DCLM Daily Manna 29 September 2025 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Take A Stand For The Lord
TOPIC: Take A Stand For The Lord (DCLM Daily Manna 29 September 2025)
KEY VERSE: “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).
TEXT: 1 Kings 18:17-29 (KJV)
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
MESSAGE:
There could be many reasons people grow cold feet when circumstances demand that they take a stand for the Lord. It may be for fear of persecution or the desire to be accepted and rewarded by the largely heathen society. But whatever the reason may be, it cannot be a cogent excuse for any believer to neglect to identify with the Lord at all times.
Prophet Elijah amplified this fact when he challenged King Ahab and his coterie of false prophets to a public contest to determine who was serving the true God. Elijah had pronounced drought and famine on the land, as punishment for their sins. Three years on, he met King Ahab who accused the prophet of troubling Israel but Elijah retorted that it was Ahab and his family that had troubled the nation by rebelling against God’s command and worshipping the idol, Baalim. He asked the king to gather all of Israel, including his 850 idol-worshipping prophets and priests, and demanded that the people decide to follow God or Baalim. But the people had become so spiritually indifferent that they “answered him not a word.” Still, Elijah proceeded with the contest, which involved offering sacrifice to their idols on one hand, and the Almighty God, on the other, emphasising that “the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.” All efforts made by the false prophets to get answers from the idols were futile, even after being mocked by Elijah, bleeding profusely from self-inflicted cuts, and shouting from morning to evening. It was proof of the futility of idol worship.
Whatever the world offers – riches, position, fame, power – we must not be ashamed or afraid to be recognised as Christians. To hide behind popular culture and follow the line of least spiritual resistance is to reject the love of God, undermine His mercy and neglect/contradict His word. Instead, we must always remember that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We should live in righteousness, defend our faith in Christ in words and deeds, and show faithfulness to the One who gave His life to redeem us.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Spiritual indifference is a careless stroll to damnation.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Ecclesiastes 8-12
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
