Life Principles As Learned Through Elijah's Journey

By Lonnie Tolander

What is it about our human nature in which at many points in life we just want to give up, check out of this so-called universe? Thoughts flowing through our mind of how we would prefer to die rather than live. Never counting the cost of our lives, as if we have any value to begin with. Truthfully, as a people, we do not like struggling, especially when others appear to be most helpful toward us in this process. However, suffering is one of the most necessary processes of life. In our quest to find answers we must remember life is a journey, which has no set formula for continued growth. Even when we follow a form of structured values, something always causes us to be tested which will bring about opportunity for change. At this point, life becomes a matter of what is in the heart and not just in the mind. Clarifying, many times we may find ourselves not living up to what we say we believe and we definitely do not want to suffer for something we say we believe in. In this book, Life Principles as Learned Through Elijah's Journey, Tolander uses a small group setting to hopefully bring forth conceptual ideas about life which may help each of us reflect more wisely in our journeys. Tolander realizes life is so much more than just gathering a bunch of knowledge. Life is about processing the information gained in order that there may become a desired lived reality, one full of expectation not hopelessness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781635758443

Book preview

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Life Principles

as Learned through

Elijah’s Journey

Lonnie D. Tolander

ISBN 978-1-63575-843-6 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63575-844-3 (digital)

Copyright © 2018 by Lonnie D. Tolander

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Elijah’s Declaration of Service

Zarephath

Elijah Established as a Man of God

Elijah’s Continual Obedience

The Duel: Yahweh or Baal

Elijah’s Prayers

Losing Focus

The Whisper

Knowing God’s Word

Prayer

Faith

How Suffering Can Lead to Death

Endnotes

Bibliography

Introduction

In our quest to find answers in life, we must remember life is a journey, which has no set formula for continued growth. Even when we follow a form of structured values, something always causes us to be tested and may bring about opportunity for change. At this point, life becomes a matter of what is in the heart and not just in the mind. Clarifying, many times we may find ourselves not living up to what we say we believe. On the other hand, think of the brain. It is scientifically noted that during the first eighteen years of a person’s life the brain grows to physical maturity. However, the continual development into a state of maturity is a lifetime¹—for someone like me, longer. In essence, though, this book is about a process that is so masterfully woven into each one of us. Many times, we do not recognize this operative order in our journey and are left with thoughtfully considering: What is going on?, I’m tired of this life., or Just let me die!

We will find as we venture with Elijah, the prophet, how he also shared similar growth patterns. His life was filled with discipline, obedience, trust, confusion, suffering, and at some level, even death. Death! What? Elijah was ushered into the heavens, how could he have experienced death? I believe this prophet encountered death the way we do today. Of course, Elijah’s story is a popular teaching and it is quite possible one could not possibly learn anything more from his journey. If this is our attitude, then this book is not for us. In essence, this book cannot help a person who knows it all and neither can God—that is, until there is a breaking point. Therefore, my prayer is as we read this story, we would allow the Lord to encounter us in new ways—allowing the potter to mold us into a vessel that spills over with His truth.

This book, Life Principles as Learned through Elijah’s Journey, is written like a screenplay, meaning this author uses a small-group setting in his approach to bring forth this journey. Tolander uses the screenplay format because he not only believes it makes for an easy read when using multiple characters, but also he understands it is different from your typical book today. Thus, this author likes change. This book brings forth an example of how a small group may work, but it is ultimately not to be the standard. For example, the group leader, Dale, has the group use one particular Bible version for unity with wording. However, theoretically, he does not care what version others are using in their free time because it may help bring forth word meaning with the use of these other versions. In as much, Dale uses the Hebrew and Greek throughout this series when clarification is needed.

The wisdom used for having small groups is to help others feel welcomed. In the beginning of starting a small group, the process can be quite interesting based on the fact of how some may be testing the value of others. In other words, there might be many factors causing intimidation. This is very important for the leader to recognize. Small groups are about helping others go much deeper in their spiritual walk with Christ Jesus and not about relying on word information alone. Thus, the process of life is about having a virtuous character while growing in knowledge. As written in Second Peter 1:5, Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge. Reiterating, small groups should not just be about the giving of information, but the process of helping lead others in their character formation. Arriving to a place where at some level everyone is at liberty to be involved, whether through questioning or answering—growing in unity.

Life is a journey and we need to understand we are not alone in this journey. Some will say they know this fact, but then they spend much time alone and do not choose to interact with others. As Christians, we need to learn how to lift people up and encourage them, but we cannot do this without meaningful interaction. Everyone of us has a story, but many times, we are too judgmental before we get the chance to hear another person’s story. For a moment in time, this author would like us to put down our guard and open ourselves up to the process of learning. As we embark in this journey with Elijah the prophet, may we be encouraged to continue to grow in understanding of our own walk in the Lord.

Elijah’s Declaration of Service

Dale:

(group leader and youth pastor at a church) Good evening. How are you mighty warriors doing this evening?

Most of the group:

Blessed and highly favored, Pastor.

(However, there we some new younger adults attending this group, who had no understanding why the others of the same church responded the way they did. Noami sensed an opportunity.)

Noami:

I am doing great! I have brought a new person tonight, and I would like you all to meet her. Her name is Stephanie.

(all in the group said their hello)

Dale:

Charlie, would you have the honor of introducing your guest to the rest of us?

Charlie:

Of course! His name is Wilbur. He is trying to find a church home and is interested in visiting our small group.

Dale:

Well, Wilbur, I hope you feel welcomed to come during our new series on the Life of Elijah. (everyone says their hello and Dale continues) As the majority of us know, life is a journey, and I am hoping we will all be encouraged in our own walk in Christ Jesus as we adventure into this mysterious life of Elijah.

Christian:

Elijah? What can we learn about him that we have not learned growing up in the church?

(Christian’s dad was the senior pastor of the church.)

Dale:

Well, Christian, you have asked a great question. Much of what each of us can learn depends on how we receive the information given.

Sara:

What exactly may you be implying, Pastor?

Dale:

Just how our ability to learn has much to do with our willingness to learn. If we approach a subject like we already know everything about it, then there is a high probability we may miss a very valuable lesson for our own lives. However, there is the other tendency we tend to have.

Charlie:

What tendency may that be, Pastor Dale?

Dale:

Well, Charlie, may I ask you a question first?

Charlie:

(speaking without a thought) Give me your best, Pastor.

Dale:

Okay. When you are in church, do you ever find your mind wandering? Maybe thinking about what else you need to be doing or how another person needs to be there, listening to the very sermon you are half-heartedly listening too. (the room got very quiet, as many seemed to be refocusing their attention) My desire, as your group leader, is to help in your progressive walk in Christ Jesus, to love Him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This will be accomplished more and more as we learn to give our whole being, especially in the journey of learning. Then we will see just how blessed and highly favored we really are. Now, as I seem to have your attention, I would like all of us to turn in our Bibles to First Kings 17. Is there anyone here who needs a Bible? (three of them raised their hands, in which there were Bibles readily given to each) As many of you here know, I like to use the NASB version of the Bible while in group settings, mainly so we can have the same wording. However, as far as a preferred version for your leisure time, that is up to each of you, as mine happens to be the NIV version. Remember, please, let us not get caught up with which version is better because the best versions were written in their originals, languages found to be in Hebrew and Greek. Now, who would like to read the first seven verses?

Noami:

I will, Pastor. (she reads)

1 Kings 17

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the

Lord

, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."

2 The word of the

Lord

came to him, saying,

3 "Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

4 It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.

5 So he went and did according to the word of the

Lord

, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.

7 It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. (NASB)

Dale:

Let’s pray. Father in heaven, may your Holy Spirit be welcomed into our place of meeting as we seek your counsel for each of our journeys. We pray to be humble and yet more humbled by the wisdom You have produced through Your prophets. Lord, open our eyes and hearts so we may see Your goodness extended to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. (Dale continues) This is a section of Scripture I will title Elijah’s Declaration of Service. Think about it. Where do the Scriptures say the prophet Elijah came from? From the settlers of Gilead? However, even as we will soon understand, there is some discrepancy about what this phrase means. Before his entry into the Scriptures, how do we know anything of Elijah’s family, his upbringing, his desire to obey the word of God? As we will read, he was a man with an amazing desire to serve Yahweh.

Wilbur:

(interrupts at this point)Who is Yahweh?

Dale:

(surprised by Wilbur’s willingness to join the conversation so soon) Oh yes, please forgive me. I must remember not to put aside words or concepts that may be newer to our understanding. And, yes, please always feel free to ask questions within context of what we are studying. The word Yahweh is one of the many names the Lord is called in the Old Testament. The word is equivalent to four letters used in the Hebrew. Instead of saying four consonant letters, though, vowels have been added to form the name Yahweh. In our translations today, we only see the word

God

or

Lord

all in capitals letters, and other times

Jehovah

; thus, letting us know this may have been the word used for Yahweh, even as seen in verse one of our passage. In essence, the biblical explanation of this Hebrew word for the Lord brings forth meaning to be or as simply understood "I am