DAILY DEVOTIONS
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"Honoring God in the Morning"
Are you a courageous Christian leader? (100-5)
Written by Barry-Werner on December 18th, 2009. Posted in 1 Kings, Character, Courage/Risk-Taking, Deuteronomy, James, New Testament, Old Testament, Personal Development, Romans.
It cannot be stated too strongly or too often that living a godly life and demonstrating godly leadership requires extraordinary courage. Read 1 Kings 17:1 and 18:16-40.
Elijah was a prophet of the one true God and he lived in the northern kingdom during the time of King Ahab’s rule. Since Ahab had chosen to serve other gods, there was continual conflict between Elijah and Ahab.
Even though Elijah knew he served the one true God, he was also aware that prophets then, as Christians are today, can be martyred for the one they serve. Once Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, had imported prophets of the god she served from her home country of Tyre, the conflict between Elijah, God’s spokesperson, and Ahab escalated.
Eventually God spoke through Elijah and informed Ahab that there would be a drought in the land until further notice. God wanted Ahab’s attention concerning who the nation worshiped. The animosity was so heightened between these two leaders that Elijah had to hide for the next three years just to keep from being killed for being God’s leader.
Eventually God spoke through Elijah and informed Ahab that there would be a drought in the land until further notice. God wanted Ahab’s attention concerning who the nation worshiped. The animosity was so heightened between these two leaders that Elijah had to hide for the next three years just to keep from being killed for being God’s leader.
Eventually God had Ahab’s attention and the situation came to a head with a face-to-face showdown to demonstrate which god had true power between Elijah’s God, the God of Israel and the prophets of Baal, Jezebel and Ahab’s god.
Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal required a tremendous amount of courage and confidence in God’s divine power. At his instigation, the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Baal’s consort Asherah converged on Mount Carmel for a final showdown between Baal and the God of Israel, the God of the Bible, the one true God.
Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal required a tremendous amount of courage and confidence in God’s divine power. At his instigation, the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Baal’s consort Asherah converged on Mount Carmel for a final showdown between Baal and the God of Israel, the God of the Bible, the one true God.
Elijah used some theatrical panache when he made an unequivocal demonstration that God alone is sovereign in the entire universe. In forcing the confrontation Elijah risked his life on something that would not have been possible if God had not intervened.
What an example of a leader with godly courage!
To be an effective God-honoring leader requires courage. Courageous Christian leaders risk everything on the belief that God plus one equals a majority.
Several scriptures support this principle:
Several scriptures support this principle:
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
Deuteronomy 20:4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
