Sermon Reflections from The Vehicle for Vision | Alex Hardt | July 19, 2026
What do you need to move forward with God?
Pastor Alex pointed us to the prophet Elijah this last Sunday and examined what he needed to do to follow the what and where God had for him. Our text from 1 Kings 17 and 18 and has many stories about Elijah and his walk with God. We see his growth in obedience building or growing as God hones his character.
First, God calls him to confront the evil king Ahab. He and his wife are the most despicable of characters in the Bible and God thwarts them at every turn. God wanted Elijah to go and see Ahab and give him the bad news that because of their disobedience there would be no rain for the next 3 years. Thankfully, God saw to Elijah’s escape 1 Kings 17:3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” God had him go and hide in the wilderness where he would feed him via ravens. Ravens were thought to be unclean and harbingers of doom so I’m sure it took some extra trust on Elijah’s part to receive his food from them. After the brook dried up, as there was still no rain, God sent him to a poor widow who was ready to prepare her last meal and die. 1 Kings 17:13 “And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” Elijah tells her to go and prepare the meal anyway. So she does and the provisions are not used up like she anticipated. They lasted for many days. During that time her son became ill and scripture tells us there was no breath left in him. Elijah cries out to the Lord to save him and lays himself over the boy as he prays. God hears his prayer and the boy is returned to health.
What has God been doing in Elijah during this time?
First, God calls him to confront the evil king Ahab. He and his wife are the most despicable of characters in the Bible and God thwarts them at every turn. God wanted Elijah to go and see Ahab and give him the bad news that because of their disobedience there would be no rain for the next 3 years. Thankfully, God saw to Elijah’s escape 1 Kings 17:3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” God had him go and hide in the wilderness where he would feed him via ravens. Ravens were thought to be unclean and harbingers of doom so I’m sure it took some extra trust on Elijah’s part to receive his food from them. After the brook dried up, as there was still no rain, God sent him to a poor widow who was ready to prepare her last meal and die. 1 Kings 17:13 “And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” Elijah tells her to go and prepare the meal anyway. So she does and the provisions are not used up like she anticipated. They lasted for many days. During that time her son became ill and scripture tells us there was no breath left in him. Elijah cries out to the Lord to save him and lays himself over the boy as he prays. God hears his prayer and the boy is returned to health.
What has God been doing in Elijah during this time?
He had him confront evil and then protected him as he fled on his command. Then he had him submit and be totally dependent upon God in the wilderness. Even when he joined the widow and her son, they were all dependent upon God for provision. Obedience led Elijah on the pathway to growth as God honed and developed Elijah’s trust in Him alone for provision. God had something big planned for Elijah and He needed him totally committed to Him. Where is God molding and moving your character closer to Him through obedience? Is He taking you into difficult circumstances and guiding your pathway through it? Is He causing you to be totally dependent upon Him in these difficult times? Maybe you are struggling with money issues, family difficulties or relationship problems, work or guidance needs, God knows these things and He can and will lead you through them- like Elijah if you stay obedience and dependent upon Him.
Elijah’s biggest challenge was ahead of him on Mt Carmel. I Kings 18 gives us this story. Ahab had been looking for Elijah throughout the land to kill him and Jezebel had sought to kill all the prophets of God. Obadiah had managed to save 100 prophets and had them hidden away. Elijah has total trust in God as he confronts Ahab again, this is amazing as Ahab was looking everywhere for him! He sets up a challenge with the prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 18:17-18 “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.”
The showdown is set for Mt. Carmel and an altar is set up with wood and sacrifices as Elijah challenges the 450 prophets of Baal to have their god set it ablaze. So the contest of 450 prophets of Baal to the 1 prophet of God begins. Elijah says- you go first. They chant, call out and beg their god to answer with fire and consume the offering. They cried out, cut themselves and go into a frenzy as they beseeched their god to answer. Finally, when there was no answer from their false god, Elijah says, “My turn”. He has the people pour water 3 times upon the altar to soak it really well. The water even gathered in the ditches around the altar. Then Elijah prayed to God Almighty, 36-38 “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” God consumed it all!! The results of this fiery display was what God wanted, 39, “ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” God wants our obedience, devotion and trust in Him alone. He wanted to people to return to Him.
God used the Elijah’s bravery and obedience to call His people back to Him. How will He use your bravery and obedience to reach others for Him? Look for those God moments this week where God opens a door for you to step in with a word from Him.
Elijah’s biggest challenge was ahead of him on Mt Carmel. I Kings 18 gives us this story. Ahab had been looking for Elijah throughout the land to kill him and Jezebel had sought to kill all the prophets of God. Obadiah had managed to save 100 prophets and had them hidden away. Elijah has total trust in God as he confronts Ahab again, this is amazing as Ahab was looking everywhere for him! He sets up a challenge with the prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 18:17-18 “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.”
The showdown is set for Mt. Carmel and an altar is set up with wood and sacrifices as Elijah challenges the 450 prophets of Baal to have their god set it ablaze. So the contest of 450 prophets of Baal to the 1 prophet of God begins. Elijah says- you go first. They chant, call out and beg their god to answer with fire and consume the offering. They cried out, cut themselves and go into a frenzy as they beseeched their god to answer. Finally, when there was no answer from their false god, Elijah says, “My turn”. He has the people pour water 3 times upon the altar to soak it really well. The water even gathered in the ditches around the altar. Then Elijah prayed to God Almighty, 36-38 “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” God consumed it all!! The results of this fiery display was what God wanted, 39, “ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” God wants our obedience, devotion and trust in Him alone. He wanted to people to return to Him.
God used the Elijah’s bravery and obedience to call His people back to Him. How will He use your bravery and obedience to reach others for Him? Look for those God moments this week where God opens a door for you to step in with a word from Him.
Linda
The view from atop Mt Carmel is impressive. The statue is a reminder of God’s victory there with Elijah.
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