Bible Study: Strong Christian or Weak Christian 04.28.10

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Today is Wednesday April 28, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Kings, chapters 16-18. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-28

Title: Bible Study: Strong Christian or Weak Christian
As Christians we are God's representatives, that means we have a big responsibility to show those who live in the world just how important it is to know Jesus Christ. On top of that we are to be examples for them to follow so that can see that putting their faith in Him is more profitable than anything one can ever receive here on earth. Sadly, many Christians have mocked Christ and put God to shame by living ungodly lives and ignoring His Word. If we as Christians believe in Christ and have made a commitment to live our lives for Him, yet do not follow through, how is the world to know that their lives can be better upon knowing Him? As Christians, our attitude, words, and actions must declare to all that God alone is our true and infallible Source of all our needs. God will not be mocked, He proves not only in the Bible, but even today that He will not stand for His people to turn their backs on Him. Strong Christians stand by God think and thin, meaning no matter what is going on in their lives, they account it all in the will of God and keep their faith in Him, even when things look bleak. However, weak Christians are quick to run from God when the slightest problem arises.

When David was king, all of Israel was of one accord, they followed God and did so because David set the example for them to follow, he represented God as the One True God and for the most part all the kingdom feared God and it prospered because of it. Then, all it took was for Solomon to give in just a little bit by becoming friends with the Egyptians and because of that he and the people slowly stopped fearing God and started following the false gods introduced to them by forming relations with heathen nations. It took three years after Solomon's death for the kingdom to be split into two kingdoms. Two-thirds of Israel formed the Northern Kingdom, while the remaining formed the Southern Kingdom, where God resided. Not one king from the Northern Kingdom followed God, in fact, each king became more ruthless and evil then the last. After reading about one wicked king after another conspiring for power and control of the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom we learn about Ahab. Ahab, was one of the most powerful kings ever to rule the Northern Kingdom. However, as a result of his marriage to Jezebel, a ruthless, wicked woman, who promoted the worship of Baal, the false god of her home land, he allowed her influence to rule the kingdom. “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.” - I Kings 16:30-33. Much of the world today is in total chaos because nations continue to ignore God's warning and commands and continue to follow their false gods.

During Ahab's reign, it was unlawful to worship the one and only True God, so anyone caught worshiping God was executed, ordered by Jezebel. Regardless, there were a few that stood by their faith and continued to worship Him. Obadiah, was one of those men, “And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.). And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?.... And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.” - I Kings 18:3-7,12-16. Although worship of God was forced underground, the Lord always has His faithful few and among them was Elijah and Obadiah, who dared to be bold for God regardless of the evil circumstances or consequences they faced.

Elijah gathered up all the people and challenged the four-hundred and fifty false prophets to call on their false gods to try to prove that there god existed. “Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.” - I Kings 18:22-24. For an entire day these false prophets frantically called upon the name of Baal with no success, they cried out to him, even cut themselves, until there was blood gushing out, to no prevail. Then Elijah called the people over to him, he repaired the altar, set up the sacrifice, and even told the people to pour twelve barrels of water onto the altar. Then he said a prayer to God and suddenly fire consumed the sacrifice and all the people knew that there was only One True God. Elijah illustrates how the power of God is released when we are obedient to His Word and pray. We all have the ability to see God's power released just as Elijah did, but we can not be lukewarm to God and expect answered prayer. By lukewarm, I mean things as only following the commands we want to follow, continued living in sin with the thought that Sunday morning church will be enough to seek forgiveness, and only seeking God when we want something from Him. God knows our hearts and while we might be saved from hell, our Salvation will not save us from His chastisement in order to get us to see what we are doing is wrong.

Today, ask yourself this question. Am I a strong Christian, who stands by God even when I am facing circumstances in my life or am I a weak Christian who runs from God the second things get a bit hard for me? We can all be strong Christians, our strength comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, He alone will help us, but we must first seek Him. You say you have been away from Him for a long time? It's okay, He loves you, just call on Him, repent and He will lead you in the right direction. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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