Posted on Mon, Feb 23, 2009
My dear friend, if you have a responsibility from God, your knowledge of his power should swallow up all discouragements and intimidating fears in you. God is behind and ahead of you. Who or what could possibly prevail against you with the God of heaven as your Help? God, the all-powerful, who spoke this world into existence, is your strength.
To show king Ahab and his fellow pagan worshippers that the true God was and still is the source of all blessings including rain and all bounteous harvests, that he alone causes his rain to fall for both the good and the bad, Elijah prayerfully locked up the sky for three and half years, and there was no rain. Thereafter, he left Ahab, and proved to him and his evil cohorts that the Lord is God and has absolute control of the universe. Ahab and his wife Jezebel worshipped Baal, and had encouraged his subjects to follow suit. They believed that it was their Baal who brought rains and bountiful harvest.
In 1 King 18, we read of Elijah’s showdown of divine power with the false prophets of Baal at
Elijah had a mission. So he boldly met Ahab. He challenged him, his people and others to appear on Mount Carmel so he could clearly establish the over empowering strength of God to him and those who were uneven in their allegiance for the true God. They were indecisive between God and Baal. He asked them: "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." “But the people said nothing.”1
Perhaps, many of the people knew who the true God was, but remained irresolute for the sinful pleasures which they were enjoying and the unholy benefits of following Ahab and his idolatrous worship. It is important to personally make a decision to live for the Lord and faithfully serve him. If we drift along with the society in whatever is pleasant and easy, regrettably, we will someday discover that we have been worshipping a false god – ourselves – and it might be too late to repent.
God sent fire from heaven for Elijah after 850 worshippers had labored all day to no avail calling on unresponsive god to show his strength. Read how Elijah taunted them: “shout louder…, surely he is god! Perhaps, he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened. So they shouted and slashed themselves with swords and spears … but no one answered them, no one paid attention.” 2
My dear friend, if you have a responsibility from God, your knowledge of his power should swallow up all discouragements and intimidating fears in you. God is behind and ahead of you. Who or what could possibly prevail against you with the God of heaven as your Help? God, the all-powerful, who spoke this world into existence, is your strength.
Amid eminent and obvious contradictions, God is well able to embolden your resolve to obey him. The proof may not be as spectacular in your life as in Elijah’s, but God will make resources available for you to complete the responsibilities. You must stand for the truth and remain faithful to God, and must know his word to take and rely thereby. God will not fail to back you up so you can perform your given responsibilities to his glory. Only realize the need to be pliable for him to use.
Hallelujah! Rejoice in the strength of God. “He that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” 3 He is your guide and shield forever.
Scripture references: 1. 1 King 18:21; 2. 1 King 18:27-29; 3. Psalms 121:4.
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