June 17th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
1 Kings 18:1-46 ~ Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21 ~ Proverbs 17:12-13

Old Testament - Wow!  Great readings today in 1 Kings 18.  This is an amazing chapter of the Bible, and one that I heard a wonderful sermon on a couple of years ago.  This is strong stuff.  One thing that kind of got me chuckling was the subtitle the New Living Translation puts at the top of this chapter - "The Contest on Mount Carmel"!  For some reason this got my mind thinking of WWF Championship Wrestling... yes... strange place for my mind to wander I realize.  :)  But then, this imagery kind of stuck with me throughout the readings and I definitely think Elijah threw down a WWF level taunt in verse 27 when the prophets of Baal were not having any luck getting their fire started - "About noontime Elijah began mocking them. "You'll have to shout louder," he scoffed, "for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or he is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or he is asleep and needs to be wakened!""  Perhaps he is relieving himself??  The prophet Elijah puts even Hulk Hogan's WWF taunt's to shame!  :)

Okay... in all seriousness... 1 Kings 18 is an amazing chapter.  There were several verses that stood out to me.  First was verses 17 and 18 when Ahab meets Elijah - ""So it's you, is it--Israel's troublemaker?" Ahab asked when he saw him. "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 love Elijah's directness and boldness to Ahab.  Ahab tries to go after Elijah and maybe intimidate him, since Ahab is King.  And Elijah does not back down one iota - he tells Ahab exactly why Ahab is the troublemaker.  I love that.  I wonder about our lives today.  If someone comes after us and maybe attacks our faith or integrity falsely in some way, will we immediately stand up for our faith like Elijah did to King Ahab?

Verses 20 & 21 are powerful - "So Ahab summoned all the people and the prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!" But the people were completely silent."  What a great question - and one that we may need to ask ourselves - "How long are you going to waver between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow him!"  Are we wavering at all in our commitment to God?  Are we being silent like the people were when Elijah asked this question?  Let us not waver between two opinions...  If the Lord is God, are you following him?  Wholeheartedly? 

Below is an image of Elijah's "sermon on the Mount Carmel"...  :)  bad pun... sorry.  (I really should know better than to start off a blog post with the Hulkster... it sets me off on the wrong foot... :)

I love the little story at the end of today's chapter where Elijah falls to his knees in prayer on Mt. Carmel and tells his servant to go look toward the sea - 7 times!  And then soon comes the little cloud....

Last but not least, verse 46 is a great closing to this eventful chapter! "Now the LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab's chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel."  Think about this day's events - Elijah meets with Obadiah.  Summons Ahab.  Meets with Ahab.  Summons the people of Israel and the prophets of Baal and Asherah.  Conducts a WWF Smackdown tourney :) - and God wins big time!  Prays for rain.  And then what better way to finish out this type of day but to "tuck his cloak into his belt" and run faster than Ahab's chariot back to Jezreel!  Great stuff!  What a chapter!  Elijah rocks!

Bible.org has tons of great commentary on today's readings in 1 Kings 18, which is not surprising considering how much happens in this chapter today.  Commentary titled "The Word of the Lord Comes to Elijah" is at this link.  "Elijah ministers to Obadiah" is at this link.  "Elijah Meets and Rebukes Ahab" is at this link.  "When One Becomes a Majority" is at this link.  "The Ineffectual Prayers of the Baal Priests" is at this link.  And finally, "The Prayers of Elijah" is at this link.

New Testament - I love how Peter answers his "critics" in Acts chapter 11 today.  He simply tells them the story of what happened.  And through this plain and simple act of telling his story truthfully we get to verse 18 - "When the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God. They said, "God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of turning from sin and receiving eternal life.""  And this makes me wonder about our lives today.  How do we answer our "critics" when it comes to our faith?  Is it possible that we can answer our critics simply by telling our story?  Just like Peter simply answered his critics with his story?  Is it possible that our story of how God reached out and changed our lives could be very effective in winning hearts and minds for Jesus?  I think sometimes we underestimate the power of simply telling our story.  It is our story - and after we tell it, how can anyone really criticize it?  Or argue with it?  It is our story.  Let us tell it.  And let us tell our story often and with great love.  I believe God can work wonders when we simply tell our stories...

Bible.org's commentary on today's Acts readings titled "Peter is Called on the Carpet" is at this link and "One Step Backward and Two Steps Forward" is at this link.

Psalms - Today in Psalm 135 verse 3 we will read this very simple, yet profound verse – “Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.” The words I want to focus in on here are “the Lord is good.”  Do you believe this to be true? Do you really – in your heart – believe that God is good? I think this is important for us to really meditate upon. I’m afraid sometimes we get into our minds that maybe God is not always good. Maybe we start to think that God is out to get us. Or out to trick us. Really isn’t looking out for us. Doesn’t really like us. Doesn’t really love us. These are all of course lies that come into our mind from the Enemy, the Destroyer. God is obviously good. So good. All of the time. And maybe sometimes we really need to remind ourselves of this. Even in the midst of challenges and struggles and addictions and hardships – God is good. God is there with us. God is leading us – and maybe even taking us through a hardship to bring us to the Promised Land on the other side. Our human minds will often not understand God’s ways. But, I think for us to always remember that God is good is so important for our continuing growth in our relationship with God. So, again, do you believe the words of this Psalmist? Do you believe that God is good?

Proverbs - Yikes... Proverbs 17 verse 13 is no joke - "If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house."  Let us be diligent and prayerful to make sure we never repay evil for good... 

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Micah Girl]

Love the little sign graphic,
"God is good all the time."

But it's missing the call and response so often said in churches:

Leader: God is good
Congregation: All the time
Leader: All the time
Congregation: God is good

Don't know why but that put such a smile on my face this morning. Also, I agree with Mike, Elijah rocks!

[Ramona]

1 Kings 18:1-46

In both the Old Testament and the New we see God defending Himself, declaring that it is He and He alone that is being challenged: Not Elijah nor Peter, but God. Many times we think we have to ague others into believing or obeying God because that is the only way they will come into the Kingdom. Yes Mike, the only thing we need to put forth is what Paul stated after he experienced getting beat up time and time again trying to argue people into the Kingdom,” For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2 AMP)”

Elijah had hints of frustration in doing what God called him to do when he states in the showdown that He is the only one left of God’s prophet (22) after Obadiah told him that he had hid 100 prophets in two caves. This is a lesson for us when we feel that we are the only one on our job, block, school that is calling on Jesus Christ. We are not. Obadiah also feared God while serving a wicked king. Too often we become frustrated and whine and moan about our supervisors, teachers and family members who are unbelievers while we are standing and toiling in the midst of them. We blame them for our inability to not truly serve God, but here we see a man who did. Let us not skip over Obadiah’s testimony.

Several years ago I became sad when I took notice of how many believers call on God like these prophets of false gods. Eigh-hundred and fifty prophets, 450 belonging to Baal and 400 belonging to Asherah called out all morning and past the afternoon trying to get their gods attention. Many Believers have taken this model and call out to the God, the Most High as if He is one of the Baals. Elijah didn’t do any incantations, he didn’t rebuke and bind. He didn’t pick up His bible in one-hand and raise it over his head shaking it at God. In fact Elijah in all appearances made God’s job harder, he drenched the burn offering with a scarce commodity, water. Without lighting a match or drying out the wood and offering, God came down and did his thing and Elijah didn’t have to beg Him.

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! (Matthew 7:7-11 AMP)
We are to ask, not yell-jump up and down, shout at God, etc, etc, etc.

Elijah praying and the small cloud showing up after seven times seeking, which to him meant rain storm, is also a lesson for us, with God nothing is ever what it seems to be. What would the U.S. weather service have forecasted if there was only one small cloud in the sky?

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Vance Brown]

I like this thought-provoking question: “I wonder about our lives today. If someone comes after us and maybe attacks our faith or integrity falsely in some way, will we immediately stand up for our faith like Elijah did to King Ahab?”

American society currently confuses “respect” with “tolerance and acceptance”. In America, the only way to respect someone is to “tolerate” and “accept” their lifestyle.

So, when we Christians say, with truth and respect while speaking with people say these things, are treated in America as having committed the unpardonable sin of not tolerating and accepting all lifestyles:
“homosexuality is a sin”
“sex before marriage is sexual immorality and that is sin”.

We should not tolerate and accept all lifestyles. Yet, we can discuss with respect and treat people with respect while sharing truth.

May we be bold, and speak the truth in love.

~~~

I Kings 18 (NKJV)
17
Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
18
And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.

NOTE:
I have been doing some research on “Baal” and “Baalism” in the free Online Encyclopedia ,1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
If anyone wants to access this excellent resource, the website address is: http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/

I have been doing this because:
a. I want to research and be prepared to talk intelligently with others.
b. I have just finished reading “The Da Vinci Code” to understand what it has to say. Within this very popular book, I found emphasis on Baalism and Astarte (Ashteroth or Asherah) “the great female principle”.

Here is a brief summary of what I have learned from the free Online Encyclopedia ,1911 Encyclopedia Britannica:

BAAL
“Accordingly, the baals are not to be regarded necessarily as local variations of one and the same god.”

“The Baal, as the head of each worshipping group… is the patron of all growth and fertility.”

“Baal is the god of the productive element in its widest sense.”

“Joined with the baals there are naturally found corresponding female figures known as Ashtoreth, embodiments of Ashtoreth (see ASTARTE)”

“…the cult of the baals and Ashtoreth was characterized by gross sensuality and licentiousness.”

ASTARTE (Ashtoreth / Asherah)

“a Semitic goddess whose name appears in the Bible as Ashtoreth.' She is everywhere the great female principle, answering to the Baal of the Canaanites and Phoenicians' and to the Dagon of the Philistines.”

~~~
Isn’t is amazing that what Elijah faced we face today?

Of course, “The Da Vinci Code” tries to present the most positive aspects of spirituality through sexuality. This book also emphasizes “the sacred feminine”.

This is part of the reason why, according to “The Da Vinci Code”, it is good that Jesus marries Mary Magdalene, through which a child is born. It is all entering into the “sacred”.

Well…may we be like Elijah in the following verse:
I Kings 18 (NKJV)
21
And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

I pray we will fast and pray more. I believe we will treat all people with respect while we emphasize what Jesus Himself while on earth emphasized:

Mark 7 (NKJV)
20
And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22
thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23
All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Of course, we cannot just talk about these things. We need to have true intimacy with the Father in Jesus’ Name in the Presence of the Holy Spirit, in order to demonstrate the kingdom of the Lord Jesus to others.

Acts 11 (NKJV)
7
And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
8
But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ 9
But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’

NOTE:
Again, God’s Word is always relevant and powerful. In the passage, God is speaking to Peter, leading him to enter the house of Cornelius, a Gentile to share the life-giving Gospel of the Lord Jesus with him.

According to how Peter was raised, he would never enter the house of a Gentile as a Jew because that would make him unclean.

I think of Christians, of myself, today. There are many people who embrace deeply the values of “The Da Vinci Code” with its emphasis on “the sacred feminine” and “finding the god within”, and every other possible type of belief or non-belief possible.

How do we—how to I see—these people?

I believe that that I will—that we will—truly wait on the Holy Spirit to see lost people with the compassion of Jesus.

Then, as we listen to the voice of Jesus, He will be able to lead us to those whose hearts are open to receive Him.

And, we will never judge people by their appearance or lifestyle as we share the Truth of the Lord Jesus with them. We will see them as people the Lord Jesus died for, people Jesus loves very much.

We can be bold—speaking the truth—in love and respect for people.

I thank God for who He made us to be:

I John 5 (NKJV)
4
For whatever [or whoever] is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Vance

[Kristie Kercheval]

We serve a great God!

[John]

1Kings18

"So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?" NIV

Ahab is a blamer. No thought in his mind that he could be to blame.

"At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." NIV

Psa 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

"Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." NIV

The altar was not built for North or South, but all Israel.

"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." NIV

A humble prayer unlike the Baal prayers. YOU are God...YOUR servant...YOUR command...YOU, O Lord, are God....YOU are turning....

"When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!" NIV

Literally:

"Jehova is Elohim" The personal God of Israel is the Powerful Creator God. The personal God of Israel is the one True God.

Remmeber back in Genesis that up until creation was finished - Hebrew word for God in text is always Elohim. After Creation is completed it is Jehova.

JEHOVA (or YAHWEH):is the covenant name of God, the personal God of Israel.

ELOHIM: God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong.

Amen and Amen.

[NOTE: By persoanl God of Israel - it is meant in a "relationship" sense, not an "ownership" sense.]