Series:  Elijah-Man of Courage

Monday, June 10, 2013 0031

Elijah: A Dramatic Prophet for Drastic Times, pt. 1

Today we are going to hear the first half of a sermon message titled “A Dramatic Prophet for Drastic Times,” in which Dr. White sets the scene leading up to God sending the Prophet Elijah to declare God’s words. The world was sinking into hopelessness and despair because of the idolatry and evil deeds of the kings and rulers of that age, and Dr. White will help us to grasp the lessons we can learn from their rebellion against God.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 0032

Elijah: A Dramatic Prophet for Drastic Times, pt. 2

You’ve probably noticed it: a call for tolerance and acceptance of all faiths as being equally right, of religious plurality, and a denying of one true way. Where does that leave us—as a society, as Christians—with no absolutes?  Today we return to a message we began last time, called “A Dramatic Prophet for Drastic Times,” about the culture of rebellion against God at the time of the prophet Elijah. There was a disregard for holiness and righteous living, and evil, depraved kings built their kingdoms on the worship of false gods—whom they also chose to ignore.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013 0033

Elijah: God Provides

Today we begin the second sermon in this series, a message with the very encouraging title “God Provides.” Proof that God does provide is given in the story of Elijah – which is meant to show us that just when we think we have figured out just how God should provide for us, God has other ideas. What happened to Elijah points out that not only does God take care of His own, but he does it in His way, not our way. And it’s always for our good.

Thursday, June 13, 2013 0034

Elijah: God Provides, Part 2

Have you ever been totally surprised by how God has provided for you? He also did it for the Prophet Elijah in wildly unexpected ways, like when the Brook Cherith dried up, and he cried out to God for help. God provided in a very unexpected way when He instructed Elijah to go to a gentile widow.  When we try to put our logic into the work of God, we mess up every time!

Friday, June 14, 2013 0035

Elijah: Miracles Today

Is performing the miracles found in the Bible for us Christians today? Does God reveal His power through His people today? And if so, even more than HOW is the bigger question: WHY? One of the questions being asked in the church today is about whether or not we are empowered as believers to perform the signs and wonders found in the Bible, about whether the miracle of healing and the spiritual gift of prophecy is available for Christians to exercise. But really, we need to dig deeper. We need to examine the Old and New Testaments for God’s underlying purpose for miracles.

Monday, June 17, 2013 0036

Elijah: Seeking Sign Gifts

In the Bible, God always called His messengers first, and THEN funneled His power through them. Is doing it the other way around—seeking the “sign gifts” before being called—a problem? Our subject is the purpose of miracles in scripture, why God’s power was expressed in signs and wonders. And we as we heard last time, all the miracles of the Bible are performed by Prophets and by Apostles. And the primary PURPOSE of miracles in the Bible was to convince the people that the messenger standing before them is from God. Dr. White pointed out that the miracles we see performed today in the Church are done not to validate the messenger but mainly for the supernatural outcome, which he explained is the wrong motivation altogether. Rather than the messenger trying to prove his trustworthiness, it should be God proving it for him.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 0037

Elijah: Courage Under Cover

And today we begin listening to a new sermon message, the fourth in this series, this one about one of Elijah’s helpers named Obadiah, who was a servant of King Ahab and also a courageous protector of Prophets. The message is appropriately titled “Courage Under Fire.”  And it provides for us a positive example, an inspiration, for blessing the activity of God in our work. Open your Bible to First Kings, chapter 18, verse 1, and settle in for more scriptural insights by pastor and teacher Dr. Randy White.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013  0038

Elijah: Courage Under Cover, Part 2

Today we return for the balance of the fourth sermon in this 10-sermon series, a message with the challenging title “Courage Under Fire.” This phrase indicates that we are going to be put in situations where we are challenged, or opposed, or even in danger. That certainly was true for a humble servant of King Ahab, a man named Obadiah, who showed courage when he saved the lives of many, many prophets whom his king wanted to kill – by hiding them in a cave and feeding them. It was done in secret, with no one to cheer him on, because his own life was at risk for this treasonous act. But God saw and God knew He could count on Obadiah to serve Him.  So settle into a chair, grab pad and pen, and open your Bible to Exodus chapter 18, which points out that, as with Obadiah, the hardest situations into which God puts us are the greatest opportunities to serve the LORD.

Thursday, June 20, 2013 0039

Elijah: Showdown, Part 1

Why did Jesus say, “In the world you will have tribulation (trouble), but take courage; I have overcome the world?” Because he knew from the Old Testament prophets that God’s servants who speak the truth will face opposition and even bodily harm – as when King Ahab faced off with Elijah. We’re going to key on some very interesting points today about the decline of the influence of Christianity in countries around the world and what this might mean for us, we who are holding tight to our faith in the Living God and need to know how to stand up for what we believe.

So grab your Bible and settle in for a study of I Kings 18:17 and following, for a message called… “Showdown.”

Friday, June 21, 2013 0040

Elijah: Showdown, Part 2

The Baal worshippers in Elijah’s day had it all wrong, and sometimes we get it wrong, too. What is it that God wants from us? What gets His attention? And when we left off last time, Dr. White pointed out that the whole idea of Elijah challenging the Baal worshippers to call down fire from heaven was all God’s – at a particular time, for a specific purpose. But today, we walk by faith. We don’t need, nor should we require, miraculous signs and wonders to believe in the LORD our God and His Holy Word. Even so, it’s all too easy to waver in our commitment to Jesus Christ because we tend to love ourselves and our sin more than we love God. But… “Choose you this day Whom you will serve,” as scripture says. It’s a challenge for all of us.

Monday, June 24, 2013 0041

Elijah: The Running Prophet

 What does it take for us to have spiritual insight? The Prophet Elijah was such a person, someone who was tuned in – and running FOR God. The message is called “The Running Prophet,” talking about the prophet Elijah, who was INTENTIONAL in serving the LORD, no matter the cost. And today, we’re going to investigate what it takes to run the good race, to run FOR God. Do we have what it takes? Well, we know everything we need comes from God; it starts with the power and provision of God Himself.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013 0042

Elijah: The Running Prophet, Part 2

While being relentlessly pursued by King Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel, who wanted him dead, the Prophet Elijah was physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. Have you ever felt discouraged like that? The theme of this presentation is running, and the title of this message about Elijah is “The Running Prophet.” And at the start of this message last time, Dr. White talked about three perspectives -- running FOR God, on God’s side; or running FROM God, which we’ll hear about later on, or the one we’ll study here at the start today -- running AGAINST God.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 0043

Elijah: Moving Away from God’s Voice

Elijah was not where he should have been, and he was not listening to God’s voice as he should. It wasn’t intentional disobedience, but he slipped away little by little. Does that sound like you?

Thursday, June 27, 2013 0044

Elijah: Moving away from fear

When you are discouraged or afraid, do you tend to isolate yourself and hide, unable to move? As Elijah found out, that doesn’t solve anything. We’ve been hearing about the dangers of drifting away from God’s truth and His commands in Scripture. Elijah learned about them the hard way, and his example points to the importance of studying God’s Word – so we can lean in and listen closely to hear that still, small voice of our Holy God and expressed in Holy Scripture.

Friday, June 28, 2013 0045

Elijah: Payday Someday, Part 1

Today, we look at a “pouting potentate” named King Ahab, and his wicked wife named Jezebel, who have everything and yet want what they cannot have, are willing to commit murder to get it, and sooner or later a payday is coming when they will have to pay with their lives.  This message is called “Payday Someday” – and it is one of Dr. White’s favorites by another preacher, Dr. R.G. Lee. It points out how we are tempted to mislead and evade and deceive whenever we put ourselves and our needs and desires ahead of God’s direction for us.

Monday, July 1, 2013 0046

Elijah: Payday Someday, Part 2

Have you ever heard someone say, “If only I could do that part of my life over?” Or worse, the person who says, “Jesus paid for my sins, so I can do whatever I want?” Be careful with the choices you make; there is always a price. In fact, God’s Word is filled with warnings about how we should live.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013 0047

Elijah: Approaching God, Part 1

In today’s world there are so many who put God – Jehovah God, Almighty God – as one of among many; many avenues of resources, many sources of spiritual strength or of guidance that they can begin to turn to. And there are some unacceptable avenues of spiritual enlightenment and spiritual enrichment for the Christian.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013 0048

Elijah: Approaching God, Part 2

People approach God as a grandfather, a buddy, and a friend. They approach Him in mystical, New Age kinds of ways. Does “anything go” when it comes to approaching God?  Today’s sermon is based on 2 Kings 1:1-18.

Thursday, July 4, 2013 0049

Elijah: Preparing for Death

As the scripture says, “It is appointed once unto man to die…” We will all leave this life, at any age, any day, any moment. How should we get ready for the inevitable?

Friday, July 5, 2013 0050

Elijah: Ready to See Jesus?

Remember that gospel song, “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King?” Whether it’s through death or the Rapture of the Church, are you ready to see Jesus?