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1 Kings 18:21 - How Long Will You Waver Between Two Opinions? (addendum)

1 Kings 18:21 - How Long Will You Waver Between Two Opinions?  
(addendum) 

1 Kings 18:21 (NIV)  Elijah went before the people and said, 
"How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, 
follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said 
nothing. 

CONTEXT: Elijah on Mount Carmel: 1 Kings 18:16-46.

APPLICATION COMMENTARY with emphasis on verse 21.

Elijah's primary assignment was to announce when a drought would 
begin and end (1Ki 17:1). God had told him to proclaim to King Ahab 
that the drought was an act of judgment upon a people who worshiped 
idols rather than God. In the middle of Elijah's assignment, a 
spectacular thing happened. Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and 
called fire down from heaven, putting hundreds of priests of Baal to 
death. This was one of the most awesome displays of God's power 
recorded in Scripture. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard 
Blackaby re 1Ki. 18:41] 

  Fifty-six times in the Bible the word almighty is used. Always 
it is used of God; never of anyone else. God is all powerful, or 
omnipotent. Again we are forced to use a negative to explain the 
concept--there is nothing He can't do. That is a staggering idea. He has no 
bounds to His energy. 
  God can do one thing as easily as He can do another. It is no 
more difficult for God to create a universe than it is for Him to 
make a butterfly, and He does everything without losing any of His 
strength. Isaiah 40:28 says, "The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator 
of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired." God never 
needs to be replenished. Where would He go for more strength? There is 
no power outside of God. 
  Built into absolute power is the authority to use it. God not 
only has the power but He has the authority to do anything He wants 
to do. While God can do anything He wants to do, however, His will 
is totally consistent with His nature. That's why, for example, He 
cannot lie and will not tolerate sin. It is also why He shows grace and 
mercy. Psalm 115:3 says, "our God is in the heavens; He does whatever 
He pleases." Have you ever asked the question, "Why did God do 
this?" He did it because He wanted to. If this doesn't seem like a 
sufficient answer to you, it's because you don't understand God.... 
  We worship an unchanging, all-powerful God. If that makes Him 
seem far beyond your ability to comprehend, that is good. If you 
think of God as someone simple enough for the human mind to 
understand, your god is not the true God. 
  What is your concept of God? Do you see Him as a timeless, 
infinite, all-powerful, unchanging, glorious being? Or do you, like many, 
tend to minimize God's greatness, preferring to think of Him as one 
who may be manipulated or fooled by human hypocrisy, or one who may 
be mandated to do what we want? Such a view of God is utterly 
pagan. 
  A vision of the steadfastness of our immutable God brings a 
sense of security and stability to our unsettled lives. And the 
understanding that His power is unlimited and undiminishing strengthens and 
encourages even the weakest believer. The natural response to that is 
praise and adoration that overflows in a life that worships. (From The 
Ultimate Priority by John MacArthur, Jr.) [Inspirational SB] 

Man is made to worship and he will worship something.  It ought 
to be Almighty God.  But man is very inventive in this regard and 
may worship stone, wood, money, lust, another person, an idea or 
many other things. And what man worships, man serves. Let your 
service be rendered unto God Almighty.  It is the only service that has 
eternal value and whose product will continue on throughout all 
eternity, to God's glory and your benefit. Be warned, anything less than 
God that you serve, the product of that service will be burned up 
and destroyed.  Today, choose to serve the Lord.  [In His Time; Walk 
With Wisdom re Jos.24:15] 

People can have loads of faith and still be weak because their 
faith is in the wrong place. The 450 prophets of Baal had plenty of 
faith, but it was in a god that did not exist and had no power. Where 
is your faith - ultimately? Put faith in friends or family, and 
you'll find that they let you down. Put faith in government, and you'll 
be disappointed by corruption. Put faith in money, and you'll see 
that it doesn't buy happiness. Put faith in fame, and you'll find it 
fleeting. Put your faith in the God of the universe, however, and you will 
find strength beyond what you can imagine. You will be able to face 
down evil fearlessly if your faith is in the right place. [The One 
Year Bible for New Believers re 1Ki. 18:18-40] 

We cannot create the wind or set it in motion, but we can set 
our sails to catch it when it comes; we cannot make the electricity, 
but we can stretch the wire along upon which it is to run and do its 
work; we cannot in a word, control the Spirit, but we can so place 
ourselves before the Lord, and so do the things He has bidden us to do 
that we will come under the influence and power of His mighty breath. 
[Praying Through The Bible By Fuller re 1Ki. 18:37-39] 

Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you 
can only spend it once. [source unknown] 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

Grace Notes:
http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

A Better Way to Live:
http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/

More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com