The Prophets

Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2011Scripture quotations taken from the

HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Used by permission

2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:9The Lord is The Lord is not slow in keeping his not slow in keeping his

promise, as some promise, as some understand slowness. He understand slowness. He

is patient with you, not is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, wanting anyone to perish,

but everyone to come to but everyone to come to repentance. repentance.

- God’s 200 years of patience - God’s 200 years of patience

1 Kings 16:311 Kings 16:31 He not He not only considered it trivial only considered it trivial

to commit the sins of to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Jeroboam son of Nebat,

but he also married but he also married Jezebel daughter of Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Ethbaal king of the

Sidonians, and began to Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship serve Baal and worship

him. him.

- trivial the sins of Jeroboam

- married Jezebel

- trivial the sins of Jeroboam

- married Jezebel

1 Kings 18:41 Kings 18:4While While Jezebel was killing off the Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah Lord's prophets, Obadiah

had taken a hundred had taken a hundred prophets and hidden prophets and hidden

them in two caves, fifty in them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied each, and had supplied

them with food and them with food and water.)water.)

- trivial the sins of Jeroboam

- married Jezebel

- trivial the sins of Jeroboam

- married Jezebel

1 Kings 17:11 Kings 17:1Now Elijah Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe the Tishbite, from Tishbe

in Gilead, said to Ahab, in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of "As the Lord, the God of

Israel, lives, whom I Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be serve, there will be

neither dew nor rain in neither dew nor rain in the next few years except the next few years except

at my word." at my word."

- Ahab is furious - Ahab is furious

1. The Confrontation of Elijah

1 Kings 17:2-31 Kings 17:2-3Then Then the word of the Lord the word of the Lord

came to Elijah: "Leave came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and here, turn eastward and

hide in the Kerith Ravine, hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. east of the Jordan.

- Ahab is furious - Ahab is furious

1. The Confrontation of Elijah

- Elijah hides - Elijah hides

- God provides - God provides

1 Kings 17:8-91 Kings 17:8-98 Then 8 Then the word of the Lord the word of the Lord

came to him: 9 "Go at came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath of once to Zarephath of

Sidon and stay there. I Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a have commanded a

widow in that place to widow in that place to supply you with food." supply you with food."

- Ahab is furious - Ahab is furious

1. The Confrontation of Elijah

- Elijah hides - Elijah hides

- God provides - God provides

Psalm 23:5Psalm 23:5You prepare You prepare a table before me in the a table before me in the

presence of my enemies. presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with You anoint my head with

oil; my cup overflows. oil; my cup overflows.

- Ahab is furious - Ahab is furious

1. The Confrontation of Elijah

- Elijah hides - Elijah hides

- God provides - God provides

1 Kings 18:11 Kings 18:1After a After a long time, in the third long time, in the third

year, the word of the Lord year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: "Go and came to Elijah: "Go and

present yourself to Ahab, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the and I will send rain on the

land." land."

- God relents - God relents

1. The Confrontation of Elijah

After 3 years .... After 3 years ....

1 Kings 18:191 Kings 18:19Now Now summon the people from summon the people from all over Israel to meet me all over Israel to meet me

on Mount Carmel. And on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred bring the four hundred

and fifty prophets of Baal and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred and the four hundred

prophets of Asherah, who prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." eat at Jezebel's table."

- God relents - God relents

1. The Confrontation of Elijah

- Ahab is given another opportunity - Ahab is given another opportunity

After 3 years .... After 3 years ....

- The Living God triumphs! - The Living God triumphs!

1 Kings 17:11 Kings 17:1Now Elijah Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe the Tishbite, from Tishbe

in Gilead, said to Ahab, in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of "As the Lord, the God of

Israel, lives, whom I Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be serve, there will be

neither dew nor rain in neither dew nor rain in the next few years except the next few years except

at my word." at my word."

1. The Confrontation of Elijah

YOU are as qualified as Elijah to take a stand

YOU are as qualified as Elijah to take a stand

What can’t you stand no more?What can’t you stand no more?

1 Kings 19:3-41 Kings 19:3-4Elijah Elijah was afraid and ran for his was afraid and ran for his

life. When he came to life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, left his servant there,

while he himself went a while he himself went a day's journey into the day's journey into the desert. He came to a desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down broom tree, sat down

under it and prayed that under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had he might die. "I have had

enough, Lord," he said. enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no "Take my life; I am no

better than my better than my ancestors." ancestors."

2. The Collapse of Elijah

Elijah has reached his limit:Elijah has reached his limit:

1 Kings 19:51 Kings 19:5Then he Then he lay down under the tree lay down under the tree

and fell asleep. All at and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched once an angel touched

him and said, "Get up and him and said, "Get up and eat." eat."

2. The Collapse of Elijah

Elijah has reached his limit:Elijah has reached his limit: - sleep - sleep

1 Kings 19:61 Kings 19:6He looked He looked around, and there by his around, and there by his

head was a cake of bread head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down drank and then lay down

again. again.

2. The Collapse of Elijah

Elijah has reached his limit:Elijah has reached his limit: - sleep - sleep - food - food

1 Kings 19:81 Kings 19:8So he got So he got up and ate and drank. up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that Strengthened by that

food, he traveled forty food, he traveled forty days and forty nights days and forty nights

until he reached Horeb, until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. the mountain of God.

2. The Collapse of Elijah

Elijah has reached his limit:Elijah has reached his limit: - sleep - sleep - food - food - solace - solace - connection with God - connection with God

1 Kings 19:191 Kings 19:19So Elijah So Elijah went from there and went from there and

found Elisha son of found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was Shaphat. He was

ploughing with twelve ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he yoke of oxen, and he

himself was driving the himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his up to him and threw his

cloak around him. cloak around him.

3. The Coaching of Elijah

- Elisha becomes the apprentice - Elisha becomes the apprentice

2 Kings 2:122 Kings 2:12Elisha saw Elisha saw this and cried out, "My this and cried out, "My father! My father! The father! My father! The

chariots and horsemen of chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he him no more. Then he

took hold of his own took hold of his own clothes and tore them clothes and tore them

apart. apart.

3. The Coaching of Elijah

- Elisha becomes the apprentice - Elisha becomes the apprentice

- Elijah became his father - Elijah became his father

1 Corinthians 4:14-1 Corinthians 4:14-1616I am not writing this to I am not writing this to

shame you, but to warn shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. you, as my dear children.

Even though you have Even though you have ten thousand guardians ten thousand guardians

in Christ, you do not have in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in many fathers, for in

Christ Jesus I became Christ Jesus I became your father through the your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge gospel. Therefore I urge

you to imitate me. you to imitate me.

3. The Coaching of Elijah

- Elisha becomes the apprentice - Elisha becomes the apprentice

- Elijah became his father - Elijah became his father

- Paul speaks of this - Paul speaks of this

1 Corinthians 4:171 Corinthians 4:17For For this reason I am sending this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son to you Timothy, my son

whom I love, who is whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my will remind you of my

way of life in Christ Jesus, way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I which agrees with what I

teach everywhere in teach everywhere in every church. every church.

3. The Coaching of Elijah

- Elisha becomes the apprentice - Elisha becomes the apprentice

- Elijah became his father - Elijah became his father

- Paul speaks of this - Paul speaks of this

Matthew 28:16-Matthew 28:16-2020Then the eleven Then the eleven

disciples went to disciples went to Galilee, ... Then Jesus Galilee, ... Then Jesus

came to them and said, came to them and said, "All authority in heaven "All authority in heaven and on earth has been and on earth has been

given to me. 19 Therefore given to me. 19 Therefore go .. and teaching them go .. and teaching them

to obey everything I have to obey everything I have commanded you. commanded you.

3. The Coaching of Elijah

- Elisha becomes the apprentice - Elisha becomes the apprentice

- Elijah became his father - Elijah became his father

- Paul speaks of this - Paul speaks of this - Jesus speaks of this - Jesus speaks of this