1 Kings 18 [The Message]

King Ahab hated Elijah. He sought to kill him. Ahab thought Elijah was Israel’s problem. Elijah KNEW Ahab and his idolatrous ways was the real problem. To prove his point, Elijah challenged Ahab to assemble all the prophets of Baal (450) and other assorted idol prophets (400) and have a showdown. The God (god) who showed up with fire to consume an offering was indeed the REAL God.

The prophets of Baal went first. Nothing was happening to their offering, so Elijah began taunting them. “Maybe your god is asleep. Cry out louder.” They even began cutting themselves to elicit a response from Baal. They used every religious trick they knew to no avail.

Then, Elijah took action. He requested that his offering be soaked with water. God sent down fire from heaven and licked up the entire offering and the water and the stones and everything. Elijah, with the support of all the people, promptly took the 850 false prophets down the mountain to the Kishon stream and slaughtered them. Elijah was good with fire.

1 Kings 16, 17 [The Message]

While in music school, I had an honors composition assignment to write for chorus and instrumental ensemble. I became so impressed with the life of the prophet Elijah that I made him my theme. My composition was performed by music students from the college and later by the Hope Temple choir of Findlay, Ohio. I remember working on it during the night while my wife lay sleeping in the bed next to my desk. That was nearly 50 years ago. I used her maiden name, Pat Beck, as my pseudonym to acknowledge her latent contribution.

The point is … I was so taken by the dramatic way God used Elijah to annoy the wicked King Ahab of Israel. Elijah was so raw and uncouth they called him “An hairy man.” Yet his message and anointing were the most violent and authentic the nation had ever known. He could call down fire from heaven and consume army troops sent to apprehend him. If we saw him today, we would probably consider him a homeless, street person. But, he had great POWER WITH GOD.

We shall begin a several day examination of his remarkable life and ministry. If I can find a recording of my composition, I will share it.

1 Kings 15 [The Message]

No one loves a clean house more than Patty, my wife of 53 years. She gets “little girl” giggly when our house is clean. (She is very annoyed at the thought of my mess in the garage) After all, cleanliness is not “next to Godliness,” it IS Godliness.

King Asa of Judah did a different type pf cleaning house. When he became king he removed the sodomites (perverted male cult prostitutes) and all the idols prior kings had made. He no doubt evaluated the kingdom and removed what was not pleasing to the Lord.

Paul’s ministry to Ephesus produced a revival in which people cleaned house and brought out all their curious arts (occult, sorcery, and magic books ie. “dark” video games) and burned them in a big heap.

It’s good to really clean house once in a while.

1Kings 14 [The Message]

Sadly, Jeroboam’s wife received the news from the prophet Ahijah that her son would die. Actually, the prophet made her aware that God was going to clean house in Jeroboam’s family because of his blatant disobedience. He did not follow the instructions God had given him through the prophet. Instead, he schemed and manipulated and invented ways to build his kingdom that were against the Lord. Payday came. Extreme loss. Total humiliation.

It’s clearly NOT WORTH IT to live a life opposed to God’s ways. Your disobedience catches up with you.

Sin will take you further than you’re willing to go and cost you more than your willing to pay.

1 Kings 12, 13 [The Message]

Jerobaom was an example of what leaders will do to engender support and a following. He made golden calves for Israel to worship. He let anybody who wanted to be a priest do it. It was a repulsive gesture so God sent a holy man to prophesy against it all. Jeroboam was afraid his subjects world stop following him and run to Rehoboam in Jerusalem. Instead of being obedient to God and following His laws, Jeroboam manufactured devices and novelties to entice Israel to look to him for leadership. It was a disastrous failure.

Jealous leaders will do almost anything to keep their followers. Instead of prayer, fasting, and obedience, they resort to gimmicks to keep interest in their leadership alive. No doubt there will be leaders who covet a move of God like we have seen at Asbury. They will come up with ways to attract interest from seekers hungry for more of God.

Let TRUE revival come!

1 Kings 12 [The Message]

The rift between Jeroboam and Rehoboam reached a climax when Rehoboam called up his troops to go to war with Israel to unite the once again. Jeroboam and the ten tribes of Israel were repulsed by Rehoboam’s exacting taxes and demands which were much greater than even Solomon’s demands. Who likes taxes? Anyway, God raised up a prophet named Shemaiah to rebuke the thought of Jews fighting against Jews in a war. He said, “This is God’s word: Don’t march out; don’t fight against your brothers the Israelites; go back home.”

Irritations inevitably arise between siblings on occasion. Regardless, whatever can be done to keep the peace is important. God hates it when brothers (or sisters) fight.

Our two youngest children were combative when they were teenagers. It was a stage to go through. NOW, they have a love and deep bond that blesses their parents greatly.

KEEP the peace!

1 Kings 11 [The Message]

Because of Solomon’s diversion from God’s will, resistance in the kingdom began to emerge. One of the principal rebels was Jeroboam, a former manager in Solomon’s kingdom who was to be given 10 tribes of Israel to rule. Although it didn’t fully happen until Solomon was dead, there was a clear division of God’s people because of Solomon’s idolatry. He had embraced the gods of his many wives instead of Jehovah God.

When we depart from God’s ways, we are opening ourselves up to resistance in life. God’s blessing is withheld and we may not even know it. Samson thought he still had the supernatural strength God had given him but it was GONE. Jesus knocked Saul of Tarsus off his donkey, blinded him and declared, “I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting, kicking against the goads (resistance) I sent your way.”

God knows how to get our attention.

1 Kings 10, 11 [The Message]

Solomon’s wisdom and wealth were like no other king. The Queen of Sheba verified that every glowing report of Solomon’s greatness was indeed true. His life was the ultimate of luxury, order, and influence.

Yet, in spite of his fame and success, he himself declared it all VANITY.

When we hear of the conclusion of the lives of great men, we never hear that their pursuit of life’s best was ever worth it. Steve Jobs of Apple deeply regrets not spending more time with his children and neglecting his health. Bill Gates regrets not being more grateful for his wife. Time and again we hear of very wealthy persons who say they found NO PLEASURE in all their belongings. So, what’s the formula for a rewarding life?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? [Micah 6:8]

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [Mark 8:36]

1 Kings 9 [The Message]

Every man is known by the work he does. Solomon’s work and accomplishments spoke of the kind of man and leader he was.

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. [Pr. 20:11]

Verse 25 states that he completed the temple. It is implied that he supplied all that was needed for its completion and operation. Eugene Peterson is a translator that added “He didn’t skimp.” Solomon was obviously a builder and a finisher of what he started. Not everyone has this quality and ability.

My brother Gary is this type of individual. He has built quality things his entire life. He hand-makes guitars (www.demosguitars.com), he is the president of the 10th largest remodeling firm in the nation, he makes furniture for his home … the list goes on and on and on. I’m very proud to be his brother.

1 Kings 8 [The Message]

Solomon prayed an eloquent prayer as he stood before the new temple in the presence of all Israel. From the study of this temple, we find many eternal truths about God’s design for our lives. When we study it, we must take care that we realize that WE are the temple God was intending all along. In the same way that the animal sacrifices were made obsolete after Christ had been sacrificed, so was a building such as the temple made obsolete for the indwelling of God’s Spirit.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with (in) men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [Rev. 21:3]

Know ye not that YOU are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? [1 Cor. 3:16]