Fit For Service (Part 5b-Elijah)

This is week eight in our study on being fit for service. Today we will continue looking at the life of Elijah to see what made him fit for service and usable by God.   Last week we discovered that Elijah walked in bold faith, he was courageous, and he was obedient to the Lord.  Today we will look at three more traits that made Elijah fit for service. 

Fourth, Elijah was compassionate.  

As I stated in the last lesson, after the Kerith Brook dried up, though a miracle of multiplication (1 Kings17:8-16), God provided for Elijah and a widow and her son throughout the drought.   During that time tragedy struck the widow’s home.  

1 Kings 7: 17-24, Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?” 

But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?” 

And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” 

Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.” (NLT) 

Elijah’s heart was moved by compassion for this poor widow.  He took the child and went up to his room to pray.   Three times he prayed, asking God to return the life to the child.  Elijah did not give up when nothing happened the first time or the second time.  He pressed through and after his third prayer the boy’s life was restored, and he was given back to his mother alive and well.   

Elijah’s compassion for the widow spurred him on to continue to pray until he saw the answer.  Often, we say, “I will pray for you” when a friend asks us to, however, how often do we pray until we see the breakthrough?  Are we moved by compassion to prayer with them until they receive their answer?   

Jesus walked in compassion. Mark 1:40-42, A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. 

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 

Fifth, Elijah was persistent.  

1 Kings 18:41-25, Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” 

So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. 

Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” 

The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” 

Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” 

Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” 

And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. (NLT) 

You will remember that Elijah had declared a drought upon the land, and from that day (three years) no rain or even dew was seen.  Following his victory at Mount Carmel, Elijah told Ahab that he heard a mighty rainstorm coming. Then he went to the top of Mount Carmel and prayed for rain.   

Six times he sent his servant to look over the sea.  Six times the servant returned having seen nothing.  Elijah sent him for the seventh time and this time he saw a tiny cloud.  Elijah told him to go warn Ahab to get home quickly. True to his word, the sky grew dark, and the heavens opened and poured forth heavy rain.   

Elijah did not give up when his servant did not see rain the first time.  He persisted in faith until he saw the answer.  He kept sending his servant back to check until a cloud appeared.  The size of the cloud did not matter to Elijah, it was an indication of bigger things to come.  

When we know we have heard from God, we must persist until we see the fulfillment of His Word. Small beginnings do not intimidate God, they, like Elijah’s cloud, are indications of God’s moving and miracles taking place.  Even when Elijah’s servant did not see anything, Elijah was convinced that God was working.  Oh, that we like Elijah can persist in faith until we see the breakthrough!  The fulfillment of God’s promises is on the horizon if we stay in faith!  

Sixth, Elijah was totally dependent upon God. 

1 Kings 17:1-7, Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” 

Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” 

So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. (NLT) 

This was the beginning of Elijah’s ministry.  No fanfare, no grand celebration.  Elijah gives a dark message to King Ahab and then God sends him off into hiding.  Why?  

The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament states: “Elijah himself had much to learn, and the time of solitude would furnish needed moments of divine instruction. Obeying God's directions implicitly, Elijah walked the fifteen miles from Jezreel eastward to the Jordan River. There in Kerith, one of the Jordan's many narrow gorges, Elijah took up his residence. Alone and relying solely on divine provision, Elijah was nourished by the available water of Kerith and by ravens sent from God.” 

Elijah had to learn to be totally dependent on God if he was to be used. Elijah has been called the Messager of Judgment.  His messages were never gentle or encouraging.  He had to have total dependence of God to be able to boldly proclaim the messages God gave him.  He had to trust God totally for his strength and protection.   

Our culture today is much like that of Elijah’s day.  Many people are doing their own thing, wanting their own way, walking in bold sin, living to please themselves, and full of idolatry.   The message of the Gospel, while it is “good news” it is also controversial. People do not want to hear anything that will cause them to feel conviction.   

As in Elijah’s day the enemy has blinded the minds and hearts of people.  The demonic influences in our culture have sadly run circles around many.   If we are going to be used by God in this generation, our total dependance must be in Him.  While we may be gifted orators, well educated in the Word, zealous for God, etc..., we cannot walk in our own strength. Our enemy is looking for ways to access our life and destroy us.   

In John 12:49 Jesus said, “For I have never spoken on My own initiative or authority, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment regarding what to say and what to speak.” (AMP) 

Jesus understood his total dependency on His father, and he was God! How much more must we place our total dependency upon Christ?   

In conclusion, we know that Elijah walked in bold faith, he was courageous, he was obedient to the Lord, he was compassionate, he was persistent, and he was totally dependent upon God. 

Father, as we study the life of Elijah, may we be convicted of our areas of weakness, we ask for the gift of repentance and the boldness to be broken, open, and honest with ourselves and with you.  May we allow Holy Spirit to tweak any area that is not in full alignment with and totally surrendered to you.  May you find us Fit for Service! In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen!!