GATHER AROUND

Today is Wednesday and it is overcast.  It has rained and will continue to do so.  Tonight I get to share another Name of God to our people and explain it's meaning and significance.  I'm excited about doing that.  Today, I have a truth from I Kings 18.  I call it:

GATHER AROUND--On Mt. Carmal, the show down was between the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 1 prophet of God, Elijah.  Elijah through the gantlet down when he challenged them to this showdown in I Kings chapter 18.  Having gathered all of the people together he said in verse 23, 24:  "Let them therefore giveus two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:  and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: (vs. 24)  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.  And all of the people answered and said, It is well spoken."   Now the false prophets spent from morning till the evening sacrifice time to call on Baal with no results.  Then in verse 30, "And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me...."   (Gather Around) Now, herein lies the thought:  Elijah said for the people to come close in around him to:  a. See it- Watch him set up the altar, the wood, and the sacrifice.  (he wanted eye witnesses!) ; b. Wet it- Twelve barrels of water to thoroughly wet everything having anything to do with the sacrifice and a trench of water around it as well.;  c. Hear it- Elijah wanted them close to hear his simple prayer to God; d. Experience it- To be there when the fire fell.  They were up close and could feel the fire strike the earth and lap up the sacrifice, the stones, the water, the wood, and the dust!  Wow!  They were close enough that they knew it was real!  They experienced it!;  and then finally, e. Do it- They were then told what to do with the false prophets... and they did! 
    We need to get close enough to what God is doing to be a witness to all that God is doing in us, and around us.  Have a blessed day!

Pastor Mike Mutchler