God is With You 04.29.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Tuesday April 29, 2008 and today we will continue our study on the book of I Kings. Please read Chapters 19-20 in your Bbile or Click Here to read. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%2019-20&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Jezebel's threat against Elijah; Elijah's flight; the call of Elisha; and Ahab's death being foretold. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that God is always with you and has great things in store for all who endure life's struggles.

Apparently, Elijah believed that the miraculous fire from heaven and the end of the drought not only would prove Baal to be a false god but that it would result in Ahab and Jezebel's conversion to the One True God. However, when Ahab rushed toward his palace to tell Jezebel what had happened she quickly responded. "And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there." (I Kings 19:1-3).

Avoiding the ruthless Jezebel was not weakness, but wisdom. However, feeling defeated and discouraged, Elijah prayed that the Lord take him, "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." (19:4). However, God had other plans in store for him and he took care of him while he was in the wilderness. God lovingly provided for Elijah's physical needs by sending an angel to supply nourishment after his long journey. "And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." (19:5-8).

Often our mountaintop spiritual victories will be quickly followed by opposition or a time of testing in a solitary place. It is during these times when the Lord wants us to seek Him for support, He values His people and does not want them to whither and die, He wants them strong and able. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13).

When we stand before the Lord, each person's work will be judged, not by how spectacular it was but by its true eternal worth. All of us have moments of disappointment when it seems we have failed. Often our estimation of what we should achieve and God's estimation are far apart. We are not called always to be successful, but we are called always to be available and to remain faithful to God. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (I Corinthian 1:9).

Although he did not know it, Elijah did accomplish what God wanted him to do. One of his great successes was that the leaders in Ahab's kingdom went home with a renewed conviction that The LORD, He is the God. For centuries Elijah's faith and faithfulness have given encouragement to millions of believers. "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them." (Psalm 145:18-19).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the unnamed prophet who prophesied victory to King Ahab so that he would know his victory was controlled by God: I am the Lord (I Kings 20:13,28). "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:57).

Today's Psalm: 145:20
"The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy."

Today's Prayer:

04.29.08
Dear Lord,
As we examine the emotional pain of our lives, when it seems as though You’ve forgotten about us, we often start out with the question of “Why?” But in hindsight we realize that those struggles taught us practical truths that we could not learn overnight but over time, and that there truly was purpose in our pain and in Your timing. Help us to model integrity and steadfastness in the midst of the severe struggles and sweeping storms of life. Your eternal purpose is greater than our temporal pain. Remind us that it may not just be for our own instruction but for others looking on who may learn from our difficult experiences. In Jesus' name, I pray....Amen.

Have a terrific Tuesday and God Bless you.
Christina

Visit A Spiritual Guide
www.aspiritualguide.net