<strong>TITLE: FAITH TO PROCLAIM IMPOSSIBLE THINGS</strong>

<strong>TEXT: I KINGS 17:1; 18:1, 41-46</strong>

<strong>INTRODUCTION</strong>
<ol>
	<li>What is necessary for me to proclaim something from someone else? <u> </u></li>
	<li>I must trust the one telling me to proclaim it <u> </u></li>
</ol>
<strong>PROCLAMATION COMPLICATION</strong>
<ol>
	<li>Internal Challenge <u> </u>
<ol>
	<li>Elijah was an normal human being – with no superhuman abilities</li>
	<li>I am a normal human being – with no superhuman abilities</li>
</ol>
</li>
	<li>External Challenge <u> </u>
<ol>
	<li>Belief in Baal: One of the strongest and most popular Canaanite gods
<ol>
	<li>Baal was the storm god, and fertility god</li>
	<li>Baal had three daughters: Arsiya (goddess of the earth), Padriya</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
(goddess of the clouds) and Talliya (goddess of the dew)
<ol start="2">
	<li>Belief in <u> </u>: People believe in “gods” contrary to the true God</li>
</ol>
<ol>
	<li>Eternal Challenge <u> </u>
<ol>
	<li>“As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand.”
<ol>
	<li>LORD = <em>Yĕhovah   God = </em><em>'elohiym</em></li>
	<li>Of Israel</li>
	<li>Before whom I stand [Elijah stood before God, not King Ahab]</li>
</ol>
</li>
	<li>“As the LORD God [my God] lives, before whom <strong><em><u>I</u></em></strong>”
<ol>
	<li>LORD = <em>Yĕhovah   God = </em><em>'elohiym</em></li>
	<li>My God</li>
	<li>Before whom <strong><em><u>I</u></em></strong> stand [I stand before God, not <u> </u>]</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<strong>ELIJAH’S PROCLAMATION</strong>
<ol>
	<li>“There will be no dew or rain for the next few years until I say so.” <u> </u></li>
	<li>What has God given me to proclaim? <u> </u></li>
</ol>
<strong>GOD IS FAITHFUL…</strong>
<ol>
	<li>Elijah heard what only God could hear <u> </u>
<ol>
	<li>Go, get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming</li>
	<li>God will permit me to hear things that only God can hear</li>
</ol>
</li>
	<li>Elijah saw what only God could see<u> </u>
<ol>
	<li>“Go, and look out towards the sea.” “There is nothing” (7 times)</li>
	<li>God will permit me to see things that only God can see</li>
</ol>
</li>
	<li>Elijah did what only God could do <u> </u>
<ol>
	<li>Elijah ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel (13 miles)</li>
	<li>God will permit me to do things that only God can do</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<strong>CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: </strong>

<strong>THAT I WILL EXERCISE THE FAITH TO PROCLAIM GOD’S PRONOUNCEMENTS</strong>