Heroes of faith aren’t people with extraordinary abilities; they’re ordinary people who trust in the one true extraordinary God.
29 Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. 31 And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. 32 First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. 33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him. 1 Kings 16:29-33 NLT
HEROES OF FAITH TRUST GOD TO PROVIDE
1 Kings 17:1–24 — Elijah trusted God’s provision.
HEROES OF FAITH ARE WILLING TO STAND ALONE
1 Kings 18:17–40 — Elijah courageously stood for God when the culture had turned away.
20 So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. 1 Kings 18:20-21 NLT
- Elijah refused to compromise simply because compromise had become popular.
- There comes a point when every believer must decide.
HEROES OF FAITH TRUST GOD TO DO WHAT THEY CANNOT DO
36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” 1 Kings 18:36-37 NLT
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” 1 Kings 18:38-39 NLT
- Elijah prepared the altar.
- Elijah prayed the prayer.
- There are things only God can do.
1 Kings 18:41–46 — Elijah believed in the power of prayer and prayed for rain.
1 Kings 19:1–18 – Elijah shows us that even heroes of faith can become discouraged and exhausted.
2 Kings 2:1–12 – Elijah finished his ministry faithfully and passed the mantle to Elisha. Another example of mentoring for all to follow.
Malachi 4:5-6 – Elijah’s prophetic significance continues beyond his lifetime.
Matthew 17 – Elijah appears with Moses at the Transfiguration, but the Father points everyone ultimately to Jesus.
James 5:17-18 – Elijah was an ordinary human being whose prayers had extraordinary impact.
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. James 5:16-18 NLT
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
