The online Bible teaching
ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
January
12,
2022
Our local friend Doris High captured this serene
setting near her home.
We sure enjoy the variety of scenery that snow
brings but expect a melt-off over the next several days with
temps forecast in the 40's.
Message summary: Today we consider Elijah's timeless question, “How long are you going to struggle with the two choices?" Elijah challenged the people to take a public and private stand - to give single-minded, fervent allegiance to the one true God. The challenge is for us today as well. If we drift along with whatever is popular, pleasant, or easy we are worshiping a false god - the god of this age. Let us be careful to examine our own hearts to be sure that we do not struggle with the two choices in what we believe nor in our allegiance to the one true God.
Listen to this message on your audio player. Note: I just purchased a new recorder and have some bugs to work out since this seems to have a clicking sound throughout the recording.
"So Ahab sent orders among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. Then Elijah approached all the people and said, 'How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him'. But the people did not answer him so much as a word" (1 Kings 18:20,21).
"Struggling
With Life's Two Dominant Choices"
Message summary: Today we consider Elijah's timeless question, “How long are you going to struggle with the two choices?" Elijah challenged the people to take a public and private stand - to give single-minded, fervent allegiance to the one true God. The challenge is for us today as well. If we drift along with whatever is popular, pleasant, or easy we are worshiping a false god - the god of this age. Let us be careful to examine our own hearts to be sure that we do not struggle with the two choices in what we believe nor in our allegiance to the one true God.
Listen to this message on your audio player. Note: I just purchased a new recorder and have some bugs to work out since this seems to have a clicking sound throughout the recording.
"So Ahab sent orders among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. Then Elijah approached all the people and said, 'How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him'. But the people did not answer him so much as a word" (1 Kings 18:20,21).
Jeff is a
friend we see in the course of our chaplaincy who made the
decision this past year to believe in Jesus Christ, repent
of his sins and become a follower of Christ after a long
battle with alcohol. It's a delight to visit him each week
and follow his progress as he places a post-it note on his
monitor each day with the number of days since his
deliverance.
He has
developed a page he calls,
"Jesusdeliveredmefromaddiction". He posted a video of his
dog barking at his own reflection and drew this analogy,
"I felt the same way, when I was drinking. I didn't
recognize the person looking back at me".
He candidly
shared in his final post of 2021,
Good
By 2021 - I want to thank God, my wife, family and my
friends for helping make it past a crazy year. It's been 7
months since I woke up in the hospital. My wife found me
on the bathroom floor unresponsive. She did CPR on me and
called the ambulance. I had an alcohol level of .32. The
doctor told me at .40 I probably would have been in a coma
or dead. I tried to fist fight people at the hospital and
was yelling I'm going to kill myself. They strapped me
down and sedated me. Sad part I don't remember anything.
Like most people in recovery I battle with the urge almost
daily. Looking forward to 2022.
Today I
dedicate this message to Jeff and all who face daily
choices (all of us in various ways) as we examine life's
two dominant choices.
Mount Carmel
is a small town about
50 miles north of us in the anthracite coal region.
Sawmill operator Albert Bradford chose the name Mount
Carmel because of its elevation and beautiful setting in
the mountains. He decided that it deserved a special name
and chose to name it after the holy mountain in Israel.
The
Mount Carmel in the Bible is a coastal mountain ridge in
northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea
toward the southeast. It is referenced most famously in
today’s text (1 Kings 18:15-45), where a great contest
took place between Elijah, a prophet of God, and all the
prophets of Baal.
In the daily texts Ahab had assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Ahab brought in "four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table" (v.19). So remember Elijah next time you feel outnumbered!
"How long are you going to struggle with the two choices?" Elijah went before the people with this probing question. The question is so fitting for any age and certainly our own. Elijah confronted the apostate, idolatrous northern Kingdom with this succinct query. Other versions word it, "How long will you hesitate or waver between two opinions?"
It seems the people of God had long forgotten the final and timeless challenge of Joshua several hundred years earlier, "Choose you this day whom you will serve".
The two choices are clear, "If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him''. These are the two choices that mankind has had from the very beginning with Baal representing any god but the one true God. Today we all have to make this choice.
Hesitation is not necessarily a bad thing. When making a large purchase we shouldn't rush right out and buy something. This morning we looked at a new fridge we are considering purchasing. In cases like this it's good to hesitate and deliberate. When making a decision regarding our lifelong mate we certainly want to be very careful in our consideration!
However it is absolutely essential that once we make a resolute commitment to serve and follow the Lord we don't hesitate or waver.
"But the people did not answer him so much as a word". Sadly the people of Israel hesitated in their allegiance to God. They wavered. They were essentially double-minded. Many years later the Apostle James wrote, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8).
The
Mount Carmel in the Bible is a coastal mountain ridge in
northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea
toward the southeast. It is referenced most famously in
today’s text (1 Kings 18:15-45), where a great contest
took place between Elijah, a prophet of God, and all the
prophets of Baal.In the daily texts Ahab had assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Ahab brought in "four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table" (v.19). So remember Elijah next time you feel outnumbered!
"How long are you going to struggle with the two choices?" Elijah went before the people with this probing question. The question is so fitting for any age and certainly our own. Elijah confronted the apostate, idolatrous northern Kingdom with this succinct query. Other versions word it, "How long will you hesitate or waver between two opinions?"
It seems the people of God had long forgotten the final and timeless challenge of Joshua several hundred years earlier, "Choose you this day whom you will serve".
The two choices are clear, "If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him''. These are the two choices that mankind has had from the very beginning with Baal representing any god but the one true God. Today we all have to make this choice.
Hesitation is not necessarily a bad thing. When making a large purchase we shouldn't rush right out and buy something. This morning we looked at a new fridge we are considering purchasing. In cases like this it's good to hesitate and deliberate. When making a decision regarding our lifelong mate we certainly want to be very careful in our consideration!
However it is absolutely essential that once we make a resolute commitment to serve and follow the Lord we don't hesitate or waver.
"But the people did not answer him so much as a word". Sadly the people of Israel hesitated in their allegiance to God. They wavered. They were essentially double-minded. Many years later the Apostle James wrote, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8).
That they
said nothing indicated a default position of serving Baal
even as a failure to confess Christ places us in the
default position of unbelief in Him.
Consider
these consequences of wavering:
* The wavering person is unstable in all his ways.
* The wavering person is unproductive and ineffective in his service for Christ.
* The wavering person lacks peace and assurance.
* The wavering person lacks a steadfast testimony.
Elijah challenged the people to take a public and private stand - to give single-minded, fervent allegiance to the one true God. The same challenge is for us today as well. If we drift along with whatever is popular, pleasant, or easy we are worshiping a false god - the god of this age.
Let us be careful to examine our own hearts today, to be sure that we do not waver or hesitate in what we believe nor in our allegiance to the one true God.
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, help me to thirst and hunger
for Your Living Word where I find convincing
truths to assure me, "This is the way. Walk in
it." I want to keep my heart fixed upon You
and my mind certain of Your truths in this age
where false religions abound and the broad way
just gets broader. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and
the Life and I gain entry to You, my Father, only
through Jesus the Son. I've got a made up mind and
I'm going to follow You during the good and the
bad times, the lean and plentiful periods. Whether
I stand with many or whether I stand alone, I
choose to wholeheartedly follow You. Erase any
doubts, fears, or wavering opinions that I might
entertain so that I am wholeheartedly devoted to
the one true God. Amen.
* The wavering person is unstable in all his ways.
* The wavering person is unproductive and ineffective in his service for Christ.
* The wavering person lacks peace and assurance.
* The wavering person lacks a steadfast testimony.
Elijah challenged the people to take a public and private stand - to give single-minded, fervent allegiance to the one true God. The same challenge is for us today as well. If we drift along with whatever is popular, pleasant, or easy we are worshiping a false god - the god of this age.
Let us be careful to examine our own hearts today, to be sure that we do not waver or hesitate in what we believe nor in our allegiance to the one true God.
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, help me to thirst and hunger
for Your Living Word where I find convincing
truths to assure me, "This is the way. Walk in
it." I want to keep my heart fixed upon You
and my mind certain of Your truths in this age
where false religions abound and the broad way
just gets broader. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and
the Life and I gain entry to You, my Father, only
through Jesus the Son. I've got a made up mind and
I'm going to follow You during the good and the
bad times, the lean and plentiful periods. Whether
I stand with many or whether I stand alone, I
choose to wholeheartedly follow You. Erase any
doubts, fears, or wavering opinions that I might
entertain so that I am wholeheartedly devoted to
the one true God. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Battle
Belongs" Video
Shane & Shane Dedicated to Jeff
and all who face the daily battles of
overcoming. Remember the battle belongs to
the Lord!
Send
a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
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