Loneliness is epidemic in our country despite all the "social media".   God asked me to remind you His presence is always available IF we choose to enter into it. 

Bible References:  2 Kings 2: 2-3; Genesis 28: 10 - 22

God is deeply committed to the "man preparation" business.  As He did throughout Scripture, His desire is to prepare us for His work.  The question is are we letting Him? 

Bible References:  2 Kings 2: 1; Joshua 5: 2-9

Got told Elijah to make one more circuit through several of the cities in which he had ministered. Elisha faithfully followed and that is the point of today’s lesson. 

Bible References: 2 Kings 2: 1-2

In all the Bible, I do not think there is a wider swing of emotions - the high experienced from God's awesome display of power over Baal to fear and the depths of depression and a death wish.  My dear brothers, pay close attention to this episode and share it widely.  

Bible References: 1 Kings 19: 1 - 21

After three years of drought and the accompanying hardships, God told Elijah to come out of hiding and stand before the king that sought to kill him.  God was about to demonstrate His power (again) for one reason - remind His people Who He is and Whose they are (or were). 

Bible References:  1 Kings 18: 1-40

No prophet or preacher wants his first words from God to be telling "His people" they are about to enter a long, crippling - even deadly - drought.  Elijah was faithful to obey God and bring this bad news.  Just as we saw with Jonah, God often used nature to bring about His punishment and discipline to get their attention and try to bring repentance.  

Bible References: ! Kings 17: 1 - 6

Resentment is an unbecoming condition of the heart in any man of God, especially a prophet.  Why would Jonah be angry that God forgave the repentant people of Nineveh and spared them and the city?  God gets to the heart of the matter.

Bible References:  Jonah 3: 1 - 4: 11

God sometimes goes to great lengths to get our full attention.  From the belly of a giant fish, He had Jonah's!

Bible References:  Jonah 1: 4 - 2: 10

Perhaps the most famous prophet in the Bible did not sign up voluntarily when God came calling.  In fact, he ran the other way! 

Bible References:  Jonah 1: 1-3; 2 Kings 14: 23-29

Israel, now a divided nation, was guilty of allowing pagan people and nations to infiltrate their society and destroy their godly heritage and culture.  Sound familiar?  The Lord is giving us a much needed wake-up call.   

Bible References:  These stories are found in the books of 1 Kings 15- 22; 2 Kings 1 - 25;  2 Chronicles 13 - 36