The life of Elijah
was one of zeal and demonstration of God's power. He was living in an
era where the people of God( Israel) had forsaken His ways. He was
living among people who had stopped following the Lord and had turned to
Baal. Although God had chosen Israel as His own special people, yet
they rebelled against Him and followed Baal. During Ahab's reign He did
what was evil in the Lord's sight. He followed his wife Jezebel to serve
Baal. Elijah aroused with jealousy for the Lord chose to contend with
Ahab and the worshipers of Baal.
In 1kings 18: 20-40 Elijah executed 400 prophets of Baal. He could not stand the people's harlotry. He demonstrated God's power by commanding fire from heaven. He had to wipe evil among God's people. After executing the prophets of Baal, Jezebel sought to kill him. He had to run for his life.
1 Kings 19: 1- 3.
1AHAB TOLD Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had slain all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword.
2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.
3Then he was afraid and arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba of Judah [over eighty miles, and out of Jezebel's realm] and left his servant there.
He looked weary and depressed. The Lord appeared to Him in the cave to strengthen Him. He pleaded His case before The Lord. He was the only one who stood tall in fighting against Baal. Elijah had been driven by passion.
1 Kings 19: 10- 14.
10He replied, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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;
12And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.
13When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
14He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left, and they seek my life, to destroy it.
How can we relate this to our generation? We are also God's chosen people by reason of the fact that we have believed in Christ.
1 Peter 2: 9- 10,
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own [a]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
10Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God's people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy.
We have been called to lift high the banner of Christ. Today many of God's people still follow Baal. Baal in our age is not a physical idol erected which people bow to. Baal in our dispensation is anything worldly. Remember Baal was the god of the gentiles. In our era we are spiritual jews and the gentiles are those who belong to the world. Baal in our age could be anything of the world that the children of God crave for. It could be fashion,entertainment,,music. Many of God's people still have Baal in their closets. They have held unto to it and are not ready to release it.
The worship of Baal has also been introduced in our churches. Many churches have introduced practices which belong to the world. The power of the cross is not preached in many of our churches. Many preachers have resorted to sermons of convenience. They preach sermons that will entice people to their auditoriums. Many churches have lost their true identity. The Lord's glory has left many churches. His power is not fully manifesting because His people are harboring Baal. His people are entertaining world in their midst.
Numbers 25 : 1- 12
1ISRAEL SETTLED down and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab,
2Who invited the [Israelites] to the sacrifices of their gods, and [they] ate and bowed down to Moab's gods.
3So Israel joined himself to [the god] Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
4And the Lord said to Moses, Take all the leaders or chiefs of the people, and hang them before the Lord in the sun [after killing them], that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.
5And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each one of you slay his men who joined themselves to Baal of Peor.
6And behold, one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and of all the congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting [over the divine judgment and the punishment].
7And when Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand
8And went after the man of Israel into the inner room and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her body. Then the [smiting] plague was stayed from the Israelites.
9Nevertheless those who died in the [smiting] plague were 24,000.
10And the Lord said to Moses,
11Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My jealousy.
12Therefore say, Behold, I give to Phinehas the priest My covenant of peace.
When the people of God were in the wilderness, they provoked the Lord to jealousy by going after Baal. The Lord told Moses to hang those who transgressed against Him. Even in the event of the death sentence some didn't not repent. Zimri chose to sin against The Lord by fornicating in the presence of Moses and the congregation. Phinehas who was aroused with zeal thrust Zimri with a javelin. Phinehas' act pleased The Lord. It also caused The Lord to relent the punishment on His people. We are living under grace now and as a matter of fact The Lord will not permit instant justice as in the case of Phinehas. But the question is does grace give us the license to rebel against Him? Does grace permit us to follow the world? Who will stand up and preach uncompromised truth? Who will be moved by zeal to pull down the altars of Baal among His people? Who is willing to stand in the gap and pray against the spirit of Baal among His people? Are His people willing to expose the prophets of Baal in their midst? The Lord is looking for people who will stand up and deliver His oppressed children from the grip of Baal. He is looking for people who have kept themselves pure like the remnant church in Sardis.
Revelations 3: 4.
4Yet you still have a few [persons'] names in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes, and they shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy and deserving.
Until we stand up and pull down Baal in our midst we cannot see the fullness of His power. It is sad to see unbelievers attributing His power to the devil's works. Why? Because His people still play with Baal. So when a miracle is performed even His own people doubt it. Why are we stealing His glory. Children of God arise, be quickened by The Lord to go on rampage. May you be filled with His zeal to pull down Baal.
Glory To Jesus
In 1kings 18: 20-40 Elijah executed 400 prophets of Baal. He could not stand the people's harlotry. He demonstrated God's power by commanding fire from heaven. He had to wipe evil among God's people. After executing the prophets of Baal, Jezebel sought to kill him. He had to run for his life.
1 Kings 19: 1- 3.
1AHAB TOLD Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had slain all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword.
2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.
3Then he was afraid and arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba of Judah [over eighty miles, and out of Jezebel's realm] and left his servant there.
He looked weary and depressed. The Lord appeared to Him in the cave to strengthen Him. He pleaded His case before The Lord. He was the only one who stood tall in fighting against Baal. Elijah had been driven by passion.
1 Kings 19: 10- 14.
10He replied, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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;
12And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.
13When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
14He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left, and they seek my life, to destroy it.
How can we relate this to our generation? We are also God's chosen people by reason of the fact that we have believed in Christ.
1 Peter 2: 9- 10,
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own [a]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
10Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God's people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy.
We have been called to lift high the banner of Christ. Today many of God's people still follow Baal. Baal in our age is not a physical idol erected which people bow to. Baal in our dispensation is anything worldly. Remember Baal was the god of the gentiles. In our era we are spiritual jews and the gentiles are those who belong to the world. Baal in our age could be anything of the world that the children of God crave for. It could be fashion,entertainment,,music. Many of God's people still have Baal in their closets. They have held unto to it and are not ready to release it.
The worship of Baal has also been introduced in our churches. Many churches have introduced practices which belong to the world. The power of the cross is not preached in many of our churches. Many preachers have resorted to sermons of convenience. They preach sermons that will entice people to their auditoriums. Many churches have lost their true identity. The Lord's glory has left many churches. His power is not fully manifesting because His people are harboring Baal. His people are entertaining world in their midst.
Numbers 25 : 1- 12
1ISRAEL SETTLED down and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab,
2Who invited the [Israelites] to the sacrifices of their gods, and [they] ate and bowed down to Moab's gods.
3So Israel joined himself to [the god] Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
4And the Lord said to Moses, Take all the leaders or chiefs of the people, and hang them before the Lord in the sun [after killing them], that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.
5And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each one of you slay his men who joined themselves to Baal of Peor.
6And behold, one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and of all the congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting [over the divine judgment and the punishment].
7And when Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand
8And went after the man of Israel into the inner room and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her body. Then the [smiting] plague was stayed from the Israelites.
9Nevertheless those who died in the [smiting] plague were 24,000.
10And the Lord said to Moses,
11Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My jealousy.
12Therefore say, Behold, I give to Phinehas the priest My covenant of peace.
When the people of God were in the wilderness, they provoked the Lord to jealousy by going after Baal. The Lord told Moses to hang those who transgressed against Him. Even in the event of the death sentence some didn't not repent. Zimri chose to sin against The Lord by fornicating in the presence of Moses and the congregation. Phinehas who was aroused with zeal thrust Zimri with a javelin. Phinehas' act pleased The Lord. It also caused The Lord to relent the punishment on His people. We are living under grace now and as a matter of fact The Lord will not permit instant justice as in the case of Phinehas. But the question is does grace give us the license to rebel against Him? Does grace permit us to follow the world? Who will stand up and preach uncompromised truth? Who will be moved by zeal to pull down the altars of Baal among His people? Who is willing to stand in the gap and pray against the spirit of Baal among His people? Are His people willing to expose the prophets of Baal in their midst? The Lord is looking for people who will stand up and deliver His oppressed children from the grip of Baal. He is looking for people who have kept themselves pure like the remnant church in Sardis.
Revelations 3: 4.
4Yet you still have a few [persons'] names in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes, and they shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy and deserving.
Until we stand up and pull down Baal in our midst we cannot see the fullness of His power. It is sad to see unbelievers attributing His power to the devil's works. Why? Because His people still play with Baal. So when a miracle is performed even His own people doubt it. Why are we stealing His glory. Children of God arise, be quickened by The Lord to go on rampage. May you be filled with His zeal to pull down Baal.
Glory To Jesus
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