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Thursday, December 09, 2010
Today: Speaking the word to the world
Passage: 1 Kings 17
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1NIV)
Most of the prophets of the Old Testament ministered to people who treated them like strangers
They were ministering to people who had some “modern” God like Baal, who was more “in demand” than the God of Israel, Jehovah
Today, there are so many “Baals” in demand
Some people worship the earth; some worship technology & science
They look at the people of God, like strangers and aliens (1 Peter 1:1)
But don’t forget that we are called “God’s elect”, at the same time
God chose Elijah to do a task that was difficult and kind of “dangerous”
Sometimes, when you look at the job descriptions of certain jobs they advertise, it will say ”jobs of a difficult nature” or so
There is an amount of “risk” involved in any job in the world
So, there is risk involved in ministry, regardless of whether you are a Pastor, preacher, teacher or any other type of ministry you are doing
But God stands with those who are doing it as per God’s will and guidance
He is the best employer you can ever have; God tells you in advance and in detail about all the risks involved in ministry; He also promises us His help and guidance
Elijah told Ahab, a very unpopular King of the O.T times that it was not going to rain until he said so
Elijah knew his God and the power of God’s authority
It is only when a man of God is fully in God, that he can say like Elijah said
The words that came out of Elijah’s mouth were the words of God, not his own!
When I hand over a dollar bill to a person in the store, I can get whatever is worth that dollar
It doesn’t matter whether a rich man gives it or a homeless person gives it; a U.S dollar will get you what a dollar is worth, because it the US government that guarantees it
In the same way, when the word of God is preached, it is powerful, as long as we don’t adulterate or dilute it with our own stuff
Elijah spent much time with God, before coming out and boldly making this declaration to this wicked King
Instead of “stamping” some people “wicked” and staying away from them, it is time for us to go to such people and “speak” the word
Like Elijah who came from “nowhere”, we see Paul in the New Testament
People knew Paul before, but only as a persecutor of God’s people
When Paul became a Christian, many people including the apostles themselves could not take it!
Today, there are many in the Church who boast of “decades” of experience, but cannot just “take” some of the new people who come to Christ, and are used mightily by the Lord
We have “the prodigal’s brother(s)” in the house (of God)!
Elijah was alone, many times. He longed for company, but God was His only friend, most of the time
Is it not better to have God as your best friend, instead of having all the friends in the world and not having God as a friend?
It is time to stand with God and for God, whatever it takes
Your words are powerful, wonderful and beautiful, when you speak for God!
God bless your decision
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to stand with you and to speak with you, so that I can speak about you and for you. Without your help, I cannot do that. So help me God; Amen.