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OUR NEW STUDY SERIES FOR 2020 ELIJAH THE MAKING OF A DISCIPLE
Elijah was an Old Testament prophet who lived in the 9th century B.C. We first hear of Elijah in the First Book of Kings as he delivers a message from God to Ahab, the King of Israel at that time. Elijah is sometime referred to as “The Tishbite” as he was from the town of Tishbe. His name is Hebrew for Eliyahu which means “My God is Yahweh”. The Bible tells us very little about Elijah and his early life and much like Melchizedek, Elijah suddenly emerges with no mention of his parents, his ancestry, training, or early life. |
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He lived in a time when the foundations of the world were being destroyed. Different rulers of the world were ungodly people; it was a time of spiritual apostasy and moral decay. He spread the word of God and was determined to proclaim God’s message of light to those who were living in darkness. Elijah was not a man of many words, but he was a man of much faith. Through his few but powerful words, his faith in God was clearly apparent. Elijah’s strong faith was very clear during his encounter with King Ahab and the prophets of Baal at that time.
However, Elijah is best known as a man of prayer. In the Book of James, Elijah is portrayed as an example of the power of prayer of a righteous man. James tells us, “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:16-18). The fervent prayers of Elijah were heard by God as He did not allow rain to fall on the earth for some time. Yet again God heard his prayers and allowed the heavens to give rain producing fruit on the earth.
In this new series of messages for 2020 we are going to look at how God equips Elijah to fulfil both his personal calling and God’s purposes for the nation of Israel. Along the way we are going to learn different aspects of discipleship that will help us follow Jesus in our journey of faith today. Elijah was a man…just like us…join us for this great adventure of discipleship!
However, Elijah is best known as a man of prayer. In the Book of James, Elijah is portrayed as an example of the power of prayer of a righteous man. James tells us, “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:16-18). The fervent prayers of Elijah were heard by God as He did not allow rain to fall on the earth for some time. Yet again God heard his prayers and allowed the heavens to give rain producing fruit on the earth.
In this new series of messages for 2020 we are going to look at how God equips Elijah to fulfil both his personal calling and God’s purposes for the nation of Israel. Along the way we are going to learn different aspects of discipleship that will help us follow Jesus in our journey of faith today. Elijah was a man…just like us…join us for this great adventure of discipleship!