CLEANSING FIRE
We need to cry out for revival in our lives first and when people see that fire, they will bow down and worship the One true God.
1 Kings 18:36-39 NLT
At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. [37] O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
[38] Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! [39] And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The LORD—he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!”
In Verse 21, Elijah challenged the people of Israel to choose who they will serve and not waver between two opinions. He then challenged the prophets of Baal to prove that their Baal was god. Elijah made a statement that the one who answered by fire is God. Consider what he was up against as he challenged the prophets of Baal. First, 850 prophets of Baal. Second, he would be dead if God didn’t show up as the God of fire. But Elijah was confident of who God is. He was able to make such bold statements as he knew that God would hear him and answer him. He even upped the odds by pouring 12 buckets of water over the offering, the wood and the stones. Such faith Elijah had. And God honored his faith. God showed up and burnt everything, licking up the water. And the people bowed down to worship the One True God.
What about us? Do we waver between two opinions? In the moment of waiting for the fire, Elijah repairs the altar (v.30). Do we need to repair the altar in our lives? Altar represents prayer, fellowship with God, dying to self, and trusting the will of God. We need to cry out for revival in our lives first and when people see that fire, they will bow down and worship the One true God. Have faith that He will show up. Be ready for His mighty and overflowing power to be released and He will answer us for His name’s sake.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we ask that You come and consume us once again. We want to put our works at Your altar and ask that You burn what is not pleasing to You. Let my life be a testimony of what You can do, as a yielded vessel. Let others see that You are the One True God in my life.
Father, Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be with you. You know that I was lost long time ago and nowhere to go, but you held my hand and reminded me that you will always there waiting for me while I turned my back away from you. On my downtime you lift me up and embrace me with your presence. On my crying moments, you always find a room for me to feel the happiness. I don’t feel worthy on myself but you have told me that I am worthy because I am your child and you are my Father. You never fail me even through I have sinned against you. Forgive me Father if I have forgotten you in my days. Thank you Jesus for all the sacrifices you have given to me, for consuming me, your unconditional and unfailing love. I will always honor and bless your name through Christ Jesus, Amen.