Message summary:   Ecclesiastes 3:7 wisely states that there is "A time to be silent and a time to speak". Elijah's bold call for a decision was not a time for silence!

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"But the people said nothing" (1 Kings 18:21). "A time to be silent and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7). "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:11).

Bible teacher Erwin Lutzer is the pastor emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as senior pastor from 1980-2016. He is a prolific writer and we have read several of his books. Years ago I met him at a conference in Washington.

One of his more recent books has the challenging title, "We Will Not Be Silenced: Responding with Courage to Our Culture's Assault on Christianity". He urges Christians and churches to boldly confront the evils of our age. Being silent for the wrong reasons is a great peril.

Today we continue to examine a single verse in 1 Kings 18:21 as we have in the last two messages. Here's the entire verse again: "Elijah went before the people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him'. But the people said nothing."

In this dramatic confrontation Elijah addressed those who wavered in their allegiance. He asked a probing question , "How long will you waver between two opinions?" and then followed up with this prophetic challenge, 'If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him'".

Today let us examine the people's pathetic response summed up in just five words, "But the people said nothing". This was not a time for silence. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. The right response was repentance and a bold declaration, "The Lord is my God".

Perhaps they thought by committing to neither position they would appease both. So many today are like the people who, when confronted with Elijah's unabashed choice, "said nothing". That sounds like the rampant pluralism of our day. And, tragically, it sounds like many in the visible church.

James Bridges wrote, "The enemies of the gospel will do everything possible to frighten the church into silence".

Ecclesiastes 3:7 wisely states there is "A time to be silent and a time to speak". Elijah's bold call for a decision was not a time for silence!

In our third daily verse the Apostle Paul makes a very unambiguous statement: "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them". This is a call desperately needed in our culture and increasingly so in the Church. We are subjected to ridicule and/or persecution when we obey this command by those who "love the darkness rather than the light" (John 3:19). In fact the world wants to silence those who speak out for truth exposing darkness through the Light of His Word.

Blogger Chelsen Vicari writes,

Let us determine that we will declare "the Lord is God" and follow Him.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber