(1 Kings 18:40 NLT) Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.
–> There are consequences for intentional disobedience.
(1 Kings 18:41 NLT) Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”
–>Faith hears, sees and knows things that aren’t yet a reality.
(Hebrews 11:1 NLT) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
–> Belief + Trust = FAITH
(1 Kings 18:42 NLT) 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.
–> Faith and active prayer are inseparable.
(James 5:16-18 NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
–> Faith can shape reality.
(1 Kings 18:43 NLT) 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.
–> Faith determines to never give up on God even when circumstances are discouraging.
(1 Kings 18:44 NLT) 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
(Matthew 21:21) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”
–> Faith expects that God will deliver big on his promises.
(1 Kings 18:45-46) And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
–> Faith grows the boldness to confront opposition and the strength to do the extraordinary.