Expectations do not always line up with reality.

5. Expectations do not always line up with reality.

6. Arby’s Beef ‘n’ Cheddar

7. Burger King Enormous Omelet Sandwich

8. Burger King Whopper

9. KFC Famous Bowl

10. McDonalds Big Mac

11. Subway 6” Turkey Breast & Ham

12. McDonalds Breakfast Burrito

13. Wendy’s Chicken Club

14. Husband

15. Expectations do not always line up with reality.

18. Expectations do not always line up with reality.

20. Elijah was a man just like us. James 5:17

21. 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.” 1 Kings 17:1

22. Then the Word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.” 1 Kings 17:2-3

24. Timing Your Moves • Wrong move at the wrong time: disaster • Wrong move at the right time: mistake • Right move at the wrong time: unacceptance • Right move at the right time: success

25. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him [that he had found Elijah], and Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he 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 the Baals.” 1 Kings 18:16-18

26. Two Gods • Yahweh • Baal

27. [Ahab] married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 1 Kings 16:31

28. Ahab’s Two Sins • Allowed himself to be influenced away from his convictions Believed that the tangible was more powerful than the intangible

31. “The western churchis an advanced case of synchretism.” Lesslie Newbigin Synchretism:The mixing together of gospel and idolatry in such a way that the gospel is compromised.

32. “Now, summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mountain Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18:19

34. Power of Celebrity “If _____ endorse it, I should buy it! Because they’re famous,which means they’re smart ...”

36. Power of Celebrity “If _____ endorse it, I should buy it! Because they’re famous,which means they’re smart ...So if it’s good enough for them,it’s good enough for me!””

37. Entire culture has nowbeen spoon-fed a lie.

38. Jessica Hagy, Indexed

39. Truth? • Baal was a real god with real powers to • control and even sustain their life through • his effects on nature/their economy • The Stock Market has a very real power to • control and even sustain your life through • its effects on the economy

40. Truth? • I have an anger issue. • No one understands me. • I’m not good enough. • I’m not smart enough. • I’m bad with money. • I’ll never succeed in business.

41. Truth? • I don’t know that I can keep everything together. • I have a disease and it may take my life. • My very presence on earth was an accident. • I’m alone.

42. It is into these “givens” thatGod wants to speak an alternative!

44. Ask Yourself... • Am I trying to rush God’s timing? • Do my actions show a greater belief in the tangible than the intangible? • Is there something in which I believe that is not God’s truth?

45. Elijah was a man just like us. James 5:17