Loading... BE WILLING TO CHALLENGE THE WORLD - 1 Kings 18:21
Sunday, April 30th, 2006I Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Elijah called the nation of Israel to confront them about their worshiping of Baal. The nation of Israel had heard of God’s power in the past, but instead they were willing to follow their wicked rulers in the worship of Baal. Ahab had tried to accuse Elijah for being the reason for the lack of rain in Israel but Elijah confronted Ahab and informed him that it was because of his worship of Baal that God stopped the rain. It was time to show Ahab and the nation of Israel the power of God.
Scripture gives us no indication that God told Elijah to have this battle to demonstrate to the people who the one true God was. All we know is that God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab and that it would rain. It thus appears that Elijah understood the power of God and while he could have just told Ahab the good news, Elijah first wanted to ensure that all Israel understood the power of God. Elijah told Ahab to bring the people and the prophets. Once everyone had showed up to mount Carmel Elijah threw down the challenge. The challenge was simple - the people should serve the one true God.
Elijah had seen the power of God in his life through daily provision, protection and direction. Elijah understood that the people now needed to see the power of God. Elijah declared the rules to the test and the people who were naturally followers were willing to listen. From the people’s perspective, what did they have to lose, all they had to do was sit down and see whether God or Baal answered by fire. Whichever one answered the challenge, then that was the one they should serve.
Even though God did not give this great idea of a battle on Mount Carmel, God did bless the faith of Elijah by answering his prayers. God desires to show HIMSELF strong, and Elijah had created an opportunity by which there was no way Elijah was going to receive any of the glory. Elijah had the faith in God to challenge the false gods of his day. Elijah desired to see the people worshiping the one true God so he proposed a challenge before he pronounced God’s promise of the return of rain.
You do not have to wait for a special invitation from God before you challenge the false teachings of this world. God has demonstrated to you HIS power and HE desires to demonstrate to the world HIS power. By faith you are able to confront wickedness. By faith you can draw the world’s attention to the one true God. God desires to show HIMSELF strong, why don’t you use your creativity and find ways that you can help the world to see the power of God.
You are not here to simply grow fat on the land. You are here to draw the world’s attention to the Lord. It is your duty to God to allow the light of God to shine so that when the world sees you all they really see is the light of God. God does not like lukewarm Christians. HE desires to see you fully dedicated to HIM and to HIS cause. Just as those around you need to be fully dedicated to the Lord, so too must you be totally dedicated to HIS purposes. It is time to stretch your faith and fully dedicate yourself to challenge the world to see the power of God.