1 JOHN 5: 14 – 15: This is the confidence which we have before Him that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
In 1Kgs. 18:24 Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal, “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire–he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good” (NIV). When you consider this challenge from Elijah, you would observe one very important lesson, which is that we must know the God that we serve and have confidence in Him. Elijah showed in this challenge that he knows the ability of his God and has unshaken confidence in the ability of his God. The same kind of absolute confidence in God is shown in the account of the Hebrew children recorded in Dan. 3:17 “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand (NIV).
In each of these 2 examples that we have seen, there is something that is common to them. One is the fact that they both showed to their challenger and the audience that they know their God, and were ready to put their lives on the line to defend their God. Through their faith and confidence, God’s glory was made manifest through their exploits. Their exploits confirms what the bible says in Dan.11:32bthat “but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (KJV).
Secondly, we also see in these passages people that have confidence in their God. This is similar to what we read in 1 John 5: 14, where Apostle John was categorical about his confidence about our prayer answering God.
Expectedly, in each of the 2 examples, the people were not disappointed. God showed up for their faith. The Lord answered without delay and the enemies that challenged the God of Elijah and Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were put to shame. I pray that everyone, who doubted your God, the God of the heaven and earth in your life, would be put to shame when you share your testimony in Jesus name. However, you must proof to God by exercising your faith that you know Him and believe in Him.
My dear reader, we need to get to the level of knowing the God that we serve if we want to see the demonstration of the fullness of his power in our situation and circumstances. Is there anything, situation and circumstance that is challenging your faith? Are there prayers that are awaiting God’s answer? Are you weary? Today, I have good news for you. The God of Elijah, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, is the same God described in Heb. 13: 8 as the same yesterday, today and forever. Believe Him, Confess Him and Profess Him and your testimony would be resound in Jesus name.
Shalom.
Dr. Yinka Okude
Pastor-in-Charge
RCCG Jesus Sanctuary, Northampton
HYMN: O WORSHIP THE KIN
