Prepared to Stand: Scene Three
We’ve arrived at the climax of good and evil in the life of the prophet Elijah; the conflict was bound to happen. It’s a face-off, a showdown, between Satan and God: Who will be the Champion?
1 Kings 18 contains this dramatic moment of truth with one representative of God, Elijah, who’s prepared to stand in opposition to the representatives of Satan: 850 prophets. It’s said they eat at Jezebel’s table (vs. 19), a table of demons.
You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 1 Corinthians 10:21
Elijah poses a striking question, in essence, why can’t you make a decision? At which table do sit? Don’t have a divided-heart, be double-minded, but choose today who you will follow. As believers in Jesus the question becomes relevant as well. Have you become double-minded? Do you have one foot in the world’s way of thinking and the other foot in God’s way? It may be time for a showdown in your heart.
As the story goes, two altars were built: one for Ba’al, the storm god and one for Yahweh, the Maker of the storm. Elijah’s instructions were clear; you call on the name of your elohim (god) and I’ll call on Elohim. That’s the name of God used in Genesis One: ‘in the beginning God (Elohim) created …
In this lower story Elijah stands ready not only to win a miraculous and decisive victory but also to wipe Satan’s face in it. Through obedience and intercessory prayer God answered with fire and His people’s hearts were turned back to Him.
Isn’t that the goal of spiritual warfare? It’s not just to triumph over the devil and see God work on your behalf (although that’s wonderful) but it’s to turn your heart back to faith in Him standing in His strength.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil … Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. Ephesians 6:11, 13b-14
How did the people respond? They fell on their faces in humility and repentance, the fear of the LORD, and made this declaration:
Yahweh, our covenant-keeping God, He is Elohim, the one and only Creator.
As believers we’re all in this together (Phil. 1:27) standing before God like Elijah, yet at another table ‘in the presence of our enemies’ (Ps. 23:5) preparing ourselves to take a firm stand against our enemy: Satan. Elijah finished this story by slaughtering the false prophets (lower story) at Kishon, a place of trapping with enticements, which brings us back to Ephesians 6 where we stand against the devil’s strategies in God’s strength and power.
Who will be the Champion?
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