"Putting God First"
Sunday, November 1, 2026,
Calvary Inverness,
We will gather to exalt Jesus, encourage one another in love, and prepare to share the gospel as we continue our series on the lives and ministries of Elijah and Elisha by examining Elijah's life and ministry(1 Kings 17:8-16).
Phrases like “Out of the frying pan and into the fire” and “It’s one thing after another” aptly describe the life of the prophet Elijah. God would speak, and Elijah would listen and act. Those in power would grow angry and try to kill him, but the Lord would rescue and hide him. Then Elijah would wait until, after a while, the cycle began all over again.
Despite all Elijah faced, there is no record of him blaming God or being bitter toward God. If he was, who could blame him? No matter how hard he tried to obey every command of God to the tiniest detail, things would be good for a while, but before he could finally put his troubles behind him, another trial would come.
Elijah knew that serving God was not an easy life. He would be the first to tell you that, despite its many blessings, trials could overshadow the peace, joy, and pleasures of serving the Lord.
But at the time, he had plenty of time on his hands, so he kept his emotions and thoughts in check. He spent his days in hiding, enjoying the meals the ravens brought him and the cool, refreshing water of the brook beside him. He devoted his mornings and evenings to prayer and worship, listening for the next command.
While he was there. Elijah must have noticed the ravens bringing less food and the brook drying up. The changes happened gradually, but he knew he wasn't imagining them. He could do nothing, so he waited.
The prophet was too smart to trust in the provision. Instead, he trusted the God who had chosen and empowered him. The One who commissioned him as His voice of truth and judgment to Ahab and his pagan wife Jezebel, and to encourage every believer, though suffering, to refuse to bow their knees to the false god Baal.
The day came when the food ran out, and to make matters worse, the brook dried up completely. Then Elijah heard from the Lord, who told him exactly what to do to continue receiving His protection and provision. God’s command was clear: Elijah wasn’t to procrastinate. He was to pack up, leave the brook behind, and make the hundred-mile journey to the place where food and drink would be provided.
Everything God asked him to do brought peace to his soul—until the Lord told him to go to Jezebel's hometown and stay there, where he would be safe and well cared for. The question was whether he would set aside any animosity toward Ahab for continuing to lead Israel deeper into depravity, overcome his fear of being found, arrested, tried, and executed, and do exactly as he was told.
Believers today face the same dilemma. When circumstances leave them feeling vulnerable, weak, sick, and tired, will they cave or move forward in faith?
In His Strong Love,
Pastor
We will gather to exalt Jesus, encourage one another in love, and prepare to share the gospel as we continue our series on the lives and ministries of Elijah and Elisha by examining Elijah's life and ministry(1 Kings 17:8-16).
Phrases like “Out of the frying pan and into the fire” and “It’s one thing after another” aptly describe the life of the prophet Elijah. God would speak, and Elijah would listen and act. Those in power would grow angry and try to kill him, but the Lord would rescue and hide him. Then Elijah would wait until, after a while, the cycle began all over again.
Despite all Elijah faced, there is no record of him blaming God or being bitter toward God. If he was, who could blame him? No matter how hard he tried to obey every command of God to the tiniest detail, things would be good for a while, but before he could finally put his troubles behind him, another trial would come.
Elijah knew that serving God was not an easy life. He would be the first to tell you that, despite its many blessings, trials could overshadow the peace, joy, and pleasures of serving the Lord.
But at the time, he had plenty of time on his hands, so he kept his emotions and thoughts in check. He spent his days in hiding, enjoying the meals the ravens brought him and the cool, refreshing water of the brook beside him. He devoted his mornings and evenings to prayer and worship, listening for the next command.
While he was there. Elijah must have noticed the ravens bringing less food and the brook drying up. The changes happened gradually, but he knew he wasn't imagining them. He could do nothing, so he waited.
The prophet was too smart to trust in the provision. Instead, he trusted the God who had chosen and empowered him. The One who commissioned him as His voice of truth and judgment to Ahab and his pagan wife Jezebel, and to encourage every believer, though suffering, to refuse to bow their knees to the false god Baal.
The day came when the food ran out, and to make matters worse, the brook dried up completely. Then Elijah heard from the Lord, who told him exactly what to do to continue receiving His protection and provision. God’s command was clear: Elijah wasn’t to procrastinate. He was to pack up, leave the brook behind, and make the hundred-mile journey to the place where food and drink would be provided.
Everything God asked him to do brought peace to his soul—until the Lord told him to go to Jezebel's hometown and stay there, where he would be safe and well cared for. The question was whether he would set aside any animosity toward Ahab for continuing to lead Israel deeper into depravity, overcome his fear of being found, arrested, tried, and executed, and do exactly as he was told.
Believers today face the same dilemma. When circumstances leave them feeling vulnerable, weak, sick, and tired, will they cave or move forward in faith?
In His Strong Love,
Pastor
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