Done with Double-mindedness
The title has two connotations. First, this is the last blog entry regarding double-mindedness. (Some of you may be cheering!) Second, and more significant, the whole point of this series on double-mindedness is to be done with it. To stop being double-minded, to purify our hearts and be totalled devoted to God. To encourage us towards this end, we are going to consider the show down at Mount Carmel between Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, and 450 prophets of Baal. The whole story can be found in 1 Kings 18 .
Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, tells Ahab, the king of Israel who is a worshipper of Baal that there will be no dew or rain for 3 years. He then took off and hid. (see 1 Kings 17). Now it's the third year and Elijah comes to confront Ahab and proposes the meeting of all Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-19)
When they had gathered, "Elijah went before the people and said,
"How long will you waver between two opinions? (Double-mindedness)
If the LORD is God, follow him;
but if Baal is God, follow him." (Make up your mind.)
But the people said nothing." (Speechless - as we often are when confronted.)
(1 Kings 18:21)
The prophets of Baal go first. They set up their sacrifice and plead to their god, but there is no answer. Finally they give up and Elijah calls everyone to himself, repairs the altar of the LORD with 12 stones, and sets up the bull and wood and has it drenched with water 3 times. Then he prays:
"Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you,
LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." (1 Kings 18:37)
Then the fire fell from heaven..... and the people fell on their faces... crying out,
"The LORD - He is God, the LORD - He is God." (1 Kings 18:39)
And that is where I want to leave us in our discussion of double-mindedness. Whatever the struggle, whatever the underlying cause, we will become single-minded when we know/believe, "The LORD - He is God!" and then worship Him with the devotion He is worthy of.
Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, tells Ahab, the king of Israel who is a worshipper of Baal that there will be no dew or rain for 3 years. He then took off and hid. (see 1 Kings 17). Now it's the third year and Elijah comes to confront Ahab and proposes the meeting of all Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-19)
When they had gathered, "Elijah went before the people and said,
"How long will you waver between two opinions? (Double-mindedness)
If the LORD is God, follow him;
but if Baal is God, follow him." (Make up your mind.)
But the people said nothing." (Speechless - as we often are when confronted.)
(1 Kings 18:21)
The prophets of Baal go first. They set up their sacrifice and plead to their god, but there is no answer. Finally they give up and Elijah calls everyone to himself, repairs the altar of the LORD with 12 stones, and sets up the bull and wood and has it drenched with water 3 times. Then he prays:
"Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you,
LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." (1 Kings 18:37)
Then the fire fell from heaven..... and the people fell on their faces... crying out,
"The LORD - He is God, the LORD - He is God." (1 Kings 18:39)
And that is where I want to leave us in our discussion of double-mindedness. Whatever the struggle, whatever the underlying cause, we will become single-minded when we know/believe, "The LORD - He is God!" and then worship Him with the devotion He is worthy of.
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