"The Spirit Of Elijah" Part 5 "There is Always A Remnant!"

1 Kings 19:1-3  And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. NKJV

This week I want to look at Elijah a little closer.  After all that was accomplished, it says he ran for his life!   So let’s do a quick review of the facts and identify an issue that caused him to ultimately not finish all that he was destined to do.   First he meets Obadiah on the road to Mount Carmel and this is what he told Elijah to his face:

1 Kings 18:13-14  Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid one hundred men of the Lord's prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water? NKJV 

  

Obadiah hid 100 prophets and fed them and kept them alive.  This is an established fact.   Elijah doesn’t respond to Obadiah, but it is clear that it was spoken to him by Obadiah.  This is where things get a little interesting. Watch what Elijah says to all the people who are gathered on Mount Carmel:

1 Kings 18:22-23 Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.  NKJV

Is this true?  No, because Obadiah just told him that wasn't the case.   Now there are only a few possibilities. He did not hear Obadiah, or he did not believe him.  Or he didn’t want the word to get out there were more prophets in the land in case Jezebel found out.   In any case, there is no doubt that some kind of deception is involved.  We without a shadow of a doubt know that there were at least 100 more prophets of the Lord and Elijah was not alone.   Did God still use Elijah in a powerful way? Yes!  We must always remember that just because He uses us in powerful way, does not mean we are perfect and do no wrong.  We can see all the way through the Bible, major issues in men & women of God.  God will use you in spite of the flaws and use whatever is necessary to correct those flaws over time.  He will get around to everything that is not true in us bring us to the day of decision. This is why Jesus died and we must remember that any thing that happens is because of His righteousness and not ours.  But He does discipline all who he loves.  You might be getting away with something now, but sooner or later He will discipline us.  I've learned many times over the years I can be wrong.  In almost every case I thought I was right and God was in agreement.  The enemy gets it's authority from those things in our thinking that are wrong.  Once we come to Truth in that area is when we will truly be set free! So draw close to God and let Him search you like a candle in your inward parts and see if there is any wicked way in you.

 

This can be a very serious issue in any one of us, because we can get weary, or prideful in what the Lord has called us to do and end up not finishing our destiny because of believing a lie.   I can tell you from personal experience and talking to many others who have been in ministry over the past 30 years that this is a very common deception. In Elijah’s case he believed that he was the only one left.   If you really believe something, even though it’s a lie, you may not be able to hear the truth, even if it is standing in front of you.   Now let’s look at a new testament scripture that will shed light on this and bring into focus what was really going on.

Rom 11:1-6 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"?  4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."  5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  NKJV  

God is trying to reconcile Israel to himself and Elijah is pleading against Israel.   Elijah’s words to God were contrary to established facts that Elijah himself had helped to establish.  Let me point out the obvious here. God has a remnant, because he has a plan and it is rooted in love.  He does not desire for any of us to be lost or in bondage.  He will keep as many people as it takes to establish His true purpose, which is restoration. 

There is a revealed clue in this passage of scripture as to why Elijah believed this lie.   He was pleading against Israel.   Why?   That indeed is a good question that unfortunately we need to ask ourselves.   God wants to reconcile the world to Him and we are hiding in the caves.  We have been saved for a reason and how easy it is to forget what we have been called to do.  Part of our commission is preach the Gospel of the kingdom to the lost.  Have we decided that these people who live in the world are not worth it?  Or they don’t deserve it?   It is time for all of us to do a “Truth” check.   Are we pleading with God for reconciliation and restoration of the people to Him?  Or are we pleading with God to destroy them?    In order to cover up the truth for whatever reason, we are going to have to believe some kind of lie to convince ourselves and have some kind of justification.  I know this sounds hard, but it is a very common deception.  How many of you reading this have thought you were the only one left?  Or the only one that see’s?   Gods response to Elijah was:

"I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

There is always a remnant that God raises up because His plan in not to lose any!  He wants’ to reconcile the world to Himself and that was His plan from the beginning!    So it’s time to come out of the caves and get on with our destiny!  

Prov 18:1  A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;  He rages against all wise judgment.  NKJV

Isolation is a very good clue that there is a deception.  It starts with a single person believing they are the only ones and so they hide out.  This also can be something that spreads to a whole group. “We are the only ones that have the truth or were the only ones that are left.   This indeed is where the term “Cult” comes from.  Cult is the base word for culture.  We must look to the word of God as the final authority as truth. God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son to die on a cross and purchase back with his own blood restoration to himself.  The key here is that He so loved the world!  He has a plan of reconciliation and restoration and we are a part of that plan. 

1 John 4:17-19 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.  NKJV

Let’s look at the rest of the established facts.

1 Kings 18:30-31 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name." NKJV

This is an established fact that Elijah rebuilt the Alter of the Lord that was broken.   He reminded them and himself that Israel was their name.  Israel means: They shall rule as God.  Elijah was reestablishing the one and true living God’s rule in which they would rule with him!  This is a restoration and reconciliation story!  This is the plan of God and that never changes.  When God sent Jonah to Nineveh, it was for reconciliation.  They repented!  The message may be hard and be a pronouncement of judgement, but it is the plan of God to reconcile.  Jonah indeed was mad that they repented and God had to speak to his bad attitude.

Jonah 3:5-10 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. NKJV

Jonah 4:1-4  But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, "Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!"  4 Then the Lord said, "Is it right for you to be angry?"  NKJV 

Jonah 4:10-11 But the Lord said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left — and much livestock?"  NKJV

God’s plan is to save, deliver and reconcile.  However repentance will be required.  What is repentance?  To come into agreement with God and His Word.   To turn away from what we’ve been following and to follow Him!  He has to be first place in our lives.   And He always has a remnant!   You are not the only one left!   

Now let’s get back to Elijah, and continue to look at established facts. 

1 Kings 18:38-39  Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!"  NKJV  

Now not only is the alter rebuilt, but the people now know who the true and living God is and they turn to him!  In fact they are excited about it!

1 Kings 18:40  And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.  NKJV

Elijah  now has all the people helping him as he tells them to seize all of the prophets of Baal  and Elijah executes all of the them at the Brook Kishon.

1 Kings 18:41-43 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." NKJV

Notice how even Ahab the king is listening and believing!  He obeys the word of Elijah!  The drought is about to end!

1 Kings 18:44-46  Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'" 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.  NKJV

The drought is now over and the alter has been rebuilt, God answers by fire!, the people are now on the right path and are helping Elijah, Ahab the king is believing!  These are the established facts!

1 Kings 19:1-4   And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" NKJV

What happened between chapters 18 &19?  Jezebel sends one message to Elijah and he runs away afraid for his life!  One prognostication by Jezebel and  Elijah is running for his life.  This is where believing a lie instead of the Truth will open the door for the enemy to control you and cause your to fear.  Perfect love cast out fear!.   God loves you and has a plan.  If God be for you, who can be against you!  You are not alone, He is  in you!   And he has a remnant to deal with Jezebel or or any other enemy!   Don’t ever believe the lie or entertain a lie that you think everything depends on you!  God always has a remnant and a plan!  His plan is always reconciliation to himself.  Now lets look at the rest of the story!

1 Kings 19:9-10 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 So he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." NKJV

What are you doing here Elijah?  That was the question God asked him.  Elijah was now totally way off course in his destiny!   How did he answer the question?  He answered as if everything that had just been accomplished had never happened!  He answered as if he had been transported back in time to before he had arrived at Mt Carmel.   Whenever you believe a lie, you will have to return to the place it started and come to truth that will set you free.  This is a very powerful truth.  If we think we’re the only one that God has to accomplish His purposes, or the only one with the Truth, we are already deceived and mixing up a recipe for disaster!   It’s time to come out of the cave and come into the Truth that will set you free!  God has a remnant and we must join them to accomplish all that God has!  You are not the only one left!  You are not alone!  God always has a remnant!  We will look at the influence of Jezebel in my next blog.

"The Spirit Of Elijah" Part 4 "Let It Rain!"

1 Kings 18:41-46 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'" 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. NKJV

After the false gods are dealt with and the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. It’s time to call for the rain.

Not only was there a drought in the land for food and water, but there was a drought in the land for the water of the Word. This drought in the natural is a prophetic picture of the lack of the revelation of the Word of God in the land! The God who answers by fire, will demonstrate to the people who were faltering between two opinions, the one and only true living God. But in order to grow up and mature, there is going to have to be the watering of the Word of God!

Zech 10:1-2 Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone. 2 For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies,And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd. NKJV

The Latter rain comes just before the harvest. We are living at the time of the greatest harvest of souls the world has ever seen. We are going to see the best and the worst of times at the same time. Like Elijah we are going to have to call for the rain. In Zechariah, we are to ask the Lord for rain in time of latter rain. It says that when we do, the Lord will make flashing clouds. Because it was so dry in the land it is going to take a persistant determination to end the drought. Look what Elijah tells Ahab: “Go up and eat and drink because ther is the sound of the abundance of rain.” Now looking at this in the natural, was there a sound of the abundance of rain? The answer would have to be no, because if you read just a little bit farther in that passage, Elijah asked his servant if he see’s rain coming and he returns from the sea and tells Elijah, he see’s nothing. But look what Ahab the king does. He obeys Elijah! He goes and eats and drinks! Elijah's now got the ear of the king! Remember King Ahab, before the demonstration of fire by the one and true living God, was hunting down Elijah to kill him and he called him the troubler of Israel! Elijah then goes to Mount Carmel and bows down, puts his face between his knees and that’s when he sends his servant to go look for the rain. Now to get just a little more insight as to how Elijah really was in character and nature let’s look at this New Testament scripture in James.

James 5:13-18 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. NKJV

Elijah was a man with a nature just like ours. He had to exercise his faith and believe just like we do. But the key here is the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!

Effective/fervent: NT:1754 GREEK energeo (en-erg-eh'-o); from NT:1756; to be active, efficient: KJV - do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forthself, work (effectually in). to invoke.

The Greek word is “energeo” This is the Greek word that we get our English word “energy” from. When we pray, we need to invoke and put some energy into it. We have been given power from on high! This passage gives us the proper way to look at any situation we are facing and how to treat it. Is any among you suffering? Let him pray! Prayer changes things and eliminates suffering! Is there any amongst us cheerful? Let him sing songs or Psalms! Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. This is the Word of the Lord that we must put on a higher level than the situation or sickness! We must put some energy and passion into this! We know that we have been given power from on high and we are to invoke the Word that is true! Jesus has already dealt with the sin issue. He became a curse for us! We’ve been restored to the Father and the blessings of Abraham are upon us! So if sin is the issue for you, repent and turn away from it. Confess your faults, one to another , pray for one another that you may be healed! The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much! We are the righteousness of God in Christ! So put your heart into knowing that all of this that we desire and God desires for us has already been paid for with His only Son! He paid the price for this with his own blood! Remember Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, but he prayed earnestly that it would not rain. Why? Because he knew that his people were trusting in creation and serving false gods, whom they thought were controlling certain aspects of creation. But God answered by fire and delivered them from their faltering opinions that had confused and put them in bondage. Now they were desperate and he had all their attention and there was an open door to call for rain!

He prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit! We have been given that kind of authority in the earth. I want to back up a little bit in this same chapter in James to capture this in context.

James 5:7-12 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment. NKJV

The Spirit of Elijah prepares the way of the Lord. Patience is going to be what we need in this hour. This patience is compared to a farmer who is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth. The farmer understands there is a early rain and a latter rain. The latter rain produces the harvest. God is after the hearts of people. Everything is going to be shaken. What is the purpose? His purpose is to bring people to Himself. For God so loved you and everyone else in the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die on a cross and make the way for us to be restored to fellowship with Him! You can now come boldly to the throne of God and find grace and mercy in time of need.

Our hearts are going to need to be firmly established in this hour. James tells us as part of that preparation and establishment of our hearts is going be the need to stop grumbling against one another. What does that mean?

Grumble: 4727 stenazo (sten-ad'-zo); from NT:4728; to make (intransitively, be) in straits, i.e. (by implication) to sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly: KJV - with grief, groan, grudge, sigh.

This is a form of cursing one another and that has it foundation in witchcraft. We are going to take a closer look at witchcraft and the Jezebel spirit next week. Dealing with Jezebel was Elijah’s ultimate mission and which he fell short of. We will look also at why next week. Grumbling against one another will bring condemnation on you if you make it your practice. James goes on to say the judge stands at the door. That same judge is Jesus standing at the door. Let Him in and become like Him! We are being changed from one degree of Glory into the next level of Glory into His very likeness! He is coming and when we see Him we shall be like Him! We are not promised that we are not going to go through anything. We will face the darkness of this day in confrontation just like Elijah did. But we must face this darkness with the glory of the Lord! We must and will arise and shine because deep darkness covers the earth. This is who we really are!

The ultimate intention of the Lord is to bring us into true freedom! Faltering between two opinions will be overthrown by a true revelation of the Word. Jesus is that Word and that’s why the last book in the bible is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. That whole book is about the Revelation of Jesus Christ! He is the Word! James goes on to say that we must let our Yes be Yes and our No be No. Indecision and double mindedness will lead us into judgment. If you are stuck there, ask the Lord to deliver you and He will. Make a decision today to stay the course and endure to the end. God is with you!

1 Kings 18:42-46 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'" 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. NKJV

The rain is going to come in great torrents and it’s going to be associated with black clouds and wind. We must not look at the natural circumstances with fear, but through the eyes of faith! And if the atmosphere is really dry, then we must press into the Lord with the eyes of Faith and be persistent until we see it come to pass! Let it rain Lord, Let it rain in great torrents the Revelation of His Word!

Ps 68:8-12 The earth shook; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9 You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary. 10 Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor. 11 The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it: 12 "Kings of armies flee, they flee,And she who remains at home divides the spoil. NKJV……. Continued Next Week