Read:
1 Kings 19:9-18
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 28:1-30:19
Psalms 72
Hymn:
Sing hymn 1
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! The Bible says in 1 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 1 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. 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 only the prophet standing for God, he
wanted to die. However, he was told that God himself has 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 into Satan. God
will never change and He will never lower His standards. God bless you
as you continue with God in holiness.
Memorise:
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.
James 5:17
Prayer Point:
Father, grace to be separated unto You, not following the multitude, please give to me.
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