In I Kings 18, Elijah asked the wavering Israelites "How long halt ye between two opinions". There are in this world basically only two opinions. Throughout the Bible, one can see as well that there have only been two systems of worship (the worship of God and the worship of devils), two groups of people (covenant or non-covenant people) and two wills (God's and Satan's). So once again, even though there are many different thoughts and theories, feelings and fancies, all of those will come under one of two all-inclusive opinions that can be summed up in the phrases "I WILL" and "I AM".
The angel Lucifer said in Isaiah 14:13,14 "I WILL" five different times, each time setting his will was against the Lord's will. It represents the inclination to have or to be something independent of the plan and provision of God. However, in Exodus 3:14, God introduces Himself to Moses three times as "I AM". Satan and the nature of Satan says defiantly "I WILL"; but God simply says "I AM"!
The original issue in I Kings 18 was not about the outright taking of one of these two opinions: it was rather about the people of God "halting" between these two opinions...wanting "I WILL" and "I AM" at the same time. But oil and water do not mix...and "I WILL" and "I AM" will not mix either! Just listen to the strength in both opinions: "I WILL" with the strength of self-confidence and self-reliance and then "I AM" with the power of eternity (Psalm 90:2 "From everlasting to everlasting THOU ART God")! Satan and his children have to "will" to become anything - but God just IS! The first Adam had to struggle and toil for life; but the Last Adam simply said "I AM life" (John 14:6)!
Let us all consider that life truly is a yoke (Matthew 11:29,30); and that there is no such thing as purely independent life - we are either yoked up with God or with the devil! And the easy one is God's yoke, where we do not have to try so hard to "will" Christ-likeness but we can rather simply BE Christ-like by yielding to the Spirit of Christ within - JUST WALK IN THE SPIRIT!
NO MORE HALTING, FELLOW BELIEVER! Abandon "I WILL" and rest in "I AM"!
Thank you, Bro. Jay, for pointing this out. Hope that I haven't been in betwixt too many times in my life!
ReplyDeletePowerful word Joel. Sometimes we find ourselves saying, "God, I give it all to you, but let me show you how I want to give it to you." Lord, guide me by Your Spirit, but let me show you Lord how to guide me. When we surrender all to the Lord, then will God begin to unfold our calling and destiny here on earth. This is an exhorting word for us to let go and let God.
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