Aug 27, 2017
The
Authority of the Message
1 Kings 17:1
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead,
said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand,
there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
King Ahab's first thought after
encountering the prophet Elijah may well have been, Of
all the nerve! Just who does this guy think he is? Bursting onto the
scene out of nowhere, Elijah confronted Israel's wicked king with a message
that would soon disrupt life throughout the entire region.
The validity of the revelation
rested with the Source, not the mouthpiece. Elijah was a man of great faith who
believed what God told him; he could boldly speak with authority because he
knew and trusted the One who gave the message. He spent time alone with the
Lord and listened as he stood before Him.
Our Father doesn't speak to us in
exactly the same manner that He spoke to the Old Testament prophets, but the
process of receiving His message hasn't changed. It begins with being alone in
His presence and involves listening as He speaks through His Word. But it
shouldn't end there.
Prophets had the responsibility of
telling the people what the Lord revealed to them. Similarly, we are to share
with others what we learn from God's Word. Devotional time with the Lord is not
just about our own interests and needs. The Father reveals His treasures to us
so that we can share them with others.
Begin each day alone with God in
His Word and in prayer, listening as He speaks to your heart. Believe what He
says in Scripture, apply it to your life, and then share with someone else what
He has revealed. Be bold and remember that the authority of your message comes
from Him.