1 KINGS
MOMENT – (19APR19) It had not rained for three years. During that time, King
Ahab had been searching for Elijah, but could not find him, and Jezebel had
gone on a killing spree of the Lord’s prophets. Obadiah, a servant of Ahab and
believer of God, had hidden one-hundred prophets in two caves. He not only hid
them, but ensured that they had food to eat and something to drink. The Lord
told Elijah to go before Ahab and Elijah did. Ahab was quick to blame Elijah
for the trouble that they had, but Elijah reminded him that it was he who had
done evil before the Lord and had been disobedient to his commands. Therefore,
Elijah was not about to take the blame for any trouble brought on by Ahab.
Elijah told Ahab to gather the people and the prophets of Baal and Asherah, so
that they could see who the real God was. At the end of the showdown, God
proved His superiority over the heathen gods and Elijah had the false prophets
killed.
We are living in a time when we
too must go against the prophets of Baal. Baal represents anyone or anything that
is contrary to the ordinances of God. In New York, they recreated the Arch of Baal,
on Wall Street there is the golden calf, the White House has been lit up to
celebrate gay marriage, music artists on award shows openly perform demonic
rituals, and the list goes on. The world is going off of a cliff as well as the
church, so God need some Elijahs to take their positions and not bow down to
the Baals, Asherahs, nor compromise with their satanic priests and priestesses.
Elijah did not waste time killing the enemies of God and even though we are not
to do this literally, we must defeat the devil wherever and whenever he comes
with the sword of God and by having our armor secure. Remember, Jezebel is looking
to kill the followers of God and if she can gain entry, she will not hesitate
to slay you spiritually. Something to ponder…
QUESTION OF
THE DAY – (19APR19) Elijah had just went toe-to-toe against the prophets of
Baal and Asherah with the Lord proving Himself strong. Yet, upon receiving a
message from Jezebel that she was going to kill him, he found himself fleeing
in fear to the wilderness. He was tired, mentally worn out, and DEPRESSED. The stress
of it all had finally come down heavily on him and he came to the conclusion
that he just wanted God to end it all and to take his life. He felt that he was
no better than his ancestors and did not find that his life was worth living
anymore. His depression caused him to forget what God had just done, and only
focus on his present situation, which he found to be hopeless and less than
desirable. Yet, the Lord did not forsake His servant, and seeing the despair
that he was in, He sent an angel to wake Elijah up to eat and have something to
drink. After which, Elijah went back to sleep, only to be awakened by the angel
again later to eat and drink for the journey that he had ahead of him.
Have you
ever had an Elijah moment? Have you had times when you felt so down in despair
that you welcomed death? If not in the physical, but death as in throwing in
the towel on your hopes, dreams and desires? Many people are walking around in
a cloud of depression. Some go to doctors who pump them up with medications.
Others turn to alcohol and illegal drugs and prescriptions, and then there are
those who find other unhealthy sources to ease their minds such as pornography,
sex, work, cutting, crying, and food – just to name a few. But just as God was
there for Elijah, He will be there for you. He understands all that we go
through and has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. If the burdens of
life are bearing down on you and you feel as if you cannot go on, cry out to
God for help. He is only a prayer away and is near to the brokenhearted.
Something to ponder…
1 KINGS
MOMENT – (19APR19) Ben-Hadad the king of Aram came up against Samaria and took siege
of it. He also threatened Ahab, but despite Ahab’s disobedience to the Lord, God
helped him to win against him twice by giving a word to a prophet for him that
consisted of battle plans. Ben-Hadad was defeated, so he figured that he would make
a deal with Ahab to spare his life. Ahab made a treaty with him, but this was
not pleasing to the Lord. A prophet came to Ahab and told him that because he
did not do what he was supposed to do by destroying Ben-Hadad that it would be a
life for a life –Ahab’s life for Ben-Hadad. This angered Ahab so he left to return
to his palace.
God gave
Ahab the victory over his enemies not for the mere sake of defeat but to show both
him and his enemies that HE was God. Unfortunately, Ahab rejected the humility
that was needed to reverence the Lord. It is easy to desire to do our own thing
because the flesh is at constant war with the Spirit. We naturally do not want
to serve God, but to have our own way because we are born in iniquity, and yet,
there is no excuse for not being obedient. God has given us all free will, and
just as Ahab had a choice to obey the Lord, we too have a choice as to which
path we will follow. It is far better that we serve the Lord than to be
disobedient and fall into destruction as a result of our actions. We should do
our best to please the Lord and to live upright and holy lives, for He favors
those who honor Him. Something to ponder…
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