I hesitate to write this post, but my Wednesday night Bible study has reached 1 Kings 17, this week, so it has been on my heart and mind.

I hesitate, because my friend Wally Fry, from Truth in Palmya, is already doing an excellent study on Elijah – How one man made a difference.

I have enjoyed reading his thoughts and teachings, and I urge you to check it out for yourselves.

So, I humbly submit my thoughts on this, my favorite Biblical figure.

1 Kings 17
King James Version (KJV)
“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.”

The first thing that tickles my fancy is, this man Elijah, comes out of nowhere, A nobody, we know nothing of his back story, yet here he is confronting the most powerful man in Israel, the King, Ahab.

In chapter 16 we read that:  “Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.  And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.”

As it is today, it was a light thing, nothing to worry about, of no consequence, for people to worship and serve the false gods of money, status and power. 

To ignore that which is right and true, for the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, to be preferred.

We may wonder how Elijah came to know the Lords will, how he found access to the king and maybe most of all, where the boldness to speak this word, came from.

Elijah, unlike Abram, in Genisis 12, who we find, “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country,”

“The Lord had said,”  This implies more than once, the Lord spoke, told Abram, His will, His directions, before Abram was obedient. 

We see no recorded words of direction, to Elijah, he just appears on the scene, the faith and power of the Holy Spirit upon him to speak the Words of the Lord.

That is exactly what it was:  A Word of Knowledge, by the Gift of a Prophet:  “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.”  Powered by the Gift of Faith.

A lesson on the Gifts of the Spirit, the Talents left by the Master to His servents, those who are expected to increase the Talents, (the Gifts), until His return.   wow…

That took Faith, a knowledge, a belief in the Lord, that is enviable.  I believe it is the Faith, the Lord would have us all, attain.

I believe it is recorded, not to leave us in awe, but to show us, what is possible to them that believe. 

We could walk in this place of power and obedience, fulfilling the will of God, but we don’t want it enough, to learn to sit at the Lords feet, to boldly enter in and reside in the Holy of Holies, under the shadow of the Almighty.

We gladly accept Salvation, forgiveness, justification.  We are happy that simple belief will keep us blameless before the Lord, through the precious blood of Jesus. 

Not because of anything we do, but because of what He did.

How many of us are diligent, persistent, faithful in the renewing of our minds, hiding His Words in our hearts, to become holy, knowing the good, aceptable and perfect will of the Lord, which is, our reasonable service.

The Faith of Elijah,  the Power, the signs and wonders, why aren’t we seeing them today?

“Where is the God of Elijah, today?”   

2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”

Is that you?  Is your heart perfect toward Him?  Do you believe, would you dare to rebuke the King of His sin? 

The measure of Faith you have received, needs to be built up, enlarged and released, for the glory of God.  

According to your Faith, so be it.

Watch out though, after being obedient,  Elijah heard:  “Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide.”

Be ready to retreat, to hide, to be able to fight another day. 

Obedience to the Lord, may not be a pleasent place, just the place of power and truth, the place I long to stand.  

How about you?