Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Wednesday April 29, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of I Kings. Please read chapters 16-18 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%2016-18&version=9

Today's Message: Dependence on God
God often allows us to face unusual and difficult situations in order to remind us of our absolute dependence upon Him.

Ahab, the king of Samaria, was one of the most powerful kings ever to rule the Northern Kingdom. However, as a result of his marriage to Jezebel, he promoted the worship of Baal, the chief god of her homeland. "And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him." (I Kings 16:30-33). During Ahab's reign, true Israelite worshipers of God were unpopular and feared for their lives, all who were caught worshiping the One True God were persecuted or killed by Jezebel.

The prophet Elijah spoke to Ahab, Elijah must have felt that his efforts to restore true worship of God were in vain and his ministry worthless, but he still stood by God and faced Ahab. "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word" (I Kings 17:1). After 31/2 years of no rain, Elijah again, informed the king that Israel's drought was the result of Ahab and his house rejecting God's commands. "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim." (18:17-18). Much of the world today is in total chaos because nations continue to ignore God's commands and follow their false gods. They are quick to blame everyone else for the failure of the economy, war, etc., but fail to realize this is all God's chastising.

Then Elijah challenged the 450 false prophets to call on their false gods to consume a sacrifice. "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. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken." (18:21-24). Non-believers will always jump at the challenge to prove God does not exist and that their false gods (e.g. power, fame, fortune) will prevail.

For a full day Jezebel's prophets frantically called upon the name of Baal with no success, they even cut themselves, to no prevail. "And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded." (18:27-29).

Then Elijah called the people over to him, he repaired the altar, set up the sacrifice, and even told the people to pour water onto the altar. Then he said a prayer to God.
" And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God." (18:36-39). Elijah illustrates how the power of God is released when we are obedient to His Word and pray.

We all have the ability to see God's power released just as Elijah did, but we can not be lukewarm to God and expect answered prayer. By lukewarm, I mean things as only following the commands we want to follow, continued living in sin with the thought that Sunday morning church will be enough to seek forgiveness, and only seeking God when we want something from Him. God knows our hearts and regardless of our salvation He will chastise us in order to get us to see what we are doing wrong.

God often allows us to face unusual and difficult situations in order to remind us of our absolute dependence upon Him. Through difficulties, we discover whether our confidence is in the Lord, in favorable circumstances, or in ourselves. He loves us and wants the best for us, but if we are not willing to learn what the best is, even if that means giving up something that we desire the most, than we will never receive the true blessings that He has in store for us.

Today's Psalm: 37:4
"Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Help us to be ever watchful and always prayerful as we see the foundations of our Christian faith attacked. Through the power of Your Spirit we want to take a firm position against the enemy and be strong in our faith. We stand with our Christian brothers and sisters all over the world who are going through the same kind of struggles, or worse, and especially pray for those who are paying a great price for their uncompromising stand. You assure us that after we suffer for a little while, You will restore, support, strengthen and sustain us as we remain firm on Your foundation. In Jesus' Name..........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night.
God Bless you,
Christina