You will know that I am the Lord

1 Kings 20:1-21

Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it. He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’ 

The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.”

Meanwhile, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

“But who will do this?” asked Ahab. The prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.’”

 The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen. The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans.

Benhadad of Syria and the allied kings of 32 city-state attacked Samaria. The diplomatic exchange is difficult to follow. But Benhadad has to eat his words in face of Israel's double victory. Ahan spares his life, but in doing so stores up trouble for Israel. 

Why?

This prophet is unknown who has the word of the Lord with him.

The Lord hopes king Ahab will know that the Lord is God. So the Lord keeps the life of Isreal and king Ahab.

Ben-Hadad king of Aram is proud of his army and wanted to conquer Israel, but under the protection of the Lord, Ben-Hadad was inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans.

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便哈達：哈達：一個假神的名字，便： 兒子，即某個假神的兔子，亞蘭王想向南發展！

亞哈等於答應把自己王位都可以讓給便哈達，亞哈至可以說是完全無能，毫無主見！第二次使者來，全部的妻女都要給他。這時才感受到危機。向臣了訴苦，心中沒有主見！百姓和長老說我們不能依從他們！真正厲害是打完才知勝負。這個先知聖經沒有記載名字。

神要亞哈王知道只有耶和華才是神！神給亞哈王最後的機會。人還在拜偶像時，神已經在保護我們。連亞哈這樣子的人，神都保護他，更何況我們這些人，神豈不是更眷顧我們。神的目的就是要我們認識祂、經歷祂。

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How?

People made decisions by our vision and counting, by the Lord has his way it always out of our imaginations.

What are you doing here, Elijah?以利亞對服事的成果感到失望

1 Kings 19:3-21

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. 

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as a prophet.

Elation passes, and Spiritual and physical strain leave Elijah in the grip of depression, fear, and disappointment. Jezebel still holds the whip hand, and Elijah escapes south to the desert and Sinai, drawing fresh strength from the good and drink provided by a practical angel. In the place where God made himself known to Moses, he speaks to Elijah, not in any spectacular way but out of the stillness, Self-pity is dealt with, a sense of proportion restored, and the path ahead mapped out.

Elijah had felt intolerably alone, his work finished. He is given a companion and successor, Elisha. God's work goes on.

Why?

Elijah was not alone, God had reserved seven thousand in Israel.

Elijah was tired of his emotional and spiritual life, so he left and ran away.

Don't be afraid, God is our protector and our savior. We should ask ourselves what are you doing here? Don't waste our life and our time for Jesus is my Lord!

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何烈山是神盼佈律法的地方。

風、地震、烈火都令人害怕的神都不在其中，神在安靜當中向以利亞說話。

神會追討亞哈王的罪。

神告訴以利亞，不是只有他一人。求死就是不想做先知，為何變如此軟弱?退縮?以利亞對服事的成果感到失望！人仍然不悔改呢?為何亞哈沒有貶低耶洗別的地位? 他的期望落空，以為有大榮耀，反而有殺身之禍。明明神藉著他行神蹟，使教會復興，怎麼這一批人質疑他?按人的軟弱、本性，信心一定會受打擊。雖然沒有對神失望，卻對人失望！先知在一場爭戰得勝後。沒有得到預期的成果，所以他軟弱了。求死是不想服事了。我們不比以利亞強，以利亞和摩西一樣抱怨！求主幫助我們遇到這問題可以知道如何面對。

狂風、地震、烈火耶和華不在乎當中，卻在微小聲音當中，情勢不如我們所想，我們要安靜下來才能聽見神的聲音。不要在環境中找神！

神不是只有透過以利亞來管教、追討亞哈王、耶洗別的罪，神要使用其他人在為主工作，不要以為只有以利亞一人扛下。神會算帳，但是不是現在！我們要耐心等候。

以利亞急著想到看到神的作為，負面來看難到沒有一點自己的私心嗎？這是我一個人的功勞！我做我該做的，其他的神會交由其他人完成。

神不是要摩西把功勞一人全攬了，最後由約書亞完成。神要的是合一的群體，不是塑造英雄。各盡其職，成為合一的教會。後來以利亞沒有膏哈薛作王，因為他用私心，認為怎麼去膏外邦人來攻打自己國人。

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How?

Be strong through the Spirit and the word of the Lord! 

Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees

 1 Kings 18:41-19:2

And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”  So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

Why?

Elijah did what the Lord commanded him, and Elijah showed the power of the Lord and proved the Lord is the real God in Israel. 

But all of these things did not change the mind of Jezebel, wife of Ahab. She tries to kill Elijah, for Elihag is the servant of the Lord.

Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. He is waiting for the Lord to make the rain come down. He waited with a calm down heart and worship attitude.

The rebellious woman even knew the truth she still wants to overcome it. She like satan want to fight against the Lord.

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為什麼以利亞還要俯伏在地七次禱告，沒有和亞哈王一樣去吃喝?神雖然已經成就事工，但是神要人和神同工，所以神要他的僕人禱告，在禱告的時候滿足(7次），神就成就神的工作。

屬神的人，聽見雷聲，屬世的人聽不到神工作的聲音。

以利亞因為聖靈提攜所以他走路居然的比坐馬車的亞路王還要快，目的在於提醒亞哈王不要受妻子影響。可惜仍然是受後宮影響，一個沒有主見的王。

一個深受撒旦影響的人，即使出現神蹟，神的大作為，他們還是依然故我，無視神的提醒！

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How?

The truth will conquer the virtual and cheating, only the word of the Lord stand forever.

But the people said nothing and What you say is good

 1 Kings 18:16-40

“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

Baal is impotent - no more able to produce fire than to send the needed rain. It's God who is 'the living Lord'. The fire burns the saturated offering. The people shout "The Lord alone is God.' The prophets of Baal are slaughtered. And the drought ends. But for all this, there will be no deep and lasting religious reform.

Why?

When Elijah asked people to follow God or Baal? People said nothing. Say nothing means no choice, they still doing what they like to do.

Baal is the god of rain, but Elijah shows only the Lord can bring rain to this land. 

Even though Elijah did this miracle and proved who is the real God, but Israelites still continue their detestable behavior. 

The Miracle is meaningful to the believer, but it does not have much influence on the unbeliever for the problem is their heart.

How?

Please bless my heart and my mind be with the Lord forever!

Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land

1 Kings 18:1-15

After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”

Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”

Jezebel is fanatical for her religion. For three years she had done all in her power to eliminate the worship of God in Israel. Noe Elijah returns - one against 450 -with a challenge. Let's put this to the test and see who is the real God.

Why?

After a long time, the land is dryer and not food, not grass and not water.

God sent Elijah to show Ahab who is the real God, who is the Lord who can give them the rain. It is not Bally, but the Lord.

Real God will show the love and the truth.

Obadiah is a real righteous man, who devoted his life to protecting prophets of the Lord. God let his people do the miracle to witness the greatness of the Lord!

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俄巴底擔心以利亞可能被神提走，屆時被亞哈王認為他把以利亞藏起來，會被認為與以利亞同夥。可能連他藏的先知也會被找出來。

不管環境如何，當我們信靠神，神必預備，不要以為只有我一人相信神，不要認為在異教環境中，我們無法跟隨主，神還保守許多願意跟隨主的人。我是否能跟隨主是看我們是否有願做的心。

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How?

May I have the capability to witness the great work of my God, Jesus Christ!

A remarkable expression of faith 神不是看我們奉獻多少，而是看我們剩下多少?

1 Kings 17:8-24

“Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”

Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him! The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”

Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”

God provides for Elijah's needs first from nature and then through a most unlikely person in the unlikeliest of places. The widow is a foreigner with no one to support her, and Zarephath is in the heart of Baal's own country! By providing for Elijah this way. God also shows his care for the poorest of the poor.

This is the first account in the Bible of a revival from death. It is a heart-stopping story for the reader, too happily closing with a remarkable expression of faith from one who knew nothing of God before Elijah came to her door.

Why?

This widow has faith in Elijah, she obeys the word of Elijah and makes loaf of bread for Elijah first, then makes it for themselves later. So the jar of flour and jug of oil were not run dry until the Lord sends rain on the land.

The tragedy happened in the widow's home, Elijah asked the Lord, and the Lord listen to his pray return the boy's life to him. This miracle shows the faith of Elijah and the great love of the Lord.

God is with Elijah, so Elijah is called a man of God.

How about me is a man of God? I am a son of the Lord, obey the word of the Lord for Jesus is my savior!

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神要以利沙信心成長去沙勒法依靠一個寡婦，不知名字、地點！寡婦是弱勢中的弱勢，且一個男人住在寡婦家，非常不適合接待男人的地方。1)外邦人，2)寡婦無能為力、接待男人這三個不可能證明這是從神來的。神所開的路似乎不可能，但是真的發生。其實是神在供應以利亞，同時供應這寡婦。這寡婦真的很單純，我只剩最後一點麵粉，怎麼做餅先給以利亞吃?寡婦要有更大信心提供給以利亞後還有麵粉和油！寡婦可以說是奉獻自己的生命！一個外邦人居然有此信心。神要我們先放下，全然擺上，神不是看我們奉獻多少，而是看我們剩下多少?

奉獻自己的生命神就給她復活的生命！

如果是我們，我們會怎麼說她兒子死了，而是寡婦看到她自己的罪。我們可能會說：我已經把一切都奉獻給神怎麼兒子死了，怎麼遇到這種問題?“他非常忠心服事你，請醫治他”。神不僅供應他生活的需要，神還讓她經歷新的生命、復活、重生。當求神使我們靈魂甦醒，使我可以要行義路。神所開的路看似難解，神讓我們一一克服，經歷重生，經歷復活！

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How?

Give praise to the Lord and keep faith in the Lord, there is nothing impossible to the Lord, and so is the difficulty in my IoT work.

Elijah did what the Lord had told him

1 King 17:1-7

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

At a critical time, as if from nowhere, God's prophet makes his sudden and dramatic appearance. Elijah will be known as the greatest of all the prophets.

Baal was worshipped as a weather-god who could give or withhold the produce of the land. So, just as he had shown his power over the 'gods' of Egypt through the plagues, God now proves to king and people that he alone has power over the sun and rain without which nothing will grow.

Why?

Our God is the real God of this world, only the Lord can bring the blessing to us. worship others are in vain.

But many people do not know the Lord their heart is covered by their pride and greed.

Elijah is a prophet of the Lord, who obeys God's word and trusts in the Lord. So Elijah can do the great thing before the Lord.

How?

Obey God's word and trust in the Lord is our blessing even if the situation is tough and difficult.