Devotional 809

So...Ahab went out to meet Elijah. (17) When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”

(18) “I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. ~I Kings 18:16-18

Don't let anyone make you doubt who you are in Christ...and don't you dare doubt God's power through the chaos and facade of this world's false gods. God is greater, and He will show Himself when the time and situation are right.

It was the right time for Elijah. He was a prophet of the Lord, and regardless of the many people and leaders who stood for other gods (Baal and Asherah) around him---Elijah knew Who he stood with, and he knew the power of God. 

Today, remember Who we serve and stand with, and trust in the power of our God--because no earthly god will ever compete with His glory. 

But sometimes people need to see to believe, and God knew that the time and situation were right to showcase His power, and bring His people back to Himself. 

"Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah...”

(20) So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. (21) Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.

(22) Then Elijah said to them... (23) "Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it. (24) Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed....

(26) So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.

(27) About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”

(28) So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. (29) They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response. ~I Kings 18:19-24, 26-28

Notice anything? Notice what happened when they called on their "gods"? Nothing happened.

He is Lord of lords and King of kings... (Revelation 17:14).  Only one God gave His Son at the cross for us. Only one Savior died for us. Only one God defeated death. No one and no other god or king ever showcased power and divinity in the way that Our God has. No one ever will. There is no other. (Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. ~I Timothy 1:17).

Elijah noticed that nothing happened too, and it was the right time and situation for God to showcase His power and divinity to the people.

Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!”... (31) ...Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons. (33) He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.

Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”

(34) After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, (35) and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.

(36) ...Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. (37) O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”

(38) Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! (39) And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” ~I Kings 18:30-39

Boo-Yah!

Please don't doubt who you are in Christ today (no matter what others might say)...and don't you dare doubt God's power through the chaos and facade of this world's false gods.

No one and no other god or king ever showcased power and divinity in the way that Our God has. No one ever will. There is no other.

It was the right time for Elijah, and today is the right time for us. Remember Who we serve and stand with, and trust in the power of our God. 

Almighty Lord, Help us to stand strong for You today in a world full of false gods. There is only one Truth, and it is You. There is only one God, and it is You. Lord, answer us so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself (I Kings 18:37). Amen.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com