“And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly” (1 Kings 18:3).
TEXT — 1 Kings 18:1-16
Message
Behaviourists and sociologists agree to a large extent that the environment can greatly condition and impact the character of an individual and influence his personality. If the environment in which one lives and functions is largely negative and corrupt, the likelihood is that it will produce negative and corrupt influences on such individual.
This accounts for the assertion of many people that it is impossible to have saints in a corrupt world. It confounds such theorists, therefore, to find saints who are truly uncorrupted by practices in the world. One of such examples is Obadiah in the courts of wicked Ahab. The Bible describes him as a man who feared the Lord greatly from his youth. Surprising is the fact that he could keep his faith in that corrupt court and refuse to bow his knees to Baal whom his principals worshipped. His integrity and aboveboard lifestyle must have earned him the trust of the king. However, more commendable is the fact that this righteous man could put his life and position at risk when he chose to hide and feed 100 prophets of God.
True saints endued with the grace of God can thrive as lilies no matter how dirty the mire of the environment in which they find themselves may be. Those who give excuse for being unable to live uprightly because of their careers and professions have not truly found grace.
Like Obadiah, some Christians occupy privileged position in the world. If you are one of such, ensure you use the position God has given you to protect and cater for His people, and promote His glory.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
