Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service November 1, 2015:

Scripture: 1 Kings 18, 19

The Background for the message

Elijah the Prophet of God:

• Elijah announced God’s judgment in the form of a drought upon Israel – 1 Kings 17:1
• Elijah is supernaturally cared for during the drought – 1 Kings 17:2-7
• Elijah raised a widow’s dead son to life – 1 Kings 17:17-24
• Elijah prayed and the drought ended – 1 Kings 18:17-40; James 5:17, 18
• Elijah carried to heaven in a chariot of fire – 2 Kings 2:9 (Translated to glory without dying)

Elijah challenges Ahab and his 450 pagan prophets to meet him on Mount Carmel – 18:17-19

Ahab – King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the most wicked up to this time – He marred Jezebel, a fanatical Baal worshipper

Baal – Lord of the Canaanite religion, seen in thunderstorms as a god of weather, also worshiped as a god who provided fertility

Elijah rebukes Israel for wavering between worshipping the Lord and worshipping Baal – 18:20-21

Elijah proposes a contest between himself and the prophets of Baal -18:22-24

• Each side was to prepare a young bull as a sacrifice and place it on the altar
• Elijah tells the prophets to call on their god to send fire down to consume the sacrifice and Elijah will call upon his God to do the same
• The God that answers by fire, “let Him be God” – 18:24
• As the prophets of Baal shouted, leaped on the altar and cut themselves till the “blood gushed out” – 18:26-28
• Elijah prays and fire falls from heaven and consumes the sacrifice – 18:30-39
• The people acknowledge “the LORD, He is God” – 18:39
• The prophets of Baal are executed – 18:40

Elijah announces the end of a 3 year drought and there is a terrific rainstorm that sweeps over the land – 18:41-45

(Drought was punishment for the sins of the king and those of Northern Israel)

News comes to Jezebel (Ahab’s wife) and she determines to have Elijah killed – 19:1-2

Elijah’s response – 19:3-4

• Elijah suffers here from discouragement, despondency and depression

Taking God out of the Picture:

 Can happen to anyone at any time

Elijah, a great and mighty prophet of God

• Elijah raised a widow’s dead son to life – 1 Kings 17:17-24
• Defeated the prophets of Baal – 1 Kings 18:22-40
• Elijah prayed and the drought ended – 1 Kings 18:17-40; James 5:17, 18

Many times begins with a trigger – See 19:1-3

• Here we have Elijah, tired, drained and alone

When God is taken out of the Picture:

We are left with what we see on the surface

– 19:10  We focus of self and our own circumstances

We are left to our own understanding

We are left to struggle through life on our own and in our own strength

During times when God is taken out of the Picture:

God has not changed

God continues to be faithful – 19:5-8

• God provided Elijah a time of rest and refreshment (that’s what he needed at the time) – 19:5-8

God wants us to consider where we are at and what we are doing – 19:9, 13

God wants our attention and for us to have listening ears – 19:11, 12

God brings clarity to our lives – 19:18

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service, October 25, 2015:

Scripture:  Matthew 8

1. Because of Who He is

• God – Colossians 1:15, 19
• Creator – Colossians 1:16, John 1:3, Hebrews 1:2
• Sustainer – Colossians 1:17
• All Powerful – Colossians 1:17
• Cannot lie – Titus 1:2
• He does not change – Hebrews 13:8
• He defines love – I John 4:8

2. Because of what He has done

Shed His blood for us – Colossians 1:14, 20, 21

• Redemption (verse 14a)
• Forgiveness (verse 14b)
• Peace (verse 20)
• Reconciliation (verses 20, 21)

3. Because of what He has promised

• Promised us eternal life – I John 2:25, I John 5:12
• Promised never to leave us or forsake us – Hebrews 13:5b, John 14:18
• Promised He will not reject those that come to Him – John 6:37
• Promised to work all things together for good to those that are His and that love Him – Romans 8:28

Remember Whenever There is a Perceived Failure:

1. He always keeps His Word
2. He builds our faith and trust – Matthew 8:23-27
3. He abides with us and works in ways we may not recognize – Matthew 14:22-33 (v26), Mark 6:46-51
4. His delays are with purpose – John 11 (vs 4-6, 15, 15; 39-45)

 

Truth – “Jesus Never Fails”