Elijah – A Man Like Us

1998053

I. Introduction.

A. Today’s lesson will look at a great Bible hero.

1. can have a way of looking at heroes in Scripture and forgetting that they were people just like we are.

2. forget that they had struggles w/temptation, depression, and all types of emotions that humans face.

3. Need to realize that we can be just as faithful and steadfast in our faith as they did.

B. Elijah - an influential prophet who lived during the ninth century B. C. during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah.

1. shaped the history of his day and dominated Hebrew thinking for centuries afterward.

2. First appears on the scene in: 1 Kings 17:1. Notice:

a. no stunning introduction.

b. No great build up of who he was: just a simple bold statement from him to Ahab concerning a great drought.

C. Nothing is known of his parents or the years spent in early life.

D. Rugged disposition. Notice 2 Kings 1:8 and 1 Kings 17:6 John the Baptist several years later would take on an appearance as his.

E. Although we have a brief physical description of him, the traits of his character are revealed to us throughout the book of 1 kings. Very clearly, Elijah was a person like unto us.

II. Elijah was a man of great courage.

A. 1 Kings 17:1; 18:17-18 – dares to rebuke Ahab – the king of Israel.

1. dares to confront the king – someone who had the power to put him to death.

2. Notice account in 18:17-18 – no smooth talk – lays it on the line.

3. No doubt this is a great testimony of his great faith in Almighty God.

B. 18:21-24 – challenges the servants of Baal to prove that Baal was a real God.

1. Notice: the text no where indicates that God instructed Elijah to do this.

2. Seems as if he suggests the challenge & then relies upon God to come through.

3. Another great testimony of his great faith in God.

4. They answer the challenge and agree to meet upon Mt. Carmel.

C. 18:25-40 – follows through with the challenge.

1. 18:27 – mocks the servants.

2. 18:28-29 – gives them all day to get an answer from Baal.

3. 18:36-38 – trusts in the approval of God & gets it!

4. 18:40 – executes the prophets of Baal.

D. 1 Kings 21:19-24 – tells Ahab the final judgment of Almighty God b/c of his great wickedness.

1. Notice that we have been talking about the attribute of courage. Elijah had great courage.

2. Courage something that is to make up our lives as Christians as well.

a. Jesus – Mt. 10:28

b. Paul to Timothy – 2 Tim. 1:7

c. Hebrew writer: Heb. 13:6

d. Psalmist – 31:24

3. Courage needed to fight the good fight of faith. Are you courageous?

III. Elijah was subject to discouragement.

A. Look at all the positive character traits in Elijah that we have just discussed:

1. staggering faith

2. dauntless courage

3. wholehearted devotion to God

4. powerful prayer life

5. could make him be regarded as spiritual superman.

B. Just days after having the most tremendous high 19:4 finds him sitting under a tree in utter despair. Sounds like some of our lives doesn’t it?

C. Why such discouragement?

1. physically tired.

a. 18:46 – runs from Carmel to Jezreel – about 30 miles. Outruns Ahab – who rode on horse.

b. 19:3 – flees from Jezreel to Beersheba – about 100 miles.

c. 19:4 – proceeds another day’s journey.

d. Our spiritual state can be affected by the physical. – Mt. 26:41 – the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

e. Perhaps this is why we are told not to sin against the body: 1 Cor. 6:18-20. Mt. 15:19-20

f. when we are physically tired we can become spiritually depressed.

2. He was lonely.

3. The victory at Mt. Carmel was now just a memory. The resounding statement of belief in the people now replaced by the standing threat of the queen to take his life.

4. 19:10 – feels that the odds are against him – despondent – feels like he is the only one!

a. told by God that he wasn’t the only one – 19:18 – 7,000 men still faithful to God.

b. 19:11-13 – God with Him. God would be with him as he returned to Israel to do the work of the Lord.

c. Sometimes we get down: feel just as Elijah.

d. God is with us! Rom. 8:31; Heb. 13:5; Psa. 139:7-12

e. Many around us bravely standing up for the Lord. See 1 Pet. 4:12; 1 Thess. 4:15

5. Feels a sense of worthlessness. Notice 19:14 as he repeats his statement to God.

a. victory at Carmel soon forgotten and Israel back to her old ways. His work seemed in vain.

b. Same for us: Our work is never in vain!

a. 1 Cor. 15:57-58; Mt. 10:42

b. Lk. 6:35; Psa. 37:4

D. What was the remedy to his depression?

1. escape not the answer. Often this is our first inclination. Just get away…

a. interesting fact: Elijah & Jonah reveal to us that we cannot run away from our problems.

2. Told to go to work – 19:15-18.

3. Christians must continue to press forward in their lives. In evangelism – must continue to teach no matter what.

a. Mt. 28:18; Mk. 16:15

b. Early church: didn’t go w/disposition of look what the world is coming to but with the attitude of look what has come to the world!

c. Self pity breeds depression. A Savior-oriented life chases away the blues.

IV. Elijah was a mighty man of prayer.

A. Js. 5:17-18 – prayer life noted in the NT.

1. 17:21 – for the widow’s son.

2. 18:36-37 – for the fire to devour the altar.

3. 18:42-44 – prays 7 times for rain.

4. 2 Kings 1:10-12 – for fire.

B. Notice – God answers these prayers – he a righteous man. Note James 5:16.

C. Bible heroes who possessed great courage prayed often.

1. Dan. 6:10

2. Acts 9:11

3. Acts 16:25

D. We should pray often.

V. Elijah was like us in many ways.

A. He had a nature like ours. See Js. 5:17.

1. had our emotions, desire, weaknesses, and infirmities.

2. While we cannot work miracles like he, we can proclaim the Word of God w/zeal & great courage.

B. 2 Kings 2:11 – carried to heaven.

C. We too, can be brought up in the clouds. 1 Thess. 4:17

D. Let us learn these great things from Elijah.

E. How are you walking?

F. I N V I T A T I O N



Elijah – A Man Like Us 1998053 I. Introduction. A. Today’s lesson will look at a great Bible hero. 1. can have a way of looking at heroes in Scripture and forgetting that they were people just like we are. 2. forget that they had struggles w/temptation, depression, and all types of emotions that humans face. 3. Need to realize that we can be just as faithful and steadfast in our faith as they did. B. Elijah - an influential prophet who lived during the ninth century B. C. during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah. 1. shaped the history of his day and dominated Hebrew thinking for centuries afterward. 2. First appears on the scene in: 1 Kings 17:1. Notice: a. no stunning introduction. b. No great build up of who he was: just a simple bold statement from him to Ahab concerning a great drought. C. Nothing is known of his parents or the years spent in early life. D. Rugged disposition. Notice 2 Kings 1:8 and 1 Kings 17:6 John the Baptist several years later would take on an appearance as his. E. Although we have a brief physical description of him, the traits of his character are revealed to us throughout the book of 1 kings. Very clearly, Elijah was a person like unto us. II. Elijah was a man of great courage. A. 1 Kings 17:1; 18:17-18 – dares to rebuke Ahab – the king of Israel. 1. dares to confront the king – someone who had the power to put him to death. 2. Notice account in 18:17-18 – no smooth talk – lays it on the line. 3. No doubt this is a great testimony of his great faith in Almighty God. B. 18:21-24 – challenges the servants of Baal to prove that Baal was a real God. 1. Notice: the text no where indicates that God instructed Elijah to do this. 2. Seems as if he suggests the challenge & then relies upon God to come through. 3. Another great testimony of his great faith in God. 4. They answer the challenge and agree to meet upon Mt. Carmel. C. 18:25-40 – follows through with the challenge. 1. 18:27 – mocks the servants. 2. 18:28-29 – gives them all day to get an answer from Baal. 3. 18:36-38 – trusts in the approval of God & gets it! 4. 18:40 – executes the prophets of Baal. D. 1 Kings 21:19-24 – tells Ahab the final judgment of Almighty God b/c of his great wickedness. 1. Notice that we have been talking about the attribute of courage. Elijah had great courage. 2. Courage something that is to make up our lives as Christians as well. a. Jesus – Mt. 10:28 b. Paul to Timothy – 2 Tim. 1:7 c. Hebrew writer: Heb. 13:6 d. Psalmist – 31:24 3. Courage needed to fight the good fight of faith. Are you courageous? III. Elijah was subject to discouragement. A. Look at all the positive character traits in Elijah that we have just discussed: 1. staggering faith 2. dauntless courage 3. wholehearted devotion to God 4. powerful prayer life 5. could make him be regarded as spiritual superman. B. Just days after having the most tremendous high 19:4 finds him sitting under a tree in utter despair. Sounds like some of our lives doesn’t it? C. Why such discouragement? 1. physically tired. a. 18:46 – runs from Carmel to Jezreel – about 30 miles. Outruns Ahab – who rode on horse. b. 19:3 – flees from Jezreel to Beersheba – about 100 miles. c. 19:4 – proceeds another day’s journey. d. Our spiritual state can be affected by the physical. – Mt. 26:41 – the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. e. Perhaps this is why we are told not to sin against the body: 1 Cor. 6:18-20. Mt. 15:19-20 f. when we are physically tired we can become spiritually depressed. 2. He was lonely. 3. The victory at Mt. Carmel was now just a memory. The resounding statement of belief in the people now replaced by the standing threat of the queen to take his life. 4. 19:10 – feels that the odds are against him – despondent – feels like he is the only one! a. told by God that he wasn’t the only one – 19:18 – 7,000 men still faithful to God. b. 19:11-13 – God with Him. God would be with him as he returned to Israel to do the work of the Lord. c. Sometimes we get down: feel just as Elijah. d. God is with us! Rom. 8:31; Heb. 13:5; Psa. 139:7-12 e. Many around us bravely standing up for the Lord. See 1 Pet. 4:12; 1 Thess. 4:15 5. Feels a sense of worthlessness. Notice 19:14 as he repeats his statement to God. a. victory at Carmel soon forgotten and Israel back to her old ways. His work seemed in vain. b. Same for us: Our work is never in vain! a. 1 Cor. 15:57-58; Mt. 10:42 b. Lk. 6:35; Psa. 37:4 D. What was the remedy to his depression? 1. escape not the answer. Often this is our first inclination. Just get away… a. interesting fact: Elijah & Jonah reveal to us that we cannot run away from our problems. 2. Told to go to work – 19:15-18. 3. Christians must continue to press forward in their lives. In evangelism – must continue to teach no matter what. a. Mt. 28:18; Mk. 16:15 b. Early church: didn’t go w/disposition of look what the world is coming to but with the attitude of look what has come to the world! c. Self pity breeds depression. A Savior-oriented life chases away the blues. IV. Elijah was a mighty man of prayer. A. Js. 5:17-18 – prayer life noted in the NT. 1. 17:21 – for the widow’s son. 2. 18:36-37 – for the fire to devour the altar. 3. 18:42-44 – prays 7 times for rain. 4. 2 Kings 1:10-12 – for fire. B. Notice – God answers these prayers – he a righteous man. Note James 5:16. C. Bible heroes who possessed great courage prayed often. 1. Dan. 6:10 2. Acts 9:11 3. Acts 16:25 D. We should pray often. V. Elijah was like us in many ways. A. He had a nature like ours. See Js. 5:17. 1. had our emotions, desire, weaknesses, and infirmities. 2. While we cannot work miracles like he, we can proclaim the Word of God w/zeal & great courage. B. 2 Kings 2:11 – carried to heaven. C. We too, can be brought up in the clouds. 1 Thess. 4:17 D. Let us learn these great things from Elijah. E. How are you walking? F. I N V I T A T I O N