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A Confidence Beyond Weariness!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #773

07 Friday Jan 2022

Posted by Blanche in All Sufficient God!, Amazing Grace, Approved Unto God, Beauty of Holiness, Choices And Consequences, Doubt and Confusion?, Trials, Troubles, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Walking With Jesus, Weariness

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1 Peter 1:13-16, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Be ye holy as HE is holy, Crises and Trials, Ephesians 2:8-10, Faithful God In Weariness, Faithful in our weariness, Hebrews 12:2, James 1:21-25, Job 19:25-27, Proverbs 3:5-6, Responding to Crises, Trusting God In the Crises, Trusting our God

Bible Ballistics: BBs #773 A Confidence Beyond Weariness!!!

 

While I haven’t posted much lately, I have had the faithfulness of God on my mind.  We’ve had some severe health issues facing us lately, and through all of the strain and the weariness, God is ever faithful.  On that I will ever stand, for with Job I count the faithfulness of God above all things

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms

destroy this body,

yet in my flesh

shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

 and not another;

 though my reins be consumed

within me.”  Job 19:25-27

I shall see GOD, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Job knew it, and so do I.  How about you?  We who belong to Jesus shall behold HIM, and yet even more importantly, in this earthly life, is the necessity that we “behold” God here and now, that through HIS Word we come to know HIM more and more personally and intimately!  James reminds us that it is by beholding the reality of God’s person, character, and truth that we can know and behold HIM more and more, here, and now!

“Wherefore

lay apart all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

 into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed

in his deed.”  James 1:21-25

As you/I know more and more of God’s Word, and learn to trust to His faithfulness, we can come to know more and more of our/my GOD, my Lord, and my KING.  We can simply glance at truth, without considering its import.  As Paul told his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, we are to “study” to know God’s Word that we might find ourselves approved before GOD, knowing that God’s Word is perfectly sufficient unto all our needs, especially teaching us of Himself!!!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

In our vernacular, mature (not sinlessly perfect), and equipped for all that God calls us to be and do!

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

As Paul also tells us about salvation and good works—they work together, by God’s faithful provision.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

And as we draw near to HIM, we can learn to be more of what God calls us to be, HOLY, and able to fulfill the “good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”. (And you’ll note below that our call is to “holiness” not “happiness”, not a very popular thought today!)

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

 at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-16

It is this confidence in God, HIS Word, and HIS call, that sustains me and will sustain you, if you will but delve into it, and take the truths of God into your heart.  Much like what the Proverbs say:

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct

thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

So, if I may sum it all up, we are all faced with trials, crises, difficulties, and times of extreme weariness; we must each choose what we will do with our crises—will we keep our eyes on Jesus, or on our own resources.  It’s your choice, but remember, there is a test.

“Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher of our faith;”  Hebrews 12:2a

Amen and Amen!!!

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What Am I Waiting On??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 13

13 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by Blanche in A Father's Love, All Sufficient God!, Trust God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Wait on the Lord, Walking With Jesus, Weariness, Who are YOU following?, Yesterday

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God's In Charge, Hebrews 13:1-6, Hebrews 13:8, Isaiah 40:31, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 89:33, They that wait..., Titus 1:2, Trusting God, Trusting God In The Waiting Room, Trusting His Grace, Waiting On The Lord, What are you waiting for?

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 13 What Am I Waiting On???

 

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up

with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

While I don’t’ always succeed at “waiting upon the Lord”, it is the goal of my life; sometimes it’s relatively simple, other times it takes everything that is in me to “wait”!  Then there are those times that I blow it—totally blow it, but praise God, when I fail, HE never does; and I am so grateful for a faithful God who never, never fails—even when I do.

“Nevertheless

my lovingkindness

will I not utterly take from him,

nor suffer

my faithfulness to fail.”  Psalm 89:33

Even when you and I don’t understand what is going on, we can know that our God is ever at work for His glory and our good.  He doesn’t sleep, nor does He lie or fail.

“In hope of eternal life,

which God,

that cannot lie,

promised

before the world began;”  Titus 1:2

“Jesus Christ

the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

And one of the other things that is so sure about our Lord Jesus Christ, who never lies, is that HE has promised to never leave us alone, and as we walk in obedience to His Word, we will see more and more of His hand at work in our lives.  The author of Hebrews has some great words of encouragement for us in this regard.

“Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

for thereby some have entertained

angels unawares.

3 Remember them that are in bonds,

as bound with them;

and them which suffer adversity,

as being yourselves also in the body.

4 Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers

and adulterers

God will judge.

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:1-6

The book of Hebrews also reminds us that because our God is faithful, we can have confidence in Him, whether we are in the “waiting” mode or not.  We have all found ourselves in the “waiting” mode lately, in fact most of the year of 2020, but God wasn’t caught off guard, and He’ll never be caught off guard in your life or mine; and if we will determine to trust our God while we wait—or while we’re not waiting—we will find that He is accomplishing His purpose in us.

This post is relatively short, but I hope it will help you to refocus on God, and His purposes for you and me (especially during this time of celebrating HIS greatest gift to us—JESUS). I want to leave you with one of my favorite passages, and one of my very favorite Psalms which I hope will encourage you/me to keep our eyes on Jesus and remember that even when we are “waiting’, we can ‘wait’ with confidence and assurance that we can shout, “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”!

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not unto

thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct

thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

I invite you to ponder on this Psalm with me, and let God encourage our hearts no matter what you’re/I’m waiting on; and know that we have been doing a lot of waiting here at our house due to some personal issues, so I totally understand.  And know that this speaks to me as much (or more) than it does to you.  May Jesus Christ be praised.

“I will lift up mine eyes

unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot

to be moved:

he that keepeth thee

will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber

nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper:

the LORD is thy shade

upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee

by day,

nor the moon

by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee

from all evil:

he shall preserve

thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve

thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth,

and even for evermore.”  Psalm 121:1-8

May God bless your journey and may you pursue Him even in the “waiting” room!

Amen and Amen!!!

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Are You Battle Fatigued??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #648

29 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by Blanche in Abiding In Jesus, Armor of God, Ask God For Wisdom, Believe IN Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Fatigue, Great is Thy Faithfulness, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Weariness

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Battle Fatigue, Be Strong IN Jesus!, Ephesians 6:10-12, Fatigue, Hebrews 4:15-16, John 14:26-27, Look Up Not Around, Psalm 37:3-8, Rest In Jesus!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #648   Are You Battle Fatigued???

 

We talked last time about our Lord God being the One who fights our battles when we will rest in Him, take our hands off, and watch God work!  Yet, sometimes God sends us to take a sling and a rock and face our giants, but like David, we must, I repeat we must, remember that our confidence is in the God we serve, not in our own abilities, ideas, strength or wisdom.  We must learn to rely on the wisdom of God, the strength of our Lord, and trust to His direction, care and provision.

As Paul told the church at Ephesus, our armor is effective because of “The One” who empowers it!  Let’s peruse Paul’s encouragement to the believers who needed the armor of God, but even more importantly, they needed the God who empowers that armor!

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong

in the Lord,

and in the power

of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not

against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness

of this world,

against spiritual wickedness

in high places.”   Ephesians 6:10-12

We often become weary because we forget that our enemy is most often unseen—but our God is ever present with us!  We see HIM with spiritual eyes, and hear HIS voice speaking to our hearts through the power of HIS precious Holy Spirit. So, I simply want to share a few scriptures that I pray will encourage you in your “battle fatigue” today.  May God’s Word be that “balm of Gilead” to sooth the troubled soul!

“But the Comforter,

which is the Holy Ghost,

whom the Father will send in my name,

he shall teach you all things,

and bring all things

to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth,

give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.”   John 14:26-27

Our peace and confidence come from our Lord, not our circumstances—rest in HIM.  And in closing one of my personal favorite passages; I pray that it will encourage and comfort you in your battles today!   This entire chapter is one of my “go-to” scriptures.

“Trust

in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight

thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee the desires

of thine heart.

5 Commit

thy way

unto the LORD;

trust also

in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth

thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest

in the LORD,

and wait patiently for him:

fret not

thyself because of him

who prospereth in his way,

because of the man

who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease

from anger,

and forsake

wrath:

fret not thyself in any wise

 to do evil.”   Psalm 37:3-8

I pray that this will encourage you today and lift your heart upward—remember you have a Savior who cares!  He is ever there for you!  Let HIM ease your ‘fatigue’!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched with the feeling

of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”   Hebrews 4:15-16

Amen and Amen!!!

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With These Two Hands: Bible Ballistics: BBs #569

10 Wednesday Jul 2019

Posted by Blanche in A Father's Love, Bibe Study, Blessed by God, God's Faithfulness, Patience, Peace, The Word, Wait on the Lord, Weariness

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Endurance, Genesis 6:3, Isaiah 40:31, James 1:2-5, Only GOD, Patience, Song of Solomon 5:2-6, Trust God, Wait on the Lord

Bible Ballistics: BBs #569   With These Two Hands???

 

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up

with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”   Isaiah 40:31

Isaiah’s prophecy was of God’s coming judgment for the sin of Israel.  I can’t help but think how much this comforting, yet convicting message is to me. We are called to “wait upon the LORD”, yet so many of our problems come because we aren’t willing to “wait upon the LORD”!  I know in my own life, I have often become impatient and fidgety for my own way, in my own time, and I have left God at the gate (so to speak).  Rather than waiting for God’s way, plan, timing and provision. Almost like what Solomon describes in his wonderful painting of love in The Song Of Solomon—a picture of Christ Jesus’ love for us!  Kind of like the old saying, “I hear you knocking, but you can’t come in!”

“I sleep, but my heart waketh:

it is the voice of my beloved

that knocketh, saying,

Open to me, my sister,

my love, my dove,

my undefiled:

for my head is filled with dew,

and my locks with the drops

of the night.

3 I have put off my coat;

how shall I put it on?

I have washed my feet;

how shall I defile them?

 4 My beloved put in his hand

by the hole of the door,

and my bowels were moved for him.

5 I rose up to open to my beloved;

and my hands dropped with myrrh,

and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh,

upon the handles of the lock.

6 I opened to my beloved;

but my beloved had withdrawn himself,

and was gone:

my soul failed when he spake:

I sought him,

but I could not find him;

I called him,

but he gave me no answer.”    Song Of Solomon 5:2-6

God will not always wait for us to hear and obey—how often do we let the opportunity pass to have intimate fellowship and relationship with our Lord?  As God said in Noah’s day:

“And the LORD said,

My spirit shall not always strive with man,”   Genesis 6:3a

Whether we are talking about the lost heeding the call of The Holy Spirit, or the saved yielding to His voice to our heart, it is a tragic thing in our lives to walk our own way rather than “wait upon the LORD”!  Oh, how often I have made wrong choices and decisions ‘with these two hands’—doing my own thing because I wasn’t willing to “wait upon the LORD” to speak, to reveal HIS will, to direct my steps, to show me the way, to adjust my thinking!  How about you? Ever ‘been there, done that’?  I think we all have, but may we ponder the things of God and fill our hearts with His Word, so we can grow in His power.  James said it best, so I’d like to close with a reminder of the need to endure trials, times of waiting, and/or times of confusion and anxiety.  God never fails, and if we will but “lean not to your own understanding” and “wait upon the LORD”, we will find Him faithful, and can live with that “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” and not regrets!  Oh, to keep my hands off—and HIS hands on.  For even when we can’t see HIS hand, we can trust HIS heart, His character, His purposes, and HIS timing!  Oh, me!

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience

have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect

and entire,

wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.”  James 1:2-5

Blessings on your day, and may you come to “know” this.

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

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Hand Fed??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 11

15 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by Blanche in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Drought & Patience?, Faithful is He that has Promised!, For Such A Time As This, God of all comfort!, Great is Thy Faithfulness, I Will Never Leave You, Knowing God's Word, Not By Bread Alone, Showers Of Blessing, Spiritual Drought, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, Trust God, Wait on the Lord, Weariness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 11 Hand Fed???

 

I know this is a bit of a strange title for a Bible post, but it just seems to fit what I’d like to share with you today, as we look as Elijah; a powerful and unique prophet of Israel, yet a man of flesh and blood just like you and me, one whom God provided for in unusual ways. Yet Elijah was a man often misunderstood, so let’s begin our consideration of him in the book of James.

“Elias was a man subject to like passions

as we are,

and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:

and it rained not on the earth

by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again,

and the heaven gave rain,

and the earth brought forth her fruit.”    James 5:17-18

James calls us to a life of humility, prayer and openness in our lives—not the “ranting and venting” that many are known for on social media—but an openness of our faith and dependence on our Father God, Jesus His Son and the directions and promptings of His Holy Spirit, which He has given to direct our steps from within! In this passage James gives us an example of Elijah (also called Elias in the New Testament) and his life of prayer and dependence on God.

When many people look at this verse they don’t dig deep enough—they read that Elijah prayed and things happened, or didn’t happen—and they often take this as a license to be presumptuous upon God! Many in our culture have twisted God’s Word to make prayer a way of ‘twisting’ God’s arm to get what we want; they have missed the call of our Lord Jesus to have a heart that is ready to “delight thyself also in the Lord…” even as Jesus put it in The Model Prayer:

“Thy kingdom come…..Thy will be done….”

Elijah had a heart after God, but James already knew that, and when we read in this letter “he prayed earnestly that it might not rain”, James knew that Elijah hadn’t been presumptuous, but that he was doing what God told him to do. How about you and I? Have we allowed God to lead and direct our steps, or are we walking our own way?

“And Elijah the Tishbite,

who was of the inhabitants of Gilead,

said unto Ahab,

As the LORD God of Israel liveth,

before whom I stand,

there shall not be dew nor rain these years,

but according to my word.” 1 Kings 17:1

God sent Elijah unto Ahab, the king of Israel (the northern kingdom, known as ‘Israel’, who had a continual string of kings who had refused to obey God for many years); Ahab was the most wicked of kings and you might remember his wife, Jezebel!

“And Ahab made a grove;

and Ahab did more to provoke

the LORD God of Israel to anger

than all the kings of Israel

that were before him.” 1 Kings 16:33

Elijah didn’t come to speak for himself, or to show off his “prayer prowess”, but he came to Ahab at the bidding of God, and relayed the message of God to a wicked king. Note, it wasn’t a message that Ahab or anyone else would have been eager to receive, but Elijah not only prayed, he took the answer, knowing it could cost him his life at the hands of this wicked, evil, idolatrous, un-repentant king!

“And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

3 Get thee hence,

and turn thee eastward,

and hide thyself by the brook Cherith,

that is before Jordan.

4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink

of the brook;

and I have commanded the ravens

to feed thee there.

5 So he went and did according unto

the word of the LORD:

for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith,

that is before Jordan.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh

in the morning,

and bread and flesh

in the evening;

and he drank of the brook.

7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.” 1 Kings 17:2-7

We often miss the fact that while God made provision for Elijah in unusual ways, Elijah was also enduring the drought that God had sent! Yet Elijah pressed on, knowing that his GOD was faithful, and the people needed to hear from God rather than their wicked kings and leaders. God wanted Israel to look to Him and trust Him. While we don’t have time to look at all the things that God did for Elijah, I do want us to look at the provisions that God made; in particular one that even Jesus confirmed.

“And he said, Verily I say unto you,

No prophet is accepted in his own country.

25 But I tell you of a truth,

many widows were in Israel

in the days of Elias,

when the heaven was shut up

three years and six months,

when great famine

was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent,

save unto Sarepta,

a city of Sidon,

unto a woman that was a widow.” Luke 4:24-26 (See 1 Kings 17:8-24)

Jesus validated the account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath/Serepta, knowing that the people as a whole were only interested in what they “saw” and “ate”; like the account of the day after HE fed the five thousand!

“The day following,

when the people which stood on the other side of the sea

saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; 23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples,

they also took shipping,

and came to Capernaum,

seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea,

they said unto him,

Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Ye seek me, not

because ye saw the miracles,

but because ye did eat of the loaves,

and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat

which perisheth,

but for that meat

which endureth unto everlasting life,

which the Son of man

shall give unto you:

for him hath God the Father sealed.”    John 6:22-27

Much like these people, we get our eyes on the material rather than the spiritual—and Jesus calls us, as well as them, to seek “for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life”! Even as He told the disciples in John 4 as He encountered the ‘woman at the well’.

“But he said unto them,

I have meat to eat

that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another,

Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

34 Jesus saith unto them,

My meat is to do the will of him

that sent me,

and to finish his work.” John 4:32-34

When we pursue God, He is ever making provision for us and directing our steps. Even as Elijah, so let’s look at one more account of His walk with God, and the other end of the “prayer” which James mentioned.

“And it came to pass after many days,

that the word of the LORD came to Elijah

in the third year,

saying,

Go, shew thyself unto Ahab;

and I will send rain upon the earth.

2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria……17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him,

Art thou he that troubleth Israel?v

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.”    1 Kings 18:1-2, 17-21

Elijah wasn’t concerned with popularity, but with following and obeying his God, so he called the people together that they might see the hand of God and return to HIM! Most are familiar with the account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal and the challenge to call for a sacrifice to be supernaturally burned up proving who is the “true” God.

“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,

that Elijah the prophet came near,

and said,

LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel,

let it be known this day

that thou art God in Israel,

and that I am thy servant,

and that I have done all these things

at thy word.

37 Hear me, O LORD,

hear me,

that this people may know

that thou art the LORD God,

and that thou hast turned

their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell,

and consumed the burnt sacrifice,

and the wood,

and the stones,

and the dust,

and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it,

they fell on their faces:

and they said,

The LORD,

he is the God;

the LORD,

he is the God.” 1 Kings 18:36-39

Did you see the issue? Elijah was following and obeying God, with a purpose of manifesting the glory of God and calling the people back to God Almighty, who loved them! Same now as then—our prayers are to be Spirit led and not flesh led! Yet there is even more to the story! While Elijah had a great victory with God, and the people acknowledged God with their words—the challenge for us is the same today—will we simply ‘speak’ allegiance or will we “be” aligned and devoted to our God! But when we stand with God there will be those who hate us for it—and Elijah was no exception. He prayed and the rain stopped—he prayed again and the rain came—but only at God’s leading, direction and provision.

“And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink.

And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;

and he cast himself down upon the earth,

and put his face between his knees,

43 And said to his servant,

Go up now,

look toward the sea.

And he went up,

and looked,

and said, There is nothing.

And he said,

Go again seven times.

44 And it came to pass at the seventh time,

that he said,

Behold, there ariseth

a little cloud out of the sea,

like a man’s hand.

And he said,

Go up, say unto Ahab,

Prepare thy chariot,

and get thee down,

that the rain stop thee not.

45 And it came to pass in the mean while,

that the heaven was black with clouds

and wind, and there was a great rain.

And Ahab rode,

and went to Jezreel.

46 And the hand of the LORD

was on Elijah;

and he girded up his loins,

and ran before Ahab

to the entrance of Jezreel.”     1 Kings 18:41-46

Elijah prayed, and it rained—but by God’s direction, and provision! Elijah knew whom he served, but the boom was about to be lowered by the enemy! Yet God was there with him even then!

“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying,

So let the gods do to me,

and more also,

if I make not thy life as

the life of one of them

by to morrow about this time.

3 And when he saw that,

he arose,

and went for his life,

and came to Beersheba,

which belongeth 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 juniper tree:

and he requested for himself

that he might die;

and said,

It is enough; now, O LORD,

take away my life;

for I am not better than my fathers.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree,

behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him,

Arise and eat.

6 And he looked,

and, behold,

there was a cake baken

on the coals,

and a cruse of water

at his head.

And he did eat and drink,

and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the LORD came again

the second time,

and touched him,

and said,

Arise and eat;

because the journey is too great

for thee.

8 And he arose,

and did eat and drink,

and went in the strength of that meat

forty days

and forty nights

unto Horeb the mount of God.”    1 Kings 19:1-8

Often times when we see great victories, we will encounter great spiritual warfare (often, before, during and after, it’s why we must put on the “armor of God” each day—see Ephesians 6:10-18) and yet even when it catches us by surprise, our God is always faithful to meet us where we are. There is no rebuke here, just a time of God’s provision for Elijah to be “hand fed” by angels, and given time to sleep and be refreshed; for our God knows that there are things that drain us not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and zap our strength and stamina. It’s not a sin to “REST”! We all need it, and God will provide if we will but listen to the voice of His Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts and minds!

God gives renewal, as Elijah went on the rest of his journey, he heard from God in a new and vibrant way (and while God sometimes speaks in new ways to us, we aren’t to base our decisions or choices on the spectacular, but on the historic faithfulness of God and HIS Word!)!!! God showed Elijah that HE wasn’t necessarily in the spectacular, but in the simple things from God, which speaks to our hearts!

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.

And, behold, the LORD passed by,

and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD;

but the LORD was not in the wind:

and after the wind an earthquake;

but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire;

but the LORD was not in the fire:

and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it,

that he wrapped his face in his mantle,

and went out,

and stood in the entering in of the cave.

And, behold, there came a voice unto him…..

15 And the LORD said unto him,

Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus:” 1 Kings 19:11-15

Whatever your need—rely on God’s provision today! Simply rely upon HIS faithfulness, stay in His Word, and put on that armor of God each day, and you can be ready for the battles that will come! Remember, God will meet you in those times of need: “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him”, (Psalms 37:7a)! Amen and Amen!!!

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