After considering Elijah’s character, it is necessary to visit the divine power that enabled him to serve the True, Living God. We have already established he was a man who knew God personally … that he was a man of prayer leading to him being patient, waiting upon God and being protected by God. Before diving into today’s Note, what we need today is men like Elijah, bold, confident, Spirit indwelt, separated from the world, ready and eager to do the Master’s bidding. Few will qualify as he did but this ought to be the aim of every child of God because the times (days) in which we live are extremely trying.
The First Mark of Divine Power in Elijah Was His Boldness
Yesterday we saw how evil king Ahab was, yet the prophet, knowing he could lose his life went to the king in the boldness of God’s power resting upon him.
1Ki 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
This was not a suicide mission. This was a man so full of God’s presence and power that in the best sense of the word … he was ‘driven’ to fulfil the Lord’s command. Ahab under the influence of his wicked wife, queen Jezebel, worshipped many pagan idol gods and God wanted him to know that even though he trusted dead pieces of wood, clay, bronze, silver and gold that He (God) created, He (God) would do something that would devastate the economy and food supply chain as well as jobs. Because of this king’s wickedness, the country as a whole would suffer! This is always the result of evil, despotic leadership anywhere in the world. Elijah was God’s man to convey God’s Word to evil Ahab. We need to pray for God to raise up men with this boldness because of God’s power. Not just to confront evil leaders but to confront evil people. We need to understand that even though people might have good morals and be educated, if they are not on God’s side they are lost in sin (evil) and need to hear the Gospel message. Let’s pray for this!
The Second Mark of Divine Power in Elijah Was His Obedience
Sadly in our time, many who were called by God, as their ministries grow tend to follow their own instincts and disobey God’s Commands over their lives and ministries. Elijah was different. Remember his life was under constant threat. Ahab wanted him dead! Look at this
1Ki 17:2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.
Although this was for his protection, he gave no complaints, no pleading to do something else … he gave immediate, lasting obedience because this was God instructing him. Now look at this …
1Ki 18:1 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”
It was closing in on three years of being in “hiding” when God told him to have an audition with the king and give a message that rain was eminent. The full length of drought was 3 ½ years (James 5:17). Yesterday we saw his patience … today we see how that patience could be extended for years because of his passion to obey God. What we need today in all shapes of Christian ministry is obedience … lasting obedience. Pray for God to help His servants to offer lasting obedience so that they will finish well.
The Third Mark of Divine Power in Elijah Was His Dependence Upon God
Again, a sad trait today is that few are able to depend upon God for His provision, be it for personal survival or ministerial success. Too often, instead of trusting God, men look to human provision for their needs. Elijah had a different agenda!
1Ki 17:4 “You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 Sometime later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.”
From the outset of his ministry as a prophet, Elijah depended upon God. These verses show us how God provided fresh running water, a miraculous method of obtaining food (ravines brought bread and meat) and later the widow feed him. This was for near on three years. For Christian ministry to be successful, be it clergy, evangelists or missionaries, dependence upon God for every need is vital and necessary. From personal experience, God always provides at the time of need. I recall as a family of five, living below the bread line we never went hungry! Once there was only bread, but we slept with food in the tummy.
The First Mark of Divine Power in Elijah Was God Using Him Miraculously
Once staying with the widow her son became so ill that he stopped breathing (he died). (Read 1 Kings 17:17-22). God used Elijah to restore the boy’s life. Note the dependence on prayer! Many believe they have such power to heal or restore life, but surely the greatest miracle is not bringing a person back to life but bringing a personal to spiritual life through Jesus’ sacrificial work on the Cross. This is what we need today … preaching the true Gospel faithfully supported by pre and post prayer for souls to be saved. This is the greatest miracle of all … a dead soul coming to life in Christ! Beloved, pray that God would raise up powerful men, filled with the Spirit to accomplish great things for our great God so that He receives all the glory and His Kingdom grows rapidly!
O Lord our Glorious God, please raise up men of faith, commitment and filled with Divine Power to serve in Your vineyard for Your glory and the Lord Jesus sake. Amen.