Elijah #1 Lion of the Covenant

A great temptation that we all face is the fear of man, the fear of offending man (especially in standing for Christ), and the love of man’s approval (Proverbs 29:25; John 12:42-43). Would you rather offend the Lord Almighty to save face with relatives and friends than to stand up boldly in speaking the truth in love? Is it more important to have the good opinion of family, friends, and co-workers than to have a good conscience before your Savior who was not ashamed to bear the curse and humiliation of the cross for undeserving sinners chosen in Christ Jesus before the world began? You must not offend others unnecessarily, but you must realize that Jesus, the gospel, and His holy commandments are offensive to the pride, rebellion, and self- centeredness of sinful man. Man by nature hates any other lord than self over one’s life. If you cannot stand now before family and friends for Christ and His truth, how will you ever be able to stand before enemies who
can cast you into prison and threaten your life?

Dear ones, God has given the history of such warriors for the Lord, like Elijah, to shame our fear and to encourage us in standing boldly in the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ. We are told, Elijah was a man of like passions with us—having the same nature, feelings, temptations (James 5:17); and yet the Lord used Elijah, and made him as bold as a lion (which the Lord will do for all who struggle with the fear of man). Today we are introduced to Elijah—the lion of the covenant. The main points in the sermon today are: (1) Events Leading Up to the Ministry of Elijah; (2) Meet Elijah—the Lion of the Covenant; (3) Elijah Challenges False Religion in Israel.