Have you ever heard someone say, "prove it!"
I have. Sometimes we say that to God. "prove it!"
What I find is that God is gracious enough with us to many times do just that. He "proves" his power and his very existence.
I'm thankful that we have a God who cares enough to be patient with us!
There is a great story in 1 Kings 18 where the prophet Elijah confronts King Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal (and the 400 propehts of the Asherah - verses 19,20)
850 false prophets against Elijah...and at his own request.
But Elijah knew that he had God on his side.
So Elijah sets up a test (verses 22-25).
Elijah wins - the false prophets lose (verses 26-29)
The result? Verse 38 tells us, "Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench."
Four quick lessons:
1. When we are in the will of God, we can walk in boldness.
Even in the most threatening of circumstances, if you are in the will of God, you don't need to be intimidated by anybody or anything.
2. Divided allegiance is as wrong as open idolatry.
When we are outnumbered it's easy to compromise (by non-Christians at work, etc.). But if we try to straddle a religious fence, as the Isrealties did, we court the danger of falling off into idolatry.
3. Our most effective tool is prayer.
Elijah's prayer is simple but yet power. The first thing he did was pray. Prayer must be our first recourse not our last.
4. Never underestimate the power of one person who is totally dedicated to God!
May God help us to be totally dedicated to Him this day.
So, "prove it" God. And God responds, "just rely on me, I'll take care of it this day."
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
A search for truth and meaning in life
Total Pageviews
George
About Me
- George24
- A blog that describes the journey of a follower of Christ
my blog list
Acts: An exegetical commentary
- Acts: An exegetical commentary
Blog Archive
-
▼
2006
(171)
-
▼
May
(19)
- Creating community part cinq
- Creating community part quatre
- Creating community part trois
- Creating community part deux
- Creating community
- Help, I need somebody
- Knowing what is true
- Is Oprah America's spiritual leader?
- Top Ten Errors in the Da Vinci Code
- Speaking about the Da Vinci Code
- Praying for Beth and her husband
- The song of the spirit
- The Da Vinci Code
- Microscopic lives
- Mother's Day
- God is closer than you think
- Prove it!
- Creative discussion
- Dealing with depression
-
▼
May
(19)
1 comment:
The faith of a mustard seed! Some days, that's all I've got to give. But, thankfully, sometimes that's all God needs from me. He is a grood and gracious God. He says to believe and to claim it... and it will be yours! I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed the last couple of messages on Sunday mornings concerning prayer and healing and why God may not answer prayers at times. These messages, delivered with love and compassion, have really ministered to my life and to my heart.
Life can be hard but it will never be harder than you can handle...that's God's promise to His children. He will never burden us beyond our ability to stand, if we but have faith. We will never be tempted beyond our ability to resist, if we but have faith. We can never be so far gone in sin that He will not redeem us, if we but have faith! God loves us, so very much, that He sacrificed all (His Son, part of Himself) for us. It was God's plan for Jesus to die on the cross and it was Jesus who put Himself there through His faith in God's plan. And God sent His third (the Holy Spirit) as our guide and comforter and teacher and helper through the remainder of our days. He did all of that with faith that we would return to Him. God's faith in us is great, even knowing all of our sins and failures. His faith that we can do anything in His name continues...take advantage of this blessing today; join your heart to God's.
It only takes a little faith!
Love God, love people.
Jon
Post a Comment