Holy Fire Came Down

Imagine this scene: 450 crazed prophets of Baal, prophesying, yelling, dancing, jumping, cutting themselves in an effort to get the attention of a god that didn't exist to bring fire down and burn their wood sacrifice. The dead god couldn’t perform.

After this pitiful spectacle, the faithful prophet Elijah steps forward, prepares his wood sacrifice, pouring water on everything just to heckle the false prophets. Then he prays.

1 Kings 18:37-39 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.

What power! God doesn’t do things half-way. He still answers prayer in a magnificant way. Did Elijah live happily ever after? Not for awhile. King Ahab’s wife put a contract out on him, and He fled in fear of his life.

Much later, far away, he sits under a Juniper tree discouraged and depressed. But God sent an angel to comfort him, feed him, and restore his strength. God does the same for us when we are discouraged and depressed.

 “The God on the mountain is still God in the valley”

Forgiveness

When we experience forgiveness in our hearts, it humbles us and makes us gentle and forgiving toward others.

I wrestled with this many years ago when an elderly lady chewed me out before church in front of everyone for missing some services. Devastated, I wanted to run out the door and never come back. But I loved my church. I needed my church, and I needed prayer to be more faithful --- not this.

It was difficult to forgive her, though I knew I should. Overwhelmed and hurt,  I prayed, “Lord, don’t let me hate her. Help me to forgive her.” We had known each other a long time.

A couple months later she asked if something was wrong. I guess it showed. I told her how she hurt my feelings. She didn’t realize it and apologized. I forgave her as we bawled and hugged. The “unforgiving monster” vanished, and I slept quite well that night..

Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

The People God Uses

God uses unknown and ordinary people who are consecrated to His mission. Why? Because He will receive the most glory.

1 Corinthians 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

Remember young David and the giant?

1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Many battles are won when we come in the name of the Lord of hosts. When we lean on Jesus and His resources, we expect victory.  David was determined to honor the Lord despite the size and power of Goliath. His eyes were not on the problem, but on the Problem-solver!

Do you want to be the kind of person God uses for His purpose? I do. Regardless of what it costs in time, energy or reputation; dedicate your life to God and let Him use you.

What A Savior!

There are certain aspects of a believer’s relationship with Jesus that brings joy and comfort to our hearts. Think about it. Though He sees everything we do -- the right, the wrong, defects and  flaws -- He still loves us.

He knew me before He saved me, and He saved me still. He knew that I would fail Him daily, but He loves me still, waiting in the shadows to rescue me when I stumble and call upon His name. What A Savior! His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary is the ultimate love.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

What does Jesus want from us?  A life devoted to Him. A clean, holy life is a sweet smelling sacrifice to the Lord.

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

A Heart Hungry For God

Believers need a heart that beats for God, His power and His presence. We need to learn that we can do nothing without Him.

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

If we are to bring forth fruit for God’s glory, we must focus on our position in Christ. Are we, the branch, submitting to  the Vine—the Lord Jesus? Are we allowing Him to use us? Are we abiding in Him through Bible study and prayer?

God will not honor fleshly means and worldly shortcuts to produce fruit.

May God grant us hearts that are hungry for Him; that will not be satisfied until He transforms us with His power and glory into all we can be for His glory.

Doing things God’s way will put a shout in your heart, a song on your lips and joy in your soul.

Pray For Our Leaders

When we  pray, our hearts should be filled with gratitude for all God is, all He has done, all He is doing and all He will do. Thanksgiving should be a major ingredient in every prayer. Eph. 5:18.

1 Timothy 2:1-2  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

There’s no one on the face of the earth that should not be prayed for. No man is beyond the influence of godly prayers.

Now, more than ever, Christians need to pray for our leaders. We don’t have to agree with them, but we should pray for them.

These are perilous times for the Lord’s church. Many in our society would love to see all Christians removed from the world. That will happen at the rapture, but while we’re here we are to love the sinner and to pray for our society.

True Praise

God help us that we never reach the place where we fail to be amazed at the Person of God, because everything we do and everything we are rises or falls on our perception of who God is.

May we never forget that when we believed on Jesus, we became a  child of the living God. May we learn all we can about Him and rejoice in all that we learn.

Praise Him for his power in the creation, for sending His beloved Son to  redeem hell bound sinners by His grace and transforming them into the image of His precious Son.

Psalm 100:4-5 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

True praise looks at God, recognizes His greatness and remembers His blessings. True praise bursts forth from a soul that adores the Lord.