Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1947-05-10

lord. hear me, that this peoPie nay
know that thou art the Lore Ioa' az
that thou hast turned their neai' oaS"
again. Kings 1887.
God meets the challenge OF un-
belief and sin through the ages IN
its different forms. In the days Oh
elijah It was the awful power OF
the false religion Of Baal wnicn
threw its pail of heathenish I'M
morality over the people. j.
The prophet was Gods man .,
courage In a day Of unoene1 anu
elm To be courageous means 10
steadily meet perils OF which one y
deeplv conscious, doing SO because
of the call of duty. Courage noios
9 deeper and nobler meaning tnan
bravery, carrying with 1t the ioea
of moral strength and, in the case
NJ the Christian, faith in God as one
devoted to his cause. -,
The account of the conflict WIN
the prophets of Baal on NOUN
Carmel is a dramatic and nstruc-
tive story II shows that when Goa s
man meets Gods enemy there is an
onen. above-board, honest victory.
L Nothing Hidden (vv. 2o-2l, 3W.
The appeal to Israel cut no cor
ners and made no compromises
They must choose between the true
Cod and the false Baal. They couio
not hold to both or halt between TWO
oninions. The same is true today OF
our relationship to Jesus Christ.
The direct challenge at Mount
Carmel follows the same pattern
of out-in-the-open dealing with the
problem. :,
Men whose deeds are evil love
darkness rather than light. Coo
does not have to work in the dark.
All Of his workings are in the open
sunlight. Everyone is welcome 10
"come near and see what Is done.
Elijah knew God and he acted
HE Gods man. What tragedy II
&c that not all of Gods servants
have followed his example. II we
had the open and above-board deal
ings of Elijah in the affairs OF our
churches, we might see more OF the
fire and power of his ministry.
Certain it is that the adnlnistra-
ton of church affairs which has to
be carried out in hidden corners by
whispered conversations and by
secret manipulations behind the
scenes is not Gods work at all, II Is
the work of man.
III. No Favors Asked (vv. 33-30.
Elijah rebuilt the altar himself
He asked no help of the unbelievlng
prophets of Baal or OF apostate
Israel. How old-fashioned he seems
in this day when so much stress Is
laid on a false unity Of the faiths.
and there is so much solicitation
and acceptance by the church OF
the help of unbelievers In financing
the supposed work OF God.
Note also that Elijah invited his
enemies to make the answer to his
prayer more difficult by pouring
water on the sacrifice. This was not
an act of bravado; it was for the
purpose Of demonstrating that there
was no fraud. He was willing that
the enemies Of the truth should make
the demonstration more difficult II
that would be to Gods glory.
There is a delightful old-fashioned
flavor about that act, too, In these
days when men are frequently will
ing to compromise with unbelief
and even with sin, in order that the
work of the church may be carried
on without too much difficulty. Here
again we have an explanation OF
the lack Of spiritual power In our
times.
The victory which came was
glorious testimony to the living
reality and the infinite power OF
God. It left
iii. No Glory to Man (vv. 3ob-S2.
$500.
A man of bravery usually wants
recognition for himself, while the
courageous man asks only that the
cause for which he fights shall be
successful.
Elijah had long since demon
strated that he was absolutely fear
less, and sought no favor or glory
(read the entire story. Now In the
tenseness of this moment, he care
fully rebuilds the altar Of the true
God ". 800, makes 1t a testimony OF
unity to a divided Israel ". 3D,
and he does 1t all In the name OF
the Lord ". 32).
His prayer WV. SO, BID Is pro-
foundly simple expression OF a COM
pIete faith in the true God and his
power, on the part Of man who
recognized himself as being only
the divine servant. He made no
plea that God would vindicate him
or his ministry, but he did plead
that the name of the Lord should
be honored in the midst of an un-
believing people
'eThe fire of the Lord FELL" The
lying prophets Of heathendom were
routed. Many recognized Jehovah
as the true God. While Israel did
not long remember the lesson
learned here, the story has con-
tinued as a testimony that viii
strengthen the people Of God as
long as time continues.