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Times of Training, Times of Faith. A continuing study of the life of Elijah I Kings 17:8-16 by: Jay Brennan. Four Tests for Elijah. The Test of a New Place The Test of First Impressions The Test of a Hopeless Situation The Test of an Obedient Faith. 1. The Test of a New Place.
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Times of Training, Times of Faith A continuing study of the life of Elijah I Kings 17:8-16 by: Jay Brennan
Four Tests for Elijah • The Test of a New Place • The Test of First Impressions • The Test of a Hopeless Situation • The Test of an Obedient Faith
1. The Test of a New Place • Zarephath – meaning place of furnace • Zarephath in Sidon – hometown of Jezebel and center of Baal worship • Challenge was to meet a woman…a Gentile woman…a widow • Challenge – “stay there” • Test of a new place – not just are you willing to go…are you willing to say.
2. The Test of First Impressions • You think you are going somewhere… where God will bless and use you….but when you arrive there is a famine in the land…it is different than what the Lord lead you to believe. Jer. 19:7-8 • So the test for Elijah…and for us is: Am I willing to obey God even when it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense? • When there is a famine in the land we are forced to get on our knees and pray.
3. The Test of Hopeless Situation • God uses sources and instruments we would never use. I Cor. 1:27-29 • Never get your eyes on the instrument or the conditions. Look beyond the instrument to the real source of the supply – the Lord. • The Lord uses opportunities like this to manifest his grace. Isa. 53: 3 • Teaches us that God can use any of us.
4. The Test of an Obedient Faith. • When the barrel is full you don’t need faith, because you have all the oil you need. • For the people of God, abundance is generally much more dangerous than the lack of abundance. Matt 19:23
God Must Love you Very Much • Nothing in Elijah’s life happens by chance…every step has been ordered by the Lord. • In the midst of our confusion, feelings of loneliness or even despair God says, “My child I love you and I have plans to give you a hope and a future. Jer. 29:11