattle would suffer and not reproduce, a direct challenge at their
fertility god and storm god BAAL!
BAAL would become impotent!
a. This would not just be a normal
drought ... not even dew would fall.
BAAL wouldn’t be able to produce even a drop of
dew!
b. A clear message from God against a
false god ... and to a nation to turn to the REAL source of life ... Jehovah
God!
4. As you might have guessed, Elijah
would not endear himself to a stubborn people who did not want to hear messages
of reproof ... they only wanted messages of blessing!
a. Thus God planned to get him out of town for
his own safety!
b. This would also allow the Lord to
provide for Elijah ... so he would not suffer the same exact consequences as his
rebellious brothers!
ILLUS: Some
years ago in a lumbering town out west a town wanted to build a church and call
a Pastor. They built a beautiful
B. Unfortunate Predicament!
17:2-4
1. Though Elijah did not choose to sin
as did his brothers he would also experience a measure of the loss brought about
by their sin!
a. This is the great tragedy of sin
... it doesn't only affect just you, it impacts others, a message being shouted
today through afflictions like AIDS.
b. We are not an island, we are a
community of people, thus consequences brought on by one impacts
others.
2. The up-side of this section is that
God would take care of his servant for making the right choices
personally.
a. Even in the midst of great peer
pressure, if you choose what is right in God's eyes you might not be popular
with the crowd, but God will take care of your needs!
b. Elijah is sent to hide out for a
while as the consequences fall on
c. This is the tragedy of unrepentant
sin; the people direct their anger at Elijah instead of realizing they brought
these consequences upon themselves!
3. God had a river however to meet
Elijah’s thirst ... and ravens to feed him twice a day! For those who walk in obedience to God
He always has a way of supply their needs.
a. Ravens were unclean animals
according to the laws of Moses ... and they were predators, takers not givers by
nature! They are such birds of prey
that they tend to even ignore their own young! It is ironic that God used such an
unlikely source for ministry!
b. God would change the raven’s
nature, though they were unlikely choices for ministry! God only can do this! He still does this with those he calls
for ministry today!
ILLUS: In
C. Unfailing
Patience 17:5-6
1. Elijah was obedient, trusting God's
Word that He would take care of his needs.
2. There is no hint of Elijah becoming
restless while waiting.
3. Each day he had to trust God for
his "daily
bread" ... the ravens brought his need only as it existed, not a
supply ahead of time!
4. He must have been encouraged in his
decisions to be obedient to God, at least for the time the brook had
water!
II. COVENANT CLAIMED!
17:7-16
A. Universal
Principle
17:7
1. Israel should not have been
surprised by the draught, this had been spelled out as one of the possible
consequences of breaking the covenant they had made with
God!
a. Obedience would bring
blessing.
b. Disobedience would bring disaster!
... Real consequences to sin!
2. There was nothing wrong with the
covenant or God, they had agreed long ago to the
terms.
3. Israel under Ahab however had
chosen idolatry, a very wicked variety at that!
a. Just because they were Abraham's
descendants didn't mean they would blessed without bearing
responsibilities!
b. Just as growing up in a Christian
home doesn't guarantee God's blessings on your life if you ignore obedience to
God's Word!
4. As if to send a message to Israel,
God devises a plan to show how universal the covenant promises really are ... HE
WILL SEND ELIJAH TO THE LAND OF SIDON WHERE A NON-JEWISH WOMAN WOULD EXPERIENCE
THE BLESSINGS OF THE COVENANT!
B. Unusual
Provision!
17:8-12
1. Here is the irony ... Elijah is
sent to the
a. If a Sidonian would break the
covenant and so bring disaster...
b. God would bless a Sidonian who
would obey the covenant; truly the principle of obedience and blessing was
universal!
2. Now
Jezebel has 850 priests of Baal in Israel, while God has 1 prophet in
3. God would reveal His love and
compassion on even an individual who would open their heart to Him ... found
here in a Sidonian widow woman with one son.
4. God would use this woman to provide
for Elijah's needs and meet this woman's needs through her obedience to God's
Word through Elijah as God’s prophet!
a. It certainly was an unusual way
for God to answer both their needs!
b. Two people walking in obedience to
God's Word would both be blessed by each other ... a picture of how wonderful it
can be when brethren are united in obedience to God's Word together ... that
church will be blessed -- and their needs met!
5. Elijah finds the lady while she is
gathering sticks for a fire ... a sure sign that she was poor and without a
husband.
a. His request is simple; “a little
water!” (Something in short supply at the time -- thanks to his own
ministry!)
b. And he added to that request, "how about a
bite to eat too please?"
6. Her response was troubling; "I don't have any
bread, just a handful of flour ... for a final meal for my son and myself and
then we will die!"
a. This would evoke embarrassment and
compassion from any prophet of God worth his salt!
b. Imagine the obvious implications of
this statement to Elijah! He has
just traveled to the land of his enemies, entrusted himself to be taken care of
by a Sidonian woman, only to find she is so poor she has no food! WHAT A TRIP!
c. If this wasn't bad enough ...
the next request he makes is enough to embarrass
anyone!
C. Unbelievable Petition!
1. Elijah first tells her not to be
afraid ... good idea in light of what he was about to ask
her!
2. Before judging Elijah too harshly
for what he asks for ... remember God told him this woman was going to be the
divine source of supply for all his needs … so really he is simply believing God
and taking Him at his word by what he is about to ask
her!
3. He asks her, “… But first make
a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then
make something for yourself and your son.” WHAT A
REQUEST!
a. This woman had tremendous need in
her own life ... and now to be asked to give first to
him?
b. How biblical this principle really
is, out of our greatest needs many times comes some of our finest
ministry!
c. Her obedience would reflect her
belief in the God of Elijah ... and her obedience to a covenant that required
Elijah’s God be put first ... then blessing would
result!
d. Though she is not Jewish, her
obedience to God's covenantal principles would open the windows of heavens to
provide her own daily bread as needed!
ILLUS: The
problem with many in the world today is that they try and go through life with a
catcher's mitt on both hands! – SOURCE
UNKNOWN
4. She had learned the secret of God’s
covenantal blessings, obedience to God's Word!
5. The results would be very clear ...
AN UNMISTAKABLE PRIZE!
D. Unmistakable Prize!
17:14-16
1. She could not have imagined the
depth of the blessing she was about to receive ... she could not have done
better!
2. The oil would flow until the
drought ended ... and the flour would not be used up until the drought
ended!
a. This miracle would not excuse her
from manual labor or responsibility!
b. She would still have to mix, knead,
and bake the dough, etc.
c. And when the drought ended and
normal growth patterns returned so would her need to sow, plant and
reap.
d. Miracles are not intended to
take responsibilities away from us ... but to demonstrate the value of
responsibility!
3. Like earlier,
a. Obedience by one brings blessings
to others as well!
b. Just think how much blessing can be
poured around by a bunch of obedient saints!
III. CALAMITY & CHALLENGE
A. Unexpected Pain! 17:17-20
1. Had the story stopped here it would
be nice, but a miracle at one point in life doesn't mean the absence of pain at
other points in life!
2. "Some time
later..." perhaps this incident was intended to freshen the faith and
renew covenant obedience after a protracted period of
blessing!
a. Blessings flowing can have a
tendency for us to think ourselves above suffering!
b. It can breed arrogance ... as was
often the case with
3. In the midst of tremendous blessing
suddenly the greatest pain strikes!
a. The woman's only son gets sick and
dies!
b. A son was a widow's only hope for
social security in those days!
c. Her means for future hope was
suddenly taken ... "what would she do when the draught broke if she had no
son to help her seed and harvest?!"
4. A new challenge to her faith has
arisen!
B. Unequaled
Power! 17:21-23
1. Yet, this greatest of tragedy would
provide just a greater demonstration of God's power ... this is the first
recorded instance of someone being raised from the dead in the
Bible!
a. The
first miracle of this kind happens to a GENTILE! ... A WOMAN! ... A SINGLE
PARENT!
b. God doesn't care who you are ...
just that you believe in HIM!
2. It is important to note that this
incident really tries her faith ... she is quite distraught, her earlier faith
was being quite challenged by this event!
3. So was Elijah's faith challenged,
you can hear it in his prayer, "0 LORD MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU BROUGHT TRAGEDY ALSO UPON THIS
WIDOW I AM STAYING WITH, BY CAUSING HER SON TO DIE?" (17:20b)
a. Elijah’s faith is being challenged
too!
b. God's credibility was also at stake
... she had been obedient to God's covenant, how could God ignore His promises
to the children in the covenant?
4. God didn't ignore the faithfulness
of the woman or the earnest cry of His prophet!
a. The boy is raised to life
again!
b. The text is clear that the boy was
dead and not just unconscious ... his body was already cold, evidenced by the
fact that Elijah did his best to try and warm it again ... but clearly stating
that God sent the child's soul back into the body, it wasn't a physical healing
by Elijah's technique of body warmth transfer!
c. The 3 times also indicate the depth
of the boy's death ... it took a while just to transfer some
heat!
C. Unquestionable Perspective!
1. As you might imagine this brought a
very bold faith alive in this woman!
2. It is one thing to have your food
stretch quite a ways, quite another to have the dead raised to life
again!
3. This would settle the doubts for
this woman, ONLY THE REAL GOD COULD DO this stuff! The local god BAAL (who had been taken to
4. In the life of a couple of obedient
people God demonstrated His faithfulness to meet their needs, this in contrast
to a disobedient nation whose choices had brought devastating
consequences.
5. No matter what the crowd chooses
... you can choose wisely ... stick with God, obey His Word and enjoy His
covenantal blessings!
CONCLUSION:
No one said the walk of
faith would be easy, but it will be rewarding! Even if everyone around you ignores
God's Word, as an individual you can lay claim to God's best by choosing His
ways and His Word. God always has
His eye open even for one obedient servant! It is possible to serve Him even AGAINST
THE OPPOSITION!