By: Pastor Daniel Ethridge
Revival is a rare and beautiful thing. We are living in a season at Liberty where God is moving powerfully among us, and we must do nothing to quench the Spirit, but everything to fan into flame what He is doing. As we begin this new series on the life of Elijah, we turn to 1 Kings 17 and see a prophet who appears out of nowhere yet becomes the key figure in a book about kings. Elijah shows us what it means to stand on God’s Word and trust Him as the source of living water.
The Days of Ahab
“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.” — 1 Kings 16:30
King Ahab led Israel into deep sin. Following in Jeroboam’s footsteps, he introduced counterfeit worship that slowly turned people away from Yahweh. But Ahab went further—he married Jezebel, a woman whose life had been shaped by idolatry and demonic influence. Together, they promoted Baal worship, which involved immorality, ritual prostitution, and even child sacrifice.
The spirit of Jezebel wasn’t just a problem in Elijah’s day. Revelation 2 reminds us that the same spirit of deception and immorality still works to destroy God’s people. We see it today in sexual confusion, broken identity, and a culture that tolerates sin. The days of Ahab remind us: compromise with the enemy always leads to destruction.
The Declaration of Elijah
“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.” — 1 Kings 17:1
In the middle of this corruption, Elijah boldly confronted the king. By declaring a drought, he struck at the heart of Baal worship, which claimed fertility and rain as its power. God was showing that He alone is the true source of life.
Elijah was a nobody from nowhere, but his confidence wasn’t in himself—it was in the Word of God. He knew what Scripture said in Deuteronomy 11:16-17 about drought coming when people turned to idols, and he had the courage to stand on that promise.
The same is true for us. You don’t have to be famous, powerful, or perfect for God to use you. He still raises up men and women today who will declare with conviction: “My God is Yahweh.”
The Deliverance of God
“You will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” — 1 Kings 17:4
After Elijah’s bold stand, God provided for him. While the land suffered from drought, Elijah had water to drink and food to eat. Sin left the nation empty and dry, but God’s prophet was sustained by His provision.
This points us to Jesus. In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and offers her something far greater than physical water:
“Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” — John 4:14
Just as God provided Elijah with water in a drought, Jesus offers us Living Water, the only source that truly satisfies. Our souls will never be quenched by false gods, sinful desires, or worldly success. Only Jesus can fill the empty places in our hearts.
Conclusion: Come Drink from the Living Water
The story of Elijah reminds us that in the midst of cultural chaos, God calls His people to stand on His Word and trust in His provision. And the story of the Samaritan woman reminds us that Jesus Himself is the Living Water we long for.
If you’re thirsty for meaning, healing, or peace, come to Jesus. Lay down the false wells that have left you empty and drink deeply from the One who satisfies forever.
Are you ready to take your next step? We would love to walk with you. Plan Your Visit to join us in person, or Fill Out a Connect Card so we can pray for you and help you experience the Living Water of Jesus.