The speaker will be discussing the prophet Elijah for the next several weeks. Elijah was a great prophet, but his time was a time of great wickedness. Israel had three good kings, Saul, David, and Solomon. Solomon's reign was a time of great prosperity, but after Solomon, Israel went to war and became a divided kingdom, with Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The speaker talked about the 19 kings of Israel, 17 of which were bad, and 2 were good. Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, did evil and made Israel sin. The speaker talked about the 10 kings of Israel, 9 of which were evil. The speaker talked about the 17 kings of Judah, 8 of which were good and 9 of which were bad. The speaker talked about the 10 kings of Israel, 9 of which were evil. The speaker talked about the 17 kings of Judah, 8 of which were good and 9 of which were bad. Omri and Ahab committed evil in the eyes of the Lord. Omri and Ahab were not the first to commit evil, but their actions were worse. Omri's evil actions are compared to the prophecy from Solomon to Ahab. Omri's actions were not limited to personal lifestyle choices but extended to worship services. Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbal, king of the Sidonians, and led Israel to worship Baal. Baal was the god of rain and fertility, and sexual activity occurred during worship services. Jezebel was a prophetess of Baal and led Ahab astray. Ahab's moral power was weakened by his marriage to Jezebel. The days of Elijah, who prophesied drought, were alive in the church. Elijah warned Ahab that there would be no dew or rain unless it was commanded by the Lord. The famine in the days of Elijah was a lack of spiritual understanding and practice. The church has lost its compass and forgotten God's guidance. The church is in danger of becoming worldly and adapting to the culture. A warning is given to choose partners carefully, as they can lead one astray. Elijah was probably homeschooled or didn't go to school and spent his time out in nature. Elijah saw what was happening to the northern kingdom and was overwhelmed. Elijah's life was devoted to the work of reform, to rebuke sin, and to press back the tide of evil. Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain for three years and six months. Elijah was jealous for the name of God, seeing his people praying to Baal instead of Yahweh. Elijah's prayer was like a parent's prayer for their child to return to God. Elijah was singular of mind in purpose, wanting God's glory to be exalted. Elijah had been reading Deuteronomy chapter 11, understanding that God would do anything to get his people to love and serve him. Elijah wanted to bless his people but understood that he was willing to do anything to prevent them from worshiping other gods. Elijah was praying for God to send him before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. God is looking for a person to stand in the gap, like Elijah, to lead and guide his people. The speaker is asking God to help them stand in the gap, similar to Elijah, to elevate God, and draw the world to Him in Jesus' name.
