00:00:00.000 - 00:00:18.480

[ Silence ] [Music] [music] Hail the son of righteousness, Jesus, the light of the world.

00:00:18.480 - 00:00:39.940

We'll walk in the light, beauty, the light, on where the blue runs, the first in our pride. Shine all around us by day and by night, ♪ Jesus, the light of the world ♪

00:00:39.940 - 00:00:56.820

♪ We'll walk in the light ♪ ♪ Beauty for life ♪ ♪ From where the rungs of mercy come right ♪ ♪ Shine all around us by day and by night ♪

00:00:56.820 - 00:01:26.400

♪ Jesus, the light of the world ♪ [Chorus singing] Would you stand for the reading of the text, please? Malachi 4 and 5. Malachi chapter 4, verse 5.

00:01:28.400 - 00:02:15.400

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. You may be seated. Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. of the message ready for the coming of Elijah.

00:02:15.400 - 00:02:50.400

The coming of Elijah is a mystery in history. We are not aware of his background. Scripture gives us no information regarding his beginning. He comes with this brief introduction.

00:02:50.400 - 00:03:31.400

The Bible simply says, "Elijah the Tishmite." He comes suddenly and miraculously, as in Greek mythology, the spirit of Menevus sprang full grown from the head of Job. Elijah comes as a courageous champion. the champion of Yahweh,

00:03:31.400 - 00:03:49.400

champion of the true religion of Israel. He has no patience, no tolerance whatsoever for idolatry. He has no army,

00:03:49.400 - 00:04:20.360

no CIA, no Central Intelligence Agency, no FBI, no Federal Bureau of Investigation, and yet he has the nerve, the unmitigated gall, to strut into the presence and the palace of the king.

00:04:20.360 - 00:04:53.360

He comes and announces national disaster. People in the Northern Kingdom are accustomed to priestly preaching, accustomed to ritual and prescribed order. But Elijah comes without an invitation, does not observe protocol.

00:04:53.360 - 00:05:16.360

He just breaks in. He interrupts. Such conduct by the clergy was unheard of. Ruthless Queen Jezebel shared the throne with King Ahab.

00:05:16.360 - 00:05:53.360

She endeavored to stamp out the true religion of Israel. Prophets of Yahweh were slain. 450 prophets were brought from her native land, Phoenicia. And Jezebel began a bloodthirsty purge designed to turn back the clock

00:05:53.360 - 00:06:27.360

and usher in a period of the dark ages for the people of God. Into such unfavorable circumstances and dangerous conditions, Elijah shows up. He comes from the tree-clad hills of Gilead. On the fringe of the desert, he comes.

00:06:27.360 - 00:07:16.360

Aware of the organized opposition of wicked Queen Jezebel, he comes. Outnumbered by 450 prophets, he comes. These 450 prophets are on the minister's union membership list. Elijah comes as a lonely prophet, 450 against him.

00:07:16.360 - 00:07:42.360

He's outnumbered, but he comes. Outmaneuvered, but he comes. With the opposition of the Queen, he comes. Elijah comes to the palace.

00:07:42.360 - 00:08:23.360

He comes to the king's house. The gatekeepers ask for his pass, but he has none. Nevertheless, he goes through the forces of security, the fire seemingly burning in his eyes, disregarding protocol, because he does not stop until he is in the presence of the king.

00:08:23.360 - 00:08:44.360

The police force is reprimanded. The police captain wants to know from his underlings, "Why did you let this man into the king's house?" [ Silence ]

00:08:44.360 - 00:09:16.360