King James Bible Study: Challenges Of Christian's

King James Bible Study: Challenges Of Christian's
For: Thursday April 28, 2011
Chapters: I Kings 16-18
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-28

Details of Today's Reading: The evil reigns of Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, in the Northern Kingdom, Elijah’s ministry and prediction of a drought, Elijah fed by ravens, Elijah goes to a widow woman, she feeds him and is blessed, the raising of the widow’s so from the dead, Elijah meets Ahab and gives him a challenge to prove the false god Baal to be a fraud.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:14-16.

As Christian's we are representatives of Christ, that means we have a big responsibility and challenge 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 they can see that putting their faith in Him is more profitable than anything anyone can ever receive here on earth. Our attitude, words, and actions must declare to all that God alone is our true and infallible Source of all our needs. “He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” - Psalm 145:19.

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 we learn about Ahab. Ahab, was one of the most powerful kings ever to rule the Northern Kingdom, he was also married to one of the wickedest woman of all time. “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.

As a result of his marriage to Jezebel, who promoted the worship of Baal, the false god of her home land, Ahab allowed her influence to rule the kingdom and introduced her worship of Baal as the religion of the nation. This was followed by fierce persecution of those worshiping God and the killing of His prophets. As Christian's we are also persecuted because of our faith in Jesus Christ, in fact, the closer one becomes to Christ the more persecution they face. However, we have nothing to fear because Christ is always with us and on top of that we have the Kingdom of God to look forward to. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12.

The people knew that if anyone got caught worshiping God they would be executed, ordered by Jezebel herself. Regardless, there were a few who stood by their faith, continued to worship God, boldly declaring they would only worshipt the one and only True God. Elisha was a prophet, who lived in the Southern Kingdom, God sent him to warn Ahab of the drought that was about to take place because of the wickedness that he brought upon and allowed his people to partake in. “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.” - I Kings 17:1-4.

Elijah's faith kept him from suffering too much while the drought overtook the land, God sent him to a place He knew he would be provided for. While we can not avoid being in the tribulations of the world as a result of our leaders provoking God we do not have to fear nor worry what will come of us because God always provides for and takes care of His people. Jesus reminds us, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” - Matthew 6:25,26.

Another man that we learn of who stood by his faith in God was Ahab's governor, Obadiah. Upon looking for water Obadiah ran into Elijah. “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 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 he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?” - I Kings 18:3,4,7-9.

Obadiah feared for his life, he knew that if he went to Ahab and told him that Elijah was in town that he would face execution for even talking to him. However, he faced his fears and Elijah promised him that everything would be fine. The reason why Elijah wanted to meet with Ahab was to challenge him.

“And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.” - I Kings 18:17-19.

Elijah gathered up all the people and challenged the four hundred and fifty false prophets to call on their false god to try to prove that their god existed. For a full day Jezebel's prophets frantically called upon the name of Baal with no success, they even cut themselves, and there was no sign of their god. The Elijah mocking them, said step aside, I will show you who the one and only living God is.

“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded...And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” - I Kings 18:27-29,36-39.

Elijah illustrates how the power of God is released when we remain faithful to Him, are obedient to His Word, and simply ask Him for the things we need. God often allows us to face unusual and difficult situations in order to remind us of our absolute dependence upon Him. Through difficulties, we discover whether our confidence is in the Lord, in favorable circumstances, or in ourselves. He loves us and wants the best for us, but if we are not willing to learn what the best is, even if that means giving up something that we desire the most, than we will never receive the true blessings that He has in store for us. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” - Proverbs 3:5,6.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Elijah, whom God used to provide flour and oil for the needy widow at Zarephath (17:13-16). Christ our Provider supplies all our needs, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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