He Is Not Done With You, Part 2of2, Evans Olang

1Kings 19:1-3, “1… And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life…”

If you are ever going to do anything for the Lord, be sure that the spirit of Jezebel will show up when you have done what you need to do. The spirit of Jezebel always brings fear, threats and is out to steal your faith and confidence in God. If Elijah called on God to answer by fire and He did, couldn’t he have believed God for fire to defend him from Jezebel?

He Is Not Done With You, Part 1of2, Evans Olang

1Kings 19:1-3, “.. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life…”

Elijah’s encountering with the prophets of Baal is a very interesting story in the fact that he was so zealous for the Lord. He challenged the prophets of Baal as one man to prove to them all who the real God was. In other words, 1 man against 450 prophets of Baal. They were all prophets only that one was a true prophet of God and someone had to challenge the theology of the rest.

The Depressed Need Deep Rest, Evans Olang

1Kings 19:1-10, “2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, … 4 … And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

One area I have noticed that cripple believers is the area of depression, of course this is something that plagues mankind. I see many on medication to suppress or treat depression. Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us have felt this way at one time or another for short or longer periods of time. True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer. For this reason I think it is one major cause for suicide.

When Ambitions Cloud Your Judgment, Part 2of2, Evans Olang

1Kings 21:1-21, vs. “15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16 So it was, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite”.

In reading this story, something that might have started very small and very innocent snow balled to something big because of Ahab’s ambition that clouded his judgment, to the extent that he would not restrain his wife from doing wicked. Then his next actions after what happened indicates he approved what was done.

Abigail, Blessed Are You, Part 1of4, Evans Olang

1Samuel 25:2-42, “Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself”

A question often asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” (of course there is no one good by biblical definition). I have one of my own, “Why do some nice people find themselves in what I would call bad marriages?”.

Abigail, Blessed Are You, Part 2of4, Evans Olang

1Samuel 25:2-42, “Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself”

What do you do when someone else mistakes is destined to affect you? Should you sit and wait for it or do something when there is still an opportunity? I’ve learned as I hope you too have learned, It’s not over until it’s over.

Abigail, Blessed Are You, Part 3of4, Evans Olang

1Samuel 25:2-42, “Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself”

It’s interesting to note that God used this woman at a time she needed help the most. Have you realized how sometimes the Lord sends people your way who need your encouragement at the time you are very discouraged and need encouragement yourself?

Abigail, Blessed Are You, Part 4of4, Evans Olang

1Samuel 25:2-42, “Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself”

As we have seen already, God knew this virtuous woman’s her dilemma and would not leave her in it forever.