In this sermon, Stephen emphasizes the life and faithfulness of the prophet Elijah, highlighting his unwavering commitment to God amidst a corrupt and idolatrous Israel under King Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah’s name itself signifies “whose God is Jehovah,” reflecting his bold declaration of God's sovereignty in a time of widespread apostasy. Elijah’s life was marked by prayer, obedience, and total dependence on God, which enabled him to stand firm against the prevailing evil. Despite being in exile in Gilead, Elijah remained faithful, praying earnestly for God's guidance and power. God’s instructions to Elijah—such as hiding by the brook Cherith and being fed by ravens—demonstrate God's sovereignty and ability to use unlikely instruments for His purposes. Elijah’s bold proclamation that there would be no rain or dew for years was a divine judgment rooted in God's love, meant to awaken Israel from their spiritual slumber. The story of the widow in Zarephath reveals Elijah’s humility and faith, as he relies on God's provision through a foreign widow, illustrating that God's work often surpasses human expectations. Elijah’s experience with the widow’s son teaches that God is both the God of judgment and resurrection, emphasizing the importance of knowing God personally. Stephen concludes that today, believers must be fully committed and abandoned to God, like Elijah, to faithfully declare His Word and be used in these challenging times.
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. 22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.