JOLLAM BANDA

Greed is the modern day idolatry. Greed is idolatry because when it gets into someone it takes him or her away from God in terms of devotion, reliance, time and worship. Anything a pesron supremely desire and covet is his or her god which is idolatry. Jesus teaches us to love one another and anyone who doesn’t love is not a disciple of Jesus Christ. Greed keeps us from loving others. Covetousness is the root of all sin, because it is a selfish desire. Adam and Eve sinned through covetousness. They craved for themselves what God had not given them. The same discontentment infects the human race today.

Kings, politicians, leaders and parents are responsible and answerable when they lead those under them into sin. A good example are parents at home. If they lead their children into sin they are responsible and answerable to God, from who whom they get their leadership positions and authority. It is appropriate that leaders be held to higher moral standard than others because they lead and others follow. Leaders ought to be exemplary to subordinates.

We are commanded by God to not let sin reign in our bodies, obeying its lusts, but instead we are to present ourselves to Him as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:12–14). We are further told in Romans 6:16-18 that we are slaves to the one we obey, either of obedience to sin or of obedience to righteousness. We are to be enslaved to God from whom we receive our gifts of sanctification and eternal life. The danger of giving ourselves over to sin is that we become slaves to sin and the devil and the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes King Ahab was actually bitter and angry that Naboth could not sell his land, an ancestral inheritance, to him to the extent of laying down on his bed, grumbled, and not wanting to eat. Jezebel writes out orders and signs Ahab’s name to them, and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders to the leaders and to the nobles who lived in Naboth’s city that they observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people, and seat two villains opposite him and have them testify that Naboth cursed God and the king, and then take him out and stone him to death. Yes, Ahab is responsible for Jezebels corrupt actions to obtain Naboth’s vineyard because he lets her use his name and authority to have Naboth falsely accused and then murdered. The elders are also responsible for taking part in facilitating false accusations against Naboth leading to his death.

King Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard because he wanted to make a vegetable garden out of it since it was adjacent to his ppalace. King Ahab’s proposal was long because it is covetous. Moreover God forbade the people of Israel to sell ancestral inheritance including land and it’s on this basis that Naboth refused to sell his vineyard.

Israel were God’s chosen people and He was available to be them all the time including in impossible situations. God reduced Gideon’s army down to 300 men for Israel not to think that he defeated the enemy because of a large army but rather it was god who defeated Israel’s enemy. King Ben Hadad relied on his big army which was nothing to the almighty God. There are a number of impossible situations in my daily life and as a person I do not have solutions to them but God the almighty is the answer to all my impossible situations

Israel were God’s chosen people. When the Syrians headed by Kind Ben Hadad with their great army surrounded Israel they were very afraid to the point of King Ahab surrendering his my wives, sons, silver, and gold. God wanted to show the corrupt king Ahab and Israel that he cares and loves Israel and He is the mighty and most powerful God whom Israel should rely upon even when it comes external attacks including from the pagan King Ben Hadad. Verse 13 shows that God is the almighty and a huge army is nothing to him. Ahab still has faith in God but the wicked Jezebel has led him astray.

A parent’s rebuke is difficult for a child to listen to because the child due to lack of knowledge, wisdom and experience always thinks he is right. God’s rebuke is difficult for us to listen because we do not know beforehand the good things God has prepared for us. A loving but sharp rebuke helps our children by making them behave rightly. God’s rebuke helps us to come back from astray and walk in his paths. It is good to embrace God’s rebuke because he always has the best for us and I would obediently embrace his rebuke.

God is able to speak to us in words that we will hear. At times he does speak to us in the thunder and earthquake and fire. At other times he speaks to us as he did Elijah. In his weakness, anything more than a gentle God would have been too much for Elijah to bear. There are times when the glory of God is too much for any human being to take. His power is a terrible reality, and sometimes we simply want to know that he is our friend. This is what God revealed to Elijah. God’s voice comforted and renewed Elijah’s spirits and morale and encouraged him to move on serving God. It is easy to miss God when his voice is gentle and quite because we are used to the almighty God speaking to us in the thunder and earthquake and fire.

Self-pity will keeps us trapped in an unhealthy cycle of negative thoughts, uncomfortable feelings, and inactivity. It takes away the mental strength to approach challenges at ones best. Self-pity is a form of selfishness. It makes us less aware of the needs and suffering of others. Our own suffering is all we think or care about.

Elijah is at fault for being depressed because he fears Jezebel so much than rely on the protection and strength of the almighty God from the persecution of Jezebel. Fault is not the right word but rather out of order. Elijah is frustrated and feels lonely. Nonetheless God is still with Elijah and gives him food and water to eat and keep him strong. I encourage friends suffering from deep depression to move on with life by relying on the Lord our God, our provider and our keeper.

It is important to put away the things that facilitate and tempt us back into old life of sin to avoid sliding and going back into them. A clear break with evil breaks the linkage and the danger of not making a clear break with is sliding back.

Elijah has a ministry of calling for true repentance because he is praying to God that He turns the hearts of the people of Israel back to Him again. This was fulfilled by John the Baptists, before the arrival of Jesus Christ, who called the people of Israel to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. This is an important ministry for pastors and evangelists because they have to preach to people of repentance and come back to gain through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rebuilding the altar shows Israel the true worship of God but more importantly a new start of life in worshipping the true God, a new beginning and a new lease of life in worshipping God. In my worshipping life practices, there is need to dedicate more time to worshipping God and living the word of God. My church as well needs to practice and live the word of God. Laziness though simple is deadly and can destroy and prevents worshipping God dedicatedly. I will try as much as possible with the help of the Holy Spirit to give more time and energy to worshipping God.

Syncretism is dangerous because no one serves two masters at same time. God commands us his people not to have any other god besides Him. Anything consuming more time, focus and commitment away from God such spending more time on social media, sports, work and money generating activities, mere laziness, and computer games and leisure are new forms of worshipping other gods. This is the right time to take a bold decision and choose God and abandon syncretism.

We learned that Obadiah believes and fears God and is very worried with the presence of Elijah’s who is being badly sought by King Ahab and more worrisomely by Jezebel, the Kings wife who wants to avenge the killing of the prophets of Baal. Obadiah’s fear and reverence of God is shown by the risk taken by him in hiding Gods prophets in two caves from Jezebel persecution and he fears for the life of Elijah as well. Obadiah’s faith and courage in God are very strong. Am greatly motivated by Obadiah’s faith and courage and would do the same if in a similar situation with the help of God's spirit.

God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. If God sent someone to you to provide for, I would respond positively and gladly receive the provision with thanks and gratitude.

Common sense plays an important role in our lives. It helps us to do what is right, just and fair. It gives us knowledge and wisdom for a disciplined and prudent life. But most importantly the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The Lord is sovereign and does according to his wish and has the ability to work miracles outside the natural order

Q2. (1 Kings 17:2-6) What does God feeding Elijah by ravens tell us about God? What does eating food sent by ravens tell us about Elijah? What do we learn about God's provision for us when we obey him? God feeding Elijah by ravens tells us that God is a provider of all our needs. God can use any creature and person, some out of our imagination and expectation, to deliver his provisions to us. In this case, God uses ravens, usually treated as unclean to feed Elijah. The eating of food sent by ravens tells us that Elijah was an obedient person to God’s command and directives. Even though ravens are treated us unclean, Elijah accepted the food delivered by the ravens. The main lesson about God’s provision is that God provides all our needs when we obey his commands and trust in Him for all our needs.

It takes GREAT courage for Prophet Elijah to go before King Ahab and declaring drought. In so doing he risks his life because declaration of drought over Israel threatens its food security and therefore the life and survival of its people. Moreover this declaration undermines the authority of King Ahab who is tolerating and promoting the worshipping of false gods of baal who can’t solve the drought challenge.