What A Proclamation! - Part 3
What A Proclamation! - Part 3
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. -Romans 10:17
Last time, we talked about Elijah and the false prophets of Baal. We stopped at the part of the story of the people agreeing to Elijah’s contest to see who the real God was.
THE PEOPLE AGREED to the rules of the contest, and Elijah allowed the false prophets to go first. The pagans cried out and danced around the altar from early in the morning until high noon. Nothing happened. Crickets. All quiet. Their god didn’t respond. Elijah decided to mock them and have a little fun. “Shout louder!” he screamed at them. “Surely he is a god!”
Notice he didn’t say, “Surely he is God.”
He taunted the false prophets even more when their god still failed to answer. “Maybe he is in deep thought, busy, or traveling; maybe he is asleep...” Elijah barked. ... continue reading below ...
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Still no answer.
At one point, Elijah said, “Maybe your god is in the bathroom!” Check out the translation. He is so sure his God is the One True God.
Confidence in the One True God results in Crazy Faith.
THE PROPHETS of Baal shouted louder and cut themselves, trying to get the attention of their god. Midday came and went and evening approached, and still nothing. No one listened. No one paid attention. No one answered. The false prophets began to sweat.
Then Elijah called all the people around and repaired the altar. He used twelve stones to build a trench around the altar. After he placed wood on it, brought an animal to the altar, and cut the pieces of the bull to be placed on it, he asked the people to douse the altar with water. The people took twelve large jars of water and doused the altar.
“Do it again,” Elijah commanded them.
The people doused it a second time.
Do it again,” Elijah shouted again.
The people doused it a third time. There was so much water that the sacrifice was soaked and water ran over the trench. The altar practically sat in a swimming pool.
Can you imagine what was going through the minds of the people? Either this guy had completely lost it, or ...? All eyes were on Elijah. Elijah’s eyes were on his God. Elijah, after the sacrifice was ready, prayed to God. “Lord, the 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. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that these people will know that You, Lord, are God, and that You are turning their hearts back again.”
The fire of the Lord fell from heaven and consumed the burnt offering. And the fire consumed the wood. And the fire consumed the stones. The stones ... the rocks ... consumed them. And consumed the dust ... and licked up all the water in the trench. False Prophets - 0. God - 1. In that moment, the people of Israel bowed in reverence and declared the Lord as the One True God.
Stepping out in Crazy Faith will always have you amazed at God.
ELIJAH THEN TOLD the people to put the false prophets to death, and the Lord sent rain upon the land. Elijah’s prayers had been answered. God had heard. God listened. God responded.
Confidence that results in Crazy Faith comes from communion with God.
ELIJAH HAD BEEN PRAYING. In order for us to develop Crazy Faith, we have to commune consistently with God. We can’t allow interruptions to keep us from our time with Him. That’s where confidence for the journey comes from: fellowship and communion with God. Have you ever noticed that the more time we spend with someone, the more confidence we get in that relationship? The same is true with our relationship with God. The more time we spend with Him, the more we will trust His Word. Our belief will become greater in His Word, and we will gain the confidence that causes us to live in Crazy Faith.
PERSONAL APPLICATION
How confident are you in God? Here are a few questions to consider:
Where is God asking me to demonstrate Crazy Faith? Have I talked with God about this area? Consistently? How is my daily communion with God?
Am I ready to demonstrate confidence in an awesome God?
Your trust in God will be the fuel to follow Him with Crazy Faith.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.