1Kings 18:37 we hear Elijah crying out: "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again."
Our Pastor has started a Sunday series on Fresh Wind Fresh Fire. Today is also the National Day of Prayer for this nation. It has taken me a few days to process and bring together what I see from his sermon, the prayer of this nation and what I just finished reading in 1Kings18:37-20:29. Isn't it the desire in all believers' hearts to have a fresh move of God's Spirit within each of us, in the Church, in our communities and in this nation? It has to start within each of us first, as Pastor has said. Nothing new. Earlier this week I mentioned that the Lord had impressed upon me to begin to do this. It's where each of us has to start. We need to seek God's face for our lives and be obedient to what He desires for us. I believe if we do this we will begin to come together as one, in one accord with God. There's where He can bring that fresh wind and fire not only into our own lives, but the life of this nation.
I only hope I can logically draw this all together. In 1Kings 18:37 we hear Elijah crying out: "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again." Aren't we to call out to God? In 1Kings 18:38 we read that the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice Elijah had set up. Let the fire fall upon all people and consume the dross of our lives. In 1Kings 18:41 we read that after the fire fell "the sound of abundance of rain" came. Let the rain come to refresh us. It came slowly as 1Kings 18:44 alludes, but it was promised that it would come in fullness and it did in 1Kings 18:45--wind and rain.
In 1Kings 19 we are told that Elijah fled in fear Jezebel, who had threatened his life. He then called out for the LORD to end his life. But God chose to keep him alive. We might be tempted to give up when we don't see or understand what happens around us, but God tells us to eat and drink (of the Word) to remain strong. We are told Elijah ate and drank for forty days and nights. I've heard if we keep doing something repeatedly for a length of time it becomes habit. If we don't shrink from our calling out to God for our lives, our Church, our community and this nation, God will intervene. Just to prove His sovereignty, God called Elijah to come out of his hiding place. "...And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." (1Kings 19:11-12) If all seems out of control and hearts grow weary because of all we see, we cannot stop believing. We must not look at what's going on around us but continue to listen for that still small voice.
Further in 1Kings 19 we see that Elijah is told to anoint Elisha as his successor. We will be counted as part of the remnant who fear the LORD. Continue to follow. Don't give up. Like Elijah placed his mantle upon Elisha to carry out his work, we must take up that mantle and pass it on to the future believers. Pastor was talking about the youth in our church. It is our job to place that mantle upon them to continue. We need the fresh wind and fire that we might be able to do this. 1Kings 20:13-14 tells us that the enemy of [this Church, this community and this nation] will be delivered into our hands someday "by the young leaders of the provinces." Many more times God told Elijah that it would be the children of Israel, the young leaders who will see the deliverance. 1Kings20:14b states "Who will set the battle in order?" We are the ones to do that today.
As I ended my reading I saw how Israel's enemy believed if they fought against them in the plain they would be stronger and win. They believed God was not God of the valleys, only the hills. But He proved them wrong and the "children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiers" of the enemy. God can use people in the valleys, those places of weakness, where His strength is just that much more evident.
It is absolutely necessary to get alone with God, seek His face, seek His wisdom and guidance for our lives. Then come together in one accord within the Church, then into the community. It's not about our comfort, as Pastor suggested. It's all about doing something instead of just sitting back. In time we could see a move of God's fresh wind and fire within our nation. If we are diligent and grow and pass on knowledge, we will have strengthened the now remnant of believers and have given the future remnant the ability to finish the work we started.
1Corinthians 1:27 - God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.
Father God, in my own eyes I see myself as too small to be of any importance to the great plans You have in the body of believers. But I am reminded that You use the small and foolish things to bring about what You desire, to confound others. It's all about obedience. Let none of us think we are nothing and can do nothing but let each one of us do just what You desire for us to do as individuals. If we all did that imagine the strength there would be. It is my desire to see a fresh move of Your Spirit within this nation, starting with each of us as individuals. Let our hearts be willing to respond to Your call. Let us soak in Your word like never before. Let Your Word become life to us. Let us in our own small ways make an impact on this nation. We need You so much more than we can imagine. I pray for this fresh fire to consume the dross of our lives and the rain of your Spirit to cleanse and refresh. Touch us, O God.
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