Fascinated by the Word of GOD COMING To Life In My Realities influenced my reread of a book by Charles R. Swindoll-Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility.
Reading this story again after I allowed GOD TO TOTALLY TRANSFORM My Mind & RENEW My Heart(01/11/09), revealed new information about The Prophet we know Left Earth in a CHARIOT OF FIRE(2. Kings 2:11-18).
I began to feel the humanity in this Great Man of GOD.
Wikipedia had this to say: Elijah pronounced Elias or (Hebrew: אליהו, Eliyahu; Arabic:إلياس, Ilyās), whose name (El-i Yahu) means "Yah is my God," was a prophet in Israel in the 9th century BCE. He appears in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, New Testament, and the Qur'an.
According to the Books of Kings, Elijah raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and ascended into heaven in a whirlwind (accompanied by chariots, not in one). In the Book of Malachi, Elijah's return is prophesied "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord," making him a harbinger of the Messiah and the eschaton in various faiths that revere the Hebrew Bible.
In Judaism, Elijah's name is invoked at the weekly Havdalah ritual that marks the end of Shabbat, and Elijah is invoked in other Jewish customs, among them the Passover seder and the Brit milah (ritual circumcision). He appears in numerous stories and references in the Haggadah and rabbinic literature, including the Babylonian Talmud.
In Christianity, the New Testament describes how both Jesus and John the Baptist are compared with Elijah, and on some occasions, thought by some to be manifestations of Elijah, and Elijah appears with Moses during the Transfiguration of Jesus.
Elijah is also a figure in various folkloric traditions. In Macedonia, Serbia and Bulgaria, he is known as "Elijah the Thunderer" and in folklore is held responsible for summer storms, hail, rain, thunder and dew."
I've observed many coincidences similiar & experienced Elijah's eagerness as he sat near the Cherith Creek Awaiting Food Deliverer's ORDERED BY GOD(1 Kings 17:02-08).
Felt his fears as he ran away from the pursuit of Jezebel's commands(1 Kings 19;01-05).
All of these happenings were Set in Motion because in 1 Kings 17:01, this Prophet from Tishbe In Gilead.
Declared as a Servant of THE LIVING LORD, THE GOD OF Israel, that there would be no Rain or dew on the ground.
He swore by THIS GOD that until He said so it would be dry as dessert heat.
It amazes me how that He was able to Declare such an Oath and fall apart when what He Prayed for begins to Manifest...
Then I was faced with my own Elijah/Jezebel moments. I have family members that swear they are more in tune with my persona than I am of my own.
I've repeatedly attempted to classify or declassify heresies and gossips to wind up chasing or running from an enemy which turns out to be myself(1 Peter 2:11).
Prior to Accepting THE WILL OF GOD As My Will for myself, I flirted with danger and attempted deity within the realms of a disillusioned mind(Genesis 02:09, 03:05 & 06:05).
That journey led me into a bottomless pit of darkness & dung causing me to renounce life and give up consistently(Isaiah 59:02 & Romans 07:18) nothing Good.
Oh, but GOD HAD A PLAN IN HIS HAND For My Life and all I Needed to do was Surrender my Will for HIS WILL, and Cancel My Thoughts For HIS THOUGHTS(Isaiah 55:08).
Life has been more Pleasant Walking by the SPIRIT OF GOD rather than the rehearsed insanities of mankind(Romans 12:01-03).
It's a Blessing for Me to Read GOD'S WORD for Myself then I Get THE MESSAGE HE SENT and not some pulpit sermon to direct me towards a fraternity within the walls of worship(2 Timothy 03:03) having a form of GODLINESS denying IT'S STRENGTH.
If We Would Study for Ourselves the illusion that all must be HOLY before JUDGMENT DAY will fade & We Can Accept One Another's faults, mistakes & imperfections(1 Corinthians 13:01-13 & Galatians 06:02).
Bearing One another's burdens rather than becoming one.
Oh, if Elijah were Alive to see this day, there would be dry brooks all over the world & torn down alters to false deities everywhere.
It astonishes me that we have the POWER & INTELLIGENCE OF GOD'S SPIRIT LIVING In Our Hearts and we don't Obtain a tenth of the Faith Awarded those that believed prior to the Crucifixion of JESUS THE CHRIST.
Elijah felt no pain dancing around the king's court Commanding idol worship to end or penalties would be paid.
Yet, after his showdown with the gods & GOD.
He allowed his flesh to override His Spirit and claim insufficiency accompanied by fear when he's a victim of His own Prophecy's Fulfilment as he finds himself alone, hungry and thirsty physically(1 Kings 17:08-14).
The flesh of me wants to grasp the fact that he was selfish asking this poor widow to tend to his need before she feeds her own son and die.
However, My Re Newed Spirit Immediately sees The Confidence IN GOD'S WORD, by his statement, Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.
For this SAYS THE LORD GOD OF Israel: "The Bin of flour Shall not be used up, not shall the jar of Oil run dry, Until THE DAY THE LORD SENDS RAIN On the Earth(1 Kings 17:14)."
Now that's Faith the size of a mustard seed. However not soon after we see Elijah in the flesh again as he hides in a cave on GOD'S MOUNT Sinai.
GOD ORDERS Him to go stand on the Mountain(1 Kings 19:11-18), GOD'S GOING TO PASS BY Him. Let's have a look: All at once a STRONG Wind SHOOK THE MOUNTAIN & SHATTERED THE ROCKS. But THE LORD WAS NOT IN the wind.
Next there was a Fire, But THE LORD WAS NOT IN the fire.
Finally, There WAS A GENTLE BREEZE, and when Elijah Heard It, He Covered His Face with His coat. He Went out and stood at the Entrance to the Cave.
Verse :13, THE LORD ASKED, "Elijah, why are you here?"
Elijah answered in panic and fear but GOD GAVE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED(verses 15-18).
The Commentary to My Learning Bible speaks this about Scripture:
verses 15 & 16, "Appointing would have included a ceremony in which Olive Oil was Poured on The Head of a person to show that he was now King("chosen one").
The Prophet Samuel had been given a similiar instruction by THE LORD when he was told to make Saul, and later, David king (1 Samuel 10-11l 16:01-13);
Unlike Samuel, However, Elijah, is CALLED to Appoint a leader for a non-Israelite nation(Syria). This shows that THE LORD IS NOT just a local DEITY, but THE GOD OF ALL Nations."
Perhaps I'm a little too excited because I can find more to link Old Testament to Modern Day and Reveal that GOD IS THE SAME 2DAY, 2MORROW & 4EVER.
Begin to Use GOD'S WORD To Speak to Your Hearts and Learn The Power of Freedom & Faith.
Don't allow your problems to overwhelm you with excuses but Overcome your problems with Confidence IN THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS & HIS LOVE for You.
Be Blessed as You Develope a Closer Walk Through Faith and Prayer which brings You IN THE PRESENCE OF Our LORD(and Faith Increases by Hearing GOD'S WORD-Romans 10:17so read it out loud to yourself)!
No comments:
Post a Comment