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Seeing Beyond The Horizon
Text: I Kings 18:41-46 IBCSWS
January 1, 2006
By Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
Looking back to the defining years we’ve gone
through will make us more excited to what the New Year
would offer while preparing ourselves for a good
jumpstart for the year 2006.
Since the downfall of man, clouds of
uncertainties have been hovering over man’s life. Storms
of life come and go and the shadow of death is being
feared continually. Peace and hope become the cry of
men, but these desirable things seem unattainable, and
apparently, they become a part of everyone’s dream in
life.
Smart and intelligent people try to widen their
horizon to search for better things. They give their
best to improve man’s social, political and economic
landscape, but still there are no remarkable changes
because God’s will is not a part of their vision.
During the years of King Ahab, severe drought had
been experienced by the Israelites because of their
indifferent attitude toward God. The Lord put them into
life-squeezing situations to test their hearts, but true
faith was not found in them except from a few
individuals.
In the midst of terrible famine, Elijah, the
widow of Zarephath and the seven thousand believers who
praised not Baal really enjoyed the miraculous provision
of God. Undoubtedly, they saw good things beyond the
horizon of hopelessness.
Seeing the New Year through our naked eyes surely
ushers us to worry-laden journey. Some people think that
it may be a replay of our previous years filled with
“fears and tough balancing”, but cheer up because there
is a better way of seeing the New Year 2006.
(I) Through The Eyes Of Faith
I Kings 18:41-46
-We could see better things beyond what
ordinary men
could see
A careful study on I Kings 18:41-46 makes us
realize that what Elijah heard and saw were
imperceptible by man’s senses. In verse 43, it is
written, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward
the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is
nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. (KJV) Verses
41-46 vindicate the saying that goes, “A man of faith is
also a man of prayer.”
The phrase “Go again seven times” was a
mind-stirring command of Elijah to his servant that
conveys a needful message relevant in our times. It
reminds us not to be discouraged by what our naked eyes
can see no matter how hopeless the situation is. It
encourages us to live by faith and warns us not to yield
ourselves to pessimistic mind-set. Go again seven times
means to keep on trusting God especially in times of
wretchedness. Keep in mind that our unwavering faith in
God always brings forth amazing
results.
-We could be
an encouragement to the
hopeless
Elijah was truly a great encouragement to King
Ahab. During critical times, God uses men of faith to
inspire others so they may be ushered in the path of
faith. In I Kings 18:41-42, it is written, And Elijah
said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is
a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and
to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and
he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face
between his knees, (KJV) Keep on trusting the Lord and
inspire the world by your soaring faith!
-We could be a blessing to others
We confidently believe that the believers’
presence in this chaotic world is a blessing to all men.
In I Kings 18:44-45, it is written, And it came to pass
at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth
a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he
said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get
thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to
pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with
clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab
rode, and went to Jezreel. (KJV) What a miraculous
working of God in times of dire need. Elijah’s presence
was a blessing to King Ahab and to the whole Israel.
Truly, showers of blessings that come from above will be
enjoyed continually by many people if believers
consistently look unto Jesus through their eyes of
faith.
-We could
experience the miraculous
working of God in
our lives
Through faith, we could be assured that the best
of life that God has prepared awaits us. How encouraging
for us to ponder in our hearts that we are so privileged
because we are on the Lord’s side and He is working in
us and through us. In I Kings 18:46, it is written, And
the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his
loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (KJV)
This passage gives us a glimpse of how the LORD worked
mightily in Elijah’s life.
As we go through another year full of hope and
encouragement, may we be mindful of God and His power,
and the works He wants us to do. God has entrusted us
with extraordinary tasks to accomplish, foremost of
which is the spreading of the Gospel of Christ. We
cannot do anything without God’s help and that’s simply
the reason why we must put our complete trust in Him.
In Philippians 1:6, it is written, Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a
good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ: (KJV) This life-inspiring passage from the Bible
reminds us of the abiding presence of God in the
believer’s life and the believer’s significant part in
God’s wonderful plan.
Knowing that God’s hand is with us, we should
then set godly goals for the glory of God. We should
neither put ourselves in the line of mediocrity, nor be
fearful to face the many challenges of life; but be
courageous and mindful of the precious promises of God
written in the Bible so we can marvellously display the
power of the Holy Ghost through our lives and glorify
the Lord Jesus Christ till He comes.
Have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and see
better things beyond the horizon!
A Prosperous New
Year To All!
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THE POWER
OF TRUTH
