We live in a world of doubt, skepticism, and relativism. While most people claim a belief in a “higher power,” they do not necessarily accept that “higher power” as the God of the Bible revealed in Jesus Christ. A popular opinion is that all paths lead to the same place. You may worship one god and I worship another, but in the end we will end up in the same place.
We assert Jesus is the truth. (see John 14:6) We believe he is more than a truth among many truths. Rather we hold firm that he is the only truth. This is a hard thing to put forward in our modern culture. However, to assert that all faiths are equal is just as bold and even more of a bold claim.
How do we show Jesus to be Lord and God in the middle of all this? How do we prove the Lord is indeed God? In today’s lesson we look to Elijah and the story of the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:20–40.
Elijah proposes a contest to prove who the true God was. The contest was to build two altars. The prophets of Baal and Elijah would both build altars. They would place sacrifices upon the altar. They would call upon their respective Gods. The God who would send fire down from heaven would be shown to be the true God.
Elijah, the true sportsman he was tells the prophets of Baal to go first. They call out to their god from the time they get up in the morning till noon. That’s half the day! In the afternoon they start to cut themselves – blood gushes out. No one would question the sincerity of their belief. But as sincere as they were nothing happened. No one responded. No one answered.
Elijah goes next. He builds an altar with 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. He puts the wood upon the altar. He puts the sacrifices upon the altar. If that is not enough, Elijah then pours water over the altar. Elijah was filled with such a holy confidence!
This is how the story ends:
36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.
What are some lessons to take away:
Let God prove himself in your life
Proving God to others starts with the place of God in your life. Be honest – do you wrestle with doubt? Doubt is a reality. Doubt is something that is very real. Sometimes we think that if we have faith, then we will not have doubt.
But faith and doubt are not necessarily mutually exclusive of each other. But we try to suppress and ignore our doubt. Maybe one of the best things we can do is to be honest and admit our doubt. God is not afraid of your doubt, neither should you. God is never afraid of your questions. If he is truth, why would he be afraid?
In Mark 9:24 a man brings his demon possessed son to Jesus. Jesus says all things are possible for those who believe. The man then gives a most curious response. He says, “I believe, help me in my unbelief.” When we bring our doubt to God, he will speak faith into our hearts.
You will not prove the faith by arguing with someone
Think about it in terms of your spouse. Have you ever won an argument with your spouse? Maybe you did win, but you found yourself sleeping on the couch. While you may have won the argument, you really did not win.
Think about the prophets of Baal. They were entrenched and sincere in their belief. There was no arguing with them. To change their hearts was going to take something more.
They cannot argue your story
What they cannot argue is your experience. They cannot debate your testimony. It is your story. Don’t tell someone what God will mean to them. Tell them what God means to you. Tell them about the difference he makes in your life. They cannot argue that.
I have stories of miraculous answered prayer. No one can dispute those stories that I tell. I prayed. The answer came. They may be skeptical of my interpretations of the facts, but they cannot debate what happened.
Practice what you preach
You had better believe the world is watching. Do you practice what you preach? Is the love of God evident in you. Churches are seen as gated communities in many towns. They are seen as a member’s only club.
There is a cliche that states people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. There is the old Sunday School song where we sing they will know we are Christians by our love. How about “they will know Christ by our love.”
Give God a chance to work a miracle.
Elijah asked God to bring the fire down from heaven so that the people would know that the Lord is God. Start praying with people to experience healing, to find the job, to have their marriage restored, to find what is missing, and to overcome financial turmoil. Maybe God’s hand has not moved in their life because God desires you to pray over them. It’s not about healing, but it is about bringing glory to God.
Don’t be afraid to ask something too big of God. Declare the miracle. Thank God for the healing. Pray with the confidence that what has not yet happened, has already been granted before you even asked it. Elijah did nothing but declare what God had already made known to him. There is nothing that is impossible with God.
Why don’t we ask? We don’t want to look foolish. We believe God can, but we are not sure if he will. Would you have the courage of Elijah to call down fire from heaven and to risk looking like a fool if the fire didn’t come? I am not sure if I would. It is so much easier to do nothing. But if we are to show the Lord is indeed God it’s time we put ourselves out there to declare the power of God.
Lord, I believe, but help me in my unbelief.
Susan Nichols says
Very important message and right on spot for my needs at this time as I begin chemo for recurrent ovarian cancer. Thank you so much!
Phil says
Susan – I am sorry to hear about the cancer. I will pray right now for God to heal you. Nothing is impossible with him. We rebuke the cancer with the authority and in the name of Jesus. God bless you.
Jason Lennon says
Another great message and impossible to ignore the amazing technology upgrade!
The last line from above speaks to me perfectly —– “Lord, I believe, but help me in my unbelief.” I’m still growing, learning, and trying to submit myself. I don’t care for looking like a fool either, but sometimes you have to stick with what you believe, regardless of how foolish others may see it. The first Chapter of Radical by David Platt, has a tremendous example of just that. People in China risking their lives, their families, everything they have to follow what others don’t believe.
Joan says
Lord,thank you for helping me in my unbelief.
Betty says
Thank you for sharing this message. God has truly blessed you.
Lisa says
you are right! we are sometimes vague in our prayers to give God the “out.” I have been praying for specific things lately and I know in some way or another God will do what is right. Lately, there have been many blessings in our lives, and I wonder is this all by the hands of God or is this a matter of what goes up must come down, and eventually, the tide turns and everything is in balance again but I suppress that doubt. I remind myself of the miracles that God made possible. Some of these miracles in my life are by the hands of God. There is no other way. But thank you for calling us out on our doubts and allowing us to pray over them and not be ashamed.
Tami Pino says
Awesome upgrade~~~ You are spot on as usual… May God continue to grow your ministry as you follow where He leads you! I am so blessed by your devotions! Thank You and look forward to your message from next week….. Sincerely, Tami Pino
Christine Giles says
What a relief! I’m not doomed because I have doubts but I hadn’t thought to pray to God about them. thank you.
Pam Montagno says
I needed this too I am praying for specific things in my life. Help me to believe and not doubt. God has given me some miracles. I know he can so I have to keep believing and trusting in him.
Pam