少儿圣经故事:以利亚(3)/Elijah Lesson 3

??Intro：Johnny sat in his class with 25 other boys and girls his age. Although he was surrounded by people, he felt so alone and sad. Some of the boys had been making jokes about him on the playground, only because Johnny believed in Jesus and told them so.

??Even his teacher had laughed when Johnny said that he believed God created the world.

??If you have believed on the Lord Jesus, maybe there have been times when you've felt like that too. Maybe you even wondered if God really cared that you were standing 1 for Him. Even bold Elijah once felt that way!

??Do you remember how God sent fire down upon Mount Carmel and proved that He was the true and living God？The people had declared, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" No doubt Elijah was so glad that Israel was turning back to the only true God.

??Gospel：Have you realized that the God Who created the world, the God of the Bible, is the only true and living God？Did you know you were created to know and worship Him, and to enjoy His fellowship forever？God knows every detail of your life, and loved you even before you were born! He says in Jeremiah 31：3, "I have loved you with an everlasting 2 love." Because God is holy and truth, He must tell us about our condition, and our condition is that we have broken His laws. Breaking His laws is sin, and the punishment for that sin is to be away from God forever. Aren't you glad that the Bible also says, "God is love." God loves you with such a tremendous love that He provided Someone to take your punishment for sin. Romans 8：32 says, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us alla？|" God gave up His beloved Son to come down to earth to pay for your sins by dying on the cross. Because Jesus is God, He could love you with that same tremendous, generous love God has for you, that love that caused Him to freely give His life for you. Jesus was nailed to a cross, suffered a terrible death, then three days later He came to life again. Now Jesus is in Heaven with His Father, the only true God and Savior.

??Elijah knew that only true God, and was so glad to see Israel turn from their idol 3 worship to serve the true God of Israel. But Elijah's joy was soon forgotten. Perhaps as he was resting, a messenger came to him from wicked Queen Jezebel. "By tomorrow about this time, I will make sure you are dead." Elijah knew Queen Jezebel had killed many of God's prophets, and she surely hated Elijah enough to try to kill him too.

??Fear and dismay filled Elijah's mind. He was filled with so much fear, til his faith in God was weakened. Had God stopped caring for him？??MT：If you know the Lord Jesus, there may be times when you feel the same way. You feel alone as a believer, you have no friends who stand with you, and you wonder if God has stopped caring for you. Satan, the old devil is God's enemy and your enemy. He wants you to feel discouraged and depressed 4, and to think God doesn't care for you.

??If you feel defeated, then you won't serve the Lord, and you won't be a good witness for Jesus. Our Bible verse today says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 5 46：10. That means "Stop and consider that I am God and I see everything that's happening to you. I'm caring for you and working things for your good when you don't even realize I am there!"

??God was caring for Elijah too, but Elijah couldn't see that, and the fear of Jezebel made Elijah start running away. He and a servant traveled about 90 miles to Beersheba. Leaving his servant there, Elijah continued on alone another 15 miles into the desert. Panting and exhausted 6, Elijah sat down under a juniper tree and prayed that God would just go ahead and take his life. Then Elijah laid down and slept. Someone woke him. Do you think it was one of Jezebel's soldiers？No, it was one of God's ministering angels.

??God saw Elijah running, was with him all those miles, and saw when he collapsed 7. God even had His angel protecting Elijah as he slept. The angel gently touched Elijah and said, "Get up and eat." Elijah looked, and right beside him was another miracle. There was freshly baked bread waiting on hot coals, and a jug 8 of water close by. Oh how Elijah must've enjoyed that delicious bread. His belly 9 full and his thirst satisfied, Elijah lay down again and slept. Again the angel came and touched Elijah. "Get up and eat, for the journey is too great for you." Elijah ate and the Bible tells us in II Kings 19：8 that Elijah went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights, all the way to Mount Horeb.

??There Elijah found shelter in a cave. Boys and girls, do you think God had lost touch with Elijah？No, He knew exactly where Elijah was. The Bible says, "and the word of the LORD came to Elijah, 'What are you doing here, Elijah？'" Elijah answered, "I have been very jealous for the LORD God, for the people of Israel have forsaken 10 your commandments, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left; and now they are looking for my life to kill me too."

??God said to Elijah, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD." Elijah did, and God's Word says, "And the LORD passed by." Then there came a great and strong wind across the mountain, so strong it broke the rocks in pieces. But I Kings 19：11 says, "but the LORD was not in the wind：and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake：And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire：and after the fire a still small voice. It was then that Elijah wrapped himself in his mantle 11 and went to the entrance of the cave. There he heard a voice, "What are you doing here, Elijah？" Elijah repeated his sad story about being the only prophet of the Lord left alive. It seemed as if the Lord were ignoring Elijah's problems when He said to Elijah, "Go back and anoint a new king over Syria, and a new king over Israel, and also go to Elisha the son of Shaphat and anoint him to be prophet in your place." And then the Lord let Elijah in on a wonderful secret："I have left 7, 000 in Israel who have not bowed their knee to Baal nor kissed him." What a surprise! Elijah had thought surely he was the only true believer left in Israel!

??MT：If you have believed on the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you may feel that you are the only Christian 12 in your school, or in your family. You may feel lonely and depressed as Elijah when others make trouble for you or turn against you. Can you do 3 things？Can you say Psalm 46：10 to yourself and remember that God knows all about what is happening to you and HE IS IN CONTROL! Then third, pray and ask the Lord to help you trust Him to care for you and to keep working in your life.

??Elijah realized God was going to keep working in his life, so he came down from his hiding place and got busy with all his new assignments. He anointed that new king over Syria, and then the new king over Israel. As Elijah continued walking, he saw Elisha the son of Shaphat plowing 13 with some oxen. Elijah passed by him, and threw his own mantle on Elisha's shoulders. The same Holy Spirit that caused Elijah to know who Elisha was also caused Elisha to understand why Elijah had cast his mantle upon him. Elisha followed Elijah and became like a son and a servant to Elijah. Elisha must've brought much encouragement to old Elijah. Can you see that God was still caring for Elijah？

??If you are God's child, remember this week that God is caring for you! No matter what problem you are facing, can you say Psalm 46：10 to yourself, and remember that God is the One Who sees all, controls all, and cares for you! Then pray asking Him to help you trust Him more!

??The reason that God's children can "Be still" is because the Lord Jesus lives in them, and His Holy Spirit can encourage and remind them that God is in control.

??If you have never become God's child, you can do that today by going to "How to Be a Child of God."

??小明的班里有25个同学, 虽然人数不少, 可是小明却觉得很孤单, 难过。这是为什么呢？刚刚在操场上, 小明向同学传福音, 有些男生就讥笑他。当小明说他相信是神创造了这个世界的时候, 连他的老师都笑话他。

??如果你已经接受了耶稣做你的救主, 那么你也会碰到这样的事。也许你会想, 我为主的缘故才受人的笑话, 主管不管呢？其实, 像以利亚这么勇敢的人也这么想过。

??你记得上次的故事里, 我们讲到神在迦密山降下火, 证明神就是那位独一的真神。

??连以色列人也俯伏在地, 说, 耶和华是神, 耶和华是神。以利亚肯定很高兴以色列的心终于回转向神。

??小朋友们, 你知道这位创造宇宙万有的神, 这位圣经中的神才是宇宙中唯一的真神。

??你知道神创造你是为了你能来认识他, 来敬拜他, 来与神相交。神知道你的一切, 神在你出生之前就爱你。

??神在耶利米书31：3说, 我以永远的爱爱你, 因此我以慈爱吸引你。但是, 神也是圣洁公义的神, 他说我们都违反了神的律法。违反了神的律法就是罪。罪的代价就是与神永远分离。神的大爱真是非常奇妙。神实在爱我们, 他就让一个人来替我们背负这个对罪的惩罚。

??罗马书8：32说, 神不爱惜自己的儿子为我们众人舍了。神竟然让他自己的爱子, 我们的主耶稣基督来到这个世上, 为我们的罪死在十字架上。耶稣以那属天的大爱爱我们, 所以他心甘情愿地把他的命舍了, 就是为了拯救我们。耶稣被钉在十字架上, 经历了极度的痛苦和死亡。三天后, 他又从死里复活。死亡也不能拘禁我们的主耶稣。现在, 耶稣就在天上和天父在一起。耶稣就是我们的救主。

??以利亚认识这位唯一的真神, 他很高兴以色列人的心终于回转向神。可是, 以利亚的高兴劲儿还没过去, 王后耶洗别就派人来告诉他："明日这个时候, 就是你的死期。"

??以利亚知道王后耶洗别杀了很多神的先知, 而且她非常恨以利亚, 也想杀他。以利亚这个时候, 心里害怕了, 他在神面前的信心也动摇了。神真的不看顾他了吗？如果你已经接受了耶稣做你的救主, 你有时也会有这样的感觉。你会觉得孤单, 好像只剩下你一个人在跟随耶稣。你会想，是不是神不看顾我了。撒但, 是神的敌人，也是我们的敌人。他就是想让你觉得灰心丧气, 觉得神不管你了。然后你就不再侍奉神, 不能成为耶稣荣耀的见证了。

??我们今天要学的圣经经节是诗篇46：10, 神说："你们要休息, 要知道我是神。" 神是对我们说, 停下来想一想, 我是神, 在你身上发生的任何事我都知道。我时时刻刻地在看顾你, 只是你不知道而已。在你身上发生的一切都是为了你的好处。

??神当然在看顾以利亚, 以利亚自己并没有认识到。他心里很怕王后耶洗别来杀他, 就就起来逃命。他和他的仆人跑了90英里的路, 大概将近300里, 到了别是巴这个地方。然后以利亚把仆人留在那里。他自己又在旷野走了一天, 又是好几十里的路。他实在跑累了, 就坐在一棵罗腾树下, 说, 耶和华阿, 罢了, 求你取我的性命, 让我死吧！说完, 他就躺在罗腾树下, 睡著了。这时, 有人拍他, 说, 起来。是不是王后耶洗别派来的人呢？不是, 是神派来一个天使。神知道以利亚害怕, 逃跑, 这一路神都跟着他。

??以利亚睡觉的时候, 神还派天使来保护他。天使轻轻拍拍以利亚, 说, 起来吃吧。以利亚就起来, 真是神奇啊！他看见头边有一瓶水, 与炭火烧的饼, 还热乎乎的。他就吃了喝了, 那饼真好吃啊！喝了水也不渴了。然后, 他又躺下。天使又来拍他, 说, 起来吃吧, 因为你当走的路甚远。他就起来吃了喝了。圣经在列王记上19：8讲到, 仗著这饮食的力, 他走了四十昼夜, 到了神的山, 就是何烈山。他在那里进了一个洞, 就住在洞中。小朋友们, 神知道以利亚躲在洞里吗？当然知道。神对以利亚说："以利亚阿, 你在这里作什么？" 以利亚说, 我为耶和华万军之神大发热心, 因为以色列人背弃了你的约, 毁坏了你的坛, 用刀杀了你的先知, 只剩下我一个人, 他们还要寻索的命。

??神对以利亚说："你出来站在山上, 在我面前。" 以利亚就照做了。那时神从那里经过, 在他面前有烈风大作, 崩山碎石。但圣经说, 耶和华却不在风中, 风后又有地震, 耶和华却不在其中, 地震后有火, 耶和华也不在火中, 火后有微小的声音。以利亚听见, 就用外衣蒙上脸, 出来站在洞口, 有声音向他说："以利亚阿, 你在这里作什么？"

??他又把刚才的话重了一遍, 说："我为耶和华万军之神大发热心, 因为以色列人背弃了你的约, 毁坏了你的坛, 用刀杀了你的先知, 只剩下我一个人, 他们还要寻索的命。" 神好像没有理会以利亚的问题, 而是对他说："你回去, 要膏一个新的亚兰王, 和一个新的以色列王, 还有让以利沙作先知接续你。" 然后神又告诉以利亚一个秘密。神说, 我在以色列人中为自己留下七千人, 是未曾向巴力屈膝的, 未曾与巴力亲嘴的。这对以利亚来说, 真是一个惊喜。他以为只剩下他在跟随神, 其他人都死了。真是没想到啊！

??如果你已经接受了耶稣做你的救主, 你就是神的孩子。当你遇到困难, 当别人因为你信耶稣就讥笑你, 给你气受的时候, 也许, 你也会像以利亚一样觉得孤单, 灰心。你也许会觉得只有你在跟随耶稣。亲爱的小朋友, 我建议你做三件事。第一, 用诗篇46：10激励自己。神说："你们要休息, 要知道我是神。第二, 记住, 神知道你身上发生的一切, 神在掌权！第三, 祷告, 求神来帮助你信靠他, 让他继续在你身上做工。

??以利亚知道神要继续在他身上做工。所以他从他藏身的地方出来, 开始了他新的任务。他去膏了一个新的亚兰王, 和一个新的以色列王。正当以利亚走在路上的时候, 他遇见沙法的儿子以利沙在赶著牛耕地, 他就把自己的外衣搭在以利沙的身上。圣灵使以利亚知道以利沙就是神所拣选的先知。圣灵也让以利沙知道为什么以利亚把外衣披在他身上。以利沙就跟随以利亚, 象儿子和仆人一样地服侍他。我相信以利沙一定给年老的以利亚带来许多鼓励。你看得出来神仍在看顾以利亚吗？??

??如果你是神的孩子, 请记住神也在看顾著你。不管你面临什么样的问题, 你可以用诗篇46：10激励自己。神说："你们要休息, 要知道我是神。" 记住, 神是全知全能的, 他在看顾著你。然后, 你要祷告他, 使你更信靠他。神的孩子可以安息, 是因为主耶稣住在他们里面。他的圣灵鼓励他们, 也提醒他们, 神在掌权。如果你还没有相信耶稣, 成为神的孩子, 请你去听"怎样成为神的孩子" , 并照那里所说的去做。