TREASURES OF THE BIBLE, Week of October 3 to 9, 2022, “How long will they be limping between two opinions?”, Prepared Speech.

TREASURES OF THE BIBLE, October 3-9, 2022, “How Long Will You Be Limping Between Two Opinions?”, Prepared Speech.

“How long will they be limping between two opinions?” (10 min.).

I want to ask you a simple question. Why are you a Jehovah's Witness? Each of us has a different answer. Thinking a little, some may be that since they were children, their parents instilled love for Jehovah. Perhaps others, on the other hand, in their youth something that they were doing made them reconsider and they took the course they have now in terms of their service to God.

Others perhaps saw that their life had no meaning. Or so many other reasons that may have motivated someone to become a Jehovah's Witness. But days, months or years have passed. Now ask that again. Do you believe that Jehovah is the only true God? Do you think that the decision you made to be a Jehovah's Witness was the right one?

 It is possible that many are no longer with us to answer this question, but there are others of whom we are that we begin to analyze over time. The interest, the deep love that we came to have for Jehovah, is it maintained? o Now we have doubts? Possibly the hope we had that things were going to change quickly, that the new world would be right away as soon as we were baptized and nothing happened, has made us think twice, that we have done the right thing.

Well, that is what we are going to talk about in this section of Treasures of the Bible with the title: How long will they be taking between 2 opinions? These words were said by the prophet Elijah, and the situation was not so difficult to answer and of course, to demonstrate something other than what he was doubting. If we see here in the first book of the kings the chapter 18 verse 21, Let us understand the situation that Elijah faced at that time.

LET'S READ 1 KINGS 18:21.

Then Elijah approached all the people and said: “How long will you be limping between two opinions? If Jehovah is the true God, follow him! But if Baal is, follow him!" But the people did not answer him a single word.

Apparently the answer of whether Jehovah is the true God was easy, anyone could answer it logically. It is like today if you ask him, Are you sure that Jehovah is the Almighty God? The answer is logical, but the demonstration with our lives could say something different, because there could be indecision, doubts. and when there are doubts it has to do with the faith of each Christian.

 Here Elijah was talking to the people of God, a people who had seen Jehovah's word fulfilled about living in a promised land. They were there, they had enough proof that Jehovah was the true god and fulfiller of promises. But Elijah's question indicated something else. How long will they be taking between 2 opinions? God's dedicated people had doubts that he is the true god and were beginning to worship Baal.

And of course, it was logical for Elijah to say, well decide for something or Jehovah or Baal, but make a decision. If we examine our life, how many years have you spent as a Jehovah's Witness? What progress has it shown? If you are a male, do you already have privileges in the congregation? Have you been able to satisfy the biblical requirements as a ministerial servant or as an elder to help other brothers? 

Or he supports himself for many years simply by participating as much as he can, preaching from time to time, attending meetings from time to time, etc. We must remember that when we became witnesses, we dedicated our lives and said that the main thing in it was going to be Jehovah. We're making it? Yes no, because he has doubts about doing it?

We want to examine that what we are doing is correct. and Elijah proposed that to the people. If Baal was the true god to Jehovah. let's see how he did it in 1 Kings 18:25-29.

LET'S READ 1 KINGS 18:25-29.

Elijah now told the prophets of Baal: “Choose a young bull and prepare it yourselves first, for you are the majority. Then invoke the name of your god. But don't set it on fire." 26 So they took the young bull that was given to them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They said: "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice and no answer.a They kept limping around the altar they had made. 27 About noon Elijah began to mock them and say, “Shout as loud as you can because he is a god, after all!b Perhaps he is deep in thought or has gone to relieve himself. Or maybe he's asleep and someone has to wake him up! 28 They shouted at the top of their lungs and, according to their customs, they cut themselves with knives and spears until blood gushed all over their bodies. 29 Midday passed and they continued in a frenzy until the time of the evening grain offering. But there was not a voice or anyone to answer; nobody listened to them.

With everything we just read, everything these prophets of baal did to wait for an answer from their god. What would be the correct answer to the question that Elías asked them, How long will they be taking between 2 opinions? If you want to follow Baal, do so. If they want Jehovah too. What was logical for them to do? Well, Baal did not exist. Baal. he didn't answer. Everything they did was in vain.

Isn't it true that today it is also something similar? Although many people have achieved what may attract us: fame, money, etc. But you have seen that they manage to have all that, they feel empty, to the point that many of them take their lives. That is what Satan does, makes us believe that what he offers him is better when happiness does not really exist there.  

Therefore, how long will we be taking two opinions? Jehovah demonstrated at this time before all the people that he is the true god. We see What happened in first of kings chapter 18 verse from 36 to 38. 

LET'S READ 1 KINGS 18:36-38.

About the time of presenting the evening grain offering,a the prophet approached the altar and said: “O Jehovah—God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel—let it be known today that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant and that I have done all this because you told me to. 37 Answer me, O Jehovah! Answer me so that this people will know that you, Jehovah, are the true God and that you are turning their hearts back to you.”38 At that, Jehovah’s fire fell from above and devoured the burnt offering, the wood, the stones. and dust, and licked up the water from the ditch.

In our Activity Guide we have a drawing that represents that moment. Elijah had requested that the offering and everything around it be wet and wet and very wet so that no one would think that I saw any trick here, and Jehovah caused fire to fall and devour this offering. And let's also see the water that was there, no one could doubt that he was the true God. Maybe if we also examine our lives and realize the occasions in which Jehovah has shown us that he exists. And how many times that we have suffered, Satan has also shown us that he also exists only to cause us harm. 

Therefore, if we have doubts regarding our services Jehovah, we must review our faith, we must see the knowledge we obtained, what was the basis of this and how we can demonstrate to Jehovah today that we are not indecisive people, that we are completely sure that he is the true God, that we do not need him to show us every moment how much he loves us or that he exists for us to trust him. Our life, our current situation, is a clear demonstration that Jehovah loves us deeply, that he has helped us change our lives, that he has set us a goal for the future. Until when are they taking between 2 opinions? The answer is life or death.