A Sure Expectation
Now Playing: How strong is our faith in God ?
Topic: Confidence
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-42 James 1:6
A Sure Expectation

1 Kings 18:41-42

Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees.

A Sure Expectation

There had been a drought for weeks in a Midwest farming community, so some farmers arranged to gather in a little prairie church and plead for rain. The day appointed for their small church to pray dawned cloudless, with no sign of rain. The people gathered and the pastor approached the pulpit. Looking over the congregation, however, he announced that they would have a benediction and go home. The deacons were quite upset and confronted the pastor after the service. "Why are you sending us home without praying for rain?" they wanted to know. "Simple enough," replied the pastor. "You obviously aren't expecting God to answer. None of you brought an umbrella."

Elijah not only prayed, but he expected an answer. Before the clouds formed or the thunder boomed, he heard the "sound of abundance of rain." He knew that he was praying according to the will of God and he was confident, before any external evidence could confirm his faith, that God would supply the rain He promised. Elijah's command to Ahab was based on the assurance of God's answer, not the whims of nature.

The Bible tells us to pray without doubting (James 1:6). When we come to God, knowing that we are asking according to His will, we don't have to be intimidated by our circumstances. We can have the confidence that when the time is right, God will answer. We need to act according to His promised answer, not according to our fearful uncertainties.

As you pray, don't look around you; look above you. Real answers to prayer don't come from the situations we find ourselves in. Real answers come from our Heavenly Father.

Pray according to faith, not circumstances.

(from W. Kroll)

Always Complete
Now Playing: God does not miss details !
Topic: Provision
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:38-39

Always Complete

1 Kings 18:38-39

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!"

Always Complete

Often the little things in life trip us up. A tragic example is an Eastern Airlines jumbo jet that crashed in the Everglades of Florida. The plane, Flight 401, was bound from New York to Miami with a heavy load of holiday passengers. As the plane approached the Miami airport for its landing, the indicator that verifies the proper deployment of the landing gear failed to light. The plane flew in a large circle over the swamps of the Everglades while the cockpit crew checked to see if the gear actually had not deployed, or if the bulb in the signal light was defective. When the flight engineer tried to remove the light bulb, it wouldn't budge. The other members of the crew tried to help him. As they struggled with the bulb, no one noticed the aircraft was losing altitude, and the plane simply flew into the swamp. Many people lost their lives in the crash.

Contrast this human failure with the God who answers by fire. He never misses a detail. When Elijah prayed, God answered so completely and fully that the people could only cry out, "The Lord, He is God!" So thorough was the Lord's response that even the stones and the dust were consumed. Nothing related to Elijah's sacrifice?the wood, the stones, the dust, the bulls?was left untouched. The God who answers by fire is the God of completeness.

When you pray, trust God for the particulars. You can be sure that He will never overlook anything that is necessary for your spiritual well-being. No piece of minutia will escape His attention. Give Him the total control of your life, bathe it in prayer, but leave the details to God.

With God, no problem is too big and no detail is too small.

(from W. Kroll)

Confident Praying
Now Playing: Do we truly believe in God's ability to answer ?
Topic: Prayer
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: John 14:14 1 Kings 18:33-35
Confident Praying

1 Kings 18:33-35

And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood." Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.

Confident Praying

In the early days of our country, a traveler came to the banks of the Mississippi River. There was no bridge but it was early winter, and the surface of the river was covered with ice. He had no way of knowing, however, if the ice could bear his weight. Finally, after much hesitation and with many fears, he began to creep cautiously across the ice on his hands and knees. As he was about halfway across the river, he heard the sound of singing behind him. Looking back, he saw a man driving a horse-drawn load of coal across the ice. Here the traveler was—trembling, afraid the ice was not strong enough to bear him—and there came this man, his horses, his sleigh and his load of coal, confidently upheld by the same ice!

When it came time for God to respond to Elijah's prayer, Elijah demonstrated his confidence in God. He didn't simply build an altar and call down fire. Instead, three times he drenched the altar and the sacrifice with water until everything was saturated. Then he filled the trench around the altar with water as well. He was sure that God would not only answer, but answer in a powerful way.

Christians can have this same confidence. If we pray according to God's will, we have the assurance that God will answer, no matter how difficult our circumstances (John 14:14).

Is there something in your life that you've not prayed about because you fear it is impossible? Come to God with confidence. Remember, with God all things are possible—so pray accordingly.

Be confident; God is able.

(from W. Kroll)

Empty Gods
Now Playing: Are we filling up our lives with things of eternal value ?
Topic: Daily Walk
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:27-29
Empty Gods

1 Kings 18:27-29

And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. And it was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

Empty Gods

Ralph Barton was a successful cartoonist. But he chose to end his life, leaving a note that read: "I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes. I have gone from wife to wife, and from house to house, and visited great countries of the world; but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day." How tragic! Like Ralph Barton, when we place our faith in things that are empty, the consequences are severe.

The prophets of Baal discovered this as well. They were sincere to the point of frenzy in their worship, but to no avail. Elijah mocked them, but he also pointed out an important truth?nobody was home. There was no voice, no answer, no god to pay attention to their pleas. Their religion was empty. And ultimately it caused their death (v. 40).

Everything the world offers is likewise empty. The money, the fame, the "good times" cannot fill the void in our lives because they have no substance. They seem real when we casually observe them, but the moment the stresses of life hit, they dissolve like cotton candy. Eventually, they also lead to our death?eternal separation from the Father. Don't make the same mistake the prophets of Baal did; make sure that what you put first in your life is real.

Give thanks today that you can know that Jesus is real. His resurrection proves that there is substance to His claims. When you grasp Him, you never have to worry about coming up empty-handed. Latch onto the eternal; latch onto Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

If your life is empty, fill it with Christ.

(from W. Kroll)

The God Who Answers
Now Playing: Do we have doubts as to the wisdom and provision of God ?
Topic: Prayer
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 John 5:15 1 Kings 18:24
The God Who Answers

1 Kings 18:24

"Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."

The God Who Answers

A magazine cartoon showed a little fellow kneeling beside his bed for his bedtime prayers. He was saying with some measure of disgust, "Uncle Jim still doesn't have a job; Sis still doesn't have a date for the prom; Grandma is still feeling poorly?and I'm tired of praying for this family and not getting results." Admittedly, it would be discouraging to think that God doesn't answer our prayers.

But Elijah had no such doubts. If God is truly God, He will answer. And his confidence was well rewarded. Not only did God answer, but He answered in such a dramatic way that the people could no longer question who was really God. Even the things that don't normally burn, the stones and the dust, were consumed when God answered by fire (v. 38). In an unmistakable way, the Lord responded to Elijah's prayer.

The distinguishing mark of the Christian faith is that we have a living God who not only hears but answers our prayers. His ear and His heart are both attuned to our cry. His answers may not come at the time we want them, but they will come at the time when they will do the most good. He does not always answer in the way we expect, but He will always answer in the way that's best for us.

It's not always easy to trust God for the right answer at the right time, but it's always best. Our confident assurance is that if we ask according to His will, "we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:15).

Do not grow weary in your prayers. Seek to know God's will and then confidently pray for His response. The God who hears will also answer?at the right time and in the right way.

The prayer is up to us; the answer is up to God.

(from W. Kroll)

Faltering Between
Now Playing: Are we waiting to make the right decisions ?
Topic: Struggles
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:21
Faltering Between

1 Kings 18:21

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." But the people answered him not a word.

Faltering Between

A few years ago, USA Today carried the news that the Procrastinators Club was planning to form a political party, possibly in time for the November elections. "Our party will be the most harmonious of all the political parties," said club president Les Waas. "If we ever disagree on an issue, we'll never get around to discussing it." Waas, an expert at public speaking, said with tongue in cheek that the Procrastinator Party would like to hold its nominating convention by the first week in November. "If we don't get it done until the second week, we might ask the authorities to move the election back a couple of weeks to accommodate us."

The people of Elijah's day were procrastinators as well. The prophet confronted them with an important decision. Would they follow the Lord, or would they follow Baal? Their response to such an ultimatum, however, was to stall. They refused to answer.

Some things can be put off with no ultimate harm. If we don't get our strawberries planted this year, there's always next year. If we fail to get around to reading this year's best-sellers, a new list of them will be available in the future. But the same can't be said for our spiritual lives. The spiritual choices we fail to make will haunt us for eternity.

Are you procrastinating when it comes to reading your Bible? Have you put off spending time in prayer? Is it possible you have never gotten around to trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If so, stop "faltering" and start making the spiritual decisions that will make a difference for eternity. No one else can make these decisions for you. Make them today!

(from W. Kroll)

O Troubler
Now Playing: Are we blaming others when we should look at ourselves ?
Topic: Troubles
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:17-18
Is That You, O Troubler?

1 Kings 18:17-18

Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals."

Is That You, O Troubler?

A well-known professional golfer was playing in a tournament with then-president Gerald Ford, fellow pro Jack Nicklaus and Billy Graham. After the round was over, one of the other pros on the tour asked, "Hey, what was it like playing with the president and Billy Graham?" The pro said with disgust, "I don't need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!" With that he headed for the practice tee. His friend followed, and after the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, he asked, "Was Billy a little rough on you out there?" The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, "No, he didn't even mention religion."

Elijah found himself in the same situation. Without even opening his mouth, the prophet found himself accused by Ahab as a "troubler." The accusation was obviously false. It was Ahab who was Israel's true troubler. His sin and the sin of those who had gone before him were the cause of God's judgment on Israel. But it was easier for Ahab to place the blame for his uneasy conscience on someone else than to face the truth about himself.

The world is always looking for someone to blame, isn't it? And Christians are a convenient target. We Christians are different (which make us suspect to start with), and the witness of our lives can be very convicting even when we say nothing. No wonder Christians have borne the brunt of persecution from the time of Nero to the present.

Don't be surprised or dismayed if you are being persecuted, in whatever form it may take. Consider it a confirmation that Christ is obviously within you and radiating from you.

Jesus Christ is both a comfort for Christians and an irritation for the world.

When the Creek Dries Up
Now Playing: Are we trusting in God in our difficulties ?
Topic: Provision
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Devotion: Lessons On Living from Elijah
Scripture References:
1 Kings 17:6-7
When the Creek Dries Up

1 Kings 17:6-7

"The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land."

When the Creek Dries Up

John Brenz, a friend of Martin Luther, was hated by Emperor Charles V. He often tried to kill Brenz and on one occasion sent a troop of cavalrymen to arrest him. Hearing about the plot, Brenz took a loaf of bread and went to a nearby town, where he hid in a hayloft. He was there for 14 days. Obviously one loaf of bread was not enough for two weeks. But each day a hen came into the loft and laid an egg without cackling.

In this way the Lord kept John Brenz alive. On the 15th day the hen did not show up. It seemed like the one lifeline he had clung to had been severed. As he was wondering what he would do without food, John heard the people in the streets below say, "The cavalrymen are gone at last!"

Elijah also experienced what appeared to be the loss of an essential lifeline. God had sent him out into the wilderness and provided food through the ministry of ravens and water from a small creek. But then a difficult situation became worse. As the drought continued, the brook dried up. At first glance, it might seem that God no longer cared about what happened to His prophet. Instead, God chose to provide in a different way and graciously directed him to the home of a widow in the city of Zarephath (v. 9).

Perhaps you feel that your creek also has dried up. The friend who has been your source of refreshment in a spiritual desert has moved away. The person who has been your lifeline at work has taken a new job. Whatever the case, trust God to provide through another source. It may be far different from what met your need before, but remember, God will not fail you.

When God closes a door, He always opens a window.

(from W. Kroll)

Go and Tell
Now Playing: Are we sharing our faith with those nearby ?
Topic: Sharing the Word
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:7-8 Matthew 28:19-20
Go and Tell!

1 Kings 18:7-8

Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, "Is that you, my lord Elijah?" And he answered him, "It is I. Go, tell your master, 'Elijah is here.'"

Go and Tell!

Many years ago there was a great missionary rally held in the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The Duke of Wellington was there, the man who had defeated the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte. A clergyman turned to him and asked, "My Lord Duke, do you believe in missions?" The duke replied, "What are your marching orders?" The man responded, "Well, of course, the Bible says we're to go into all the world." "Then," said the duke, "you have nothing to say about it. As a soldier, you're simply to obey orders."

When Obadiah met Elijah, he, too, received marching orders. Elijah spoke as from the Lord when he said, "Go and tell." "Go to your master, Ahab, one of the most godless kings who ever ruled Israel, and tell him that the spokesman for God is back in the land." This was not a suggestion; it was not a recommendation; it was a command. Obadiah was afraid. He said, "Are you sending me to my death? If I go and tell Ahab you're here and you disappear on me, Ahab will kill me." But in spite of his fears, Obadiah obeyed.

When Christ met His disciples after the resurrection, He gave the same orders. Go! "Go therefore and make disciples" (Matt. 28:19). Tell! "Teaching them to observe all things" (v. 20). These, too, are not open for discussion. We may have our fears, but Christ's commands are our marching orders.

Are you willing to "go and tell"? Perhaps it's "go and tell" your next-door neighbor, or someone at work or maybe even someone who lives halfway around the world. Whatever the case, obedience to the Lord is the only way to handle your fears. When we trust and obey, God has a way of taking care of our fears. Our orders are clear: Go and tell!

(from W. Kroll)

Fervent Prayer
Now Playing: How often do we look to the Lord in prayer ?
Topic: Prayer
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:20-22 James 5:16-17
Fervent Prayer

1 Kings 17:20-22

"Then he cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?" And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived."

Fervent Prayer

E. M. Bounds wrote, "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit can use?men of prayer, men mighty in prayer."

Elijah was such a man. When faced with a major crisis?the death of a young boy, the only child of a widow who had shown him much kindness?he immediately resorted to the most potent power he knew: prayer. Without hesitation, he cast himself upon the mercy of God and cried out for His grace to be extended to this young man and his widowed mother. With passion Elijah entreated the Lord, and He answered. It is no surprise, then, that when the apostle James looked for an example of fervent prayer, he chose Elijah (James 5:16-17). The prophet was a man mighty in prayer because he was fervent in prayer.

Too often Christians petition God with room-temperature prayers. They convey the facts, but they lack the fervor. They are sincere, but they don't sizzle. The same men and women who yell themselves hoarse at a sporting event become reluctant to raise their voice when speaking to God. Yet they expect an enthusiastic response from God to their halfhearted requests.

Find a time and place today where you can pour out your heart to God. Don't fake your emotions, but pray for those needs that have a strong grip on your spirit. If you have none, ask God to give you some. Let your approach to God reflect the urgency and the ardor of your concerns.

(from W. Kroll)