We Are All Witnesses!

Since Nike is so assured about the dominance of Lebron James on the basketball court, they boldly declare that all spectators are witnesses.

God is greater than Lebron James! Elijah was a man who knew God is Almighty.

22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God." 1 Kings 18:22-24

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, 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. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." 1 Kings 18:36-37

When we know God is God it keeps us from wavering between two opinions. As a result, our faith is strong because we are secure in our identity in Christ, and sure about our knowledge of God.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Elijah was convinced that the God he served was the LORD. His was so confident that he challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest to see whose God was Lord. He had no doubt that his God was the Almighty One.

Our confidence in God should produce in us a bold witness.

Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Jesus has saved his people, and sent them into the world to be light for those who live in darkness (Ephesians 5:8-11). Christians are never supposed to flee from problems, or shrink back from those who deny the truth of Christ. God commands us to stand strong and courageous as we go forth in all the earth making disciples of Jesus.

Are you a bold witness?

God is God!

The redemptive names of God revealed as Jehovah (or Yahweh) are God’s own personal and distinct names. The name Jehovah appears over 6,000 times in the Bible and is generally translated as LORD. The Hebrews referred to this name as the unpronounceable or incommunicable name of God.

Jehovah is the I AM THAT I AM. It signifies “to be”, or “I will be all that I will be”. It tells us that God is the Eternal, the Unchanged and Unchanging One, and He will be all that He is ever needed to be. This is more particularly seen in the compound redemptive names of the Lord. These compound names are always linked with some need of man, and it is here that Jehovah will be all that His people ever need Him to be. He says of Himself, “The LORD is My name…this is My memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3:14-15, 15:3; Isaiah 42:8; Jeremiah 16:21; 33:2; Amos 5:8; 9:6).

Elijah, whose personal name means, “my God is Yah”, was a prophet from the ninth century B.C. Elijah experienced the wonderful deeds of the Lord, and he confidently proclaimed that there is no god like the true God.

There are many intriguing stories in the Bible that remind us of the fact that God is God. The story of Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is a great example of what can happen when God’s people know for certain that their Lord is God. Over the next couple of weeks I want to focus on what is produced in us when we know God is God.

First, when we know God is God, it keeps us from wavering between two opinions.

1 Kings 18:20-21 says “20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."

Belief in God is the key to living a bold life of faith. In other words, certainty must precede action if we are going to do mighty exploits for God. We usually act upon that which we believe to be true. Unbelief is the key to living a life of doubt. Doubt produces passivity in people. Passivity leads to our destruction when we fail to act on God’s commands.

All throughout history God has always been faithful to reveal Himself to His people. God expects us to know His will and obey it wholeheartedly. He does not like when we waver in our faith. In fact, Scripture reveals to us that the double-minded person will not receive anything from the Lord (James 1:5-8).

Elijah was a powerful man for God because he did not waver between two opinions and obeyed when God gave him instructions.

Conscience over Creed

Many saw evil.
They dared to stop it.

Last week I finally had the opportunity to watch the movie Valkyrie. With three young boys, my wife Cindy and I do not get a chance to watch movies often. I highly recommend that you view this movie.

Valkyrie is a 2008 historical thriller film set in Nazi Germany during World War II. The film depicts the July 20, 1944 plot by German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to use the Operation Valkyrie national emergency plan to take control of the country. These brave German soldiers could no longer violate their conscience while serving their country.

The film opens with an oath that the adherents to Nazism took while practicing their wicked behavior. In order to accomplish his agenda, Adolf Hitler denied God’s ways and set himself up as the new Lord of Germany. The oath contained the following words:

I swear by God this sacred oath:

That I shall render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler
Fuhrer of the German Reich and people,
Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces,

And that I shall at all times be ready, as a brave soldier,
to give my life for this oath…

God has given us a conscience as a guide to witness to what is right and what is wrong. In fact, God writes His laws on our hearts. We should never follow a creed that denies what God teaches in His Holy Scriptures as righteous and just conduct.

Psalm 14:1a says, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

The root of all deceptive, evil and immoral action is the belief that there is no God. This presupposition causes people to live life without the thought of suffering eternal consequences for bad behavior. There is no absolute standard for what is right or wrong if there is no God.

History has proven two things. First, people consistently deny the reality of God and don’t approach life with a reverence for His commands. Second, God will accomplish His purpose whether we obey Him or not.

The film ends with words on the screen from the German resistance memorial in Berlin. The words on the memorial say:

You did not bear the shame
You resisted
Sacrificing your life
For freedom, justice and honor

Valkyrie is a great reminder that, although people can rebel against the commands of God, there is nothing they can do to ultimately prevent His will from being done on earth. Today, Hitler’s name is remembered in shame and his soul rots in hell forever. Those who resisted this evil tyrant are remembered with honor and dignity for all of eternity.

God is God! Only the fool says differently.