Follow Along with the Message

450 to 1

Pastor Tom Lundeen

450 to 1 odds mean % chance of winning.

In our series we’re learning what it means to stand for God and His truth and embrace His  when everyone and everything around us is standing for anything and everything else but God and His truth.

I think a lot of us as Jesus followers look at what’s happening around our world today in 2022 where there is so much anger, division, , violence, disillusionment, and hopelessness that we feel like the odds are against us are 1 to 450.

But Elijah will demonstrate why the odds are never  for God and for everyone who follows and trusts Him.

 1. All  are not Simply Different Paths to the Same God

In Elijah’s day, the people of Israel were trying to  their faith in the one true God (Yahweh), with the gods of the surrounding nations, especially:

•  = god of fertility and storms (rain!).
•  = consort of Baal, goddess of fertility and motherhood.

Note 1 Kings 18:19

It’s not a coincidence that God commands Elijah to proclaim a drought (3 ½ years long!) in direct opposition to the  god of thunder/rain/storms.

Note 1 Kings 18:16-24

Note John 14:6

2. You Can Be  But Be Sincerely Wrong

The prophets of Baal had a  of some kind (note 1 Kings 18:25-29a).

 faith isn’t really important.

It’s the  of faith that is the most important thing. (D. Jeremiah)

I can sincerely believe something that isn’t real, , right, good, or eternal.

I can be passionately misguided, misinformed, and embrace  of just about any kind (note 1 Kings 18:29b).

3. What You Choose to Believe and Pursue has  

 chooses to believe and pursue some direction in life.

And the reality is, whatever we choose to believe and pursue in our life takes us , both in this life and eternity.

Note 1 Kings 18:27, 30-35

In stark contrast to the all day shouting, , self-flagellation, and desperate prayers of the prophets of Baal, Elijah offers a short (60 word) simple prayer which shows his  in who he chose to believe and pursue (note 1 Kings 18:36-37).

Note 1 Kings 18:38-39

God takes what we believe and pursue seriously, and truth matters because God is truth, and the source of all falsehood/lies/untruth is our spiritual  (note John 8:44; Deuteronomy 13:13-18; 17:2-5; 1 Kings 18:40).

So who’s got this in your life?:

• Note 1 Kings 18:21—hesitate...try to have things both ways...go ...sit on the fence…
• What you choose to believe about  will take you somewhere.
• How long will you waver, hesitate, limp along, try to have things both your way while giving God’s way ?

Tell someone about the next step you took today in your spiritual journey!

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