Expectations do not always line up with reality.

Expectationsdo not always line up with reality.

Arby’s Beef ‘n’ Cheddar

Burger King Enormous Omelet Sandwich

Burger King Whopper

KFC Famous Bowl

McDonalds Big Mac

Subway 6” Turkey Breast & Ham

McDonalds Breakfast Burrito

Wendy’s Chicken Club

Husband

Expectationsdo not always line up with reality.

Expectationsdo not always line up with reality.

Elijah was a man just like us.

James 5:17

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the

God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next

few years except at my word.”

1 Kings 17:1

Then the Word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.”

1 Kings 17:2-3

Timing Your Moves

1. Wrong move at the wrong time: disaster

2. Wrong move at the right time: mistake3. Right move at the wrong time:

unacceptance4. Right move at the right time: success

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him [that he had found Elijah], and Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your

father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed

the Baals.”

1 Kings 18:16-18

Two Gods

1. Yahweh2. Baal

[Ahab] married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began

to serve Baal and worship him.

1 Kings 16:31

Ahab’s Two Sins

1. Allowed himself to be influenced away from his convictions

2. Believed that the tangible was more powerful than the intangible

“The western churchis an advanced case of synchretism.”

Lesslie Newbigin

Synchretism:The mixing together of gospeland idolatry in such a way that

the gospel is compromised.

“Now, summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mountain Carmel.

And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred

prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

1 Kings 18:19

Power of Celebrity

“If _____ endorse it, I should buy it!Because they’re famous,

which means they’re smart ...”

Power of Celebrity

“If _____ endorse it, I should buy it!Because they’re famous,

which means they’re smart ...So if it’s good enough for them,

it’s good enough for me!””

Entire culture has nowbeen spoon-fed a lie.

Jessica Hagy, Indexed

• Baal was a real god with real powers to control and even sustain their life through his effects on nature/their economy

Truth?

• The Stock Market has a very real power to control and even sustain your life through its effects on the economy

Truth?• I have an anger issue.• No one understands me.• I’m not good enough.• I’m not smart enough.• I’m bad with money.• I’ll never succeed in business.

Truth?• I don’t know that I can keep everything together.• I have a disease and it may take my life.• My very presence on earth was an accident.• I’m alone.

It is into these “givens” thatGod wants to speak an alternative!

Ask Yourself...

1. Am I trying to rush God’s timing?2. Do my actions show a greater belief in

the tangible than the intangible?3. Is there something in which I believe

that is not God’s truth?

Elijah was a man just like us.

James 5:17