And Elijah…said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” 1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV)

Elijah Like a rogue wave that suddenly overtakes an unsuspecting ship, Elijah shows up in scripture and pronounces God’s judgment to Ahab, one of the most evil kings ever to rule Israel. The judgment comes in the form of a devastating drought that would last until Elijah said otherwise.

Then, just as suddenly as he strode into King Ahab’s presence, Elijah disappears into the wilderness. He stays there for a prolonged period of time, out in the desolate and abandoned areas, with only birds to keep him company (1 Kings 17:5-7). The Lord then tells him to go to the home of a widow and her son, where he stays for several days (1 Kings 17:8-24).

After three and a half years of living in relative obscurity (James 5:17), God tells Elijah to go to King Ahab once again and to announce the drought’s end, which he does in dramatic fashion in a spiritual showdown on Mount Carmel with 450 false prophets (1 Kings 18).

Few people have ever experienced the kind of contrast Elijah did. First he finds himself in the king’s court, then he’s alone in the wilderness, then he’s living with a widow and her son, and then he’s back in the spotlight with the multitudes watching him.

But what’s striking about Elijah is this: Whether in the court of the king, in the middle of nowhere, in the home of the widow and her son, or among the multitudes on the mountain top, Elijah was always discerning where the Lord was leading him. He wasn’t defined by his surroundings but by his sensitivity to the Spirit of God.

When it comes to your life, are you more defined by your external surroundings or by your internal sense of the Lord’s leading? Elijah’s one great constant amidst constant change was his ability to discern God’s will. May the same be true for us, as well.

Then she sent and called for Barak…and said to him, “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops…’” Judges 4:6 (NKJV)

Barak Early on in the Book of Judges, we come across a character by the name of Barak. He comes to our attention as Deborah, who served as a prophetess for Israel during a spiritual low point, summons him.

Deborah tells Barak that God is calling him to lead Israel into battle with their enemies and to be victorious over them (Judges 4:6-7). But notice Barak’s response to the prophetess:

Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” Judges 4:8 (NKJV)

Basically, Barak is putting a condition on what God has told him to do. He’s saying, “I’ll do this thing, but only if Deborah goes with me.” The problem is this: The life of faith does not work that way. Walking in faith never involves us dictating to God what we will or will not do. It’s about us doing what God tells us to do…period.

What Barak is exercising at this point is a fake faith, because it’s really based on his agenda and not the Lord’s. So Deborah tells him that the honor that would have been his by obeying God would now go to someone else:

“I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Judges 4:9 (NKJV)

Barak’s example stands as a warning to us. It shows us the danger of living under the pretense of a “fake faith,” where it’s really a matter of us telling God what we will or won’t do. That never leads to spiritual maturity or honor.

In striking contrast to Barak, we need to be the type of sons and daughters who simply and fully obey what the Lord tells us to do without conditions, limitations, or reservations.

Then she sent and called for Barak…and said to him, “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops…’” Judges 4:6 (NKJV)

Barak Early on in the Book of Judges, we come across a character by the name of Barak. He comes to our attention as Deborah, who served as a prophetess for Israel during a spiritual low point, summons him.

Deborah tells Barak that God is calling him to lead Israel into battle with their enemies and to be victorious over them (Judges 4:6-7). But notice Barak’s response to the prophetess:

Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” Judges 4:8 (NKJV)

Basically, Barak is putting a condition on what God has told him to do. He’s saying, “I’ll do this thing, but only if Deborah goes with me.” The problem is this: The life of faith does not work that way. Walking in faith never involves us dictating to God what we will or will not do. It’s about us doing what God tells us to do…period.

What Barak is exercising at this point is a fake faith, because it’s really based on his agenda and not the Lord’s. So Deborah tells him that the honor that would have been his by obeying God would now go to someone else:

“I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Judges 4:9 (NKJV)

Barak’s example stands as a warning to us. It shows us the danger of living under the pretense of a “fake faith,” where it’s really a matter of us telling God what we will or won’t do. That never leads to spiritual maturity or honor.

In striking contrast to Barak, we need to be the type of sons and daughters who simply and fully obey what the Lord tells us to do without conditions, limitations, or reservations.

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands…as Sarah obeyed Abraham. 1 Peter 3:1-6 (NKJV)

Sarah Quite often, the Bible follows a pattern: It declares a truth and then illustrates that truth in action. As a result, God’s Word doesn’t just tell us what to do, but it helps us see how it’s done through an example we can follow.

That’s what we have here in Peter’s first epistle. He declares that wives are to obey, or be submissive to, their husbands. Then Peter illustrates this by pointing us to Sarah’s example.

We read about the story of Sarah and her husband Abraham in Genesis Chapters 12-22. Over the course of their lives, we see a husband and wife who aren’t perfect, but who still model the kind of marriage God blesses and desires. We see a husband who lovingly leads his wife, and we see a wife who respects her husband and submits to his leadership.

Again, they weren’t perfect. But in the long run, they set an example for husbands and wives to follow. So much so that Sarah is held up as the ultimate role model for Christian wives. God honors her respect, support, and submission for her husband…even though her husband was flawed and failed at times.

That characteristic of submission applies to wives within the context of marriage, but let’s broaden it a bit. Ephesians 5:23-32 tells us that marriage is a reflection of our relationship with Jesus. He’s the groom, and we are His bride. And just as His role is to lovingly lead us, our role is to submit to His loving leadership.

With that in mind, Sarah isn’t just a role model for wives, but for every single Christian. She displays the submissive heart that every believer is to have towards Christ. Whether you’re married or not, whether you’re a wife or not, Sarah’s example of respectful submission is a standard to strive towards.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11 (NKJV)

Caleb After God used Joshua to lead the Israelites to possess the Promised Land, there was the task of dividing up the conquered territory. As Joshua and the other leaders of Israel presided over this process, they were approached by Caleb, who reminded Joshua of something that had happened several years prior.

What happened is recorded in Numbers Chapters 13-14. It’s there that we find twelve Israeli spies were sent into the Promised Land more than forty years earlier on a reconnaissance mission. Ten came back with discouraging news. They reported that the land was full of giants and obstacles that were impossible to overcome. But the other two spies believed they could be victorious and inhabit the land according to God’s promises.

The rest of the people, which numbered close to 2.5 million, sided with the ten, and they collectively decided to give in to their fear rather than follow God in faith. As a result, God was angry and determined that nobody older than twenty would live to enter the Promised Land, except for the two spies who were willing to trust Him. One of those spies was Caleb (the other was Joshua), and the Lord made a special promise to him:

“But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.” Numbers 14:24 (NKJV)

This is what Caleb reminded Joshua of. He pointed him back to the promise God made forty years earlier, and it’s a promise God kept and Joshua honored as Caleb was granted his territory.

Here’s what we learn from this character named Caleb: It’s vital we know God’s promises toward us. If you’re a Christian, God has given you approximately 3,500 promises in His Word. Spend your life discovering them, knowing them, and standing on them in faith.

Joshua At the edge of the Promised Land, after waiting for forty years to inherit this territory that God promised to the Children of Israel, the worst possible thing happens…Moses dies. Put yourself in the shoes of the average Israelite. Moses was the man who led and guided you your whole life. Then he dies just as you’re about to invade and possess the land.

Now imagine you’re Joshua. God has given you the responsibility to pick up where Moses left off. He wants you to lead the people from here on out. If you’ve ever been put in the position of having to step up and fill some big shoes, then you can appreciate what’s happening to Joshua here. But as great as this challenge is, God assures Joshua that he won’t have to tackle it alone. He gives Joshua the guarantee that He’ll be with Him just as He was with Moses.

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 (NKJV)

Joshua successfully led Israel into the Promised Land. And he was able to do so because he understood something that we need to understand, as well: At the end of the day, God being with us is the only thing that truly matters. Bringing Israel into the land didn’t depend on Moses or on any single individual. It depended on the power of God, and He promised to be with Joshua just as He’d been with Moses.

Align your heart with that truth. Don’t be afraid when the Lord calls you to something that seems larger than life. Remember that if God is with you, you have everything you need to get the job done.

Joshua At the edge of the Promised Land, after waiting for forty years to inherit this territory that God promised to the Children of Israel, the worst possible thing happens…Moses dies. Put yourself in the shoes of the average Israelite. Moses was the man who led and guided you your whole life. Then he dies just as you’re about to invade and possess the land.

Now imagine you’re Joshua. God has given you the responsibility to pick up where Moses left off. He wants you to lead the people from here on out. If you’ve ever been put in the position of having to step up and fill some big shoes, then you can appreciate what’s happening to Joshua here. But as great as this challenge is, God assures Joshua that he won’t have to tackle it alone. He gives Joshua the guarantee that He’ll be with Him just as He was with Moses.

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 (NKJV)

Joshua successfully led Israel into the Promised Land. And he was able to do so because he understood something that we need to understand, as well: At the end of the day, God being with us is the only thing that truly matters. Bringing Israel into the land didn’t depend on Moses or on any single individual. It depended on the power of God, and He promised to be with Joshua just as He’d been with Moses.

Align your heart with that truth. Don’t be afraid when the Lord calls you to something that seems larger than life. Remember that if God is with you, you have everything you need to get the job done.

A greater authority The storm clouds of betrayal that had been brewing in Judas’ heart finally broke. He led a mob of religious leaders and soldiers to Gethsemane, where he knew Jesus would be. What follows is fairly familiar to most of us. Judas walked up to Jesus and kissed Him, which was a pre-arranged sign to the arresting officers to seize Him.

It’s one of the most despicable and shameful examples of human behavior…taking a kiss, something meant to communicate blessing, and using it as an instrument of betrayal. Judas certainly bore his share of blame in this, but Jesus mentioned something as He was arrested that ought to pique our attention:

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Mark 14:48-49 (NKJV)

It’s that last sentence we need to unpack. Despite Judas’ betrayal, despite the mob that had amassed to lawlessly seize Him, despite all the sin and treachery that had led up to this moment, Jesus saw a greater authority at work. The Scriptures foretold of Him being betrayed, arrested, beaten, and sacrificed for man’s sin (Isaiah 52:12-53:12). Judas did something very evil, but God was still in control and would even use man’s wrongdoing for good.

In life, it’s awfully tempting to focus on the sin that comes our way. People lie to us, hurt us, maybe even betray us. When that happens, we ought to take a cue from our Lord by recognizing the greater authority at work. God is in ultimate control, and He assures us that He will use everything, even evil, to fulfill something good in our lives.

All things work together for good to those who love God… Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

It starts in the heart Jesus was the Master Teacher. He was able to take the events that took place in the normal course of life and leverage them for the sake of sharing an important truth. We get a classic example of this skill after His exchange with the Pharisees.

Keep in mind what had just happened. The Pharisees were bothered by the fact that Christ’s disciples weren’t observing the rituals and traditions of hand washing before they ate. There was a preoccupation with what was and wasn’t happening externally. Now, after the Pharisees left, Jesus taught the crowd of followers an important lesson.

He made a definitive statement that a person’s real problem isn’t what’s going on outside of them, such as the way they wash or the kind of food they eat. Rather, the real issue is what’s going on inside a person, and He got very specific:

From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness… these evil things come from within and defile a man.” Mark 7:21-23 (NKJV)

Mankind’s real problem isn’t external but internal. It’s our corrupted heart that’s the launching pad for everything that goes against God’s will for our lives. Evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder, theft, coveting, pride-you name it-whatever we can do that’s really wrong…it all starts in the heart. And therefore, it is the heart that deserves our attention.

When we have this perspective, when we see the heart as the real issue, it has a way of clarifying our perspective. We don’t major on minors, as the Pharisees had become famous for doing. Instead we identify what matters most, which enables us to accurately assist others and address our own faults.

All authority As Christ’s ministry began to go public, He went to a local synagogue on the Sabbath day, which was the social hub for every Jewish man and woman. It’s where everyone in a local community would consistently meet for the sake of preserving their faith and national identity; it had a built-in audience and was an ideal starting spot to share a message.

Jesus started to teach the people concerning God’s Kingdom, and it didn’t take very long for them to recognize something special was unfolding before them:

And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Mark 1:22 (NKJV)

When Jesus taught concerning spiritual things, it was different from when others taught. He spoke with an authority that nobody had ever heard before. It was as if they were hearing from God Himself (which they actually were). But then something truly unexpected happened. As Jesus was teaching, a demon-possessed man began to shout:

“Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are; the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Mark 1:24-26 (NKJV)

Take note, Christ’s authority as a teacher was affirmed by His ability to cast out the demon. This shows us that Jesus has all authority both in what He says (creed) and in what He does (deed). Simply stated, Jesus possesses all authority. No one is greater, wiser, stronger, or superior in any way.

At the end of the day, our lives are in Christ’s hands. Nobody usurps His authority over us. No one can command us to do something that He doesn’t. We answer to Jesus and to Him alone, because only He has all authority.