Sunday Message, 17/12/2023, 9.30am

God is With You, of Whom Shall You be Afraid? <1 Kings 19:1-18>

Introduction

· Although no prophetic book in the bible was named after Elijah, he was called a man of God.

· Elijah did many wonderful things:

1) Prayed earnestly, and it did not rain for three and a half years. 

2) In the house of a widow: Flour and oil were never used up.

3) Raised the widow’s son from the dead.

4) Challenged the prophets of Baal and had great victory.

· Read <1 Ki 19:1-3>

1.       Man cannot be always strong.

1)       The bible keeps accounts of many people who had weak faith and who committed wrongs.

· Examples: Abraham, Moses, king David, Jonah.

· Even someone with great faith may face a day when his faith becomes weak or when he falls.

2)       What irresolvable difficulties did Elijah encounter?

· Jezebel wanted to kill Elijah.

· The teaching of the bible: Be childlike and have a simple faith.

· Elijah did not call upon God, but immediately fled.

· Read <1 Ki 19:4>

3)       Elijah’s prayer to God

· Why does God not answer our prayers?

①      God is reasonable.

②      God does not accede to every request.

③      When God does not grant us our wish, it does not mean God does not love us.

· God never leaves us.

· Since God is with you, of whom shall you be afraid?

2.       God hears the prayers of His holy people.

1)       God understands our circumstances and knows our needs.

· God responds to people in different ways.

· Does your repentance bring God’s response?

2)       How did God respond to Elijah?

· Read <1 Ki 19:5-8>

· Is the God of the Old Testament very harsh?

· Man needs to rest.

3)       God spoke to Elijah in a whisper.

· Read <1 Ki 19:9-12>

· Why does God speak to us in a whisper?

· When we are troubled by problems, what do we do?

· Read <1 Ki 19:13-14>

3.       God’s work will not cease.

· Read <Php 1:6>

1)       God did not want Elijah to focus on the problem.

· Read <1 Ki 19:15-17>

· Why did God not deal with Elijah’s problem?

①     He wanted Elijah to look to Him instead of the problem.

②     In all things, learn to trust and rely on God.

· Read <Isa 41:10>

2)       God wanted to correct the thinking and perspectives of Elijah.

· Read <1 Ki 19:18>

· What God has prepared for man is what the human mind has not conceived <1 Co 2:9>.

4.       Conclusion

· God wants us to cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us <1 Pe 5:7>.