god punishes sin

““Ahab son of Omri did more Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before than any of those before

him.” (1 Kings 16:30)him.” (1 Kings 16:30)

““As the Lord, the God of Israel, As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my next few years except at my

word.” (1 Kings 17:1)word.” (1 Kings 17:1)

God punishes sin.God punishes sin.

God is our protector God is our protector and provider.and provider.

““I don’t have any bread- only a I don’t have any bread- only a handful of flour in a jar and a handful of flour in a jar and a

little olive oil in a jug. I am little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for home and make a meal for

myself and my son, that we may myself and my son, that we may eat it- and die.” (1 Kings 17:12)eat it- and die.” (1 Kings 17:12)

““For the jar of flour was not For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord with the word of the Lord

spoken by Elijah.” (1 Kings spoken by Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:16)17:16)

God's word is true.God's word is true.

““Lord my God, let this Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” (1 boy’s life return to him!” (1

Kings 17:21)Kings 17:21)

Life and death are in Life and death are in God's hands.God's hands.

““And do not fear those who kill And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy Rather fear him who can destroy

both soul and body in hell.” both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)(Matthew 10:28)

God has a perfect God has a perfect plan and perfect plan and perfect

timing.timing.

““Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, prophets choose one for themselves,

and let them cut it into pieces and put it and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire- he is God.” (1 Kings answers by fire- he is God.” (1 Kings

18:23-24)18:23-24)

““Shout louder!” he said. Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps “Surely he is a god! Perhaps

he is deep in thought, or he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he busy, or traveling. Maybe he

is sleeping and must be is sleeping and must be awakened.” (1 Kings 18:27)awakened.” (1 Kings 18:27)

There is no one like There is no one like our God.our God.

““Then he said to them, 'Fill four Then he said to them, 'Fill four large jars with water and pour it on large jars with water and pour it on

the offering and on the wood.' 'Do it the offering and on the wood.' 'Do it again,' he said, and they did it again. again,' he said, and they did it again. 'Do it a third time,' he ordered, and 'Do it a third time,' he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.” (1 Kings 18:33-35)filled the trench.” (1 Kings 18:33-35)

There is nothing There is nothing God cannot do.God cannot do.

“ “ When all the people saw When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and this, they fell prostrate and

cried, 'The Lord- he is cried, 'The Lord- he is God! The Lord- he is God!' God! The Lord- he is God!'

” (1 Kings 18:39)” (1 Kings 18:39)

God has the whole God has the whole world in His hands.world in His hands.

Elijah had seen...

1. God punishes sin.1. God punishes sin.2. God is our protector.2. God is our protector.3. God's word is true.3. God's word is true.4. Life and death are in God's hands.4. Life and death are in God's hands.5. God has a perfect plan and perfect timing.5. God has a perfect plan and perfect timing.6. There is no one like our God.6. There is no one like our God.7. There is nothing God cannot do.7. There is nothing God cannot do.8. God has the whole world in His hands.8. God has the whole world in His hands.

““Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, When he came to Beersheba in Judah,

he left his servant there, while he he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the himself went a day’s journey into the

wilderness. He came to a broom bush, wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he sat down under it and prayed that he

might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.” (1 Kings 19:3-the bush and fell asleep.” (1 Kings 19:3-

5)5)

““What are you doing What are you doing here, Elijah?”here, Elijah?”(1 Kings 19:9)(1 Kings 19:9)

““I have been very zealous for the Lord I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have God Almighty. The Israelites have

rejected your covenant, torn down your rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” and now they are trying to kill me too.”

(1 Kings 19:14)(1 Kings 19:14)

““Then a great and powerful wind tore Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in an earthquake, but the Lord was not in

the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the came a fire, but the Lord was not in the

fire. And after the fire came a gentle fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he

pulled his cloak over his face and went pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

(1 Kings 19:11-13)(1 Kings 19:11-13)

““Go back the way you Go back the way you came.” (1 Kings 19:15)came.” (1 Kings 19:15)

WHAT ARE YOU WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?DOING HERE?

FEARFEAR

SINSIN

CHURCH AS CHURCH AS USUALUSUAL

Go back the way Go back the way you came!you came!

““You have forsaken the love you You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the have fallen! Repent and do the

things you did at first.” things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5)(Revelation 2:4-5)