Derek Smith, Lead Pastor LHBC
1 Kings 18:30-40
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your 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 seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering 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 said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.
Often in life we feel so insignificant, so small. We feel as though we can’t make a difference for Christ at all and that our lives are destined for obscurity. However, may we never underestimate what one man or woman can do. One man, Thomas Edison, invented the lightbulb and revolutionized the world. One guy, Alexander Graham Bell, invented the telephone and changed the entire landscape of communication forever. One lady, Mary Slessor, stopped the killing of twins in Nigeria and revived a nation. One man, Martin Luther King Jr., initiated the Civil Rights Movement and transformed America. The list goes on and on.
Think about biblical examples. It was one man, Moses, who led Israel out of Egypt and out of slavery. One woman, Esther, saved Israel from a holocaust. One teenager, David, slayed the giant Goliath and saved Israel from her enemies; and one man, the Son of God Jesus Christ, died and rose again saving all who trust in Him from their sins.
Another example of one man changing the world in the Bible is Elijah. Elijah was a powerful prophet of God who lived in a dark time in the history of Israel. King Ahab had led Israel into a state of deep depravity beyond anything ever known to the Hebrew nation. Idolatry and immorality ran wild, and prophets for the false god Baal were in high demand. In steps Elijah, the lone voice crying in the wilderness. An anointing from on high and a soul on fire for His righteousness turned out to be all that was needed to completely obliterate the testimony of Baal. God took one man filled with the Holy Spirit and turned an entire nation back to Himself, and He can do the same through you and me.
We live in a day where things look bleak. Hopelessness and immorality run a muck. The Bible, the church, and believers are under attack. But may we never forget that all it takes is just one person full of the Holy Spirit to bring change. May we never underestimate the power of one praying wife, one consistent witness, one proclaiming man, or one church on fire for the gospel and the glory of God. So, let’s stop making excuses and let’s live by faith in our all powerful God. He can and He will save if we will simply be faithful to tell others about Jesus. Who knows, you may just be the one God wants to use to change an entire generation for His glory.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord, forgive me for underestimating what you can do through me if I will simply be faithful to You. Your power is greater than all and your purpose cannot be stopped. Today Lord, use me as You see fit. In Jesus name, amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.