May 4, 2015
My FRIENDS ARE WE UNIQUELY DIFFERENT OR HAVE WE CONFORMED?
In 1 Kings 18 (NKJV) Elijah did not allow outside influences to define who he was as he stood in the presence of Ahab the king of Israel. Elijah had faith in what his God would do, and did do. He was uniquely different because his faith was still centered around God and what He was capably of doing through him. Everyone, even Israel felt that Jehovah was dead or was no longer available for request.
But for Elijah the Creator of the universe, the “I Am who I Am, defined who He was and what direction he was going to take to get there. Elijah through God, had a purpose and that purpose was that everyone might know that God defined him. God was on trial on the mount of Carmel, and no one except Elijah knew that God was still all knowing, all powerful and Omnipresence.
If you have never read 1 Kings 18 (KJV) I pray that you read it and understand this same God has not taken a long nap for the last 3000 years, 
but He lives and “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Is 40:29 (NIV) When Israel witness the power of God and understood what he was willing to do, if they believed, “they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
My friends what will it take for you to give it all to the Master, or “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal [or the god of this world], follow him.” And when do you realize, that God, because of His grace and love for each of us, stands at the door of our heart and knocks.
In addition, how far do we have to be removed from the presence of God before we fall on our knees in heartfelt contrition and cry out “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” please, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Ps. 51:2 (NASB) My friends as we travel this journey God has placed us on, do we allow the world to define us because our character is not uniquely different.
Consistent with this, when we go to work or talk with our friends, can we describe as much, or more about the latest episode of Empire, or the latest gossip as they can. Paul tells us in Eph. 2:10 (KJV) We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
That text tells me as God’s chosen we are His Ambassadors, which God prepared beforehand, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that [we] may proclaim the excellences of him who called [His chosen] out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Peter 2:9 (KJV)
But how can we proclaim God if we are no different than the world in how we live our life. My friends the world can define us if we are not defining who we are through God and this can only be done if our character is uniquely different from the world. “and not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 (KJV) as we spread the good news of Christ soon return.
So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY
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