1 Kings 18:21 - How Long Will You Waver Between Two Opinions? (addendum)
1 Kings 18:21 - How Long Will You Waver Between Two Opinions?
(addendum)
1 Kings 18:21 (NIV) Elijah went before the people and said,
"How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God,
follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said
nothing.
CONTEXT: Elijah on Mount Carmel: 1 Kings 18:16-46.
APPLICATION COMMENTARY with emphasis on verse 21.
Elijah's primary assignment was to announce when a drought would
begin and end (1Ki 17:1). God had told him to proclaim to King Ahab
that the drought was an act of judgment upon a people who worshiped
idols rather than God. In the middle of Elijah's assignment, a
spectacular thing happened. Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and
called fire down from heaven, putting hundreds of priests of Baal to
death. This was one of the most awesome displays of God's power
recorded in Scripture. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard
Blackaby re 1Ki. 18:41]
Fifty-six times in the Bible the word almighty is used. Always
it is used of God; never of anyone else. God is all powerful, or
omnipotent. Again we are forced to use a negative to explain the
concept--there is nothing He can't do. That is a staggering idea. He has no
bounds to His energy.
God can do one thing as easily as He can do another. It is no
more difficult for God to create a universe than it is for Him to
make a butterfly, and He does everything without losing any of His
strength. Isaiah 40:28 says, "The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator
of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired." God never
needs to be replenished. Where would He go for more strength? There is
no power outside of God.
Built into absolute power is the authority to use it. God not
only has the power but He has the authority to do anything He wants
to do. While God can do anything He wants to do, however, His will
is totally consistent with His nature. That's why, for example, He
cannot lie and will not tolerate sin. It is also why He shows grace and
mercy. Psalm 115:3 says, "our God is in the heavens; He does whatever
He pleases." Have you ever asked the question, "Why did God do
this?" He did it because He wanted to. If this doesn't seem like a
sufficient answer to you, it's because you don't understand God....
We worship an unchanging, all-powerful God. If that makes Him
seem far beyond your ability to comprehend, that is good. If you
think of God as someone simple enough for the human mind to
understand, your god is not the true God.
What is your concept of God? Do you see Him as a timeless,
infinite, all-powerful, unchanging, glorious being? Or do you, like many,
tend to minimize God's greatness, preferring to think of Him as one
who may be manipulated or fooled by human hypocrisy, or one who may
be mandated to do what we want? Such a view of God is utterly
pagan.
A vision of the steadfastness of our immutable God brings a
sense of security and stability to our unsettled lives. And the
understanding that His power is unlimited and undiminishing strengthens and
encourages even the weakest believer. The natural response to that is
praise and adoration that overflows in a life that worships. (From The
Ultimate Priority by John MacArthur, Jr.) [Inspirational SB]
Man is made to worship and he will worship something. It ought
to be Almighty God. But man is very inventive in this regard and
may worship stone, wood, money, lust, another person, an idea or
many other things. And what man worships, man serves. Let your
service be rendered unto God Almighty. It is the only service that has
eternal value and whose product will continue on throughout all
eternity, to God's glory and your benefit. Be warned, anything less than
God that you serve, the product of that service will be burned up
and destroyed. Today, choose to serve the Lord. [In His Time; Walk
With Wisdom re Jos.24:15]
People can have loads of faith and still be weak because their
faith is in the wrong place. The 450 prophets of Baal had plenty of
faith, but it was in a god that did not exist and had no power. Where
is your faith - ultimately? Put faith in friends or family, and
you'll find that they let you down. Put faith in government, and you'll
be disappointed by corruption. Put faith in money, and you'll see
that it doesn't buy happiness. Put faith in fame, and you'll find it
fleeting. Put your faith in the God of the universe, however, and you will
find strength beyond what you can imagine. You will be able to face
down evil fearlessly if your faith is in the right place. [The One
Year Bible for New Believers re 1Ki. 18:18-40]
We cannot create the wind or set it in motion, but we can set
our sails to catch it when it comes; we cannot make the electricity,
but we can stretch the wire along upon which it is to run and do its
work; we cannot in a word, control the Spirit, but we can so place
ourselves before the Lord, and so do the things He has bidden us to do
that we will come under the influence and power of His mighty breath.
[Praying Through The Bible By Fuller re 1Ki. 18:37-39]
Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you
can only spend it once. [source unknown]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Grace Notes:
http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php
A Better Way to Live:
http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/
Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/
More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com
