weekly sermon
11-11-07
God Is Able
Last week we spoke about how to help ourselves that we may be able to help
others. Helping ourselves, with the help of God, requires a knowledge that there
truly is a God to help us, or to show us how to help. The Bible, is a composite
of 66 books, written by different men, over a period of more than 2000 years,
inspired by God.
It says in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and
[is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:" The word inspiration is from the Greek word "theopneustos"
meaning "God-breathed" The scriptures of the Bible were breathed by God to the
men that wrote them. This is the only place in scripture that this Greek word is
used.
We read of many miracles that were performed by Jesus or His disciples, showing,
through scripture, that Jesus Christ existed. The most proving of these
testimonies would be, after the resurrection, Jesus walked the earth for more
than a month, showing Himself to more than 400 people.
Let us look at one particular piece of scripture that shows how God helped one
of His prophets and proved that He really did exist. Turn with me if you will to
1 Kings 18:17-39. "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said
unto him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel? (18)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. (19)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. (20)So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered
the prophets together unto mount Carmel. (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. (22)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. (23)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]: (24)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. (25)And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose
you one bullock for yourselves, and dress [it] first; for ye [are] many; and
call on the name of your gods, but put no fire [under]. (26)And they took the
bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it], and called on the name of
Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no
voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
(27)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. (28)And they cried
aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the
blood gushed out upon them. (29)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.
(30)And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people
came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD [that was] broken
down. (31)And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes
of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall
be thy name: (32)And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD:
and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of
seed. (33)And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid
[him] on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour [it] on the
burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. (34)And he said, Do [it] the second time. And
they did [it] the second time. And he said, Do [it] the third time. And they did
[it] the third time. (35)And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled
the trench also with water. (36)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. (37)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. (38)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. (39)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."
As we can see here more than 800 prophets, that were of the prophets of
Baal, prayed all day with no result from there god. Then Elijah prayed a 63 word
prayer and his prayer was answered. This being proof that there truly is a God.
Not only does it prove that God truly exists, but let us look at a few things
about this proof.
Let us look at what it was that Elijah asked for in his prayer. Elijah stated to
the false god prophets, that they would ask for fire, as he would also ask his
God for fire. We see, first, that God answers prayers. God sent the fire to the
offering just as Elijah asked in his prayer. We see, second, that God is an
obedient God. God told us that whatever we asked for, being it in God's will, He
will give it to us. God gave His word to Elijah and was obedient in keeping His
word. Lastly, we see that God is a generous God. Not only did God send the fire
down to Elijah, He also made sure Elijah had enough. God sent down so much fire
that it engulfed the offering, burned the wood altar, burned the rocks, and
licked up the water that was in the mote around the altar.
God will not only supply your needs to help others, He will supply you more than
enough. God said in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give
into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be
measured to you again."
Next time you think that God is not there, or that He will not supply your
needs, remember this piece of scripture and how the Lord God supplied Elijah
with not only what He asked for, but enough to supply his needs with much to spare.
Remember Jesus only needed a 2 piece fish dinner to feed 5000 men plus women and
children, and He had food left over.
There is really no reason to have proof if God really exists. I would rather
live as if there was a God and die to find out that there is not, than to live
as if there is not a God and die to find out that there is one.
I hope you have the faith it takes to believe that God exists in such a fashion
that He may answer you prayers in the manner that Elijah's prayer was answered.
If you do not, and you would like to experience this type of complete faith,
then please say this simple prayer with me:
Dear Lord, come into my
life and forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received
salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our
link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few
things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone