IF GOD BE GOD. Dr. Kenneth W. Jones

Transcription

1 IF GOD BE GOD Dr. Kenneth W. Jones

2 Scripture 1 st Kings 18:21: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word

3 Everybody Has An Opinion Most opinions point towards the flaw and the person s thoughts towards a situation that they may not have any relationship to. Maybe that s why Jesus didn t ask for Opinions and the Bible doesn t direct us to offer our opinions to people

4 Sometimes I Don t Need Opinions Job had friends with Opinions, but there are times when I don t need an opinion, I just need someone to believe God with me.

5 Exhortation Not Opinion The bible encourages us to exhort one another.. to do what? To stay in the faith and keep their trust in God. Towards Good Works To be in Unity with One Another (1 st Cor 1:10) To be Imitators of Christ (1 Cor 4:16) To instruct others to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age (Titus 2:12-15)

6 Exhortation Defined To call to one's side, call for, summon To address or speak to a matter; To comfort To admonish, exhort To encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort To instruct or to teach

7 The People of God were Betwixt Two Opinions Why are you caught between two different thoughts? Why are you wondering which side to take? Why is it taking so long?

8 Settle On Something Elijah s Statement was derived from a Metaphor, How long hop ye about upon two boughs? This is a metaphor taken from birds hopping about from bough to bough, not knowing on which to settle.

9 Who Is Baal? Opinion reflects thoughts regarding other Alternatives What does Baal represent? It s an alternative. It s opposite of trusting God

10 Baal The Storm God Baal was called upon to bring about rain This is why the Drought was a demonstration to show Israel who really controls the Rain It was a belief that Baal died several times during the year and the sacrifices were supposed to Wake him up The Israel never abandoned God in the worship. They tried to add Baal to their worship God Does Not Share Well

11 A Cheap Knock Off Baal Represents a Cheap Knock Off: It May Look Like it s Genuine but it is not Another Thing is that it is not made of the Same Quality and Material Our God last always been, Always Is, and Always Will Be God is the Real Deal and there are no Imitations!

12 The Easy Way Out May Not Be the Faith Way Out In Every Mousetrap there is a Free Piece of Cheese

13 MAKE A DECISION Elijah brought the People to a Place of Demonstration and Decision. Sometimes God brings us to a place where He wants to prove Himself or Develop our faith as He demonstrates His love and His Power for us (2 nd Chronicles 16:9)

14 Scripture 2 nd Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

15 God is Looking For You Can God show Himself strong in your situation today? Or Are you still struggling on Whose Report Will You Believe? Are You Still Looking For Someone s Else Opinion Are You looking for another Source Instead of Going to the Source You Need to Ask Yourself, If God be God

16 God is Looking For Opportunity God is looking for Opportunities to Bless Someone Whose Hearts is turned towards Him He is looking for Candidates By Which He Can Show Himself Strong He told you that He has the Power to Fix Anything that You have Need of Why Stand there in the Drought When God can Bring the Rain?

17 If God Be God If the LORD be God If God is who He says He is If He has been faithful in the past If He is everything I know Him to be, then I need to follow him ( Proceed with Him, Go further with Him )

18 LORD be God LORD: The existing One; Jehovah God: The true ruler What is He saying? Let the Supreme One, the One who exists forever, Jehovah rule over this situation and every aspect in your life

19 Elijah s Demonstration First, you will note that the prophet insisted upon the distinction which existed between the worship Baal and the worship of Jehovah. Elijah Was Also Measuring Time: The prophet calls these waverers to an account for the amount of time which they had consumed in making their choice.

20 Why is it so difficult to Let the LORD be God? God s timing may not be aligned with our timing: When Moses delayed coming down from the Mountain, the people of Israel chose another alternative: to return to bondage (Egypt) with another god. If He is an On Time God, then Why Won t You Wait For Him?

21 Why is it so difficult to Let the LORD be God? Listening to other Reports: The children of Israel were at the border of the Promised Land when they rebelled and then a whole generation was lost in the desert Listening to People Who Don t Have Your Best Interests at Heart WHOSE REPORT DO YOU BELIEVE!

22 Be Careful What You Hear Watch who you are following and Who You Listen to. God Does Have People Speaking into Your Life Remember It is the Messenger as well as the Message What Happened that day with Elijah would not have happened if it wasn t for the Messenger as Well

23 They Answered Him Not a Word They wished to unite the worship of Yahweh with that of Baal You Can t Have Two Gods, Two Masters, or God and the World ( Luke 16:13, 1 st John 2:15) You Can t Help but Love One over the Other Double Minded People are Unstable (James 1:8). They Jump from Bough to Bough

24 Time For Decision God began the process of forcing a decision by bringing a drought upon all the land. Elijah actually prayed for disaster so that the people would return to God. It is interesting that God should use a drought to force people into rethinking whom they put their trust in Has God brought you to a place that you are beginning to consider where your faith lies? God hates double-mindedness. He wanted them to make a Decision

25 Has Your Brook Dried Up Maybe what you have been trusting in can No Longer Sustain You Jeremiah 2:13: "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.

26 In Order to Follow Effectively, We Need: Directions and Instructions - Read the Guide Book A Path to follow - Look at those who have gone before you successfully Resources - In order to gain, you have to give This is Important since most times, your faith is connected to your Resources

27 In Order to Follow Effectively, We Leadership Need: Submission to the leadership GOD HAS PROVIDED (Moses was a man after God's own heart but he still had trouble with people) One of the greatest dilemma we face today is that many Christians are following Leaders who are not effectively following

28 If God Be God Let your conduct be consistent with your opinions Let Your Actions and Choices Align with Your Faith We don t need a New Way but rather to be committed to the WAY we have chosen

29 If God Be God Trust Him Serve Him Believe Him Stand for Him Follow/Imitate Him