Spiritual Growth · Abundant Life
Let Us Get Moving!
6 min read, approximately
“We desire each of you to show the same diligence to the end, for the full assurance of hope, so that you do not become lazy but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11-12)
Some stop at the familiar phrase “God bless you” and wait for things to happen. Others go further: they take hold of the gifts and talents the Lord has given them, embrace the Bible’s word of faith and live it, achieving all they long for. In fact, they are never satisfied… They always want more!
But Why Does This Happen?
Let us read…
“Then Elijah said to all the people: Come near to me. All the people approached him, and he repaired the Lord’s altar, which lay in ruins. Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Jacob’s sons, to whom the Lord’s word had come, saying: Israel will be your name. With the stones he built an altar in the Lord’s name. Then he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two measures of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said: Fill four jars with water and pour it over the burnt offering and the wood. Then he said: Do it again. They did it again. He said: Do it a third time. They did it a third time, so that water ran around the altar and filled the trench. At the time of the burnt offering, Elijah the prophet approached and said: Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that these people may know that you, Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back. Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said: The Lord is God! The Lord is God!” (1 Kings 18:30-39)
This brings us to 3 main ideas:
\1. Elijah Saw God’s Altar in Ruins
To understand the idea of an altar, God’s Word teaches that it was a place erected to offer sacrifices to God, whether in thanksgiving (Genesis 8:20), to call on God’s name (Genesis 12:7-8; Genesis 26:25), or to establish a commitment to God (Joshua 8:30-35)… Yet let us read…
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by people but chosen and precious to God, you too, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5)
Today, we are those altars for God, offering him prayer, fellowship, thanksgiving, obedience, commitment, integrity, and holiness as we walk in his presence… Spiritual sacrifices through Jesus Christ! But this leads us to ask: What condition is our altar for God in? How is our prayer life? Let us get moving!
\2. Elijah Knew He Needed to Repair and Clean the Lord’s Altar
For the Lord to repair and cleanse our lives, we need to believe and have fellowship with God:
“For the good news was announced to us as well as to them, but hearing the word did not benefit them, because those who heard it did not accompany it with faith. But we who have believed enter the rest, as he said: Therefore I swore in my anger: They will not enter my rest, although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For in one place he spoke of the seventh day in this way: And God rested from all his works on the seventh day. And again here: They will not enter my rest.” (Hebrews 4:2-5)
Faith in God allows us to rest and enter his rest because we know he will fulfill his purpose in each of us. But unbelief kills our plans before we even begin them, blinds us, clips our wings, and keeps us complacent and passive. So what causes our unbelief?… Let us remember:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalms 147:3)
“But without faith it is impossible to please God, because whoever approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Shall We Renew Our Faith? Let Us Get Moving!
\3. Elijah Offered a Sacrifice Acceptable to God
Once we decide to live in fellowship with God, believe, and walk in his promises, our altar is ready to offer a sacrifice whose aroma pleases him. Yet this is precisely where many give up, because criticism, gossip, and discouragement arise… This is where many surrender…
“When you go to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and a people greater than you, do not fear them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, is with you. When you approach the battle, the priest will stand and speak to the people, saying: Hear, Israel, today you are joining battle against your enemies. Do not let your hearts grow faint; do not fear, panic, or become discouraged before them, for the Lord your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies and save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:1-4)
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, by God’s mercies I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable worship. Do not conform to this age, but be transformed through the renewal of your understanding, so that you may discern God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will. By the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of yourself than you should, but to think with sound judgment, according to the measure of faith God has distributed to each one.” (Romans 12:1-3)
Let us not lose focus! Our sacrifice will be acceptable to God!
Let us simply move forward, and:
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not lose heart, for I am your God who strengthens you. I will always help you; I will always uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Some stop at the familiar phrase “God bless you” and wait for things to happen. Others go further: they take hold of the gifts and talents the Lord has given them, embrace the Bible’s word of faith and live it, achieving all they long for. In fact, they are never satisfied… They always want more!
How is our altar? Which kind of person are you? Let us get moving!
_**Remember to stop by the Songbook
May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!