But their faith was worthless because the object of their faith was worthless. While that may strike you as an odd or even blasphemous statement, it’s the object of our belief that makes a difference. The prophets of Baal believed in the god they worshiped with all their heart. The Lesson of Exclusivity: Faith Can Be Misplacedįaith is not what matters most. Saul was sincere, passionate, and dead wrong. Imagine him tearing through the streets of Jerusalem, breaking into homes, dragging people off to prison, intent on ridding the city of every last Christian. The word havoc is rare in ancient writings secular Greek literature used it to refer to the ravages of a wild boar, which gives us a vivid picture of Saul. Before the apostle Paul converted to Christianity, “He made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3). We find another powerful illustration in the New Testament. They were sincere in their efforts, but like many people today, they were sincerely mistaken. There is no doubt that the prophets of Baal displayed reckless abandon for what they believed. The Lesson of Emotion: Sincerity and Passion Are Not Signs of Spirituality Everything! And the response to this miracle was undeniable: “Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!’” (1 Kings 18:39).Ģ. In a spectacular display of God’s power, fire fell from heaven, consuming Elijah’s sacrifice, the wood, stones, water, and everything surrounding it.

The power of prayer doesn’t reside in the words that are spoken but in the God to whom the prayer is addressed. Anyone who worries about having the right words to pray can take comfort in this fact: “If anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him” (John 9:31). Elijah didn’t have to say much because he knew his God was real and alive and listening. Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again (1 Kings 18:36-37).Īt 63 words long, it only took about thirty seconds to recite. Then the prophet Elijah offered up a simple prayer. Will Elijah Return During the Tribulation?.Who Was Elijah in the Bible? Meet God’s Prophet of Fire.

Elijah bible study pdf