27 If the Lord Be God, Follow Him
If the Lord Be God, Follow Him
If the Lord Be God, Follow Him
How can I stay connected with the Lord and with the
covenants we’ve made with each other, even when there is much division around
me?
Elijah was a prophet at such a time, when there was division
and wickedness, but the Lord still showed miracles through him because of his
faithfulness and the faithfulness of others.
1 Kings
19:12 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not
in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Can you hear the Lord’s voice and see His hand revealed in
the circumstances around you? He is there for us. He will reveal Himself to us.
Christlike leaders serve the people they lead.
1 Kings
12:1–20
1 Kings
12:1–14 Rehoboam was a naughty ruler. He should have trusted in the wise
men of age and learning that gave him good counsel; instead he hearkened unto
the young men, who were not wise and were haughty and greedy for quick power.
Look for Christlike attributes that can help us in decisions
that we make in in positions of authority we may hold.
verse 7
If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve
them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy
servants for ever.
Gain people’s trust by serving them and listening to them. If they know they
are important to you, they will listen to the truths you’d like to share with
them.
Matthew
20:25–28 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and
said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and
they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among
you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to
be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life
a ransom for many.
Love your fellowmen. Practice living the Lord’s law of love,
for Him and for your neighbor.
Mosiah
2:10–21 17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may
learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in
the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the
service of your God.
18 Behold, ye have called me your king; and if
I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye
to labor to serve one another?
19 And behold also, if I, whom ye call your
king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service
of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your
heavenly King!
An invitation to sacrifice is an opportunity to exercise
my faith in Jesus Christ.
1 Kings
17:8–16; 19:19–21
Are you willing to give the last of what you have to a
servant of the Lord? Are you willing to give from your own wants to supply the
physical or spiritual need of a brother or sister?
The story of Elijah’s request for the widow to feed him
before eating her last meal with her son is a story of faith and purpose. Will
you trust God in these last days with faith, knowing that He will provide for
you, lengthen out His Arm, and save and succor you?
For
the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices
1 Kings
19:19–21 Elisha the son of Japhat is called to follow Elijah. Elijah tosses
his mantel on Elisha, and he is ready and willing to follow the prophet. First,
he has a farewell dinner with his family.
1 Kings
17:8–16 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do
as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto
me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the Lord God of
Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil
fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon
the earth.
15 And she went and did according to
the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted
not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord,
which he spake by Elijah.
Remember when you feel tired and incapable of doing more
service or getting out of your on shell, that the Lord feeds you when you feed
his children. Whenever you serve, you are served by the Spirit. It happens
every time. So ignore your fears, ignore the temptation to not pray or to not
try or push forward. Be steady in prayer and in faith and in purpose.
19:19–21
and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah,
and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I
will follow thee.
Make what preparations you need to make, but get to the
temple, and get to the sisters who need your ministering.
Matthew
4:18–22; 6:25–33; Luke
4:24–26
Video: Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-03-0071-elijah-and-the-widow-of-zarephath?lang=eng
“If the Lord be God, follow him.”
1 Kings 18
Do we ever worship gods like Baal, when we are desperate for
something to work for us? These people desperately wanted rain. I think we need
to search our hearts and change our behaviors, so that we trust the true and
living God at all times and in all things, instead of perverting His ways.
Pray for forgiveness for the times you’ve leaned unto your
own understanding and abandoned the Lord’s clear paths.
The Lord often speaks in quiet, simple ways.
1 Kings
19:1–18
Our commission to follow the Lord might at times present
difficulties and dangers for us. But we can be assured of His presence and His
compassion for us at all times, no matter the climate, the unrest, or the
chaos.
1 Kings
19:1–18 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount
before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great
and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before
the Lord; but the Lord was not in
the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not
in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not
in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Even when we feel spent and may wish for death, the Lord can
restore us and give us hope, unto the power of deliverance from our own fears
that hold us captive. Like the Lord fed Elijah, He will feed us as we seek to
follow Him and do his will. Remember that you can always recognize that the
Lord is at the helm and with you in your troubles through the Still Small
Voice.
Remember the times that the Lord has spoken to you. Did He
not speak peace unto you?
Helaman
5:30 30 And it came to pass when they heard this voice,
and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a
great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect
mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—
Doctrine
and Covenants 6:22–23 22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you
desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me
in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these
things.
23 Did I not speak peace to your mind
concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from
God?
11:12–14
12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put
your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to
do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly,
to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart
unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which
shall fill your soul with joy;
14 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you
know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things
of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.
Psalm
46:10 10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Scripture Helps
- What
happened to the kingdom during the reign of Rehoboam?
- What
did Elijah mean when he asked, “How long halt ye between two opinions?”
- Did
the Lord send a lying spirit to Ahab’s prophets?
Do children’s sections another time.
For Children:
The Lord blesses me as I have faith in Him.
1 Kings 17
Video: Elijah
the Prophet
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