MFM Daily Devotional 8 June 2024

TOPIC: Power as of Old

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 42; Psalms 1; Psalms 2; Acts 20; Acts 21

FIRE SCRIPTURE: 1 King 18:20-40 
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23 Let them therefore give us 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:

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 the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

MEMORY VERSE
God hath spoken once; Twice have I heard this; That power belongeth unto God.
Psalm 62:11

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES:  Standing alone for God makes you the strongest, because when you think you are alone, God is closer to you.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP: Take praise and worship songs as led by the Holy Spirit.

PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY: The Lord God of Elijah shall arise to answer by fire whenever you call upon Him, in the name of Jesus.

MFM Daily Devotional 8 June 2024 MESSAGE

It is good to read through today’s Fire Scripture and other passages of the Bible so that we are reminded of the awesome power of our God, which has been of old and is still at work today, and forever shall be. This will encourage you, assure and strengthen your heart whenever the opposition threatens. If He did it at the time of Elijah, He is able to bring down fire again, even today. But you need to play your part as Elijah did, while God remains faithful on His own.

There came the need for Elijah to make the people choose between the two opinions presented before them. The only way to prove the ultimate power was for each side to call upon the one whom they believed in. It was a divine contest in which Elijah needed to prove to the prophets of Baal and all the unbelievers around that there is a God in Israel who answers by fire when you call upon Him. Elijah was confident of his God and His power. He was not fearful, and neither could he be bothered with the harassment of the Baal prophets. He remained calm and expectant of what God could do contrary to the mechanical power and manipulation of the idol (1 Kings 18: 21, 23-24).

READ MFM Daily Devotional 7 June 2024 – The Benefits of Companionship

The end of the contest was that the Baal prophets cried unto their powerless god from morning till evening but there was no response. Elijah repaired the altar and called upon the name of the Lord God, and fire fell from heaven (vs.30-38). The people had no choice but to revere the Lord God Almighty (v.39). May there be an open manifestation of God’s power to prove that God is God in your life and situation, in the name of Jesus.

To get here, there should be no compromise. Elijah stood alone for God against the 450 prophets of Baal. It is not a contest for the fearful and timid persons. You must be ready to repair your broken or ash-filled altar. Stand in awe of God and call upon His holy name with godly confidence and steadfast faith; and the fire of the Lord God of Elijah shall fall, in the name of Jesus.

MFM DAILY PRAYER POINTS 8 JUNE 2024

MORNING:
1. Father, forgive me for every sin of fear, doubt and compromise, in the name of Jesus.

2. Arise, O God; prove Your power as of old in my life, in the name of Jesus.
3. Satanic powers challenging God’s power in my life, your time is up; die, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING:
4. Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Arise and put my enemies to shame, in the name of Jesus.

5. Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Arise and let the people know and acknowledge Your power in my life, in the name of Jesus.
6. O God that answers by fire, manifest Your power in my life, in the name of Jesus.
7. Father, make my faith strong and steadfast in You to confront and conquer all opposition, in the name of Jesus.