1 Kings 17:1 – A CHOICE SERVANT
This morning a number of choice servants of God got up early, picked up buses, and went out to bring children and adults to Sunday School.
This afternoon, there were choice servants of God conducting services in nursing homes. During this week there will be choice servants of God working in rescue missions, adult homes, youth groups, Good News Clubs, and a host of other ministries. There also will be choice servants of God doing construction, repairing buildings used for ministry, mowing lawns, nursing the sick, and running errands. All this will be done for the glory of God!
People make the mistake of thinking that the only choice servants of God are those who are in full time Christian service of some sort. This is a wrong assumption.
A CHOICE SERVANT OF GOD IS SIMPLY A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN WHO IS DOING THE WILL OF GOD.
If you are a born again Christian, you are a servant of God. 1 Peter 1:15-16, Titus 3:8.
One choice servant of God who can be a good model for us is the prophet Elijah. He was not perfect. 1 Kings 19 tells of his “burn out” in ministry. James 5:17a tells us “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are…” Elijah was very human.
Here are some things about Elijah that we can imitate.
ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF GOD
He appears in Israel during wicked times, when Ahab and Jezebel were ruling. See 1 Kings 16:29-33. He enters the royal court of Israel, showing that he is a man of God.
1. His Profession – “As the Lord God of Israel liveth…”
Though his idolatry and lack of faith in the living God, Ahab was acting like God was dead. Elijah proclaimed that God is alive!
In an age when people are acting like God is dead, we are to proclaim that He is very much alive!
2. His Position – “…before whom I stand…”
Elijah stood in relationship to God as a believer.
Elijah stood in fellowship with God. He had good communication.
As Christians we stand in relationship (John 1:12), and should stand in fellowship with God (Ephesians 6:18).
3. His Prayers – James 5:17
Elijah was known as a man of prayer.
According this verse, the whole draught was a result of God answering Elijah’s prayer. He was probably basing his prayer on Deuteronomy 11:16-17.
ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF GOD ON A MISSION FOR GOD
Someone had to tell King Ahab that the draught was coming. Elijah was sent into the hostile court with that message. We today might not think of ourselves on a mission for God, but every time we do His will, we are on a mission for Him. Teaching Sunday School, confronting a fellow believer, bearing the burdens of a fellow believer, doing good works, witnessing, and a host of other things are missions for God.
ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF GOD ON A MISSION FOR GOD WITH A MESSAGE FROM GOD.
When Elijah announced the draught, he was delivering a message from God. When we deliver messages of warning, comfort, salvation, teaching, or encouragement under the direction of God’s Holy Spirit, we are speaking for God.
ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF GOD ON A MISSION FOR GOD WITH A MESSAGE FROM GOD WITH MIGHT THROUGH GOD.
Elijah went in God’s power, not his own.
We should do the same. Philippians 4:13, Colossians 1:10-13