Pick up Your Elijah Mantle
Elijah, the Astonishing Example
It is your turn. You may not know it. You may not believe it, but it is your turn. And it is not just any kind of turn. This one is dangerous, and the odds against it are astronomical.
Nevertheless, I strongly believe that you will take your turn. What will convince you? When all the facts are in -and you see what will happen if you do no act - you will take your turn. And when you see the power and glory of taking your turn, you will not just lose your fear of taking your turn; you will yearn to take it.
Elijah Knew it was His Turn
If ever a man loved God and his country, it was Elijah. It broke his heart to see wickedness disfigure the great nation of God. When Elijah took his turn, it was something truly astonishing to behold. He was handpicked. Elijah not only knew it was his turn, but he also knew how to take his turn as well as anyone in the Old Testament.
The fire that Elijah prayed down on Mount Carmel ranks as on of the greatest displays of supernatural power the world has ever witnessed.
"Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of the escape!" So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there. - KINGS 18:37-40
This intervention was extreme and violent. The situation demanded it. Israel had debased herself beyond recognition. For the singular task of saving Israel, God chose an amazing man.
Understanding the Assignment
The task assigned to Elijah was far more perilous than we can image. He walked into the gates of hell, for indeed, Israel was a living hell. A thousand times, his life was threatened, and a thousand times, he refused to defect to Baal.
As Americans, we know what it is like to languish under a corrupt government. We can all think of politicians who have abused their power to degrade and contaminate every vestige of American life. Because of their influence, evil is exalted, and righteousness is hated. We must contend those in power that way. Elijah had to contend with Ahab and Jezebel.
"But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred hi up" (Kings 21:25). Jezebel had filled the vat with the grapes of wrath.
Elijah walked into a place where Jezebel has erased God. She had cursed the Promised Land. She had enslaved the righteous and exalted the vile. She had killed all the prophets except those hidden in caves. There seemed to be no way to stop her. But that is precisely what Elijah was called to do. Everything we're been experiencing in America is leading to a great backfire! The very things we think are obstacles are catalysts for God to display His power. Those things we consider to be setbacks are fuses for an awakening.
We must remember that the evils in the land are mere stage props, and whoever carries God's heart also carries His power.
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