Living below here in this sinful world, it is VERY EASY to forget what the Lord has called us to do. There are distractions and distresses on every hand that are easily used of Satan to blind us to the work of the Lord. We need to be reminded of WHY we are doing what we are doing.
The Lord in His loving care did so with three men that were called of Himself in the Bible.
Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. He had faithfully served the Lord, carrying out great acts of the Lord’s judgment, such as destroying the prophets of Baal and his altar. But even after such a great victory, he needed reminding that he was not alone. After the victory over Baal’s prophets and their destruction, he took his eyes off of the Lord (I Kings 19:3). He feared for his life, due to the threat of Jezebel to make him as one of Baal’s dead prophets. He retreated to the desert and requested that the Lord would take his life, that all of this was enough! (I Kings 19:4) In other words, He said “I QUIT!” How many times do we do the same thing? When it seems all of hell’s forces are attacking us and there is no one besides us to stand, we say also that “it’s enough,” and want to quit? But, thanks be to God, “..HE knoweth our frame, he remembered that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14. The Lord gave Elijah the ‘fresh manna’ he needed to restore strength to his physical body, vs. 5-7. Then he went to Mount Horeb for 40 days and nights where the Lord also addressed the heart of the matter. He responded to the QUITING of Elijah with a QUESTION! He asked “What doest thou here Elijah?” vs. 9. Elijah proceeded to blame everyone but HIMSELF for his retreat, vs. 10. The Lord answered him with a strong wind, then an earthquake, and then a fire. BUT, the LORD was NOT in any of them. THEN, He spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. This is what touched Elijah’s heart! “My sheep hear my voice..” John 10:27-29. The Lord used these great acts to remind Elijah that the great wonders he had performed were not where his reliance of strength and power should be, but in the LORD’s WORD and promise! The power was HIS Word & NOT THE WONDERS!!! His Word was also protection! Elijah was not alone! We are NEVER alone, or so far away from the Lord that He cannot speak to one of His children’s heart! “….I will NEVER leave thee, nor forsake thee!” Hebrews 13:5. Since the Lord can NEVER CHANGE (MalachI 3:6), NEITHER WILL HIS WORD, because HE IS THE WORD, John 1:1. The Lord used His Word here “for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;”. (II Tim. 3:16). He REMINDED Elijah where he SHOULD BE, what he should be doing, and WHO was with him. The Lord reminded him that there were others that were serving Him also.
The Lord answered Elijah's QUITTING with a QUESTION, and sent a QUAKE! He used the WONDERS to REMIND Elijah of His WORD! When we are burnt out, or faint, and want to quit, what will it take to REMIND US? GO TO THE LORD AND HIS WORD! It is what will speak to our hearts to REMIND US , “that the man of God may be THROUGHLY furnished unto all good works.” II Tim. 3:17. Parts 2 & 3 are to follow on John the Baptist and Peter.
No comments:
Post a Comment