By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: I Kings 19:19-21; II Kings 2:6-14 

Our journey has come to an end, a most hopeful end. Living outside the comfort zone should be feeling a lot more comfortable. What we find in life is that the end of one thing marks the beginning of a new thing. And God delights in doing a new thing!

Our Scripture this week brings Elijah’s ministry to a close and Elisha’s ministry to the start line. That’s one facet of the splendid beauty of God. Servants will come and go, but the Lord’s purpose remains steadfast and consistent.

Before we launch into our focal passage, let’s not forget where we left Elijah. He had cowardly fled from Jezebel, asked God to end his life, and complained that he alone was left to battle these enemies of God. But God. One more time we see that reality, even if it is not written in the text. But God instructed Elijah that he still had work to do and men to anoint. He is being pushed out of his comfort zone once again. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: 1 Kings 19:1-5a,11-18 

There is no need to hide from the stigma of discouragement. I say stigma because it is usually the one discouraged who places the stigma upon himself or herself. If you have ever faced a period of great discouragement, who was harder on you? You or those around you? We begin to beat ourselves up, perhaps feeling we have let too many people down. This can lead to extended periods of isolation and further discouragement. But, there is always hope. Read that last sentence again.

Meanwhile, things were looking great for Elijah. He was riding on the clouds of successive victories. God was declared to be God again. Even the drought was over. So, why are we talking about discouragement? [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: 1 Kings 18:20-26, 31-39 

If this were the Old West, we should expect to be hearing faint whistling in the background, followed by ominous music, and topped off with tumbleweeds rolling across a dusty street in what resembles a ghost town. Our focus would be upon the two combatants meeting at high noon to settle things once and for all.

Leading up to our passage for this week, Elijah confronted Ahab face to face. Ahab labeled Elijah the troubler of Israel, and Elijah responded in kind due to Ahab’s forsaking the Word of God and practicing Baal worship. Cue the whistling, music, and tumbleweeds.

1 Kings 18:20-21

Have you ever noticed how one really good question can resonate for centuries? Julius Caesar, “Et tu, Brute”? God questioning Adam, “Where are you?” And Elijah on Mt. Carmel, “How long will you waver between two opinions?”  [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: 1 Kings 17:17-24 

Do you remember the incident in the lives of the disciples when they could not heal a man’s son possessed with a spirit? Jesus, coming back from the mountain of transfiguration, walked into the confusion. Jesus proceeds to drive out the deaf and dumb spirit. The disciples privately question Jesus about their inability to drive out the spirit, in which He responds, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer (Mark 9:29b, NASB).”

It seems odd that the disciples who had been given authority over the unclean spirits struggled to do so in this instance. Jesus would teach them a valuable lesson that day. And in our passage, God brings Elijah and the widow’s faith into the crucible of devastating loss. The only recourse available to them will be prayer. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: 1 Kings 17:7-16 

This week we pick up right where we left Elijah last week. He taught us about serving God with courage. The funny thing about courage is that it may place us in even more difficult circumstances. When we find ourselves in those places, then we come to understand the need to serve God with trust. 

Remember what Elijah is up against. Ahab has become king, and his wickedness exceeds his predecessors. Furthermore, Ahab married Jezebel, who is the daughter of the king of the Sidonians. The Sidonians practice the worship of Baal, the fertility and weather god, particularly the rain and the dew. Those are two critical factors in that terrain and climate for good crop production. But, we will see God’s sovereignty.

Fittingly, God raises up the prophet Elijah to combat this insidious idolatry. The miracles done by God through Elijah show God’s clear superiority over the false god Baal, which is really no god at all. Elijah is serving God with trust. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: I Kings 16:29-33; 17:1-6 

We are embarking on a new study for the remainder of this quarter. We will walk through the exciting life and times of Elijah the prophet, particularly his dealings with Ahab and Jezebel, and then his passing the mantle on to Elisha. 

Elijah’s name means Yahweh is God. And this is exactly what we see demonstrated in his life. But, we must be careful not to make a superhero out of Elijah.

Don’t get me wrong. Elijah stands out as a giant in the Scripture. His significance spans throughout the Bible. At one point, we witness Elijah boldly standing against the prophets of Baal and whipping them on Mt. Carmel, and then at another point we are cowardly running with Elijah like a whipped dog out into the wilderness fleeing the murderous threats of Jezebel.  [Read more…]