Have you ever found yourself focusing on the
problem instead of focusing on the
solution? We can learn so much from the story of ELIJAH at Mount Carmel; and especially from ELIJAH himself. I think particularly of three incidents when his
focus wasn't where it
needed to be.
1 Kings 18:17-18 says:
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
We see here that Elijah is focused on the
President, if you will. We've just had elections come up, and many are pleased with the outcome
and many are not. Those who put their trust in the GOP will be
VERY disappointed. I've never understood how people—
and especially Christians—can depend on a
lying politician as much as they do to rescue our country, and can't trust in a righteous God
for a tank of gas! I'm convinced much of it has to do with
principalities and powers than the politician. But isn't it amazing how much we
tremble at election time? We are focused on
Politicians and the
President.
So we find Elijah focused on the
Potentate or the
President. But in verse 21 of 1 Kings 18 it says:
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Here we find that he's now focused on the
People. I'll never forget one of my last conversations I had with Evangelist Jack Green. Jack Green was the brother of Dr. Oliver B Green, and I remember asking him one day,
"What is your idea of a perfect church?" His answer astounded me!
He looked at me with all sincerity and said,
"A church without people."
It was indeed a very numerous statement, but one that has stuck with me to this day.
People re going to be
people on their very best day! And they will fail you, and betray you, and let you down, and lie to you, and...
occasionally say something meaningful...but never put your dependence and trust in
people—no matter who they are—for the answer. Now, verses 26 and 27 say:
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
Here, he's not focused on the
President, or the
People, but on the
Prophets. The thing that has hurt our country more than anything else is
religion. And really, it's not the
preachers who preach false doctrine—though they be at fault—that has brought our country down; but rather it is our choice to
believe them that has brought it down. We have
too long focused on the
Preacher and depended on his preaching over the Word of God. We feel there's no need to read our Bibles when we have a preacher. But
finally, verses 36 and 37 say:
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. 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.
We see here that he is not focused on the
President or the
People, or the
Prophets; this time he's focused
beyond that!
My friends, this is the key to revival! It's the
heart cry to the
one who can make a difference!
You'll notice nothing happened when he was focused on the
PROBLEMS, the summary of the last three. But, O, when he's focused beyond;
looking unto Jesus, notice what happens in the verse following:
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.
Hallelujah! That's where the answer is friends!
Fan the Flame, and FOCUS BEYOND!
