SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13

ADVENT: 13 DAYS

Elijah

1 Kings 18:36

“Then the time came for giving the evening gift. Elijah the man who spoke for God came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel. Let it be known that I am Your servant, and have done all these things at Your Word.”

Bible Readings

Videos

5:01 - Review of 1 Kings 17:1 - 2 Kings 2 regarding Elijah’s ministry

3:39 2 Kings 5 Naaman’s Healing

This Christmas as we learn about Jesus’s Birth again, Do you believe your God is real & can heal you on the inside & outside?

3:21 “Break Every Chain” God sent His son Jesus to overcome sin & to BREAK EVERY CHAIN!

30:21

Historical Artwork: ELIJAH

Elijah was a prophet for King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. King Ahab of Israel had done more evil than all the Kings before him!

When Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel to show the Israelites, who was God - he did so against 450 prophets of the god Baal, and 400 prophets of the god Asherah.

The Israelite King and the people were worshiping OTHER gods!

Maybe you think after reading all this history - how could they worship other gods!?

But they did - and in all honesty, isn’t is SO EASY to do today?

Recently I had been following my idol - of COMFORT.

Wanting to relax, & rest, and say no to obligations and responsibilities. Wanting my days to be about “me”. I deserve it, I say… I am tired, I say…

So, I’ve been wrestling with this - feeling convicted, and trying to balance life too. One day, I was sitting around - watching a movie.. ‘everyone else has seen it - I should too’

God spoke to me through this movie (I was stuck on an airplane) - God spoke to me and told me what I needed to hear - and I was able to get back on track!

HE does this - and I am so thankful that I hadn’t drifted too far - that I had concern and felt conviction. I praise God for this bit of wisdom I received, and I am truly thankful for my relationship I have with JESUS!

He is truly my friend, and at times He is constantly on my mind! I am FAR from perfect… I am so thankful that I continue TO TRY TO OBEY His leading in my life!

Movie: The Greatest Showman

(Dialogue when PT Barnum wanted to get Zac Efron/Bailey to be his partner in the circus.)

As I watched this scene, I instantly perceived it as God speaking wisdom to me. I had an “idol” in my life, and I was being disobedient.

Efron: This is much more comfortable. (me)

PT Barnum: Comfort - the enemy of progress. (God)

Efron: If I change & give this up I could lose so much that I enjoy. (me)

PT: You’ll be risking everything you have, but you just might find yourself a free man! Right here, right now - I put the offer out. I don’t want to chase you down - I know you see it. You run with me, & I can cut you free out of the drudgery and the walls you keep in. So trade your typical, for something colorful. And if it’s crazy, live a little crazy. You can play it worldly and sensible - or you can risk it all and see. (God)

________

Yes! —- He spoke truth in me when I wasn’t expecting it - the Bible says that anything that’s good comes from above… I was trapped in ‘stink’in think’in’ - I thought it was nice for a time, but it was leading me to places I would never choose to go if I saw it laid out in front of me. Saved from disaster!

I really heard God, through this movie scene, say to my heart and mind - “I have ALL you need - you can stay where you are, or come with me - IT’S UP TO YOU!”

It is!? It’s up to me!

Yes, I am in charge of my choices and decisions - Thank you for speaking to me God & reminding me of reality - I CHOOSE YOU! I didn’t even realize I was slipping away.

Sin is often sexy and alluring - it’s often in disguise - and when the world around you moves in a certain way, it WILL influence you.

In Jeremiah it says, that our hearts are wicked.

These true stories about the Israelites make it obvious that we all fall short and are led astray.

We all need God, and we ALL need to keep God 1st in our life!

Questions

Prayer