As Elijah threw down the challenge to “the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah” (I Kings 18:19b, NLT), he knew he was on the winning side. In support of this fact, I referenced Second Kings 6:15-17 where the prophet Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the Aramean army.
The servant was terrified, but Elisha assured him they had nothing to fear because “there are more on our side than on theirs!” (II Kings 6:16b).
“Then Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!’ The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (II Kings 6:17).
Some years ago my fellow seminarian Bonnie and I were in China teaching a group of Chinese pastors. The two of us and our translator had gone to great lengths to make certain we weren’t followed to the apartment where we would be teaching. The group of 60 or more pastors who packed the tiny apartment had been secreted in one at a time all day long to prevent anyone from becoming suspicious of the gathering. Finally, at dark, we arrived and began to teach.
The windows were covered with thick cardboard so no one could see inside. One person remained by a doorway peephole to serve as lookout. Suddenly, she called out and turned to us, her face terror-stricken. The panic quickly spread and the translator explained that a number of military vehicles had arrived at the massive apartment complex and the soldiers were now going door-to-door asking about the non-Orientals someone had reported seeing.
I am a certified, card-carrying, lily-livered chicken. If my friend Bonnie were with me now, she’d say, “Ditto for me.” But when we realized what was happening, instead of fear, an inexplicable peace came over both of us. I told the translator to calm down and translate for me and I told the story of Elisha and his servant and how God had miraculously protected them from harm. And then I said, “That same army is protecting us right now.”
The room became completely quiet. Then one voice began to sing in Chinese, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…” Within a minute everyone in the room was singing, including me and Bonnie. The more we sang, the louder we got. We were convinced of God’s protection over us.
I can’t say that I believed God was going to keep those men from breaking down our door and arresting us. What I was sure of was that God was with us whatever He allowed. When our hymn came to a close, no one had pounded on our door. I am totally convinced that, however the Lord chose to do it, those men were as blind to seeing our doorway as the Aramean army was when the Lord blinded them in answer to Elisha’s prayer – see Second Kings 6:18.
We serve a mighty God. Nothing is impossible for Him. And nothing within His will for you is impossible for you to accomplish.
I was an unwilling participant in that mission trip to China. When I was asked to go, I didn’t even hesitate to say “No!” But a precious lady asked me to pray before I made my final decision. I did, and the Lord put a host of things in front of me that left me no doubt that the right answer had to be “Yes!”
That trip changed my life because it put me in a position that allowed God to work in ways I might otherwise have never experienced. I saw His power in ways I had never even imagined. Yes, I knew those things happened in the Bible and maybe even to other people in my lifetime. But to me? Uh-uh. I never would have dreamed it.
If there’s a tugging at your heart to do something you’ve never done before in service to the Lord, pray; seek godly counsel. And once you’re sure it’s the Lord doing the calling, don’t tell Him “No!” Give Him a resounding “Yes!” Your life will be enriched in ways you could never imagine.
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
Friday, January 3, 2014
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Thursday, January 2, 2014
THURSDAY'S BARGAINOMICS BIBLE PASSAGE
Ahab had looked high and low for Elijah, but when God told Elijah to do so, Elijah went to him. “When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, ‘So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?’” (I Kings 18:17, NLT).
“‘I have made no trouble for Israel,’ Elijah replied. ‘You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel” (I Kings 18:18-19).
This was a David-and-Goliath challenge. Elijah dared to pit himself against “the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah.” Why? Because he knew he was in the majority. If you look over in Second Kings, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.
The entire Aramean army was after the prophet Elisha when he and his servant were holed up in Dothan. “When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. ‘Oh, sir, what will we do now?’ the young man cried to Elisha. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ Elisha told him. ‘For there are more on our side than on theirs!’ Then Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!’ The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (II Kings 6:15-17).
Child of God, don’t ever forget you’re on the winning side. No matter what trouble surrounds you, the mighty host of heaven stands between you and whatever you’re facing. Open your spiritual eyes and believe the great things the Lord is going to do on your behalf. Just as he did for Elisha. And Elijah.
“So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, ‘How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent” (I Kings 18:20-21).
Herein we see one of the most powerful questions in the Bible? “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions?” Folks, there is no gray area. There is no proverbial fence to straddle. You’re either for God or against Him. As Elijah so clearly stated the options, “If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:24a, life is about choices: “No one can serve two masters.”
Which reminds me of the bride and groom at the altar. The minister had just pronounced the happy couple “husband and wife,” and the groom had proudly kissed his bride. As they turned to the well-wishers, the wife said, “Before we go into the reception, there’s a teeny something I need to mention.”
The two found a quiet hallway and the beautifully dressed bride gazed up into her loving husband’s eyes. “About this faithful thing,” she said, still smiling brightly and holding her groom’s hands tightly. “I plan to do exactly what I said I’d do – be faithful, that is. Except for Fridays. I’d like those off as sort of a free day. I’m sure you understand.”
But the bridegroom didn’t understand. He walked away, devastated that the marriage he’d hoped to build with the one he loved was never going to happen. Everything his bride had vowed in front of all those witnesses had been nothing but a lie.
Partial faithfulness is unfaithfulness. We are to be as devoted to Jesus Christ as He was and is to us. “If the Lord is God, follow Him!” Wholeheartedly. Daily. Forever.
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
“‘I have made no trouble for Israel,’ Elijah replied. ‘You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel” (I Kings 18:18-19).
This was a David-and-Goliath challenge. Elijah dared to pit himself against “the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah.” Why? Because he knew he was in the majority. If you look over in Second Kings, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.
The entire Aramean army was after the prophet Elisha when he and his servant were holed up in Dothan. “When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. ‘Oh, sir, what will we do now?’ the young man cried to Elisha. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ Elisha told him. ‘For there are more on our side than on theirs!’ Then Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!’ The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (II Kings 6:15-17).
Child of God, don’t ever forget you’re on the winning side. No matter what trouble surrounds you, the mighty host of heaven stands between you and whatever you’re facing. Open your spiritual eyes and believe the great things the Lord is going to do on your behalf. Just as he did for Elisha. And Elijah.
“So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, ‘How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent” (I Kings 18:20-21).
Herein we see one of the most powerful questions in the Bible? “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions?” Folks, there is no gray area. There is no proverbial fence to straddle. You’re either for God or against Him. As Elijah so clearly stated the options, “If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:24a, life is about choices: “No one can serve two masters.”
Which reminds me of the bride and groom at the altar. The minister had just pronounced the happy couple “husband and wife,” and the groom had proudly kissed his bride. As they turned to the well-wishers, the wife said, “Before we go into the reception, there’s a teeny something I need to mention.”
The two found a quiet hallway and the beautifully dressed bride gazed up into her loving husband’s eyes. “About this faithful thing,” she said, still smiling brightly and holding her groom’s hands tightly. “I plan to do exactly what I said I’d do – be faithful, that is. Except for Fridays. I’d like those off as sort of a free day. I’m sure you understand.”
But the bridegroom didn’t understand. He walked away, devastated that the marriage he’d hoped to build with the one he loved was never going to happen. Everything his bride had vowed in front of all those witnesses had been nothing but a lie.
Partial faithfulness is unfaithfulness. We are to be as devoted to Jesus Christ as He was and is to us. “If the Lord is God, follow Him!” Wholeheartedly. Daily. Forever.
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
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Wednesday, January 1, 2014
WEDNESDAY'S BARGAINOMICS BIBLE PASSAGE
The drought rocked on and Elijah received a new message from God. “Later on, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!’ So Elijah went to appear before Ahab” (I Kings 18:1-2a, NLT).
Elijah had been hiding out from Ahab who blamed him for the drought. Now, at God’s command, he boldly marches out to face him.
“Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria. So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water)” (I Kings 18:2b-4).
“Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace,” was also “a devoted follower of the Lord.” At great risk to his own life, he had defied the king and protected 100 of God’s faithful prophets. This is likely the same Obadiah for whom the Old Testament book is named, although it’s not possible to say for certain since there are over a dozen different Obadiahs mentioned in the Old Testament.
“Ahab said to Obadiah, ‘We must check every spring and valley in the land to see if we can find enough grass to save at least some of my horses and mules.’ So they divided the land between them. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him” (I Kings 18:5-7a).
Obadiah thought he was on a mission for the king of Israel, but he was actually on a mission for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Seeing Elijah, “Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. ‘Is it really you, my lord Elijah?’ he asked.
‘Yes, it is,’ Elijah replied. ‘Now go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’’
‘Oh, sir,’ Obadiah protested, ‘what harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my death at the hands of Ahab? For I swear by the Lord your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, ‘Elijah isn’t here,’ King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim. And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’’
But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the Lord all my life. Has no one told you, my lord, about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord’s prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water. And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’’ Sir, if I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me’” (I Kings 18:7b-14).
Obadiah knew that Ahab wanted Elijah dead more than just about anything. He also believed that the Lord had been protecting Elijah and would continue to keep him from Ahab’s reach. Obadiah needed a little convincing to realize that Elijah really wanted to a face-to-face meeting with Ahab.
So Elijah assured him, “I swear by the Lord Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab this very day” (I Kings 18:15).
“So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah. When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, ‘So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?’” (I Kings 18:16-17).
“You troublemaker!” Faithful Elijah was an out-and-out misery to Ahab. May the enemy look at each of us and cry out the same: “You troublemaker!”
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
Elijah had been hiding out from Ahab who blamed him for the drought. Now, at God’s command, he boldly marches out to face him.
“Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria. So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water)” (I Kings 18:2b-4).
“Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace,” was also “a devoted follower of the Lord.” At great risk to his own life, he had defied the king and protected 100 of God’s faithful prophets. This is likely the same Obadiah for whom the Old Testament book is named, although it’s not possible to say for certain since there are over a dozen different Obadiahs mentioned in the Old Testament.
“Ahab said to Obadiah, ‘We must check every spring and valley in the land to see if we can find enough grass to save at least some of my horses and mules.’ So they divided the land between them. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him” (I Kings 18:5-7a).
Obadiah thought he was on a mission for the king of Israel, but he was actually on a mission for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Seeing Elijah, “Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. ‘Is it really you, my lord Elijah?’ he asked.
‘Yes, it is,’ Elijah replied. ‘Now go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’’
‘Oh, sir,’ Obadiah protested, ‘what harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my death at the hands of Ahab? For I swear by the Lord your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, ‘Elijah isn’t here,’ King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim. And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’’
But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the Lord all my life. Has no one told you, my lord, about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord’s prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water. And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’’ Sir, if I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me’” (I Kings 18:7b-14).
Obadiah knew that Ahab wanted Elijah dead more than just about anything. He also believed that the Lord had been protecting Elijah and would continue to keep him from Ahab’s reach. Obadiah needed a little convincing to realize that Elijah really wanted to a face-to-face meeting with Ahab.
So Elijah assured him, “I swear by the Lord Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab this very day” (I Kings 18:15).
“So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah. When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, ‘So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?’” (I Kings 18:16-17).
“You troublemaker!” Faithful Elijah was an out-and-out misery to Ahab. May the enemy look at each of us and cry out the same: “You troublemaker!”
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
BARGAINS OF THE DAY!
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Tuesday, December 31, 2013
TUESDAY'S BARGAINOMICS BIBLE PASSAGE
During the drought, Elijah had been instructed by God to stay by a stream where he was miraculously cared for. When the stream dried up, the Lord told him to move on, this time to the village of Zarephath where he was led to the home of a widow. Because the woman trusted in God’s provision in first serving Elijah from the last of her food supply, He caused her containers of flour and oil to last and last. Elijah delivered the Lord’s message to her: “There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” (I Kings 17:14b, NLT).
But then her son became sick and then died. The widow immediately blamed herself: “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?” (I Kings 17:18b). The enemy wanted this poor widow to believe that her sins had caused her son’s death.
But, as Jesus told the disciples when they asked why the man was born blind, “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him” (John 9:3b).
Elijah turned to the tormented widow and said, “‘Give me your son.’ And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?’” (I Kings 17:19-20).
“And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.’ The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother” (I Kings 17:21-23a).
What began as a horrible tragedy ended as a time of rejoicing. Had the child not died, Elijah would never have called on the Lord to restore him to life. Had the child never been restored to life, the widow and all those living around her would never have seen this mighty act of God. There is purpose even in those things we find impossible to understand.
“It is not a question of God allowing or not allowing things to happen. It is part of living. Some things we do to ourselves, other things we do to each other. Our Father knows about every bird which falls to the ground, but He does not always prevent it from falling. What are we to learn from this? That our response to what happens is more important than what happens. Here is a mystery: one man’s experience drives him to curse God, while another man’s identical experience drives him to bless God. Your response to what happens is more important than what happens.” (Chip Brodgen)
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.” (Elisabeth Kübler-Ross)
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
But then her son became sick and then died. The widow immediately blamed herself: “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?” (I Kings 17:18b). The enemy wanted this poor widow to believe that her sins had caused her son’s death.
But, as Jesus told the disciples when they asked why the man was born blind, “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him” (John 9:3b).
Elijah turned to the tormented widow and said, “‘Give me your son.’ And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?’” (I Kings 17:19-20).
“And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.’ The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother” (I Kings 17:21-23a).
What began as a horrible tragedy ended as a time of rejoicing. Had the child not died, Elijah would never have called on the Lord to restore him to life. Had the child never been restored to life, the widow and all those living around her would never have seen this mighty act of God. There is purpose even in those things we find impossible to understand.
“It is not a question of God allowing or not allowing things to happen. It is part of living. Some things we do to ourselves, other things we do to each other. Our Father knows about every bird which falls to the ground, but He does not always prevent it from falling. What are we to learn from this? That our response to what happens is more important than what happens. Here is a mystery: one man’s experience drives him to curse God, while another man’s identical experience drives him to bless God. Your response to what happens is more important than what happens.” (Chip Brodgen)
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.” (Elisabeth Kübler-Ross)
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
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