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2. Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

3. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel  The people’s failure to answer the prophet proves their lack of commitment v. 21b  Elijah’s “proposal”…a contest to win back the hearts of the people vv. 22-24  He would battle Baal’s prophets “alone” Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

4. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Elijah’s “proposal”…a contest to win back the hearts of the people vv. 22-24  Each side would prepare a burnt offering except for the fire…call on their god  Whoever answered would be “God” Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

5. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Baal’s prophets agreed v. 24  No doubt…they liked these “conditions”  Baal was the god of storms, lightning (fire) and fertility  Surely he would win the contest Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

6. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Elijah let Baal’s prophets go first vv. 25-29  They began calling on Baal in the morning  They “leaped around the altar”  Baal was silent  At noon, Elijah mocked them cp. Prov 26:5 Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

7. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Elijah let Baal’s prophets go first vv. 25-29  They cried with a loud voice all afternoon “…until the evening sacrifice”  They cut themselves with swords & lances  Baal never answered Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

8. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Elijah gets his turn vv. 30-37  He called the people to himself  He used 12 stones to repair the altar  He dug a trench around the altar  He had 12 “pitchers” of water poured over the sacrifice…it filled the trench Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

9. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Elijah gets his turn vv. 30-37  Baal’s prophets must have thought Elijah had lost his mind…nothing that drenched could ever be burned  Elijah’s actions were meant to emphasize God’s power Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

10. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Elijah gets his turn vv. 30-37  Elijah’s prayer revealed his true motive Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion “O Lord…today let it be known Thou art God in Israel and that I am Thy servant… v. 36

11. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Elijah gets his turn vv. 30-37  Elijah’s prayer revealed his true motive Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion “Answer me, O Lord that this people may know that Thou, O Lord, art God…” v. 37a

12. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Elijah gets his turn vv. 30-37  Elijah’s prayer revealed his true motive Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion “…and that Thou hast turned their heart back again.” v. 37b

13. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Results Of The Contest On Mt. Carmel  God answered Elijah v. 38  Fire fell from the Lord  It consumed the ox, wood, stones, & dust  It even “licked up” the water in the trench  This was no ordinary “fire” Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

14. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Results Of The Contest On Mt. Carmel  The people’s reaction v. 39  They fell on their faces and declared “The Lord, He is God!!”  No more “hesitation” cp. v. 21  At least for now, they were convinced Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

15. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Results Of The Contest On Mt. Carmel  The prophets’ defeat v. 40  Elijah ordered Baal’s prophets to be seized  He brought them down to the brook Kishon and had them executed Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

16. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Results Of The Contest On Mt. Carmel  Final instructions to Ahab vv. 41-46  The king was to “go up & eat, for the sound of a storm was approaching” v. 41  The rain eventually returned to Israel vv. 42-46 Jas 5:18 Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

17. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Lessons  God will not bless us if we are “indecisive” about following Him  The blessings only come when we repent  Righteous men are needed to petition God on behalf of those who are “indecisive” Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

18. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6  Faith (conviction) must be tested…if not, it means nothing Jas 1:3  Only then do we know what we’re made of  Being put to the test early in life builds strength…prepares us for later challenges that often are more severe Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

19. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6  Four Hebrew youths were removed from their homes against their wills  Their loyalty to God & the Law of Moses was challenged  They didn’t have family to rely on  All they had was themselves & each other Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

20. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6  Their courage together prepared them for their respective “tests” later on  The story of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah in Dan 1 illustrates great faith  It is the reason they each could do what they did in Dan 3 and Dan 6 Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

21. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6  Important Relevant Dates…  612 B.C. Ninevah falls to Babylon  606/605 B.C.Babylon defeats Egypt at Carchemish Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion - Nebuchadnezzar chases Pharaoh Neco thru Judah

22. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6  Important Relevant Dates…  606/605 B.C.Babylon defeats Egypt at Carchemish Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion - While at Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar learns of the death of his father (Nabopolassar)

23. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6  Important Relevant Dates…  606/605 B.C.Babylon defeats Egypt at Carchemish Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion - Nebuchadnezzar races back to Babylon to claim the throne

24. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6  Important Relevant Dates…  606/605 B.C.Babylon defeats Egypt at Carchemish Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion - He takes some captives with him, including these 4 Hebrew youths 2 Kings 24 When the events of Dan 1 take place

25. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 At Nebuchadnezzar’s Table Dan 1  Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem v. 1  He orders some Hebrews deported vv. 3-4  Good looking youths having no “defects”  Showing intelligence (potential) for serving in the king’s court Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

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