The Wages Of Sin 2

1 Kings 22:29-40

…all he had to do was listen, and obey! Like, he literally asked for an answer from the Lord, and received it, yet he refused to do the right thing! Seriously, Ahab?! Okay, let me start over. Have you ever needed help with something, and you couldn’t accomplish it on your own, but when help arrived, you turned it down? That thing you so desperately needed, in order to be successful, or in the case of Ahab, to stay alive, you chose rather to abide by the words of those who spoke lies, rather than truth. The Bible makes it very clear, king Ahab was the most evil man of his time, and was responsible for committing countless acts of wickedness, on behalf of Baal. When seeking a word of certain victory against the Syrians, Ahab’s false prophets were influenced by a spirit approved by God, to speak lies from their lips. The prophets confirmed (falsely), the king would fair well against the Syrians, but God spoke through the prophet Micaiah, warning the king he would suffer greatly, if he went to battle against Syria. In other words, God set before king Ahab life, and death, and gave him the power to choose which to acknowledge. Ahab literally hated Micaiah, because he usually spoke against the wickedness he sought approval for. Why hate a man for trying to save your soul? Oh senseless king. Unfortunately, Ahab ignored Micaiah’s godly advice, and was met with a disastrous end.

Despite how cruel and wicked some people become, God will continue to show them sincere love. But, when God’s warnings of judgment for disobedience are ignored, those same people condemn themselves to a disastrous end.

Make It Rain

1 Kings 18

Many days had passed from the time God sent the prophet Elijah to confront the evil king Ahab, until He was ready to reveal His omnipotence to the nation that had turned against Him. During these times, a severe famine overtook Samaria, but the king and those he ruled were still unconvinced of the sovereignty of the true and living God. After an eventful three years of miraculous signs and provision, God spoke to the prophet Elijah, and instructed him to return to the king with another important message. The Lord said to Elijah, “Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” Could you imagine not having rain for three years? Without rainfall on the earth, there would be catastrophic damage all over the world. But, God allows things to happen so others can witness for themselves, all power belongs to Him, and He alone is deserving of worship, honor, and glory. Unfortunately, men are too consumed in their own beliefs, that they totally disregard the obvious workings of the living God, in favor of their futile idolatry.

As you read further into chapter 18, you’ll discover the very unique and elaborate plan God commanded Elijah to follow, which revealed the falsehoods and foolishness of Baal worship, and brought to light the mighty power of the God of Heaven and earth. 450 prophets who worshiped Baal were left without an answer from their “god of rain and plenty”, yet they witnessed the power of the true God with their own eyes.

Nothing compares to the power of the almighty God. Men and women are drawn away daily into deception, and allow falsehoods to overtake their sensibility, but every idol worshipped by men, has no power to do anything, except distract them from the truth. Have you pledged your allegiance to serve weak and powerless idols, or are you aligned with the God who created all things?

The Last Meal

1 Kings 17:8-16

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “The Last Meal”! Starring, Widow Woman, her son, and the great prophet, Elijah! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(Widow Woman arises from her knees with her son, after praying to God for strength, as she and her son prepare their last meal. Being a widow, it was very hard for her to make ends meet, especially during a time when the husband would provide majority of the family’s income and goods.)

Widow Woman: …in the name of the Father, amen. Son, go and wash your hands, while I prepare dinner.

Son: What are we having today mommy? I want a lot of food. I’m very hungry!

Widow Woman: Sigh… yes my son, I will make you as much as your little tummy can hold (knowing all she had was enough for just the two of them, she didn’t want to disappoint her son).

(The son goes to wash and prepare himself for supper)

Widow Woman: (Speaking softly under her breath) Lord, we need you. Since my husband was laid to rest, I can barely provide for myself, and my son. After today, I have no provisions for the days after. Please Lord, make a way for us to survive. I know you have all power to do great things, so reveal your power to me and my son, today.

(Widow Woman tilts her head back, looks to the heavens, as tears roll down the sides of her face. All of a sudden, she hears a voice commanding her to prepare her home to receive an unexpected guest, who will require sustenance and rest.)

(During the reign of the most wicked and cruel king Ahab, God prepared the prophet Elijah, to speak on His behalf, in order to reveal His judgment to the king. After doing as God commanded him to do, the prophet Elijah went into hiding, as God provided unconventional means of food while he waited. When the source of provision had ceased, and the brook dried up, it was time for God’s servant to move to his next destination.)

Elijah: God, my Lord and strength, the ravens have gone scarce, and this beautiful brook has dried up. Where will you have me to go, so that I may rest and have food?

(God told Elijah to arise, and go to Zarephath, and dwell there, for He had already commanded a widow woman to sustain him while there. So, he arose and went where God instructed. As he neared the gate of the city, he saw a woman gathering sticks.)

Elijah: Hello madam! Excuse me, but if you don’t mind, could you please bring me some water to drink? My journey was quite long, and I am parched.

Widow Woman: (Thinking in her mind whether this was the unexpected guest or not.) Yes! Yes, good sir. I will fetch some water for you.

Elijah: Ma’am! Pardon, but while you’re going to get the water, could you please also bring back some bread, so that I may regain my strength? But only if the request isn’t too great a task.

Widow Woman: (Speaks with tears in her eyes.) As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

Elijah: Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

(Widow Woman went to do as Elijah commanded. She arrives home to began meal preparations.)

Son: Hey mommy! Did you find all the sticks you were looking for?

Widow Woman: Yes son, I find them. I need you to sit there for a moment. I have to prepare a meal for a very special person.

Son: But mommy, I’m hungry! My tummy is making noises like a frightened horse!

Widow Woman: My son, you are a bundle of joy. Give mommy a few moments, then we all will eat well.

(After obeying the words of the unexpected guest sent by God, Widow Woman, Elijah, and her house, ate good many days thereafter.)

*Obeying the commands of God tend to get harder, the more we deal with the pressures of life. But, overcoming what wars against us with obedience to God, will guarantee that not only will our faith grow stronger, but God will make a way to deliver us from our struggle, no matter how intense it may be.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “The Last Meal”! Thanks for tuning in.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Matthew 17:1-8

Hearing the voice of God has been misunderstood for ages, and many have taken advantage of others, by claiming to hear from God, while taking money in exchange for a “word from the Lord”. Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke to men in various ways; from a burning fiery bush, to even using a donkey to get a man’s attention. In the New Testament, God spoke though His Son, Jesus, and gave Him all the instructions required, to guide men back into the fold. Today, the Holy Ghost is in the hearts of those who have received God’s gift of salvation, to offer strength, comfort, and bring back to remembrance, the teachings of Christ.

God would never leave His people to traverse these perverse lands alone, so He made sure to give us His Spirit to keep us on the right track. Men who claim to hear from God on the behalf of others, typically have motives to manipulate them for selfish reasons. God doesn’t speak to men as He did in the past, so for those who yearn to know God’s plans for them, read His Word. Also, for those who want to hear the voice of God audibly, read the Word out loud lol (credit to Justin Peters).

The Bible entails all the instructions and tools the church needs to keep themselves occupied, until Christ returns, so I admonish all to be mindful of those who claim God gave them a Word for you, because everything God wanted you to know, is written in His Word. While God can bring people to your heart and mind, He will hardly ever tell someone what you need, without first revealing it to you.

Be strong, be vigilant, because the enemy is still trying to take us out before this year ends. We’ve had ups, and downs, but by the grace and mercy of God, we are still here. Continue to guard yourselves against the evil one, and keep your faith in the Lord. Study and meditate on the Word of God daily, so that you can prove to Him, your love and dedication to His will is solid.

This is My Son; listen to Him

Luke 9:28-36

The story of Jesus, and His transfiguration on a mountain, is a very familiar one, and full of valuable details; some of which go unnoticed by the casual Bible reader. But, the more you study this text, the greater understanding you’ll develop of Christ’s purpose on the earth.

God sent His Son to the earth, to redeem man back unto Himself. This act alone proves the value and worth of man, and should inspire all to appreciate God more. There was no other way by which man could be rejoined with God, except a perfect sacrifice was offered. Jesus, was the sacrifice that atoned for the sins of all men. Before Jesus accomplished “his decease” at Jerusalem, He would often take time to pray alone. Knowing the task at hand would be gruesome and impossible to accomplish on human strength alone, Jesus wisely took time often, to talk with His Father, to gather strength and courage to follow through until the end. Yes, Jesus was God in the flesh, but that same flesh was just as ours; susceptible to feelings, pain, and other intense emotions. I cut one of my fingers at work a few years ago, and I literally felt as if I was dying, but I can’t begin to imagine the pain Jesus felt as He was beaten, stabbed, and tortured beyond belief.

In our text, Jesus took a few of His disciples into a mountain with Him, to pray, but they fell asleep, while He continued with His purpose. When the men had finally awoken, they saw Jesus, standing with Moses, and Elijah. Unaware of their conversation (Jesus and the ancient prophets spoke of His “decease”, or the time of His death), Peter felt honored to be in such a presence, then offered to erect tabernacles for the three anointed men. While men care more for carnal things, God cares more for souls. Rather than entertain Peter’s request, God simply commanded the men to hear the words of Jesus, and obviously obey them. God’s words confirmed what Jesus had previously told the disciples moments prior when He said, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (vs. 26).

When we study and obey the words Christ spoke, we’ll gain a better understanding of our purpose in this life, strength to endure daily, wisdom to know and discern good from evil, and the courage necessary to be bold in this evil and perverse generation. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:23-24).

Walk in love,

Ell

Elijah restores life to a widow’s son

1 Kings 17:17-24

During our seasons of testing and suffering, God will always sustain His people, as long as they remain committed to His agenda. As the inhabitants of Israel continued to suffer from famine, God continued to provide for His prophet, Elijah. When the first place God sent Elijah to rest had ceased from providing water, God prepared the heart of a widow to receive the prophet, and care for his needs for a season. God has a very unique way of bringing people together, in order to fulfill His will. Elijah had no idea the woman wasn’t in a good position to provide for anyone, but God knew that she needed divine intervention, and Elijah was capable of interceding, to bring that to pass. God places people in our lives for seasons, so that they can help take us to the next level, because there will be times when we won’t be capable of getting there on our own.

While the widow woman was gathering sticks one day to prepare the last meal for herself and her son, Elijah approached her, then asked for water to drink. As she left to get water, Elijah also asked if she could bring him something to eat as well. Take a brief moment, and put yourself in the shoes of the woman. God had already told you He was sending a man who needed your help, and in turn, you’d be blessed beyond measure (I’m uncertain how God relayed that message to the woman, but she got it somehow). Would you follow through with the man’s requests, without hesitation, or would your faith waver at the thought of not having enough supplies to care for you and your son? Faith tests aren’t always easy, but the benefits of following through are usually amazing!

Knowing what God had commanded her to do, the woman still felt the need to inform the prophet of her lack of resources. Elijah’s faith in God’s power of provision had already grown stronger after his experience at the brook of Cherith, so he knew that if the woman took care of his need, God would definitely take care of hers. So, the woman did as she was commanded, and was blessed with more than she could ever imagine. Ironically, this miracle wasn’t enough to fully convince the woman that Elijah was a true man of God, and that his words were complete truth. That’s odd, because she had seen the plan of God play out accordingly, but still held doubts. Many of us today are the same way, because God can do something super duper amazing for us, but when something more challenging comes along, we cringe in fear.

Following many days of miraculous increase, the woman’s son got sick, and died. Rather than approach the man of God in humility, and request his assistance for intercession, the woman question whether or not Elijah came to kill her son. Oh how frail we humans become, when times of blessing become moments of sorrow. Elijah took the boy, laid him on his bed, cried to God and asked the same question the widow woman posed to him. Interesting. Elijah stretched himself over the child three times, then asked God to bring life back into the boy. God granted his request. This miracle was more than enough to convince the woman that God lived through Elijah.

Are you fully persuaded in the power of God to take care of you, or do you live in fear that someday you’ll be left broke and destitute. The Bible is filled with examples of God’s grace and mercy on those who are committed to Him, and obey His simple commands. Trust God wholeheartedly, and never doubt that He is able to sustain you, no matter what condition you find yourself in.

Walk in love,

Ell

God-sent ravens to feed Elijah

1 Kings 17:1-7

Have I mentioned lately, how much God hates evil, and despises sin? If not, then here goes…God hates evil, and despises sin! Acts of sin defy God’s expected acts of obedience to His Word. When we willingly sin, we are choosing to side with baal, or satanism. No matter how pretty the picture is painted, sin is always wrong, and consistent acts lead to rebellion against God. God created man to bless him, and make him to prosper in all things, but when a man sins, inevitable consequences will always meet him on his path.

There was a man named Ahab, who assumed the throne to rule over Israel, during the time when king Asa ruled Judah. It’s been written, king Ahab did more evil in the sight of the Lord, than all who ruled before him. That’s intense! What could this man have possibly done, that excelled above those before him? For one thing, his biggest mistake was first, marrying one of the most wicked, and sinister women in Scripture (Jezebel), coupled with serving baal, building an altar for the pagan god, and worshipping him religiously. Verse 33 of chapter 16 reads, “and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him”. After reading that verse, you could safely assume, God would respond in a powerful, yet unusual way (to get the kings attention, expose his evil, and hope to convince him to change his evil heart). God loves everyone, but He has no tolerance for sin, and will give you a chance to repent, but that window could close before you know it.

During the evil reign of king Ahab, God raised up a prophet to stand against the king, and reveal His power to the nation. Elijah, meaning God is Jehovah, was one of the returning exiles mentioned in the book of Ezra. God sent Elijah to confront the king, then announce that there would be no dew, or rain until he says so. That was an interesting statement on many levels. First, the king probably wondered how a mere mortal could control the elements, after getting over the fact that this man came in his presence to check him. Knowing that the king’s heart was pure evil, God then ordered His prophet to run to a place where he would be provided food and water for a season. Telling a king there would be no way for the fields of crops to be watered no doubt angered him, because food is an essential, and he, along with the people could suffer greatly. The more evil and pride a man holds in his heart, the more God will do to prove to him, he’s nothing without the Lord.

While the king suffered for a season, God cared for Elijah by sending ravens to bring him bread and flesh every morning and evening, while he drank fresh water from a brook. God always provides for those who are obedient to what He commands them to do, and brings judgment on those who willingly rebel. Even today, there are many who are similar to, if not worse than the wicked king Ahab, who suffer greatly for their continued disobedience. But those who are just as bold and faithful as the prophet Elijah, are on schedule to receive God’s best!

Walk in love,

Ell

God speaks to disciples

Luke 9:28-36

Reading the Bible sometimes presents events that seem unreal, or like a Hollywood movie. There are accounts when men would get translated in an instant, and vanish in thin air, or others who were instantly healed from life-threatening illnesses, walked away as if nothing was ever wrong with them. I think for this lesson, I’d like to take my ATV back in time again to witness what Peter, James, and John nearly missed, as Jesus had a heavenly encounter on a mountain.

As Jesus neared the fulfillment of His mission on the earth, He usually took time to pray, and seek strength from His Father. Taking on the sins of all men, and sacrificing yourself on a cross was not an easy pill to swallow. Yes, Jesus was all God, but He was also all man, and could feel the impending suffering and pain soon to come. This is an example we should also follow after, because when times get tough, only through God can we obtain the strength required to keep us standing until the end. Many look to other men and women to give them support when trials come, but God can literally fill you with strength from Heaven, that is more than enough to lift you above all your struggles.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him, as He went to pray, but for some reason the disciples were too sleepy to be of any help. While they slept, I would rev my ATV engine really loud to wake them up, so they could pray as Jesus prayed, and be of some support. How could anyone get so use to being in the presence of the Son of God, until they fall asleep during the moments He needs the most support? As Jesus prayed (and the disciples slept), the Bible reads, “the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering” (vs. 29). What a sight to see! I would definitely have my camera out, taking pics of this miraculous event. Movies are as fake as a three dollar bill, but this moment was as real as life itself. To literally see a man glistering and glowing like Goku and Vegeta when they power up in DragonBall, would be soooooo breathtaking! As Jesus was being transfigured, God was sending Him two pioneers of the faith to minister unto Him. In an instant, Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus. They discussed His coming death, that would take place at Jerusalem. It’s uncertain what else they talked about, but they chatted long enough for Peter to finally wake up and witness the event taking place. Not knowing what the discussion was between Jesus and the two men, Peter suggested that they make three tabernacles for Moses, Elijah, and Himself. As Peter spoke, a great cloud overshadowed them. By this time, I’d probably roll back into the bushes and peek out, just in case something big was about to go down. The voice of God spoke from the clouds and said to the disciples, “This is my beloved Son: hear him” (vs. 35). To audibly hear God’s voice must have been something amazing! It’s evident that Jesus needed all the heavenly support He could get before fulfilling His assignment, because His disciples offered little to none, but God made certain to keep Christ embued with the strength He needed to carry out His will, so that all mankind could be saved.

Today, God speaks to His children through the Holy Ghost. Do you hear Him when He speaks, or are you too tired and sleepy from living “la vida loca”, until you never really make time for Him? Don’t allow the cares of this world to cause you to lose interest in the assignment God has for you. Keep your heart and mind fixed on the Word, so that when God speaks to you, you’ll hear Him clearly.

Walk in love,

Ell