"A Challenge Of Old"

   And it was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
   Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.
   And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name."
   Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
   And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood."
   Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time.
   So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
   And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.
   Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."
   Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
    Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!" 1 Kings 18:29-39
  
I love this section of the word!!! I love it for a number of reasons, not the least of which is because it ends with the people of God proclaiming, ..."The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!" 
  
I love it because of the way this one man of God stood strong in his faith, issued a challenge, and proceeded to do ALL that was necessary to see it through. ..."he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name." Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood,"

I love it because it reveals the silence that rings out when you put your faith in anything or anyone other then the LORD who is truly God. ..."But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention."

I love it because Elijah begins when and he calls to the people, with the words that we know to be the Lord's heart, ..."Come near to me."

I love it because we get to see God come through in an amazing way as He goes way beyond what He could do and instead of just consuming the sacrifice He  ..."also consumed the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench."

Truth is, I love it because it is not just a challenge of old that was issued by Elijah but because it is also a challenge for me as well. It challenges me to pray like Elijah that people would see God in my life and in the stands that I make as I declare that He is my Lord. My God.

It challenges me to pray daily, ... "Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."