The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Fire

  • A Warning

    “Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire”

    Isaiah 29:6

    God often uses the weather to speak. “Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire” (Isaiah 29:6). Sometimes God visits man with thunder, earthquake, or storms. He may even send droughts.

    There is one memorable time where God dwelt with His people through a three and a half year drought. It was in the days of King Ahab and Jezebel (see 1 Kings 17-18). God sent Elijah to warn King Ahab. This even culminated in a memorable event on Mount Carmel. Consider a few of the people involved.

    Elijah was a great prophet of the Lord. He was vocal for God.

    King Ahab and Jezebel (his wife) were wicked and worshiped Baal (see 1 Kings 16:30-33). Ahab said Elijah was a trouble maker, but Ahab was the one who troubled Israel (see 1 Kings 18:17-18).

    There was a man named Obadiah, who was a compromiser (see 1 Kings 18:3-6). Obadiah feared the Lord, but he was a servant of wicked King Ahab. During this great drought, Obadiah was looking for grass. No mention of prayer in repentance or asking God for rain. Instead, he was just trying to survive. No one knew that he served the Lord but those men he hid. When Elijah met him, Obadiah had to explain to Elijah that he feared the Lord. Elijah told Obadiah to deliver a message to King Ahab, and Obadiah reluctantly obeyed (see 1 Kings 18:7-16).

    Notice the state of the Isrelites. They appeared confused (see 1 Kings 18:19-21). When Elijah asked the question, who is God – the people had no answer. It was as if they did not know enough about God to know that He is God.

    Elijah presented a challenge (see 1 Kings 18:22-35), and whoever answered by fire is the true God.

    After the prophets of Baal had their opportunity, Elijah restored the broken down alter of the Lord and prepared the burnt sacrifice. When it came time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed. “36. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again” (1 Kings 18:36-37). God answered with fire from heaven. “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38). The fire consumed the sacrifice, the water, the wood and the stones. When the fire fell, the people believed and declared God was the God. It wasn’t until then that the people recognized God is the God (see 1 Kings 18:39).

    With this response (and the destruction of the prophets of Baal by death), God told Elijah to pray for rain. Elijah prayed, and God sent the rain. The drought ended.

    Remembering that God often uses the weather to speak, consider the following.

    Living in the capital of Tornado Alley can be interesting at times. Often the weather is volatile, and ever changing. Late one night, ripe tornado conditions appeared. It was later declared an EF-3 tornado that traveled about 24 miles, right through a town. In a populated area, this can cause tremendous damage and death. Although this tornado struck in the middle of the night, passing through town, there were only two lives lost in this storm. Surveying the damage the next day, one could notice that although it was extremely damaging, many of the monstrous trees missed or only clipped homes and property. Although there were several homes, churches, and businesses damaged. a majority of those huge trees were just blown over. Some were only stripped of leaves and limbs while still standing. Yes, the power lines that were taken out and the utility poles that were destroyed were many. Yet, even though this tornado was disastrous, it could have been so much worse.

    After this, I was reminded that God does use the storms. God often sends a warning. He gives people the opportunity to acknowledge Him, and to respond in repentance before He sends catastrophic judgment. Remember that God sent Jonah to warn Nineveh of pending doom because of their wickedness before God. The entire city repented, and God turned from the wrath they deserved because of that repentance. About one hundred years later, the people of Nineveh forgot God. Read the following verses from the book of Nahum: “3. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet… 6. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 7. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:2-7). The book of Nahum was written to proclaim judgment upon Nineveh for turning away from God.

    “26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27).

    To which person can you identify:

    • are you vocal for God (like Elijah)
    • are you wicked and a troubler (like Ahab and Jezebel)
    • are you a compromiser, who has to explain you fear God (like Obadiah)
    • are you confused, not knowing who God is (like the Isralites)

    Do you recognize God’s warnings for repentance in your life, turning and avoiding His judgment?

  • Elijah and his Message for King Ahaziah

    “And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment:”

    Hebrews 9:27

    The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life” Year Two, Quarter One – Lesson 3:

    “Ahaziah, wicked King Ahab’s son, became king of Israel. As we begin 2 Kings, we learn that Ahaziah fell through a lattice in his chamber and was sick (injured). He sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, to see whether he would recover.

    “… The angel of the Lord appeared to Elijah with a word for the king’s messenger to take back to the king. He said, “Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?” (2 Kings 1:3b). The message continued with the words that the king would not recover, but he would die — because he sought an answer from a false god instead of the Lord. The messenger returned to the king and delivered the message from Elijah. The king wanted to know who this man was. Read the description the Bible gives us of His prophet, Elijah. “And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.  And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite” (2 Kings 1:8).

    The king sent a captain with 50 men to Elijah with a message of his own. “… Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down” (2 Kings 1:9b). Elijah’s response? “And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty” (2 Kings 1:10). The king sent another captain and his fifty with another message. “… O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly” (2 Kings 1:11b). Elijah’s response? “And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. response? “1b).he king sent another captain and his fifty with another message. “ng to see who answered by fire; ___ ood gushe” (2 Kings 1:12). We see that the king sends a captain with his fifty a third time. However, see the difference in this captain’s actions and the words he spoke to Elijah. “13b.… And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 14. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight” (2 Kings 1:13b-14). When the third captain came with these words and humble attitude, the angel of the Lord told Elijah to go with him and not to be afraid. 

    When Elijah went to the king, he gave the king the same message as before: because the king had not inquired of the Lord, but of the false god, Baalzebub the god of Ekron, the king would not get up off his bed but would surely die. What happened? “So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken …” (2 Kings 1:17a)…

    “A Deeper Path: Aside from the fact that King Ahaziah inquired an answer from a false god, he asked the wrong question. He asked if he was going to die. He should have asked what he needed to do to be well. The question of which we need the answer is not if, or when, we will die — we know what the Bible teaches. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die …” (Hebrews 9:27a). Everyone will die sometime (unless of course Jesus returns first!). Nevertheless, see the important part of that same verse: “…but after this the judgment:” The part we should be concerned with is if we are “well” (the judgment) — whether we will live forever or spend eternity in hell. This is the question we should have answered in our hearts and lives: where will one spend eternity. To spend eternity in heaven is a gift — free; if only we will receive. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). 

    Notice that King Ahaziah was probably angry because the message Elijah sent reminded him of the God of Israel. Most people to whom you witness will not want to be reminded of God. When one is reminded of God, they become aware of the sin in their life apart from God (“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23). Does that make it harder for us to tell people about Jesus?

    Remember when the apostles were imprisoned by the religious leaders for preaching the gospel of Jesus in Acts 5? When the angel opened the prison doors and let them out of prison, he told them to “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20). Peter and the apostles went right to the temple, preaching the gospel of Jesus to the people. When confronted by the religious leaders who had thrown them into prison, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). That should always be our answer. We can see by Elijah’s response that he feared the God of Israel, not the king of Israel.”

    Do you know where you will spend eternity?

    Do you share the Gospel message with others, fearing God and not man?

    How one can be saved.

  • Faith, More Precious than Gold

    “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

    1 Peter 1:7

    Peter was one of the most well known of Jesus’ twelve disciples. After Jesus’ resurrection, he became one of the great leaders of the church. We can learn much about that ministry in the first twelve chapters of Acts, where thousands of people were saved, and the church was established.      

    In the book of First Peter, Peter wrote a letter to the Christians who had left their homeland, scattering into the countries around. Remember the persecution that had begun (see Acts 8:1; 11:19). Peter wrote words of encouragement to them along with words teaching them more about the Christian life.  

    Peter began by reminding them of the hope that is only found in Jesus’ resurrection. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

    • Lively means “to live, have life; of things living, lively, active, and enduring opposed to what is dead or inactive.” 
    • Hope means “those who experience the hope of salvation through Christ, eternal life, and blessedness.” 

    It is only through this “lively hope” of eternal life (by salvation only through Christ) that gives Christians the strength to live a life pleasing to Jesus while here on earth. This “hope” is to give Christians a confidence that people of this world do not have. With that hope, Christians (God’s children) have a promise of inheritance. “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). Remember the promise that Christians have been given of eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Do you remember that “inheritance incorruptible”? Remember what Romans teaches us. “17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:17-18). We should remember the promise of inheritance with Jesus, in Heaven.

    In addition, recall the promise that God will be with those who belong to Him, and will take care of them. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). Notice that it takes “faith”. One day, Christians (because of their faith unto salvation) will live in Heaven with Jesus, forever. See what Jesus said that is recorded in the book of John. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Christians are promised eternal salvation.

    With that promise, Christians are to rejoice – no matter what. “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6).   

    • Manifold means “variegated; many-colored.” 
    • Temptations means “a trial in which God brings His people through adversity and affliction in order to encourage and prove their faith and confidence in Him.” 

    Understand that as Christians there will be many trials that will be endured. Remember what Jesus said in the book of Matthew. “11. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12). However, with those trials, the confidence and faith in God will be strengthened.

    Why are trials necessary? They prove a Christian’s faith. “7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:7-9). Fire purifies gold, just as trials purify a Christian’s faith, preparing them to be presented “unto praise and honour and glory” when Jesus returns for His people. It is then that Christians will receive the promised reward of eternal salvation. Remember something else that Jesus said that is recorded in the book of John. “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Although no one today has physically seen Jesus, because of the written Word of God (the Bible), we have the ability to hear and believe upon Jesus (see Romans 10:9-10).

    Can your faith withstand the trials, making you more Christ like?

    Or

    Do you need to believe upon the One (Jesus) of which you have not yet seen?

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