CENTRAL THOUGHT
Living righteously remains the standard for all believers.
HYMN: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
Text: 1 Kings 17:1-24
INTRODUCTION
In the days of Elijah, the land of Israel under the rulership of King Ahab was an idolatrous nation. Ahab led the people to sin and as such the people did not stand for what was right. They turned their backs on the only true and living God and began to worship idols.
King Ahab did so much evil. He married a strange woman (Jezebel), through whom idolatry was introduced in Israel (1 16:30-33, 21:26). The reign of King Ahab was very notorious for evil deeds, but God decided to bless the Israelites with Prophet Elijah. Never was a king so bold to sin and never was a prophet so bold to reprove as Elijah who knew his God and stood for the right, despite the happenings at this time. He lived a separated and consecrated life unto God. In this study, we shall see how God challenges sinful and idolatrous people.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To know who Elijah was.
- To highlight the lifestyle of the people in Elijah’s time and show how a Christian can maintain Christian witness in the midst of ungodly and immoral people today.
- To show how God used unusual ways to meet the prophet’s needs and what this account teaches the believer about God’s care and ability.
- To examine Elijah’s relationship with God and identify the qualities that made him useful.
Bible Truth:
Q1. WHO WAS ELIJAH?
1 Kings 17:1
Elijah (also called Elias) means “My God Jehovah is He”. Preferably, Jehovah is He who sends me, owns me and bears me out. Elijah believed in the God that sent him and totally depended on Him to see him through.
The story of Elijah begins abruptly. Usually when a prophet is introduced in the Bible, we have an account of his parentage or whose son he was and of what tribe, but there is no record of Elijah’s background, parentage or descent. Elijah was an inhabitant of Tishbe, a place in Gilead located east of the Jordan river.
From the text, He was a bold prophet, who stood against the king and his subjects for disobeying God’s commandments. He depended on Jehovah to honor the word of His servant. He allowed God to use him to show His power and glory in all circumstances.
Q2A. WHAT WAS THE LIFESTYLE OF THE PEOPLE IN ELIJAH’S TIME? 1 Kings 16:29-34
The lifestyle of the Israelites in Elijah’s time was a huge reflection of the lifestyle of their leader King Ahab, the son of Omri. They lived lives of sin and wickedness some of which are enumerated below.
- Idolatry: (2 Kings 9:22, Rev. 2:20).
The Israelites were involved in Baal worship because their king married a devout idolater (vs. 31). Baal worship was introduced to the Israelites by the marriage of King Ahab to Jezebel who introduced idol worship into the nation at that time. This took them away from serving the only true and living God.
- Immorality: (1 Kings 16:30- 33, Rev. 2:20)
Jezebel was an embodiment of whoredom and witchcraft by which she influenced the nation, evidenced in the many prophets of Baal. She morally corrupted the land of Israel through Baal worship.
- Unrepentant and Stiff Necked:
The experience of the previous kings did not deter them from doing evil. The suffering of the previous generation did not prevent the Israelites from walking in the ways of their fathers. They were unrepentant and stiff-necked. They had no regard for God.
Q2B. HOW CAN A BELIEVER MAINTAIN HIS CHRISTIAN WITNESS IN THE MIDST OF UNGODLY AND IMMORAL PEOPLE TODAY?
Daniel 1:8, 2 Cor. 6:14-18 A. Avoid Evil Associations:
(Ps 1:1, Ex. 23:2, 1 Cor. 5:11, Eph. 5:11)
As true believers, we must never be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Also, we should
avoid any form of association with them because “evil communication corrupts good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). We must never have any form of fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
- Embracing Genuine Salvation: We must continually look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). It is only by “holding the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end” that we can be made partakers of Christ (Heb. 3:14).
- Walking and Living by Faith: (Heb. 10:38, Col. 2:6-7) As we have received Christ Jesus the Lord so we must walk in Him. This is because in Him we must live, and move and have our being (Acts 17:28a). We can only survive as children of God by walking and living by faith. We must remember that the just shall live by faith. God has no pleasure in any one that draws back.
- Walking in the Spirit: (Gal. 5:16, Rom. 8:1,4)
If we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Living a Spirit-controlled life is very mandatory for every believer. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1). It is only by not living after the flesh but living after the Spirit that the righteousness of the law would be fulfilled in us.
Q3. HOW DID GOD USE UNUSUAL WAYS TO MEET THE PROPHETS’ NEEDS AND WHAT DOES THIS ACCOUNT TEACH THE BELIEVER ABOUT GOD’S CARE AND ABILITY?
1 Kings 17:4, 9-10, 13-14
God is Almighty, and all His ways are past finding out. God used birds (ravens) to feed the prophet in the book of Cherith, where God instructed him to go and hide. The ravens brought food for him mornings and evenings, daily, until the brook dried up. After that, God located a poor widow in Zarephath, who had only the last meal for her son and herself. When the widow made what she had available to the God of multiplication, a handful of flour and little oil was enough to sustain them all through the period of the drought. We can learn from this account various lessons about God’s care and ability. We see from this that God has a variety of ways of providing for His children and is not restricted in any way. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Ps. 24:1). God’s care for His people and kindness towards them is steadfast. It is inexhaustible and is drawn out to those that know Him (Ps. 36:10). God prepares and sends helpers to us right on time. He is never late. God prepared and sent Elijah to sustain both the widow and himself during the period of scarcity. Sometimes, God uses weak instruments to accomplish great results. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are: that no flesh may glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:27-29).
Q4A. WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT ELIJAH’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
1 Kings 17:1-24
Elijah’s relationship with God was very cordial. He walked with God and enjoyed the following which distinguished him as a man of God. God honored the words he pronounced from his mouth. (Isa. 44:26a). In his walk with God, Elijah knew the mind of God concerning every situation and was able to follow God’s instruction. He did not allow anything stand between him and God. As believers, we must not allow anything no matter how attractive or enticing stand between us and God. It is only by so doing that we can make a success of our Christian walk with God.
- He received and obeyed divine instruction and direction (1 Kings 17:2-3, 8-9). NO servant of God will survive without hearing from God and depending on God for instruction. Every believer who wants to live a successful Christian life must be ready and willing to receive divine instruction or command from God. (Rom. 8:14). Elijah always listened to God even when the instruction was not making any sense by human standards (1 Kings 18:1).
In summary, Elijah’s relationship with God depicts total dependence on God. He totally depended on God for direction, provision, protection, care etc,
Q4B. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE QUALITIES IN ELIJAH THAT MADE HIM USEFUL?
The following are some of the qualities:
- Boldness: Elijah was bold to be used by God. A believer must be bold to declare God’s counsel no matter to whom and how “bitter” the truth may seem to the hearers ( 1 Kings 17:1). God’s word must be proclaimed with all boldness at every place and all times.
- Obedience: Elijah obeyed the divine command given to him by God to move over to brook Cherith and hide there for the period (1 Kings 17:2-6). God’s divine instruction helped Elijah prepare for the task ahead. We must learn divine obedience because it is only in this that we can receive divine blessing.
- Unwavering Belief in God: The man or woman God uses must be one whose belief and faith in God cannot be shaken by any circumstance or happening. To many it would seem foolish to rely on ravens to bring our daily bread but Elijah believed that God can use anyone to do anything. He still believed God by going to the widow’s house when the brook dried up.
- Prayerful: Elijah communed with God at each circumstance. One must be prayerful in order to be used by God. In prayer, we receive divine instruction, guidance, and are able to make known our requests unto God. Therefore, prayer is a veritable tool in the hands of anyone who wishes to be used by God.
Knowledge of God’s word: Elijah relied upon the word of God. Another quality in the life of anyone God uses is the knowledge of the word of God. One of the ways of knowing God’s mind and proving what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God is by the renewing of our minds through the undiluted word of God.
Daily Living Application:
We are living in days when only very few people are dedicated to worship God in Spirit and in truth. Many have swayed from following and serving the only true and LIVING GOD. Our Father expects us, as His dear children, to hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. It is only by doing so that we can be made partakers of Christ (Heb. 3:14). It is only by totally trusting and wholly depending on the ability of God that we can escape the wrath to come.
Memory Verse:
Isaiah 1:19
“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land”.
Daily Devotional Guide:
Monday: Need to avoid evil associations.
Psalm 1:1, Exodus 23:2, Eph. 5:11
Tuesday: God meeting Prophet Elijah’s need.
1 Kings 17:4, 9-10, 13-14
Wednesday: Elijah received and obeyed divine instruction.
1 Kings 17:2-3, 8-9
Thursday: Christian should be bold and obedient.
1 Kings 17:1-6
Friday: Christians need be prayerful.
Luke 18:1-8, 1 Thess. 5:17
Saturday: Be renewed in your mind as a Believer.
Ps. 1:2, Rom. 12:1-2, Prov. 4:20-22