 |
| Voice of Prayer |
Doing that “thing”
for God brought Elijah to a low place. Some say it was pride. But Elijah was
asked a question. And does not God ask us questions. Jesus did to his
disciples.
1 Kings 19:9
And there he went into a cave and spent the night in that place; and behold the
word of the LORD came to him;, and He said to him, “What are you doing here,
Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the
children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and
killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my
life.
1 Kings 19:11
Then he said, “ Go out, and stand in the mountain before the LORD.” 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; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the
LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was
when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and
stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What
are you doing here, Elijah?”
And again Elijah responds as he did previously. Still within
a refuge, the darkness of the cave can hide the most deep seated feelings of
rejection and hurt. Now depression can be a physical problem like being
dehydrated. And many things had captured the elderly
prophet in his thinking. Did he adequately maintain his personal needs despite being occupied with a queen who sought her way and no other way!
The LORD did not reveal Himself in the spectacular events of
that moment: He was not in the extreme wind storm, not in the earthquake nor
was He found in the fire….but after all these astounding events, it was the quiet voice
that captured Elijah.
In these days, one thinks that unless you are a part of the magnificent
displays of a big mega-church then you are not with it, not a part of it, and have missed
it. In these days, unless you have a platform, a mega name with many accolades, you have not risen to popularity that the world seeks. And in these days, if
you have lived as a married couple for no longer than the estimated three years to some five together…but it is over now...….it was good run, a good thing and now move on!
One might be told to cheer up….or “good thing you did not
have children” or “there are better fish in the sea”!
What….who is looking for 'better' fish…? Any commitments to a spouse, to having a job in the workplace, raising children, or leading in other places like church, can and will have issues come up when dealing with people. In those are we willing to make a true commitment to them for without a true commitment, we can make a mess of things including other people's lives. We then come to a juncture, a point of dealing with yes, the devastating effects within our lives which will include, anger, hurt, and
depression with other's but also with God!
Feeling anxious and irritable can take its toll on a person. And within this depression can occur, plus a lack of energy & including the appearance of one with the “feeling of
inadequacy as a person, as a wife, husband or even a daughter.
What are the signs and symptoms of depression? Well for the aging prophet, he was not
motivated by the high wind storm nor was he motivated by the earthquake. Even
as the fire moved passed the opening of the cave still the prophet did not come
out! Frankly, the man called fire down from heaven and God did that for him! (1 Kings 18:38--it was rebuilding the altar worship to God)
So too, if mega has anything to do with it, it is possible
that people will not hear the still small voice. Is the Mega done in order of worship to God or to something else? Is it true worship to God...so that others can know the way at home without bass guitarist with the torn at knees jeans and FEARLESS t-shirt on. And what may be presented as just a great display of smoke, bright lights and much too do about nothing....and the moment is exciting, but sincerely people are really hurting, really addicted to something bad and really need to hear HIM speak. For when God has anything to do with it, He will speak in the quiet and He will hear the response of the individual as He did with Elijah. Again the prophet did not come
out even though the LORD was passing by, it was only when Elijah heard the voice did he come to the opening of the
cave.
God was not in the wind storm, was not in the earthquake nor was He in the fire storm!
Ever been is a service and they say the Lord is passing by.....? Hey, the Lord is in our hearts....! The commitment Elijah had made was hearing God.
God was not in the wind storm, was not in the earthquake nor was He in the fire storm!
Ever been is a service and they say the Lord is passing by.....? Hey, the Lord is in our hearts....! The commitment Elijah had made was hearing God.
It is the same in making commitments to God, to a spouse,
to the boss man who hired you, the commitment to serve maybe in your community
or even church. The commitment should not be bells and whistles or on a whim as the culture seems to dictate today, but by the still small voice
that speaks truth wrapped in the love of God, for anything else will only bring one's life to a situation loaded with depression, no sleep, and most likely some anger and frustration!
99.99 percent of decisions are made were by prayer in the quiet place. Of the last twenty plus years, we never tried to escape what many would consider when storms hit a marriage. Commitment is always key and is regarded as being loyal to the one whether to husband or to a GREAT GOD. We each worked toward commitment, but at times we did not occupy thought and prayer always in the same manner. In that you will find the one who prays and speaks......to seek the Father's favor on this union blessed by God. But both at some point must come back together to face the weakness and to understand the strength is always in God Himself.
In the re-commissioning of the prophet the
quiet voice was needed. In the truth of the word of God, blessings come to
those who believe it. And Elijah is told to anoint three people and each one
was as an agent of the coming divine judgment or blessing of Israel. He was to call
Hazael of Syria to perform in Israel 2 Kings 8:12 ..... And Hazael said, "Why is my lord weeping?" He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.
& 2 Kings 10:32-36…He was to call
Jehu….2 Kings 9:1-10 And Elisha …Elijah’s successor…1 Kings 19:17
Elijah recognized the LORD'S voice. In his times of prayer, he sought to hear....and in all his doing for the LORD, Elijah at some point became captive to or overwhelmed by other voices. We must always come back to speaking ...that talking & conversing with the Lord ...not merely to Him but to where we hear Him ask us a question like He did with Elijah! Did you hear God today? He still speaks!
We can see the mega of God ....when we..look up at the starlight sky on a summer night and see a star sailing across with out regard to its end, watch the stretch of a newborn baby with clenched fist reach out when he cries and in these, we hold GOD to be great, with a heart that gives, and knows us all. And in that we remain anchored to His strength, to be effective to giving Him praise for His glory.....understanding His voice speaking into our situation, is Him speaking His power and majesty. (Psalm 29:4)
For that which is above us....that moves without our control on it....so too, the tiny baby expresses the tiniest of cries, but tugs the greatest heart of all. For the Father knows those who are His. For without Him, we can do nothing. And with HIM...all things are possible that are of God and to His praise forever. Amen.
You cannot hear God if you are bouncing around like a 'red rubber ball'. Take a break from the culture of your land. Hear Him today in the quiet. Hear Him today as He leads....you will be most certainly glad you did.
For that which is above us....that moves without our control on it....so too, the tiny baby expresses the tiniest of cries, but tugs the greatest heart of all. For the Father knows those who are His. For without Him, we can do nothing. And with HIM...all things are possible that are of God and to His praise forever. Amen.
You cannot hear God if you are bouncing around like a 'red rubber ball'. Take a break from the culture of your land. Hear Him today in the quiet. Hear Him today as He leads....you will be most certainly glad you did.
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
THE Ultimate Test & Scarifice
Also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching
New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
Fashioned for Purpose
Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching
