07/11/2022 - OPPOSING ATTITUDES

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So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 1 Kings 18.42

The natural man thinks only of the things of the flesh, which give pleasure, and not of the eternal things (1 Corinthians 2.14). How can he live forever? Ahab was this kind of person. Although he was a descendant of Jacob, this king’s soul did not possess heavenly wisdom, so he did not serve God. He saw the boldness and faith of the prophet Elijah when he faced the 850 prophets of the devil, as well as the answer from the Most High to the prayer of the man of God. However, this did not interest him. Many people today live like Ahab.

Those who don’t care about eternal life are in the hands of the enemy. Some allow themselves to be dominated by the demon of lies and other deviations of the flesh, even though they have seen the Lord at work. Why are there children of God in the highest position a man can attain – the ministry of the Holy Word – living the opposite of what the Scriptures teach? That is difficult to answer.

Because he witnessed God using Elijah to work His signs, Ahab should have repented and turned back to the Lord, but this never crossed his heart. The prophet said that he should get up, because he was discouraged by what he saw: his prophets ashamed and dead, and nothing could be done. Sold to sin, the king thought only of the things of the flesh, leading him to eat and drink.

Now, that was a moment of decision. The king had seen the deeds of the Most High and would no longer be accepted as innocent before the Lord. However, he was not even aware of what had really happened. The proof of his repentance would be a request to pray together with the prophet for the much awaited rain. From that moment on, he would restore in Israel the pure and perfect faith in the God that Jeroboam, the first king of the North, despised in order to love Baal.

How many people are reading this message and have despised the Lord! Some are very far from Heaven, living in crime every day. This is serious! They will not ascend to the Home at Jesus’ return, but will descend into the abyss. The sign that they are in the devil’s hands is the number of times they intended to confess their sins, but then found “reasons” to continue in them. The devil and his demons are their masters!

While Elijah bowed and cried out for rain, the king was feasting. Many who call themselves servants of God act in the same way. While the devil’s works destroy lives and even their families, they indulge in all kinds of transgression. They are like the covetous Lot, who preached against the errors of Sodom, but did not recover even one lost. Abraham’s nephew was saved because of his uncle (Genesis 14.12-16).

Salvation is individual. No one who acts against the determinations of God’s Word will ascend to Heaven at Jesus’ return; so, repent of your iniquities and the reasons that make you live away from God. You should occupy the place prepared by your heavenly Father. Be wise! Say no to the devil and come back to the Lord. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough (1 Corinthians 5:6).

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares