18 THE LORD IS NEAR to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145
When Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel, he mocked them as they tried to make contact with their gods.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, AS WAS THEIR CUSTOM, UNTIL THEIR BLOOD FLOWED. 1 Kings 18
Elijah had challenged these false prophets before Israel to prove who was the true God in Israel. They did everything they knew to invoke their gods to show up and demonstrate their power to the people, but nothing worked for them. When it came Elijah’s turn, at the time of the evening sacrifice, he simply called in Faith on the Name of the true God;
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 1 Kings 18
God doesn’t want people dancing around frantically and fanatically crying out to Him, nor does He need our blood shed to appease His anger. Elijah had obeyed God and He quickly confirmed before all the people that He was the living God. WE SERVE A GOD WHO IS NEAR, AS THE PSALMIST SAID but worshippers in the occult are still doing these things to this very day. We are seeing the same age old conflict , with some new twists, still being fought out for who will rule the hearts of mankind. God used one faithful prophet to destroy the strongholds of the enemy in Israel and I believe He is using His many faithful ones to bring in a new era across the world.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity. Psalm 37
May the Lord Almighty bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.