Is this question familiar with us?
Does it ring any bell in our lives?
The bible clearly indicates and proves that the word of God is Active and Alive, an ever present help in time of need. When this question is asked it signifies deterioration. It signifies failure or coming from a high point to almost a low one. Just take your self momentarily and ask the same question. How many times have you found yourself in wonderland? Considering your status it is like you are a nobody. You are not the first one child of God, neither does this condemn you to a lesser blessing. It is just those instances the lord uses to shape us as He would love us be.
Elijah was in a similar situation. May be your case is not so much on you as was that of this prophet of the Most High. His name means " The Lord is my God". Yet the circumstances indicate otherwise. I can see what you feel and even envisage the painful questions flying in your mind. This were elephant, but a midst all this, the bible says that God told Elijah 1 Kings chapter 18 a couple of things to be done.
1. Present yourself to Ahab who is married to Jezebel an idol worshiper and declare after 3 years it is going rain.
2. Meet Obadiah, means "servant of God" who was in-charge of the palace. 1 Kings 18.3-4. I love this man Obadiah, he is quite outstanding. Working for Idol worshiper yet not bowing down, but serving God faithfully.Does this sound familiar with you. It does not matter who you are working for, your stand and faith are the determinants. 1 Kings 18 says that Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in caves whom he fed every day without any one knowing except God,.
The message that Elijah sent to Obadiah was very precise in 1 Kings 18.8. "And he answered I am, go and tell Ahab here is Elijah". In verse 13 Obadiah tells Elijah of what he has been doing feeding the prophets of God.But there is an interesting part to this story in verse 17 " And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubles Israel"? May be that is your nickname. They call you the one who cries or any other name. Remember the disciples were called " they who have turned the world upside down" Do not be annoyed by the nickname you have been given. You are not the first or even the last to be called names. So long as you call on the name of the living God, this will be part of the walk with the Lord. And as usual there is that self preservation. Elijah tried it in 1 Kings 18.18 "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you have n followed Baal.
How we easily loose focus.of God"s helping hand 1 Kings 18.22. Elijah's assumes he is the only prophet remaining. He has forgotten what Obadiah had informed him earlier. How many times have you cried foul, claiming that God has forsaken you. In verse 40, Elijah commanded that all the prophets of Baal be taken to the brook Ki'shon, and be killed. This is where today's encouragement begins. Friends any distraction elements must be dealt with. Don't keep them, destroy them completely. What are the Baal idols in your life? Could it be your house, job, business or even family? It is time everything must be surrendered to Christ. It dose not matter how dear and close it is to your life.One thing is for sure that do not celebrate for long the victory the Lord has brought your way. Chances are you may go through the wilderness experience jus as Elijah and Jesus did.It was when Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost that He was tempted by the devil. It is when enjoying the grace and blessing of God that trials, tribulation, tests and challenges will come your way. It is important that while here you get to understand where your help comes from. It is important to understand that it is not by might or by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord that you are what and who you are. That is why there is no room for boasting. After all if there is any boasting we should boast that we are in the Lord. Be ready and for-warned. There will be counter attacks. It may not be easy, but you have to know who called you and the hope that is in you through Christ Jesus.
What are you doing here? This is the question that God asked Elijah. And may I ask you what are you doing here? Is this the place that God called you to serve? Are you in the ministry of the Lord or you are pursuing your own personal agenda.The mission you are fighting for, is it the mandate God gave you or your own perception. So the Lord asked Elijah the question I ask you child of God. What are you doing here? Our actions as believers have to be more action oriented than speech related. No need to give good lectures and we fail the test of being good examples. The results of confrontation leads to hiding. And this is what Elijah did and so are many of us experts of the same.
1.Elijah exemplified fear 11 Kings 19.3
-there was loss of focus from God and he looked at his individual self
-he started considering himself and his prevailing situation.
Sin leads to fear. Be sure any of these issues are quickly rebuked, forgiven and forgotten.
2. Elijah was full of anxiety.
Fear lead to uncertainty. Many of us are not sure of our next course of action. This has led to people getting lost in sin yet practicing Christian lip service.When anxious, confusion and disorientation. Plans are rendered useless. Satan and his cohorts are masters of disorganization. Elijah cannot even remember how God down in a great way. But thinks only of I, ME and MYSELF. He is so myopic and egocentric but be careful or he will bring you to your lowest ebb.
3. Elijah was hiding from the truth (Jesus is the truth)
During tough times people fear facing the truth. In fact we are living in times when believers tell lies without batting their eyes.In this case, Elijah cannot dare face Jezebel with the truth. This is the man who believing God had declared it was not going to rain for three and a half years and it did not. He is the same person who gave command to Ahab to run very fast because it was coming to rain. This Elijah did call out for the God who answers by fire and He came through for him. Yet within a twinkling of an eye he is hiding deep in the cave with a pulsating throb of his heart. My friend what is it the you trusted God for, he came through for you and now here you cursing and calling God all the names in the world. Can you compare your sufferings to what the apostle Paul went through.God has helped you conquer this question and here there comes another and you start rattling. Fear of the truth leads to maintaining status quo and a don't care attitude.
When you run from the truth you wear out very fast.This is a weapon the devil knows well how to use.When we hide the truth, we think we are helping ourselves. How weak we expose ourselves and open ourselves to the devils manipulation
In 1 Kings 19.4 is a prayer we normally pray when hiding from the truth. "God you know, just see and understand the circumstances are beyond my scope, I am trying to live my level best. And these are the tricks we apply. Hide under a tree "shed as Elijah did, Take my life and die, thinking I am no better than my ancestors and why suffer any way? Could this be talking about you? You've come to a place where you think there is no need living. Consider Elijah confronting God and telling him. God, this you do not know. "All the prophets have been killed only I who is alive" Probably you can identify with this story very clearly. Yo have cares and concerns of this world that are weighing you down, try Jesus. He say come to me all that are heavily laden and I will give you rest . Trust me, there is TRUE rest in Christ Jesus
Come taste and see that the lord is GOOD. Come out of hiding. What are you doing there? Look up the lamb of god is beckoning you come. Come to him, He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Give him your situation and the rest will be history. Believe it and live it. Amen!
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