But What Can I Do?

This week we continued with our "God of Wonders" series and asked the question, "Alright, I know there are some major issues in our world today that need God's intervention, but what can I do about them?". It is easy to look at the issues that we have discussed (poverty, christian persecution, AIDS, human trafficking and slavery) and feel overwhelmed to the point of disinterest and detachment from these issues. However in 1 Kings 16-18 we read about how Elijah dealt with a pretty serious issue and asked some pretty ridiculous things of God...and God answered in some "God-sized" ways. Elijah sets an example for us of just what we can do with big issues in our world today.
First of all Elijah very boldly confronted the issue (I Kings 17:1). He did not hold back at all as he confronted King Ahab, even though he had no earthly authority to do so. He knew that he only had to answer to the true "living" God.
Elijah also obeyed God, even when God asked him to do something that sounded pretty ridiculous by human standards (1 Kings 17:2-7). I believe Elijah's obedience is quite noteworthy. Verse 5 begins by saying "So he went". He did not need any further explanation. He did not need to take some time to pray about this. He did not need to seek counsel from anyone. God told him to go...and he went.
Elijah's obedience allowed him to get away from the hustle and bustle and, in his case, the dangers of this world, so that, he could spend some time alone with his creator. (1 Kings 17:5-7)
And finally Elijah shows us how important it is to pray to God. James 5:17 tells us that Elijah spent time in prayer before this whole encounter Ahab and I Kings 18:42 tells us that he also ended this encounter with prayer.
It may seem pretty cliche-ish, but Elijah really does give a pretty good example of how to deal with these big issues in our world today...1)Boldly confront the issues that God burns on our hearts. 2) Make ourselves available to God and obey His call on our lives. That call is understood and clarified through 3) time alone with God and 4) pray to God.