1. When can we take Old Testament stories and apply them to New Testament christianity? It is when the New Testament itself applies the Old Testament stories as when the apostles in their writings mention them or when Jesus Christ himself applied the Old Testament.
2. How do we, NT Christians make sense of Elijah the prophet’s life and ministry? I took out my Strong’s complete concordance of the Bible and looked up the entry “Elijah” and “Elias” (the Greek variation of the name Elijah.) And I was surprised to find that the name Elijah appears 30 times in the New Testament.
3. The Jews in Jesus’ time thought that Jesus was Elijah. Jesus asked “Whom do men say that I am?” and the disciples stated that people thought that Jesus was Elijah.
4. Why were the Jews waiting for Elijah? There is a prophecy in Malachi 4:5 that Elijah will be sent to Israel before the Day of the Lord.  So that, in every Jewish home during the Passover, there is a plate set aside on the table just in case Elijah would appear.  The Jews were waiting not only for the appearance of the Messiah but also the appearance of Elijah who will the advance party for the Messiah.
5. John the Baptizer was prophesied to have the spirit and power of Elijah. An angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias and told him that the son that will be born to him will go in the spirit and power of Elijah.  He is not Elijah, John the Baptizer himself denied that he was Elijah, only that his ministry was to turn Israel’s heart back to God,, just the way Elijah did.
6. Jesus himself taught that John the Baptizer had done the work of Elijah but that the Jews had killed him. John the Baptizer was not Elijah but he came in the spirit and power of Elijah and he had almost the same ministry as Elijah because he preached repentance before the coming of Jesus Christ himself.  The preaching of repentance, the acceptance of the people of that call to repentance prepared the way for Jesus Christ.
7. Elijah appeared with Moses as Jesus was transfigured. Some Bible scholars believe that the appearance of Elijah and Moses with Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration is a clue as to the identity of the two witnesses who will be sent to Israel during the first half of the Tribulation to preach repentance, to mark all the believing Jews, and to rebuild the temple.  These witnesses will be able to call down fire from heaven.  In the whole of the Bible, the fire of God’s judgment came only during the ministry of Moses ( during the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram) and the ministry of Elijah ( at Mount Carmel ).
8. Apostle Paul said that there will be remnant of believing Jews in the last days just as in Elijah’s time there were 7 thousand Israelites who had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. ( Romans 11:2-4).  Elijah’s work was not only to declare the Word of the Lord, to restore righteous worship in Israel, but also to intercede for Israel. Just as Elijah interceded for Israel, so must NT Christians intercede by prayer for the world.
9. James 5:17 notes that Elijah was a man subject to the same passions as us. The Greek word used is <homoiopathes> which means “to be similarly affected.” But what sets Elijah apart was his fervent prayer life. Again, Elijah interceded before God in behalf of Israel.  This is the same ministry we have of praying one for another.
10. The miracle experienced by Elijah when he stayed with the widow of Zarepath speaks of salvation for Gentiles. Jesus preached in Luke 4:25-26 that the miracle of the abundant supply of food during drought was not accomplished by God through a Jew but through a believing Gentile, the widow from Zarepath.  This is a prophecy that salvation will not be limited to Jews only, but that Gentiles will also come to the knowledge of saving faith and will also be counted as Abraham’s seed by faith
11. What sets Elijah apart is his zeal for God. According to J. I. Packer in his book, Knowing God, “Zeal… is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way….It is not enough to say that he is earnest… uncompromising… whole-hearted, fervent in spirit.  He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God….He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory…If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it — he is content.  He feels that, like a lamp, he is  made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him.”

Lord, give us the zeal of Elijah, give us the spirit and power of Elijah in prayer.  Give us the burning desire to please you, oh God.