December 29th

Learning with Elijah

Pr. Silvana

• "Elijah" means "My God is the Lord".
• Elijah was a great prophet, a man of God. He was powerfully used by God. He performed many miracles. He walked in close friendship with God. (I Kings 17-19 - II Kings 1-2).
• By his word, there was no rain for 3 years and 6 months and he prayed again and it rained. (I Kings 17.1, 18.41-45)
• Elijah was fed by ravens during the drought (famine).

• By Elijah´s word, the flour and the oil of the widow at Zarephath were multiplied and her only son came back to life.(I Kings 17.14-22)

•  Elijah was very couragerous. He challenged the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and, after praying, fire came down from heaven and burned up the sacrifice. (I Kings 16-40)

• Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwing by a chariot of fires and horses of fire. (II Kings 2.11)

•  James 5:17-18: "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain ont the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." 
• Elijah was very courageous; anointed; a great, respected and famous prophet; wonderfully used by God. But, he was “a man just like us”.
• I Kings 19.1-18 
• Elijah was afraid of Jezebel and ran for his life. He felt too tired, exhausted, fed up will all situation and his own life. He suffered a "temporary attack" of unbelief and doubt. He thought he was alone. He wanted to die. He expected that God would answer his prayer as He always did. So, he waited for death.

•  But this time, God had other plans for him. God made him go bak to the place he had departed from. 
• God had other things to do through Elijah´s life. He was supposed to anoint two other kings and Elisha to take his place.
• After accomplishing God´s plans for his life, he was taken up to heaven, at the right time, at God´s time.
• Like Elijah, sometimes we feel like giving up. We feel tired of life and of some situations and we think we "have had enough".
• But God has more for us. He has greater things to do in our life and through us.
• Take heart! Be renewed and receive strength from the Lord to go on and to do what He has called you to do.

 

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