Four Applications from Elijah

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 on the earth.  James 5:17 ESV

Last year we introduced you to Louisiana pastor Waylon Bailey and today we pay a catch-up visit to his blog.  As always, click the link below to read this at source; we chose this from a number of excellent articles.

Four Takeaways from the Days of Elijah

Can something that happened 2900 years ago really be relevant for someone growing up today?

After all, there are only a few things the same today as 2900 years ago.

Let me give you two things that have not changed.

Human nature has not changed. A teenager living with an iPhone may seem far different from teenagers before the time of Christ, but human nature has not changed. The kid growing up today has more information in a day than the child in ancient times had in a lifetime, but they are the same on the inside.

Human nature has not changed.

The message of God has not changed. He is the same. He is consistent. God and His word have not changed.

For these reasons, we can learn valuable lessons from the prophet Elijah (I Kings 17-19).

Here are four takeaways you can get from the days of Elijah.

First, even in the worst of times, God has a man. Elijah was that man. He proclaimed the word of the Lord with fearlessness but not without repercussions. Jezebel swore to hack him to death within twenty-four hours.

Elijah gave the message and suffered the consequences. Even in the consequences, God remained faithful.

Jesus promised the same for His followers. When you are brought before officials because of your faith, don’t worry about what you will say. God the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say. God is faithful.

Second, either there is one God or there is no god. You can’t have both. The confrontation on Mount Carmel showed the impossibility of continuing to waver between two opinions.

Third, there are plenty of people who love God and who can be counted on in times of persecution. God assured Elijah he was not alone. God had preserved 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed down to Baal.

You are not alone either. Thank God for the fellowship of faithful believers.

Finally, God is God and will not be denied. He is the Sovereign Lord. As He showed His power in the days of Elijah, He will do so today.

The day will come–maybe soon–when every knee will bow before the Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).

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Go Deeper: Article on Elijah at BibleStudyTools.com

Of course, we had to include the song, right?