THE BLESSING OF SOLITUDE II – Sunday October 2nd
2016
Memorise: Elias was a man
subject a 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. James 5:17
Read: 1st Kings
19:9-18, (KJV)
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and,
behold, the word of the Lord came
to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of
hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine
altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and
they seek my life, to take it away.
11 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, and said, What doest thou here,
Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of
hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down
thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am
left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the Lord said
unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou
comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king
over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to
be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the
sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu
shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the
knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Bible in one year: Ezekiel
28:1-30:19, Psalms 72
MESSAGE
Other
blessings of solitary living include divine authority, divine revelation and
divine direction. In our memory verse for today, we read that Elijah was a man
who possessed divine authority that controlled the weather. He commanded rain
to cease and it was so; when he felt it was time to release the rain, he
commanded it to start falling and it was so! Open Heavens 2 October 2016:-The
Blessing of Solitude II The Bible says in 1st Kings 17:1:
“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.”
This
did not come by careless and flamboyant living. This authority came as a result
of solitary living and a separated life. We can understand this by what God
said to Elijah in 1st Kings 18:1:
“And it came to pass after many
days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, go,
show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.”
It
took instruction from God before Elijah could show himself to Ahab. He had been
in solitary confinement ever since he made the proclamation of the drought.
Some Christian ministers would want to be seen everywhere, at every public
function and yet they want authority, they want divine revelation and
direction. They dine and wine with the elites in the society and yet they want
to exercise divine authority. It does not work like that. Elijah said, “As the
Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand…” Children of God, pastors,
where are you standing? Before God or in the crowd?
In
the reading of today’s Bible text, it is amazing to know that not only
spiritual but also physical encouragement came to Elijah during his solitary
time with God. Through this divine physical provision, the Bible says that he
travelled for forty days and forty nights without eating anything else. One
lesson we must quickly grasp here is that God is interested in our physical and
spiritual well-being. It is a pity that some Christians spiritualise so many
things at the detriment of their physical well-being. Imagine God saying,
“Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” This divine
consideration came because Elijah took time to be alone with God. One other
lesson we must learn is that still in his solitude. Elijah was visited by God
and he was able to lodge his complaint against the society he was living in and
consequently he was told what to do. We receive divine instruction when we are
alone with God. Our misconceptions about life situations will receive
clarification and better understanding when we are alone with God. 2 October
2016 open heavens
The Bible says:
“The secret of the Lord is with
them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.”
Psalm 25:14
Unknown
to Elijah that he was not the only prophet standing for God, he wanted to die.
However, he was told what God Himself had preserved seven thousand prophets who
had not corrupted themselves! What a revelation and a lesson. Never think you
are the only one keeping the bound of holiness, there are others unknown to
you. So don’t give in to the deceit of Satan. God will never change and He will
never lower His standards. God bless you as you continue with God in
holiness.
Prayer Point
Father, the grace to be separated
unto You, not following the multitude, please give to me.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A
Adeboye
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