1 KINGS 17
4 Outlines
1 Kings
PROPHET UNDER PRESSURE
Elijah the prophet had made a proclamation to King
Ahab that it would not rain. Vs. 1
God hid Elijah by Brook Cherith
and provided for his needs there. Vss. 2-6
When the brook dried up, God provided for his needs
through a poor widow. Vss. 7-16
HE WAS ACCUSED DURING TROUBLE – Vss. 17-18
A distraught mother got on Elijah’s case.
HE ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY – Vs. 19
Elijah didn’t argue or accuse back, he simply took
responsibility for the problem.
HE ASKED FOR GOD’S HELP – Vss. 20-22
Elijah cried out to God, getting personally involved
with the problem.
God gave life back to the child.
HE ANSWERED THE ACCUSATION – Vss. 23-34
Elijah presented the son back alive.
The widow acknowledged that Elijah was indeed God’s
prophet.
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1 Kings 17
TESTED!
One thing we can count
on as Christians is tests and trials. Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4, 1 Corinthians
10:13
All of God's saints have
been tested, including the great Prophet Elijah. Consider the tests that he
faced in just one chapter of the Bible!
TESTED BY A DECLARATION
TO A HOSTILE CROWD - Vs. 1
Ahab and Jezebel were
wicked people (See 1 Kings
They were not true
followers of the God of
For Elijah to walk up to
them and make a declaration that it wasn't going to rain until he said so, was
quite a test of bravery and trust in God.
TESTED BY A DEPARTURE TO
A DESOLATE PLACE - Vss. 2-7
Because of the
wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah had to hide. God sent him to a solitary place where a
brook provided his drink and his food was delivered by the Ravens. This was a test of Elijah's willingness to
accept what God would provide in the way of food without complaint.
TESTED BY DEPENDENCE ON
A POOR WIDOW - Vss. 8-16
Elijah had to trust in
the provision of God through a woman who was almost as poor as he was.
The woman had nothing
but a little flour and a little oil, yet because she and Elijah were both
obedient they had food during the whole draught.
TESTED BY DEATH OF THE
WIDOW'S SON - Vss. 17-24
This was the biggest
test of all, but Elijah passed the test!
Through faith and prayer the dead boy was restored to life.
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1 Kings 17:1-24
THE CARED-FOR SERVANT
Elijah was a servant of
God who teaches us that God will meet the needs of those whom He calls.
Elijah was called to go into
the hostile court of Ahab and Jezebel and proclaim a draught in the name of the
Lord.
GOD MET THE NEED FOR
SAFETY Vss. 2-3
GOD MET THE NEED FOR
SUPPLIES Vss. 4-16
GOD MET THE NEED FOR
STANDING (Testimony) Vss. 17-24
Through no fault of his own, Elijah's
testimony was at stake.
God took care of the need through the
supernatural.
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1 Kings 17:1
A CHOICE SERVANT
This morning a
number of choice servants of God got up early, picked up buses, and went out to
bring children and adults to Sunday School.
This afternoon,
there were choice servants of God conducting services in nursing homes. During
this week there will be choice servants of God working in rescue missions,
adult homes, youth groups, Good News Clubs, and a host of other
ministries. There also will be choice
servants of God doing construction, repairing buildings used for ministry,
mowing lawns, nursing the sick, and running
errands. All this will be done for the
glory of God!
People make the
mistake of thinking that the only choice servants of God are those who are in
full time Christian service of some sort. This is a wrong assumption.
A CHOICE SERVANT
OF GOD IS SIMPLY A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN WHO IS DOING THE WILL OF GOD.
If you are a born
again Christian, you are a servant of God. 1 Peter 1:15-16, Titus 3:8.
One choice servant
of God who can be a good model for us is the prophet Elijah. He was not perfect. 1 Kings 19 tells of his "burn
out" in ministry. James 5:17a tells us "Elias was a man subject to
like passions as we are..." Elijah was very human.
Here are some
things about Elijah that we can imitate.
ELIJAH WAS A MAN
OF GOD
He appears in
1. His Profession
- "As the Lord God of
Though his
idolatry and lack of faith in the living God, Ahab was acting like God was
dead. Elijah proclaimed that God is
alive!
In an age when
people are acting like God is dead, we are to proclaim that He is very much
alive!
2. His Position -
"...before whom I stand..."
Elijah stood in
relationship to God as a believer.
Elijah stood in
fellowship with God. He had good communication.
As Christians we
stand in relationship (John
3. His Prayers -
James 5:17
Elijah was known
as a man of prayer.
According this
verse, the whole draught was a result of God answering Elijah's prayer. He was
probably basing his prayer on Deuteronomy 11:16-17.
ELIJAH WAS A MAN
OF GOD ON A
Someone had to
tell King Ahab that the draught was coming. Elijah was sent into the hostile
court with that message. We today might not think of ourselves on a mission for
God, but every time we do His will, we are on a mission for Him. Teaching
Sunday School, confronting a fellow believer, bearing
the burdens of a fellow believer, doing good works, witnessing, and a host of
other things are missions for God.
ELIJAH WAS A MAN
OF GOD ON A
When Elijah
announced the draught, he was delivering a message from God. When we deliver messages of warning, comfort,
salvation, teaching, or encouragement under the direction of God's Holy Spirit,
we are speaking for God.
ELIJAH WAS A MAN
OF GOD ON A
Elijah went in God's power, not his own.
We should do the
same. Philippians 4:13, Colossians
1:10-13