Silvia Alvarenga

  • 25
  • Jan
  • 2013

The 40-Day Challenge : Day 5

  • 25
  • Jan
  • 2013


“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:16,17)

Here’s the answer to yesterday’s question…

What is to be great in the sight of God?

It’s to be bold and convert many of the children of Israel — those who are inside the church — to God.

There are many who say they are children of God, but in practice, they lead a life that is contrary to faith. They do things their “way”, and yet think they will achieve something from God.

To convert is nothing but to change direction.

“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah…”

This John the Baptist the angel presented to Zacharias was not a coward! He would never go before God in the flesh; he would never be anxious or act in haste… Rather, he would be in Spirit, that is, he would be vigilant, attentive…

When a person goes before God, he or she remains attentive to discern between right and wrong. They do not expect God to do what they have to do.

They go ahead. They are vigilant!

Only the brave and bold, those who are not afraid to face challenges, go ahead. The timid are never on the front line.

Who was Elijah?

When we talk about Elijah, we think of faith! We think of someone who was brave, who confronted the prophets of Baal single-handedly and prevailed (1 Kings 18:25).

When a person is shy, fearful, cowardly, and is worried about what other people think, he or she is NOT great in the eyes of God.

But they remain in the spirit of weakness, which holds them back.

John was a man with the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the hearts of the children of Israel for the coming of the Lord. He had to be bold and show them the Truth, and yet be humble.

And we can only be bold when we overcome our weaknesses, which enslave us. If our conscience is not clean, if we have something to hide or if we living in sin, we cannot have this power, let alone pass it on to others.

There are many people in the church who are waiting for someone who is bold enough to speak the truth and convert their hearts. Note that to be bold does not mean to humiliate people, but to set their souls free.

So was John the Baptist. In spite of his bold spirit and power, he was loved and followed by all who thirsted for the Truth. He was not worried about pleasing anyone but God Himself. He had the firm purpose of converting the people who listened to him by exhorting them to repentance.


I know the Word of God, and so I have the responsibility to bring salvation to others. The fulfillment of God’s promise depends on me!

We must resist what is wrong, seek God’s guidance and have discipline. To convert is to neutralize the feelings of the heart, such as: fear, timidity, cowardice, insecurities, and doubts.

How do we break away from these feelings?

When we act by an intelligent faith!

When I hear what the servant of God says, accept the truth, discipline myself and convert, I stop following my feelings and start doing what is written, that is, I obey the Word.

Dear friend, I’d like you to meditate on this…

Keeping the Word of God alive and active inside of us is what makes us great in His eyes.



Leave a message

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

9 comentários

  1. Thank you Mrs Vivi for these challenges.

    Overcoming cowardice and insecurities is what makes our faith stronger and we act in a way that is favorable to the Lord. I will examine myself and see if I have not been acting as a coward to the situations that I come across. Its not what I feel or what others think I cant do, its about what God wants me to be and how He wants use me.

    See more
  2. Yes, this is so true! What helped me the most was seeing that I cannot be bold if I do not overcome my weakness. I personally get afraid of upsetting people or disappointing people. Worry comes of what people think of me, and this is a barrier that I am tearing down so that I can be bold.

    See more
  3. This is a great lesson for me that i have to fight to be great in the sight of God. But i have to obey and be disciplined. i have to be a well of life not death in such a way that all the people i assist will be able to convert and have a personal relationship with God.but it all starts with me i cannot give what i do not have.Thank you Mam this 40 day meditation is really blessing me my God continue to inspire you.
    Kisses
    Norma

    See more
  4. Dear Mrs Viviane, these post are a blessing for me. I understand that I’m a warrior in the army of God and cannot allow myself to be lead by feelings! I must daily overcome all things that are contrary to what God says.

    Thank you!

    See more
  5. This article is amazing, so powerful…this remind me of the saying how can we pass on to others what we don’t have? And it’s true, many of us make the mistake of thinking that they are ok becaus they are in church, but the truth is just going to church is not enough. We must live the words and the teachings we are receiving. That’s the only way we can receive the power of God and be able to pass it on to others!* thank you for the message!
    God bless…xoxoEV

    See more
  6. Regardless of what type of feelings that try to come to me which we will always have is what I will do opposite to act against it.

    This has everything to do with how I am being an example to souls – I honestly I was not thinking that those who were the children of Israel were the ones in the church that were being talked about. I thought it was those that want to make God their Lord. And this made to realise how important it is to be bold and forget about what people think even when you’re in the church we must stand out NOT for ourselves but before God we must call His attention with our boldness to save those who are in the church..

    Thank you for this x

    See more
1 2