• Lesson 7 in the Connect360 unit “Prayer That Moves Heaven: Power With Purpose” focuses on Ephesians 3:14-21.

Paul began to expound on how wide and far acceptance goes. He said, “…the Father, from whom every family…derives its name” (3:15). God isn’t just our Father; God is everyone’s Father. God is Creator of all. Every family get its name from him—every family in heaven and on earth. That means not just Jewish families and Gentile families as Paul was speaking about prior, but also Asian families, African families, American families, European families, Hispanic families and others all get their name from God.

This isn’t simply a last name either. It is a title. It is a position. In other words, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, I have God’s family name. When we pray, we literally are talking to Daddy. When we pray, we can honor Daddy for giving us his name. We communicate our gratefulness for God accepting us into his family.

As Paul continued, he encouraged strength in the inner being and the residence of the Holy Spirit on the inside of them (3:16). The acceptance moves from simply relational to residential. We do not communicate praise just because God took us back into the family, but also because he lives inside us and strengthens us.

Picture a spouse who has damaged marital vows. The couple have been separated for a season and sit down for lunch one afternoon. With tears in their eyes, the spouse at fault begins to apologize again enthusiastically. In turn, that spouse hears forgiveness from the lips of the one who was hurt. The individual hears comfort, assurance and blessing. When lunch is over, the bill is paid, and they stand up to walk away. Now, right when they think it’s over, imagine them hearing their spouse say, you can also come home.

The Spirit living on the inside of us gives strength (3:16). Paul literally was praying for God’s strength for them. It is a moment of worship and gratefulness that the Spirit of God provides strength for his family. The acceptance by God gives strength from God.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• The Explore the Bible Lesson for Aug. 7 focuses on 2 Kings 12:4-16.

As a professor of Christian ministry, I have heard some of my students voice their concerns about administration skills within church ministry. Most of my students enjoy ministering to people, but some rarely enjoy the planning, budgeting and calendaring component of ministry.

The reality is a good minister needs both skill sets—people and planning. Moving a ministry forward requires people skills, administration, planning and organizing. In my opinion, a competent minister should view these skill sets as a type of stewardship. A good steward understands the responsibility of ministry, the funds given to sustain the ministry, and the transparency required to do all of it ethically.

In this week’s scripture, King Joash has commissioned priests to collect money for temple repairs. Unfortunately, these plans for the temple repair never got done. Poor stewardship was taking place, and changes needed to happen for the repairs to get done. This week might be a good time to consider our stewardship and administrative skills. Are we good stewards of what God has given us?

Inefficiency (2 Kings 12:4-8)

King Joash implemented a plan to make repairs to the temple. The plan called for the temple priests to collect funds, then make the repairs accordingly. However, sometimes the best-laid plans go awry. The Scripture reveals some time had passed; it was now the 23rd year of the reign of King Joash, and none of the repairs had been accomplished. A cycle of inefficiency had set in, which suspended any progress towards the repairs. Nothing stops kingdom work as quickly as inefficiency and poor follow-through.

King Joash understood if the temple repairs were going to get accomplished, some changes were needed. He summons the priests and holds them accountable for their lack of progress. Kingdom work also calls for accountability. As ministers, we should always be ready to be held responsible for how we minister.

Proper accountability allowed for a better plan moving forward. The new repair plan allowed the priests to give over the money collected and placed the temple repair responsibilities to skilled workers and no longer with the inefficient priests.

The Solution (2 Kings 12:9-12)

In remarkable unity, the priests agreed they should not take up any further collections for the temple repairs, and they should not be the ones doing the repairs but, rather, skilled laborers. At times it is hard to admit shortcomings, yet, the priests were well aware they were part of the problem. Identifying issues to be solved and challenges to overcome in ministry is always wise. Once the problem or challenge is identified, solutions can be found. The solution called for a chest to be placed at the temple entrance for the Israelites to deposit their donations for the repairs.

The solution also provided a system to ensure transparency in collecting funds from the chest. When there were large amounts of money to be collected, the royal secretary and the high priest counted the money and placed them in bags. Once the amount was verified, the funds could be given to the skilled laborers doing the repairs. The solution allowed for transparency in handling the finances and efficiency in having skilled workers make better progress on the repairs.

The Results (2 Kings 12:13-16)

Accountability and efficiency lead to a better way of prioritizing doing things right. The Scripture points out the funds collected never went toward purchasing items for worship, nor were any funds that went towards the sin and guilt offering used for repairs. The priority of worship and the offerings were given the correct focus, and the funds for temple repairs only went towards temple repairs.

God always honors our work when it is done transparently, wisely and with the proper priority. Any plan going forward in ministry must be bathed in prayer, properly planned for, and done with the highest ethics. Let us commit to doing kingdom work in a manner that reflects what God expects from us and as a testimony to others. Let us be good stewards of all God has given us and be better administrators of the plans and processes within the ministry. By doing this, I believe God will bless our endeavors.

Dr. Joe Rangel is the associate dean of the School of Christian Studies and teaches Christian ministry at Wayland Baptist University.

• Lesson 6 in the Connect360 unit “Prayer That Moves Heaven: Power With Purpose” focuses on Luke 18:1-8.

The woman in the parable not only continued to show up to the judge’s court, but she also showed up with the same request and the same demand she had to begin with. Her posture was unchanged. She was consistent, but she also was passionate. She believed what she was praying for was right. She knew in her heart what she was asking for was in the judge’s ability and the right thing to do.

There is an assessment in our heart that has to happen to make sure we are maintaining the fire in our prayers. We have to have the belief that God has the power to grant our requests and be settled that what we are asking for matches God’s heart. It is a twofold process of honoring his power and humbling our posture.

The judge exposed how passionately she was praying when he said regardless of the fact that I do not fear God or people (18:4), I have to grant this woman’s request because she keeps bothering me (18:5). She asked so much, she made him step out of character and grant her request. How amazing that the persistence and passion of this woman caused the unjust judge to give a righteous judgment!

The passion was there, because a judge who did not care what people thought said he was scared she may attack him (18:5). The words from her mouth were so passionate and persistent, he began to fear his own livelihood if he did not come through. It was worth changing who he was in order to satisfy her.

 Jesus told the disciples to pay attention to this judge. If this judge did this as an unjust judge, imagine what God will do as the righteous Judge. God will bring about justice quickly as the great and righteous Judge. He will move quickly. Quickly may not be your timing, but it will be in time. My grandmother would say, “God may not come when you want him to, but he is always right on time.”

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• The Explore the Bible Lesson for July 31 focuses on 2 Kings 7:1-15.

My parents have told me stories of their experiences growing up among lower economic families in the barrio of West Dallas. To “make ends meet,” migrant summer jobs were always an option. However, these jobs proved to be extreme experiences. Their work was extremely tough, as they picked cotton or pulled sugar beets from the ground.  The hours were extremely long, as they worked from sun up to sun down. And sometimes, the pay was extremely minimal, as some farmers tried to take advantage of these hard-working ethnic minorities.

Extremity in one’s life can come in different ways. Some people live in extreme poverty, and danger due to war-torn conditions, like the people in Ukraine and Syria have lived. Others live in severe debt or extreme wealth. Living in the extreme, good or bad, definitely brings challenges.

This week’s Scripture focuses on an extremely desperate time in Israel. A famine in the land has caused severe starvation due to the Aramean’s chokehold on resources. Families in Samaria are facing extreme difficulties finding food. Scripture illustrates how extremely terrible the food situation got with a sad account of two desperate mothers who cannibalize a child (2 Kings 26-31). Hope is bleak and extreme desperation has set in for Samaria. How would the Lord provide in such an extremely hopeless situation?

Maybe we have asked the Lord a similar question. We were probably not in a famine, but our situation seemed just as hopeless. We asked the Lord how he would come through for us, how was he going to step into the extreme and provide a way?

Extreme Doubt (2 Kings 7:1-2)

The prophet Elisha brings an encouraging word of the Lord about a mighty deliverance in the middle of this severe calamity. It is no wonder the king’s right-hand man doubted the Lord would provide abundantly amidst the scarcity. Probably, the precision with which Elisha shared the word of the Lord, by giving the time and place, seemed possibly too good to be true. And yet, the accuracy of the word of the Lord was meant to provide the people of Samaria with faith and hope in God’s provision. The king’s captain, instead, only gave doubt through sarcasm. Even if God could open windows in heaven, the provision still would not be enough, he said.

It is interesting how quickly words spoken in doubting sarcasm can negatively impact morale when dealing with God’s plan and provision. What do we say in moments when faith is required? Are the words we speak motivating faith in others or taking it away? Elisha shuts down the doubting words and pronounces harsh consequences for them.

Extreme Desperation (2 Kings 7:3-8)

God uses four lepers who reason together about their current situation. They could starve outside the city gate or surrender to the enemy, hoping for leniency in sparing their lives. The lepers realize they have nothing to lose in such a bleak reality. At twilight, the courageous lepers head towards the Aramean camp and find no one. The lepers did not know God had taken care of the enemy by creating a sound that a vast army was attacking them. Fearful, the enemy fled quickly, leaving their food, resources, and other valuables. At first, the lepers only think of themselves enjoying the spoils of war. Then, they realize the significant provision these resources could be for Samaria.

Extreme Deliverance (2 Kings 2:9-15)

Late at night, the lepers quickly leave the camp and head towards the city gate to inform the gatekeeper about their incredible find. The gatekeeper relays the message to the king. The king is awoken to the great news about the empty enemy camp but responds with hesitancy thinking the enemy is setting a trap. Again, the information seems too good to be true. And like Naaman’s story, a servant speaks reason to this doubtful king and devises a plan to at least check out the truth of the lepers’ message.

Like the lepers, Israel had nothing else to lose in such a hopeless situation. So, the king granted five messengers to scout the camp and see if what the lepers witnessed was true. As the messengers followed the enemy’s escape route, the evidence of a fleeing army in haste was in clear view. The message was true! The enemy camp was empty with all its provision and wealth. The jubilant Israelites ran toward the provisions that Elisha said God would provide (7:16-17). In the middle of attempting to control the crowds, the king’s captain, who had been skeptical of God’s provision, saw the miracle God provided yet, was trampled to death and, just as Elisha said, would not partake of it (7:18-20).

Let’s live in the hopeful assurance that God will always provide for our needs; even when things seem extreme, God is extremely faithful.

Dr. Joe Rangel is the associate dean of the School of Christian Studies and teaches Christian ministry at Wayland Baptist University.

• Lesson 5 in the Connect360 unit “Prayer That Moves Heaven: Power With Purpose” focuses on Luke 11:5-13.

Jesus began by describing a man who had an unexpected guest arrive at his home. We know the guest was unexpected because the man had no food to feed him (11:6). Hebrew culture was known to have an emphasis on hospitality. It was a sign of good hospitality for this man to invite his friend into his home, even if it was an unexpected visit. The Jews did not leave people outside to fend for themselves.

In the Old Testament, when two angels arrived in Sodom, Lot insisted that they not sleep in the town square. Not only did he invite them in, but he also encouraged them to wash their feet, prepared a meal for them, and asked them to spend the night (Genesis 19:1-3).

It was customary to be prepared and take good care of house guests. The woman in Shunem prepared an entire room for the prophet Elisha whenever he was in town (2 Kings 4:8-10). So, for the man in Luke not to have food meant the guest was an unexpected problem for him.

It is often the moments we did not expect that activate our faith. If we were prepared for everything that was coming our way, we would not need to have faith in God. It is the moments we can’t always see coming that require us to believe in a God who sees everything. This man had to have faith to go ask for what he did not have or was prepared for. He had to have faith that someone else would be willing to provide for him what he needed in that moment.

It was need that activated the man’s faith. It was not selfish ambition that prompted him to ask his neighbor for bread. Jesus’ brother James teaches us the motive of our hearts matter when we ask for something (James 4:2-3). The man’s motive in this moment was to ensure his guest was taken care of. It was a selfless act of faith.

The man visited his neighbor’s home with the belief his neighbor possessed what he needed and would be willing to give it to him. There would have been no point in him going to his home if he did not have faith the solution he needed could be found there.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• The Explore the Bible Lesson for July 24 focuses on 2 Kings 5:1-14.

No one likes to be sick. During the COVID-19global pandemic, many people became very ill. Sadly, many died. This experience with COVID-19 has allowed me to be more sympathetic to those who become ill and appreciate all that goes into recovery from illness.

When we get sick, we need help. It can be a humbling experience to be at the mercy of a caring nurse, a mom or a loving spouse. But if we are going to get better, we need prayer, help from others, medication and, most importantly, rest. Healing from illness comes from humbling ourselves enough to receive the care our bodies need. Sometimes that can be hard. Pride can get in the way of healing. Denial of sickness or not wanting to take the time out of a busy schedule to rest and get better can also be a form of pride that derails healing. Humility and healing, surprisingly, are very compatible.

In this week’s Scripture, Naaman is a powerful Syrian general suffering from a skin disease, which most scholars agree could have been the beginning stages of leprosy. He is desperate for healing. So, when the Israelite servant of his wife informs him of a prophet who could heal him, he embarks on a mission to receive miraculous healing guided by the prophet Elisha. Naaman, however, will have to overcome some personal prideful feelings to experience this healing.

Desperation (2 Kings 5:1-6)

Successful people are successful for a reason. Most are disciplined individuals who have achieved recognition for being good at what they do. For Naaman, his fame was earned for his skill as a brave warrior and competent leader. Yet, Scripture states his success had come from the Lord directly. It is understandable why Naaman, crucial to the Aram army’s success, wanted to take care of this skin disease as quickly as possible. Naaman did not have time to deal with this skin disease, since he was in such a demanding position.

One can understand the desperate situation Naaman faced when he took the advice of a captured Israelite young girl, who informed his wife of a prophet in Samaria who could heal him. Hastily, Naaman takes the information about the prophet to the king, risking ridicule and embarrassment since the information came from a young girl. Even so, Naaman is desperate enough to take the risk. The king is also desperate enough to get his warrior leader healed and also risks the information from a young girl by allowing Naaman to find the prophet and adds gifts and a letter to provide safe passage through Israel.

Misunderstanding (2 Kings 5:7-10)

When the king of Israel read the letter Naaman was carrying, he thought it was a trick and became emotional enough to rip his clothes. In his emotional outrage, King Joram misunderstands the letter and states he was not God to perform a miracle of healing a man’s skin.  Thankfully, Elisha hears of the king’s emotional outrage and asks why the king is so troubled. Elisha sends word to have Naaman to come see him. The sad reality is the king’s misunderstanding of the letter stems from a lack of faith in God and a lack of respect for Elisha as God’s prophet. For King Joram, the prophet Elisha never was an option to perform Naaman’s healing. This is why Elisha states, “He will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” Elisha is possibly referencing Naaman and the king here, since both needed to be aware of Elisha’s role.

Naaman appeared at Elisha’s door with an entourage of strength and power. Elisha was not impressed with the show of pride and force. He sends a messenger to inform Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times, and the healing will come.

Disappointment turns to Healing (2 Kings 5:11-14)

Naaman had a reality check. In his hometown, he was “kind of a big deal,” but Elisha is meeting Naaman at his point of pride. Elisha did not meet the expectation Naaman thought would happen regarding how his healing would play out.  It was time for a reckoning. Naaman has a choice to make, pride over humility. Humility will bring healing; pride will keep him desperate. The Jordan River, in comparison to the rivers in his country, was vastly different, and he almost missed out on healing because of his personal and national pride.

It took a servant to give Naaman a dose of reality and convinces Naaman to follow through with Elisha’s instructions. Let us pause here and thank the Lord for the people who speak into our lives in moments we need clarity and better judgment.

Naaman calms down and humbly follows through with the instructions for healing. After washing for the seventh time, Naaman receives the healing he was desperate for. God healed Naaman completely, and this healing proved there was a prophet in Israel who spoke for God. What healing do we humbling need to receive today?

Dr. Joe Rangel is the associate dean of the School of Christian Studies and teaches Christian ministry at Wayland Baptist University.

• The Explore the Bible Lesson for July 17 focuses on 1 Kings 19:9-18.

Fear is a compelling human emotion, and it is paralyzing at times. I experienced this paralyzing fear over one Thanksgiving break. The morning of travel started great; we were headed to Utah for a ski trip with some family. We stopped briefly to take in some sights. The Grand Canyon was grand, and the Horseshoe bend was a breathtaking sight. By that evening, the snow had begun to fall, and daylight was fading quickly as we started our way up the mountain.

Snow chains were placed firmly on our tires by some kind-hearted fireman who knew I had no clue how to put them on. I was determined to take my family up the mountain to the cozy cabin we rented for the week. I did not know a major snowstorm had begun, and white-out conditions ensued. It was becoming challenging to drive as the winding mountain road became treacherous. I remember being paralyzed with fear, thinking our van could get stuck on that mountain during the night. Thankfully some locals showed up and warned me of snow drifts ahead and advised us to head down the mountain instead and wait for better weather to head back up. We took their advice and were able to join our family the next day.

Why is fear sometimes challenging to overcome? I think it is because fear for humans is our default emotion in many situations. Faith is harder to express in scary or difficult moments. Faith requires supernatural power. Fear, it seems, operates so efficiently from our human nature. I believe this is why the enemy also uses fear to suppress our faithful trust in God.

In this week’s text, Elijah is gripped with fear, having just defeated the 450 prophets of Baal. He finds out Jezebel wants him killed. Apparently, not everyone in Israel was impressed with Elijah’s demonstration of Yahweh’s power and presence. Filled with fear and feeling alone, Elijah leaves that literal mountain top experience to escape on a six-week trek towards Mount Sinai to hide.

Fear (1 Kings 19:9-10)

Elijah is running for his life due to the sinister death threat by Jezebel. On his trek, he is overcome with fearful emotions and exhaustion and needs to be strengthened by the food an angel provides him.  He finally makes it to Mount Horeb, and Yahweh confronts the fearful prophet hiding in a cave with an interesting question. “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Being the all-knowing God, Yahweh is not asking for information but wants to confront Elijah with the truth of his situation. Maybe today, we need to be asked a similar question. Where has fear taken us? What are we running from?

Elijah responds to the question very dramatically. He seems to understand he has been caught in his fear. And like most of us, when we get caught, we blame our circumstances and others in hopes of not having to face the truth. He states he is very zealous for Yahweh. Elijah even uses Yahweh’s warrior name (Sabaoth) to make his case. He then blames the Israelites for rejecting Yahweh’s covenant and states that he is the only prophet left. Elijah apparently forgot about the 100 prophets Obadiah had saved (1 Kings 18:13) and the numerous others Yahweh had protected. Elijah desperately tries to talk his way out of his situation, but sadly he winds up contradicting himself.

A Faithful Whisper (1 Kings 19:11-14)

God moves Elijah out of his hiding place and from his struggles and confronts him with a strong wind, earthquake and fire. Yahweh shows Elijah that true might and power are not in the hands of a corrupt queen but in his presence.  These expressions of power would have been fearful to anyone experiencing them. However, the text shows Elijah is not afraid in Yahweh’s presence. He already is gaining newfound courage and strength in Yahweh’s presence.

Yahweh was not in the wind, earthquake and fire, but his presence was in a whisper, a soft voice. We do not know what was said; however, it was reaffirming for Elijah nonetheless. He wrapped his face in his cloak and went out further from the cave to meet face to face with Yahweh. Again, Yahweh asks him the question he had asked previously, and Elijah repeats his answer. The truth is Elijah is afraid for his life, yet he remains zealous for Yahweh. He is conflicted. When we are conflicted, it is always best to quiet the voices around us and seek to listen to the still small voice of Yahweh that is always there to strengthen us and bring us clarity.

The Reaffirming Reality (1 Kings 19:15-18)

After hearing Elijah’s same response to his question, Yahweh redirects him and sets him on a mission to anoint some kings and his successor, Elisha. Elijah finds courage in his purposeful call to execute Yahweh’s commands. He will return to dangerous territory; however, understanding his call and purpose has allowed him to refocus on service. Yahweh reminded Elijah he was not alone, and he found what he needed in his obedience to Yahweh. Serving others gives us a reaffirming reality in which we can take comfort and find purpose as the people of God.

Dr. Joe Rangel is the associate dean of the School of Christian Studies and teaches Christian ministry at Wayland Baptist University

• Lesson 4 in the Connect360 unit “Prayer That Moves Heaven: Power With Purpose” focuses on Romans 8:26-27.

We don’t have to be prayer warriors to be effective pray-ers. Prayer does not come naturally to us. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). It takes time to learn how to pray. Even though prayer is simply talking with God, it is still not something that always comes easily to us. That’s one of the reasons God has given us the Holy Spirit to live in us and with us. He helps us to pray effectively.

Prayer isn’t performance art. Whether our prayers are made in private or in public, the fact that the Holy Spirit is there to help us means we don’t have to “perform” for God. Knowing the Spirit is going to take our feebleness in prayer and make it intelligible gives us the freedom to be ourselves in prayer. We can talk with God with the voice and words we always use in casual conversation with friends and family. Because God searches our hearts, we don’t have to pretend with him, either. We can tell God what we are really feeling at the time. If we’re angry, sad, confused or any other feeling, we can be honest with God and ourselves as we talk with him.

Never alone

We are never alone. The presence of the Holy Spirit within us helping us to pray lets us know we are never alone. Jesus promised us in Matthew 28: 20b, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Sometimes, having a difficult thing to say is made easier when a friend is with us. As the hymn reminds us, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” We have Jesus present with usm because the Holy Spirit lives in us.

God has a plan. Knowing that the Holy Spirit’s intercession for us in prayer is part of God’s plan tells us that God wants us to pray to him. And God wants us to be assured that the Spirit is helping us in our prayers.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 3 in the Connect360 unit “Prayer That Moves Heaven: Power With Purpose” focuses on Acts 2:42-47.

As the new church suddenly came together, they didn’t have the luxury of going out and buying new literature and Bibles. Instead, they had the testimony of the apostles, who probably spent a great deal of time testifying to what Jesus had done and said. It was a rich source of material.

In the Gospel according to John, the Bible tells us two things that let us know how rich and deep the lessons were being taught. Jesus had promised his disciples the Holy Spirit would remind them of everything he had said (John 14:26) and that the Gospels only shared a small portion of what Jesus had said and done (John 20:30). What better teachers could the new converts have than those who had lived and walked with Jesus for three years?

Committed to Christ

This disparate group of people had one thing in common—their commitment to Christ. As the Holy Spirit entered into the 3,000, the Spirit brought them into a common identity that overcame any possible barriers that may have arisen. Out of their common experience of knowing Jesus, they discovered they had more in common than not, and they were no longer only a group of people but were part of the family of God.

Some believe the mention of the breaking of bread in this verse speaks to the observance of the Lord’s Supper. More likely, this is a reference to an agape meal. That was a meal shared with the church family, similar to a churchwide fellowship. In doing so, they got to know each other better and were able to share their faith walk with each other.

They also were devoted to prayer. The new believers had been described as “God-fearing Jews” in Acts 2:5. This commitment grew out of their old practices but must have taken on a new life as their prayers were now assisted by the work of the Holy Spirit within them. They understood the need to be in communication with the Father through the Spirit in order to learn more about the Son. They understood the need to speak to God openly about their needs, their questions,and their concerns. They understood the need to listen to the voice of God through the Spirit as they continually sought to follow his ways in Christ.

Seeing God working in a church that is devoted to him can open our eyes to see him in new ways.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.   

• The Explore the Bible Lesson for July 10th focuses on 1 Kings 18:25-39

I always have cheered for the underdog. I am a Dallas Cowboys fan, so I am used to it. Underdogs are special. How can you not cheer for the guy or girl who is the long shot and winds up being a winner? We love those stories of triumph despite challenges and impossible odds.

During this past summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Wayland Baptist University alum Tamyra Mensah-Stock won the gold medal in her weight class. It was a fantastic victory, especially considering she began wrestling in the 10th grade and did not compete in the previous summer Olympics in Brazil. Tamyra overcame some challenges to become an Olympic gold medalist. She said: “I knew I could do it. From when I first started wrestling, I felt I could be an Olympic champ. I did it!” As a professor at Wayland, I know first-hand how incredibly proud we are of Tamyra.

In the study for this week, the prophet Elijah is on the scene confronting one of the worst kings of Israel, King Ahab. Elijah is the underdog in this story. The spiritual situation in Israel is bleak. Idolatrous worship is rampant, and sin is an epidemic in Israel. In response to Israel’s sin, Yahweh has sent a drought. The drought became a metaphor for Israel’s dry spiritual condition.

If we are honest, we have all lived through these dry spiritual seasons. It becomes cumbersome to read God’s word or pray, and sometimes during these dry seasons, going to church no longer is something we look forward to.  It seems that Yahweh is far from us, like we need some spiritual rain to water our spirits and give us renewal.

Israel needs renewal, and the prophet Elijah will be in a showdown with the numerous prophets of Baal. The stage is set. It is one prophet against so many. One prophet is ready to show the others that there is indeed one God who will demonstrate his great power and the emptiness of idolatrous worship despite the numerous worshippers.

Ineffective Faith (1 Kings 18:25-29)

The challenge was pretty simple. Each side would prepare a sacrifice, and the true deity would respond with fire from heaven. Vastly outnumbered, the prophet Elijah told the 450 prophets of Baal to go first and attempt to summon fire from heaven. Baal represented the central deity in Caananite worship. His name connotes “Lord” or “One who rules.”

By Elijah, letting the prophets of Baal go first is a bold move. It gave the opposing prophets a slight advantage by going first. Baal was known to be a god who controlled the weather. It should have been an easy challenge for a god who ruled the skies. However, hours passed, and no response from Baal. The 450 prophets began to dance and shout, hoping Baal would hear them and respond.

Elijah began mocking the prophets of Baal, saying that maybe Baal was sleeping, or on a trip, or still thinking about his response. Either way, the prophets of Baal took their pleas to the next level and began to cut themselves. Blood was dripping off their bodies as they danced or wavered according to the Hebrew word, back and forth, shouting in hopes that Baal would hear them and respond. The result was a deafening silence.

Effective Faith (1 Kings 18:30-35)

It is now evening, and Israel had witnessed the ineffective antics of the 450 prophets of Baal all day. There was still no fire from heaven. It is Elijah’s turn to call down fire from heaven. He gathers Israel to watch him prepare his sacrifice. It is important to note that Elijah rebuilt an altar that had previously been used to sacrifice to Yahweh, which had since been laid waste due to idolatrous worship. Elijah used the twelve stones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Although at that present time, Israel was divided, the symbolism of Elijah unifying all twelve stones for Yahweh’s altar was understood.

Once the altar and the sacrifice were ready, Elijah made a trench around the sacrifice. I’m sure the spectators were wondering what the trench’s purpose was. He then asked for water to be poured over the sacrifice, the wood, and the altar. He asked for four pots to be filled with water and poured over the sacrifice three times. The water filled the trench and soaked the altar, yet his faith in Yahweh was firm. Elijah did not want anyone leaving that experience doubting the power of Yahweh.

The Response (1 Kings 18:36-39)

Elijah calls on Yahweh to demonstrate his power and presence in the sight of Israel. Yahweh responds immediately; Elijah had not even finished his prayer before Yahweh sent fire to consume the sacrifice. The contrast between a silent Baal and the quick responding Yahweh was stark.

Israel falls face down in worship and submission to Yahweh in this unforgettable experience. Elijah concludes his prayer by calling on Israel to stop dancing or wavering, the Hebrew word, between idolatrous worship and obedience to Yahweh. What are we wavering with today? What are things we chase after that leave us empty in the end? Let us live in the strength to be willing to stand alone in our convictions and faith.

Dr. Joe Rangel is the associate dean of the School of Christian Studies and teaches Christian ministry at Wayland Baptist University

• Lesson 2 in the Connect360 unit “Prayer That Moves Heaven: Power With Purpose” focuses on 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5.

In these verses, Paul’s prayer request was that God’s will be done through him. Specifically, he wanted prayer for God’s message to spread effectively where he was (he was writing from Corinth at the time). The center of Paul’s life was sharing the gospel with the people he met, and he wasn’t shy about asking others to join him in his ministry. That’s why he wanted their prayers.

Paul also asked for deliverance from “wicked and evil men.” Throughout Paul’s ministry, he was plagued by opposition to his ministry. Paul made a list of the opposition he received when he wrote to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:21b-29). His letters demonstrated the other forms of opposition Paul experienced, whether from false prophets who spread a false gospel to the Galatians or from weak believers who pretended to be strong as in Corinth, the apostle struggled in his daily life in his care and concern for the gospel and for the churches he helped found. Is it any wonder Paul would ask prayers to be delivered from wicked and evil people?

Just as Paul experienced opposition, so do we each day we try to walk in God’s ways. Romans 7:7-25 is a testimony from Paul about our daily struggle with temptation and sin. We are surrounded by men and women who are not seeking God’s kingdom, and they want us to abandon our commitment to God for the expedience of doing it the “easy” way.

These verses remind us that intercessory prayer is not only for times of crisis, but also for our daily living. Last week’s lesson reminded us that we are to “be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18b). When someone asks us to pray for them, we should consider it a privilege to go to the Father on their behalf.

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• The Explore the Bible Lesson for July 3 focuses on 1 Kings 15:9-22.

Springtime can be a great time to clean. Many of us come out of the winter season ready for a time of cleansing and renewal. Warmer temperatures indicate it can be time to do something meaningful and productive. My wife is notorious for “spring cleaning,” which helps our house experience a great time of cleansing. We take inventory of what we do not need or no longer are using and give it away. Although the process is long and tiresome, we feel better about our house after the experience.

It also is good to conduct some spiritual spring cleaning from time to time. We need to take stock in our spiritual walk to see if we have allowed things that draw our attention away from our walk as disciples of Christ and get rid of them.

In this week’s study, the focus is on Asa, who became king of Judah at an early age. In ways similar to King David, he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh. King Asa represented the “lamp” Yahweh raised in honor of David (1 Kings 15:4). His reign proved to be spiritually transforming for Judah. Under his rule, Asa removed cult prostitutes and obscene idols of false worship and even removed his grandmother as queen mother under his authority. Asa’s reign proved to be a much-needed spiritual cleansing for the people of Judah.

Influence and Action (1 Kings 15:9-15)

We are influenced by many things and people in our lives. For Asa, one significant influence was probably the stories of his great ancestor King David. Although Asa’s family had ushered in idols and false worship, Asa did not follow in that spiritual decline. This says a lot about Asa and others who grow up in families far from God. Like Asa, some of these children decide to do things differently spiritually and choose to follow God rather than continue down the path of spiritual decline.

With a significant godly influence to follow, Asa begins his spiritual cleansing of Judah. I can imagine others did not popularly accept these reformative actions around him, but he is set in his decision to make things right before God. In our society, some of us face similar situations. Choosing to live morally and ethically right is not as popular, and yet, God calls us to live in this way despite what our present culture and society would say. Like Asa, we must set our hearts on choosing to do what is right before God and not necessarily what is popular.

Doubting Dilemma (1 Kings 15:16-19)

Although Asa had made some tremendous spiritual reforms for Judah, he was not perfect. In times past, when his kingdom faced conflict, Asa turned to Yahweh for protection and direction. However, when King Bashaa of Israel formed a blockade eliminating trade possibilities for Judah and cutting them off from their allies, Asa panicked and entered into a quick treaty with Ben-Hadad, king of Aram. Asa bribes Ben-Hadad with significant wealth he acquired from the royal treasury and the Lord’s temple. By entering into this treaty hastily, Asa puts his faith in material things to buy a solution instead of turning to Yahweh for guidance.

We all have been put in stressful situations that often require immediate answers, and it is during these times, that we realize in what we place our faith. Do we run to material things, or do we run to God?

Resolution (1 Kings 15:20-22)

King Ben-Hadad agreed to the treaty and was pleased with the wealth he had acquired on behalf of Judah. He began to attack Israel in key northern cities, which caused Baashan to remove troops from Judah. King Asa moves his forces up to Ramah, where the blockade was built. Asa utilizes the timber and stones to rebuild cities in Judah that needed to be refortified. In his lack of faith, Asa sees God’s deliverance.

God is gracious. His grace and faithfulness are evident even in our moments of weakness and failure. God made a way for Judah and changed the situation, harming them. God allowed Judah to fortify some of their cities in a decisive change of events.

In the same way, God is gracious to us, and he is always faithful. He can turn things around and bless us in the process. Let us set our hearts on choosing to live for God. Let’s learn from our moments of failure and experience the cleansing our souls need from him.

 Dr. Joe Rangel is the associate dean of the School of Christian Studies and teaches Christian ministry at Wayland Baptist University