Podcasts about i kings

[I Kings 19: 1-21, 2 Kings 2: 1-18] Intro: How well do you cope with change? Do you change? Change … 1. Is normal (I Kings 19: 1-21) 2. Requires a process (I Kings 19:19-21, 2 Kings 2: 1-10). 3. Requires people participation (2 Kings 2: 11-18, 3: 11-12) - Pastor Joseph Thomas - Sunday, January 25, 2026

What does Bildad say that is right?1.He says God does not pervert justice.If this were not true, there would be no moral order to the universe. There would be no hope that righteousness would ultimately prevail. Thankfully, God's throne is built on righteousness and justice (Ps. 33:5; 89:14; 97:2; 99:4). These qualities are what God expects of His rulers (II Sam. 8:18; I Kings 10:9; Jer. 22:15-16) and His people generally (Isa. 5:7; Amos 5:24).Sin and suffering are connected Biblically. The blessings of the covenant in Lev. 26:6-13; Deut.28:1-14 and the curses of the covenant in Lev. 26:14-39; Deut. 28:15-68 illustrate the link between blessing and righteousness and sin and suffering. Much of the story of Israel's history recorded from Joshua- II Kings demonstrates the working out of those principles. But what does this mean to Bildad? Does he mean that a righteous person will not suffer? Ecclesiastes 3:16-17; 7:15; 8:14 show that this is no true. It is the very fact that things do not always work out in this life that drives us to a life beyond this one where wrongs are righted and the wicked and righteous are given the results of the different paths they have pursued.  2. He says that the godless will perish. He says that the confidence of the wicked is placed in things as fragile as spider's webThe fundamental question of life is Where is our confidence? On whom do we rely? On whom do we depend?Isaiah 36-37 deals with the days Assyria was attacking Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah. Sennacherib asks Hezekiah why he is rebelling against him. Where is your confidence? Word “confidence” (36:4), “rely” (36:5, 6, 6, 9), “trust” (36:7, 15) are all from the same Hebrew root word. The word is used 8 times in Isaiah 36. It is used as a verb except in 36:4 where it is translated with the noun confidence. The question that the king of Assyria asks is a fundamental question in the book of Isaiah and to the Bible as a whole and it is the foundational question of our lives. To put our place in the wrong place means that we will inevitably be clothed with shame.  3. There will an ultimate separation of the righteous and the wicked in eternity8:18 Ultimately that the statement that it place does not know it anymore will be God's pronouncement on the wicked (Matt. 7:13-14, 23; 25:12).8:21 In God's presence our mouths will be filled with laughter.  Job 8 and JesusBildad says that God does not reject the blameless in 8:20. He anticipates those who will cry to Jesus, “He trusts in God. Let God deliver him” in Matt. 27:43. “Job has a lesser Calvary, and each person has his own. But when we know of God's rejection of Jesus, our dereliction can never be as dark as Job's again”[1]It is through the suffering of God's perfect servant, Jesus, that God ultimately showed His justice and righteousness (Rom. 3:21-26). Job's battle foreshadows the even greater battle and the more intense suffering that God's servant, Jesus, would endure.  [1] Anderson, 142-143.

Send us a textIsrael had run a long way in the wrong way and appeared to be far gone, but into that melee of pagan practices stepped the prophet Elijah. Pick up your Bible or device, and turn to I Kings 18 to hear the story.This episode is based on the God's Word for Life, Winter 2025–2026, Adult Lesson Guide entitled, "The Prophet Elijah" (January 11, 2026).Find an Apostolic church that preaches this glorious gospel and our response at UPCI.orgThis episode is produced by the Pentecostal Resources Group and is hosted by LJ Harry. To order resources of the God's Word for Life curriculum, visitPentecostalPublishing.com and PentecostalResourcesGroup.com. Share your God's Word for Life stories with me at pphcurriculum@upci.org.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Jesus is certainly the center of it all, but the question remains: are we living lives truly centered on Him?Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-35 CSB The question isn't whether something is at the center of your life, but rather what or who that something is?For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see, such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Colossians 1:16-17 NLTIn geometry, the center point is the fixed reference from which distance and balance are measured.Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NLTWe often unnecessarily wobble our way through life.Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. I Kings 18:20-21 NLTIn a world cursed by the uncertainty of fallen humanity, Jesus at the center offers peace and stabilityTo be clear, there is a serious element of surrender involved in being centered on Jesus.I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESVMy old identity built on ego, pride, sin and selfishness has been put to death. Surrendering my life to Christ isn't self-destruction, it's Christ-centered transformation. When I'm centered on Jesus, my values, motives, strength, and direction come from Jesus. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Luke 9:23-24 NLTPoem - Christ The Center BeI think the fall knocked the world off it's axisCausing a wobble in humanity's walkAnd for Geometry's truth become praxisComing right will take more than talkPresently, beneath a cloud of doubt and fright,Mortal thoughts in a fog of confusion and chaos roam,While a gravitational force with prophetic mightDraws wandering souls who've strayed far from home.And just like the planets, that obey a pull they cannot see,So to hearts find peace and stability, when Christ the center be.-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

I Kings 19 - Abdel Judeh - Sunday Evening, December 28, 2025 by First Baptist Church of Hammond

The IntermissionDecember 28, 2025Teacher: Pastor Leanne BentonGuest: Amanda MathesThe IntermissionBe still and know that I am God.(Psalm 46:10)BIBLICAL INTERMISSION #1:Israel Between Egypt and the Promised LandRemember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands.(Deuteronomy 8:2)He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna…to teach you that man does not live on bread along but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.(Deuteronomy 8:2)The wilderness was not punishment.It was preparation!BIBLICAL INTERMISSION #2:Elijah After the MountaintopThe Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.(I Kings 19:11-12)BIBLICAL INTERMISSION #3:Jesus Between Birth and MinistryFor to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.(Isaiah 9:6)And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.(Luke 2:52)In their hearts humans plan their course,But the Lord establishes their steps.(Proverbs 16:9)He who began a good work in youWill carry it on to completion.(Philippians 1:6)INTERMISSION #4: Redeemer Church

Send us a textDavid's son, Solomon, was chosen to be Israel's next king. When God asked him what he would like from God, Solomon wisely asked for wisdom. Pick up your Bible or phone and turn to I Kings 3 to hear the story.This episode is based on the God's Word for Life, Winter 2025–2026, Adult Lesson Guide entitled, "The Wisdom of Solomon" (December 21, 2025).Find an Apostolic church that preaches this glorious gospel and our response at UPCI.orgThis episode is produced by the Pentecostal Resources Group and is hosted by LJ Harry. To order resources of the God's Word for Life curriculum, visitPentecostalPublishing.com and PentecostalResourcesGroup.com. Share your God's Word for Life stories with me at pphcurriculum@upci.org.

5:8-16 The doxology of EliphazThere are similar doxologies in Job 9:4-12 and 12:13-25.5:8 But as for me, I would seek God- (Amos 5:4, 6) The Hebrew text actually says but I seek God.  Is seeking God in this passage to inquire of the LORD as the word sometimes means in Gen. 25:22; Ex. 18:15; I Kings 14:5; 22:8; II Kings 1:3, 6,16; II Kings 22:18; II Chron. 32:31; Ezek. 14:7; 20:1.  5:9 Who does great and unsearchable things- 9:10; Ps. 136:4. God's glory is beyond our ability to search or understand (Job 9:10; 11:7; 36:26; Isa. 40:28). Bildad will use the same word for searched in Job 8:8 in which he will say that former generations have searched out this problem of suffering and come to the same conclusions where he and his friends arrived.  5:10 He gives rain on the earth- Ancient people would have attributed the rain to the blessings of their God or gods. Modern man tends to view rain as a natural phenomenon and just as illustration of how the world works. The Bible does not attribute rain to Baal (the contest between Baal and Yahweh in I Kings 17-18). The Bible does not make rain simply a natural law that God built into the world. The Bible speaks of it as a blessing from God's hand, both in Job 36:27-28; 38:25-26. God sending rain on the just and unjust is a continual illustration of him doing good to those who are His enemies in Matt. 5:45.5:11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly- The word translated lowly, shakal, is translated humble in Prov. 16:19; 29:23. God often dramatically reverses a person's situation (I Sam. 2:7-8; Ps. 113:5-8; 147:6; Luke 1:46-56). God exalts the lowly (Matt. 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14). 5:12 He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd- God used the counsel of Hushai to thwart (same word translated frustrates here) the good counsel of Ahithophel (II Sam. 17:14).This word shrewd can be used in a positive sense (Prov. 1:4; 8:5; 12:16, 23; 13:16; 14:8, 15, 18; 15:5; 19:25; 22:3; 27:12) or in a negative one (Gen. 3:1; Job 5:12; 15:5). 5:13 He captures the wise by their own shrewdness- The idea is the wise man falling in his own trap he has set for others- Job 18:7-10; 36:8-10; Ps. 7:15; 35:7-8; 57:6; Prov. 26:27; 28:10; Esther 7:10. This verse is quoted by Paul in I Cor. 3:19 and introduced by the wording “For it is written." Does the fact that I Cor. 3:19 shows us that Eliphaz spoke truth demand that he used these words in a proper way? His words are truth, but he seems to place Job among the shrewd who will be brought down. 5:14 By day they meet with darkness- Job 12:24-25; Deut.28:29; Isa.  59:10. And grope at noon as in the night- In the brightest times of the day they will encounter complete darkness (Amos 8:9). 5:15 But He saves from the sword of the mouth- For the tongue as a weapon- Ps. 52:2,4; 64:3; Isa. 54:17; Jer. 18:18; Ps. 12:3-5; 31:21; James 3:5-6. 5:16 So the helpless has hope- 8:13; 11:18; 14:7; Jer. 31:17; Ezek. 37:11; Prov. 19:8; Ruth 1:12; Lam.3:29 The fact that God does these things is a reason for help for the broken. God will catch the world's expectations by surprise. And unrighteousness must shut its mouth- Ps.107:42.  Is Eliphaz placing Job among those who are lowly who will be lifted up or among those who are shrewd who will be brought down? The fact that he emphasizes more about the shrewd who are brought down (vs. 12-14) suggests to me that this is Eliphaz's emphasis here.  

First Sunday of Advent teaching on Luke 2:8-143; I Kings 19:11-12; and John 1:14. 

The Bible is God's message, God's word (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21). However, in the Bible there are speakers that say things that are incorrect or particularly designed to deceive. For example, the words of the serpent, the devil in Gen. 3:4-5; Matt. 4:1-11. The words of false prophets are recorded in I Kings 22:9-12 or Jer. 28:1-4 and false accusations against John and Jesus are recorded in Matt. 11:18-19 and Luke 7:33-34. When the Bible reports something happening it is true but there are those in its pages who do not speak on God's behalf.  Job is the most difficult book of the Bible to determine whether the spokesman is from God or not. In the epilogue the LORD says that Eliphaz and his two friends have not spoken of Him what is right (Job 42:7). The LORD plainly says it, these men do not speak for Him. Does that mean that everything they say is wrong? In Job 5:13 Eliphaz says, “He captures the wise by their shrewdness.” Paul quotes these words in I Cor. 3:19 and introduces them with “For it is written.” The only time that Job is specifically quoted in the New Testament it is the words of Eliphaz. Obviously, not everything that Eliphaz and his friends said was wrong. On the other hand, Job was said to speak of God what was right in Job 42:7. While Job spoke what was right, does that mean that all he spoke was correct? The LORD said that Job, “Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) and Job repeats these words confessing his sin of speaking of the things “which I did not understand” in 42:3. After this confession, he retracts and repents in 42:6. Clearly, Job says things that are not right. Also, how do we take the words of Elihu? Elihu is not mentioned at all by God at the end of the book. Does that mean that he said nothing different from the friends or does it mean that God approves of his words? The question is how do we know what the various speakers say that is from God and what is not? These factors make Job an extremely difficult book. 

Sometimes there is the “Not Yet” response from God where you have been praying about something for an extended period of time.  It may be 30 minutes, 30 days, or 30 years, but without an answer, we are called to PRAY THROUGH, and Trust God for the results.  In this message, We are looking at I Kings 18, and learning how Elijah Prayed Through when he didn't get the immediate answer. We pray this message encourages you with your unanswered prayers. 

3:13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet- When Job lays down he gets no rest (7:4). Job's point “not that death is so wonderful, but that life has become intolerable. Wilson. Again, the term Sheol is not used in the passage but that is clearly the idea. I would have been asleep then I would have been at rest- Rest is a great blessing of God tied with receiving the land of promise Ex. 33:14; Deut. 3:20; 12:10; 25:19; Josh. 1:13, 15; 21:44; 22:4; 23:1; II Sam. 7:1, 11; I Kings 5:4. This  word translated rest will also be used in 3:17, 26. Job believes the same kind of rest associated with the promised land is available in Sheol. Here “Job does not hope that death will rectify the injustice of his undeserved sufferings. It will be enough that it ends them” Anderson, 106.This roll call of Sheol includes the powerful, kings, counsellors of the earth, princes and great men (14-15, 19). It also includes the weak and powerless like infants, stillborn children, the weary, and the slaves, the small (16, 19). This list also has those who are ungodly like the wicked and prisoners (17-18). All together are united in Sheol. Death and Sheol are great equalizers for all kinds of people (Eccl. 9:2-6). Job speaks of Sheol as a place of rest (13, 17), ease (18), and freedom (19). How much of Job's words here can be trusted? When the LORD speaks, He will ask Job how much does he really know about these things he speaks about with such authority (38:16-18)?" Smick, 891.Job's view of Sheol is not consistent throughout the book. For example, the words of Job 10:18-22 and 17:13-16 are much gloomier than the picture in 3:11-19. Job uses at least three of the five terms used in 3:4-6 to describe darkness in speaking of Sheol in Job 10:21-22. Other passages of the OT do not portray Sheol or death in the positive terms seen here (Ps. 6:5; 30:9; 88:11-13; 115:17; Isa. 38:18). In Ecclesiastes in particular it is death itself that renders life's pursuits vanity (Eccl. 2:12-17, 18-23; 9:5, 10)    It is probably best to see Job's positive view of life after death in 3:11-19 not as representing his final word on Sheol, but as a manifestation of his state of mind at that time. Anything looks better to Job than his present condition. 3:21 Who long for death, but it does not come- The word long for is used for longing or waiting on God in Ps. 33:20; Isa. 8:17; 30:18; 64:4 and of God's longing to be gracious in Isa. 30:18. God longs to be gracious to those who are longing for Him. The longing for God is most common object of such longing in the biblical account. However, here the object of longing is death and that thought appears only here in the Bible. 3:26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet- The word for at ease was used in 3:18 and is used later in Job 12:6. In 12:6 the destroyers and those who provoke God are at ease but Job has none. The word quiet was used in 3:13. Here Job has no quiet in contrast to what he envisioned for those who are in Sheol- 3:13. I have no rest, for trouble comes- The word for rest was used in 3:13, 17. The point is the same as that made above about the word quiet. While Job has no rest, those who are in Sheol do in 3:13, 17. The word trouble in vs. 26 is the same word translated raging in vs. 17. Interestingly, in vs. 17 the word is said to characterize the wicked. Job raging is not from his wickedness but from his depth of pain. 

Today we will be taking a look at 25 chapters that are both exciting and complex. The 25 chapters: 1 Kings 15 - 22 2 Kings 1 - 11 2 Chronicles 17 - 22 A period of approximately 33 years. As our study begins we see Ahab (874-853 BC) - is the ruler of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Jehoshaphat (870-848 BC) - is ruler of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. There's good news and bad news from this period of 33 years… There was an alliance made between Israel and Judah. Bad news: 2 Chronicles 18:1 tells us, "Now Jehoshaphat (Judah) had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab  (Israel) by marriage." As we dig into this we see Ahab (Israel's worst King) was married to Jezebel, they had a daughter named Athaliah.  We also see that Jehoshaphat had a son named Jehoram. Athaliah and Jehoram marry. This is the alliance between Israel and Judah, but the marriage brought great tragedy. Ahab invites Jehoshaphat to Samaria in Israel. Ahab tells him he wants land back that had taken from him and he wants Jehoshaphat to help him fight to get it back. Ahab has 400 false prophets that say he should attack Judah because he will be victorious. Jehoshaphat listens but requests a 2nd opinion. That 2nd opinion comes from a prophecy of Micaiah son of Imlah a prophet of the Living God. Micaiah tells them, "I saw all Israel was scattered on the hillside because the shepherd was gone." And what happens is that he is thrown in jail. Judah and Israel go to battle and attack Remoth Gilead and the bettle ends in great defeat for Israel and Judah. King Ahab is killed and one of his sons takes over his throne.  About 5 years later we read in 2 Chronicles 21:1 that Jehoshaphat dies and his son Jehoram succeeds him as king of Judah. Additionally, in 2 Chronicles 21:4-5 we see Jehoram puts all his brothers to death in order to protect his throne. And now we see Elijah stepping in with a letter to King Jehoram. 2 Chronicles 21:12-13 we see Elijah tell Jehoram that he has not followed the way of his father and grandfather in following God and instead follows the worship and practices of idolatry of the Northern Kingdom. Jehoram has turned away from the God of David. Vs 13-14 he holds Jehoram accountable for killing his brothers, and tells him that he will become sick and die of disease.  This is a warning to the way Jehoram is headed and it's God's call to stop and to come back to Him. But Jehoram continues to do what he had always done. So he dies and his son, Ahaziah, becomes King of Judah.   Reminder: Athaliah is King Ahab and Jezebel's daughter. Ahab and his wife led Israel away from God. Their daughter Athaliah is married to Jehoram (King of Judah) and when Jehoram dies their son Ahaziah becomes King of Judah. The spiritual pollution of Israel has not only come down to Judah, it has taken the throne. The line of Ahab is on the throne in both Israel and in Judah. In Israel Ahaziah's uncle, Joram, is King.  There is a second Battle of Remoth Gilead at this time. Ahaziah (King of Judah) and his uncle Joram (King of Israel) decide to do the battle again, expecting to win this time. Joram, King of Israel is severely injured in the battle, Ahaziah, King of Judah, goes to check on his uncle. 2 Kings 9:1-3 Elisha has a man go to Remoth Gilead and anoint Jehu as King over Israel. The result is found in 2 Kings 9:22-23, Jehu confronts the Joram King of Israel and Ahaziah King of Judah at the bedside of Joram, Ahaziah's uncle, where he and Ahaziah are talking. Jehu says there can be no peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of Ahaziah;s mother Jezabel abounds. Joram flees and Jehu pulls out his bow and arrow and hits Joram in the back killing him.  Jehu then chases Ahaziah wounding him. Ahaziah dies, too, and now both the King of Israel and the King of Judah are dead. I Kings 11:1 tells us that when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah saw he son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of Judah. She desired to eliminate the whole line of David through which the Messiah was to come.  2 Kings 11:2 but the Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered.  She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. And as a result a godly king will ultimately come to the throne against the desire of Ahaziah. Join us next week as our story continues! Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

As we review a familiar story in I Kings 19 we learn that God is not only aware of our failures, but he walks with us through them as we grow and learn. The post Does God really care about my failure? (1 Kings 19:1-18) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.

We continue our sermon series The Prophets and the Kings, a series based on the Elijah and Elisha stories. Pastor Jonker will preach on the story of Naboth's vineyard which is found in I Kings 21.

Are you desperate to hear from God? Many times we have found that when we are simply going about our business that God speaks to us. I Kings 19:11-13

I Kings 19: 9 ¶And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

  1:1 And that man was blameless and upright- Job will be described as blameless and upright in 1:1, 8; 2:3. The emphasis in this verse is not on the time Job lived nor where he lived but on his character. “Job's blameless is given precedent over the more external description of Job's family and wealth" (Clines, 9) His character both begins (vs. 1) and ends (vs. 4-5) this section. The word translated blameless is a pivotal word in the book (8:20; 9:20, 21, 22). The same root word appears in 12:4; 36:4; 37:16 and its feminine form appears in 27:5; 31:6. In 9:20 the word blameless (or guiltless in the NASB) is used in parallelism with the word righteous and an antonym for blameless is to declare guilty. In 9:22 blameless or guiltless is the opposite of the wicked. Blameless is not sinless. Job acknowledges “iniquities of my youth” in 13:26; 14:16-17. This root word for blameless is used of Noah (Gen. 6:9), Abraham (Gen. 17:1), and to describe the sacrificial animals in Ex. 12:5; 29:1; Lev. 1:3. In Ps. 19:13 blameless is defined as being kept back from great transgression.1:5 “With such an expression of Job's concern, his own still-future temptation would be foreshadowed" (Clines, 16). The very thing that Job feared his children would do, curse God in their hearts, is what the Satan says that Job will do if his blessings are taken away in 1:11; 2:5. It will also be what his wife encourages him to do in 2:9. The word translated curse is actually the Hebrew term for bless. We know that it means curse because of its connection with the word sinned in 1:5. Why was the term for bless used when curse is its meaning? While we can only speculate on the why it is possible that the thought of cursing God was so abhorrent that the scribes could not bring themselves to write these words and used bless as a euphemism for curse. (Alter, 12). The same phenomena appears where Naboth is accused of blessing (cursing) God and the king in I Kings 21:10, 13; Psalm 10:3. The weakness with this argument however is that there are places in the Old Testament that speak of cursing God and use the word generally rendered curse- Exodus 22:28; Lev. 24:14, 15, 23; Isa. 8:21. Each time the word bless is used we must examine whether it means bless or its opposite. (Seow, 254-255). 

Senior Minister Margie Smith ministers from I Kings 17:13 on the benefits of having a pastor. The benefits are only as good as one who follows the instructions. The good news is that one will be lacking nothing who follows Godly instructions. Scripture: I Kings 17:13 - And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. Hit the notification bell so that you do not miss our most recent video. From your mobile device, to sow a financial seed into the ministry you may visit us at occvr.org and click the menu tab to locate the donate button. The donate button will provide two options for online giving. You may utilize “Text To Give” in which you will text “give” to the phone number 770-692-2225 to setup your monthly gift or one time financial gift. The additional method for online giving is simply click on the paypal “donate” button. Thanks to our generous partners in ministry, we are able to continue spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our local and foreign outreach ministries. For further information on Overcomers Christian Center including address, service times, and other information please visit occvr.org. Also you may visit us at the following: Facebook: @occvr Podcast: The Overcomers

A Study of I Kings 17-18 on the instant obedience of Elijah.

How does one of the greatest men of God crater so quickly?I Kings 18:46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak intohis belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.I Kings 19:3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.Elijah didn't stop believing in God.Elijah stopped connecting with God's people.I Kings 19:3-4 When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servantthere, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to abroom bush,  sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have hadenough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” I Kings 19:9 And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here,Elijah?”I Kings 19:10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put yourprophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,I Kings 18:12b-13 Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth.Haven't you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets ofthe Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord's prophets in two caves, fifty in each, andsupplied them with food and water. 3 Reasons We Isolate1. We grow comfortable with ISOLATION and being ALONE.God may PREPARE you in solitude, but He will SUSTAIN you in community.The root cause of most issues in our life a lack of a strong CHRISTIANCOMMUNITY.Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good return fortheir labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyonewho falls and has no one to help them up.'Hebrews 10:24–25 ‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on towardlove and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit ofdoing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Dayapproaching.'CONNECT GROUP QR code slide on screen2. We believe the LIE that no one can RELATE to my situation.Your feelings are REAL, but they are not always RIGHT.1 Corinthians 10:13 ‘No temptation has overtaken you except what is common tomankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you canbear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you canendure it.'James 5:17 ‘Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that itwould not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.'3. We forget how many PEOPLE God has FOR US.I Kings 19:13 Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah.”I Kings 19:14 “I am the only one left.”1 Kings 19:15 “The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came,I Kings 19:18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have notbowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.'”Proverbs 27:17 ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.'Galatians 6:2 ‘Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the lawof Christ.'1 Kings 19:11–12 “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in thepresence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerfulwind tore through the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but theLord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lordwas not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was notin the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

A Study of I Kings 17-18 on the instant obedience of Elijah.

A Study of I Kings 17-18 on the instant obedience of Elijah.

Robert Morgan is a Bible teacher, associate pastor and podcaster. He speaks at church conferences and conventions across the country and around the world. He was a caregiver for his wife, Katrina, who battled MS and went home to be with the Lord in 2019. He is the author of numerous books including The Red Sea Rules, Then Sings My Soul, The 50 Final Events in World History, and 100 Bible Verses That Made America. His most recent book is titled God Hasn't Forgotten You in which he presents "24 Remarkable Ways God is Working in You and Through You." Have you ever felt abandoned by God? Perhaps you've gone through a time of depression, discouragement or despair and wonder, "God where are you?" Perhaps you have felt all alone and isolated thinking that God doesn't care or doesn't remember you. You may feel He is unaware of the circumstances you're going through which causes you to feel that you've been abandoned. If that's the case, you're not alone. In the Scriptures we learn of people like Job who experienced great suffering and loss. He no doubt felt abandoned. Here's what is said in Job 30:20: "I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not." At times Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, felt abandoned by God. Then there was Elijah who had a great victory on top of Mt. Carmel against the prophets of Baal. But after Jezebel threatened his life, he was discouraged and ran and said as recorded in I Kings 19:10b, "I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." In each of these cases God let them know that they were not abandoned by Him.

Are you ever reading your Bible when God suddenly just stops you and says, “look at this”?Well, that happened to me earlier this summer. I was reading through I Kings and I got to chapter 19 where God gives Elijah some instructions. God says to ElijahIn verse 15“Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. Verse 16And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”So that's well and clear. Anoint Hazael and Jehu and Elisha. Cool. But then verse 19 says this: So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him,Wait, what? He skipped the first two and went straight to Elisha. In fact, Elijah didn't anoint Hazael at all. He never anoints Jehu either. He just anointed one of the three, and totally ignored God's command about the first two guys.And so my question as I read this was: did Elijah sin in this chapter? And if so, why?And what were the ramifications of all this?And if Elijah did sin, then why does God take him on up to heaven in a fiery chariot without dying just a few chapters later?What we're going to find is that Elijah was supposed to learn a lesson in this chapter, and he failed to get it. He was so busy feeling sorry for himself that it went right over his head. But if you listen all the way to the end, we'll answer all those questions I laid out, and maybe you and I can receive what Elijah missed. You'll get all of that today on the God and His Prophets podcast.

Robert Morgan is a Bible teacher, associate pastor and podcaster. He speaks at church conferences and conventions across the country and around the world. He was a caregiver for his wife, Katrina, who battled MS and went home to be with the Lord in 2019. He is the author of numerous books including The Red Sea Rules, Then Sings My Soul, The 50 Final Events in World History, and 100 Bible Verses That Made America. His most recent book is titled God Hasn't Forgotten You in which he presents "24 Remarkable Ways God is Working in You and Through You." Have you ever felt abandoned by God? Perhaps you've gone through a time of depression, discouragement or despair and wonder, "God where are you?" Perhaps you have felt all alone and isolated thinking that God doesn't care or doesn't remember you. You may feel He is unaware of the circumstances you're going through which causes you to feel that you've been abandoned. If that's the case, you're not alone. In the Scriptures we learn of people like Job who experienced great suffering and loss. He no doubt felt abandoned. Here's what is said in Job 30:20: "I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not." At times Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, felt abandoned by God. Then there was Elijah who had a great victory on top of Mt. Carmel against the prophets of Baal. But after Jezebel threatened his life, he was discouraged and ran and said as recorded in I Kings 19:10b, "I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." In each of these cases God let them know that they were not abandoned by Him.

Exodus 20:3 “You must not have any other god but me.”Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.idols made of gold and clay and silverAn IDOL is anything YOU VALUE more than God.IDOL: anything you seek to GIVE YOU what only God can.Colossians 3:5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Idols are not always BAD THINGS.Idols are often GOOD THINGS we put in GOD'S PLACE.Satan will do EVERYTHING to get you to put ANYTHING in God's place. False gods always PROMISE what only the true God can PROVIDE.It's time to STOP WAVERING!I Kings 18:17-20 When he (Ahab) saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.” So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.ONE is always a MAJORITY with God. I Kings 18:21a Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you WAVER between two opinions?”When you RIDE THE FENCE with God, all you end up with is a SPLINTERED LIFE.I Kings 18:21b “If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”“If you're going to be saved, be saved all the way!”—Charles SpurgeonI Kings 18:21c But the people said nothing.I Kings 18:24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”I Kings 18:24b Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”I Kings 18:26-29 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice.  But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.I Kings 18:36-38 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. I Kings 18:39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”It's time to STOP WAVERING!

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?.", Baptism Video, Children's Time, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service).       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive..”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have."      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Psalm 150“The ancient editors, having chosen to represent the book of Psalms as above all Tehillim, songs of praise, by concluding the collection with six psalms of praise, now climactically set at the end this psalm that begins and ends with ‘hallelujah'” Alter, 515. God is praised “by every means (3-5) and from every person (6)” Motyer, 583. The verb praise is used 13 times in Psalm 150 and forms “a resounding doxological close to the Psalms” NICOT, 1009. There is little descriptive praise in the psalm.  The psalm answers five basic questions about praise: 1. Who is praised- vs. 1-6? Praising the LORD eliminates all other gods. 2. Where He is praised (vs. 1)? 3. Why He is praised (vs. 2)? He is praised for what He has done and who He is. 4. How He is praised (vss. 3-5)? 5. By whom He is praised (vs. 6)? Willis, vol. 1, 43-44. “Between the opening and closing of this inclusio, there are five bicola that conclude with a climactic monocolon. Both cola of the five bicola begins with halelu yah, while the monocolon concludes with the phrase. Thus, the psalmist instructs his hearers presumably fellow worshippers, thirteen times in as many cola praise the Lord” Longman, 476-477. Praise Him according to His excellent greatness- 145:3Vs. 3-5 “describe the method by which the worshippers are to offer praise” NICOT, 1009. 150:3 Praise Him with trumpet sound-. “The most complete list of musical instruments used in Israel's worship to be found anywhere in the OT is given here. Perhaps each group began to play upon their instruments at the time they were announced, so that the effect would be an ever-increasing chorus of praise” Miller, 454.“The trumpet here is the Hebrew shophar, the ram's horn or goat's horn, not to be confused with the silver trumpet (Num. 10:2). The shophar might be used for giving signals (cf. Judges 3:27; I Kings 1:34, 39; Isa. 18:3), but was also employed in worship (cf, 47:5-7; 98:6). The silver trumpets were blown by the priests in the worship assemblies (cf. Num. 10:10; I Chron. 15:24; 16:6, 42; II Chron. 5:12; 29:26). The sophar was apparently generally not used in conjunction with other instruments except to increase their noise (I Chron. 15:28; II Chron. 15:14). Apparently the sophar was not generally blown by laymen (but see II Kings 11:14; II Chron. 23:13)” Miller, 454-455.Praise Him with harp and lyre- Ps. 33:2 The word translated harp “is a stringed instrument made of wood, with gut strings which were plucked with the hand, or an instrument of ivory or metal” Miller, 455. The word lyre “is a small stringed instrument which was portable (137:2)” Miller, 455. 150:4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing- Ps. 149:3 “The timbrel is a percussion instrument 150:5 Praise Him with loud cymbals- “The Levites played the harps (nebhalim), lyres, and cymbals (I Chron. 15:16; II Chron. 29:25). Whether the other instruments were restricted to priests and Levites is not clear” Miller, 455. In the OT, instrumental music was played at the coronation of a king (I Kings 1:34, 39-42; II Kings 9:13; Ps. 47:5; 98:6). They played at feasts (Ps. 81:3; Num. 10:1-10). They were sounded at battles (Hos. 5:8). They were used in temple worship (II Chron. 29:25)- VanGemeren, 879-880. Passages in the Psalms- 33:2; 43:4; 47:5; 49:4; 57:8; 68:24-25; 71:22; 81:2-3; 92:3; 98:5-6; 108:2; 137:2; 144:9; 147:7; 149:3; 150:3-5.

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?., Baptism, Children's Time, Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive.”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have.."      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?.       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals.      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?.", Baptism Video, Children's Time, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service).       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive..”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have."      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?., Baptism, Children's Time, Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive.”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have.."      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?.       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals.      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

I Kings 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”Before God can do something big THROUGH YOU, he often times needs to work ON YOU.God will often humble you PRIVATELY before using you PUBLICLY.Usually this happens during a painful season of WAITING.I Kings 17:2-3 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.”KERITH: Hebrew—“Cut off” or “Cut down”“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.”—A.W. TozerDuring your WAITING, God wants to develop your DEPENDENCE on Him.I Kings 17:4-6 “You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.If DEPENDENCE is the goal, WEAKNESS is an advantage. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Each time he (GOD) said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Finally, God will call you to radical OBEDIENCE.I Kings 17:7-9 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”I Kings 17:9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”I Kings 17:10 So he went to Zarephath.What has God been preparing you for that you need to STAND UP, MOVE and be RADICALLY OBEDIENT to?Successful people do CONSISTENTLY what average people do OCCASIONALLY. 

I Kings 15:1-24; II Chronicles 13-16

I Kings 22; II Chronicles 18

I Kings 15:25-16:34; II Chronicles 17

I Kings 17-19

I Kings 20-21

I Kings 17-19

I Kings 15:1-24; II Chronicles 13-16

I Kings 15:25-16:34; II Chronicles 17

I Kings 22; II Chronicles 18

I Kings 20-21

You are not powerless over your discerning your thoughts. But have you ever thought, is this me, Thee or the enemy I'm hearing? It can be difficult to determine if the voice we hear is God's voice, our own or the enemy's. Today, we hope to help you take the guesswork out of discerning God's voice so you can be confident in His guidance and the assignment He has for your life. I Kings 19:11-13

I Kings 10-11; II Chronicles 9

I Kings 9; II Chronicles 8

I Kings 12-14

I Kings 8; II Chronicles 5