There are moments in the Christian life that play very definitely on our security.  I can think of dozens of moments in my life personally that have almost paralyzed me with the reality that the control of a situation has left my hands.  I am a huge fan of the late Oswald Chambers.  One quote that we recite often in our house by him states, “God works when we get to the limit of the possible.”

I don’t know what that looks like to you today....but I do know that if you have been a Christian for any length of time there has been a time when God asks you to stretch your faith muscle.

Recently, I have been faced with just such a situation.  Knowing in my spirit the definite direction that God has ask me to proceed with my life, I found myself faced with a choice.  I can move forward with the task at hand, risking almost all fears, or I can save face and retreat.  

I sat there with sweaty palms.  My heart beating rapidly, knowing what I must do.  The conversation lingered.  Failure was a possibility, but obedience on my part sustained me.  When the opportunity arose, I responded bold on the outside, shaking on the inside.  I waited.....and GOD DID NOT DISAPPOINT.  Against all odds, He blessed.

A couple of days after this event, God brought me back to a passage of scripture that I haven’t visited in some time.  Elijah is such an inspiring personality in scripture.  He spoke with such authority in scripture.  The pastors I admire most today, ALWAYS speak with authority of The Powerful God.  Elijah was just such a guy.

In 1Kings 18, Elijah wanted to show the idol hungry nation of Israel the power of God up on Mount Carmel.  So he decided to test the power of the idol Baal, and God.  Baal’s 450 prophets did their thing, and failed.  Elijah built an alter to the Lord, and said this:

1 Kings 18:36b

O Lord the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, TODAY LET IT BE KNOWN THAT YOU ARE GOD IN ISRAEL AND THAT I AM YOUR SERVANT AND I HAVE DONE ALL THESE THINGS AT YOUR WORD.

37

Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God and that You have turned their heart back again.

38

The the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39

When all the people saw it, THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES; AND THEY SAID, “THE LORD, HE IS GOD; THE LORD, HE IS GOD.”

Elijah had an assignment from the Lord.  He was the prophet and God used him to show the entire nation of Israel once again that God is the Almighty.  Elijah, could have chosen NOT to do this task that God called Him to do, but he went forward in full obedience.  Because of his bold stand for Christ, he saw a nation repent.

What if he didn’t have the faith to act?  Clearly, he would not have tasted the power of the Almighty.  Elijah was not confident in himself, He was confident in his God.  Nothing pleases God like His children exercising their faith (Hebrews 11:6).  Elijah boldly stated, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT YOU ARE GOD IN ISRAEL. And folks, He let Israel know.

I think of you today....faith is hard sometimes.  It plays on your every insecurity, and often times we, as humans, have talked ourself out of the task God requested, and therefore forfeit the blessing.

Let me challenge you today, stop placing your eyes on the task at hand, but rather focus on the God that gave it to you.  When your focus is Him, the task doesn’t seem so crazy!