SCRIPTURE: “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.” (1 Kings 18:37)
OBSERVATION: After years of no rain & drought, Elijah finally picked a fight with the demonic realm by summoning 850 false priests who were leading people astray. He mocked them for hours as they worked themselves into a frenzy, crying out to gods who never existed.
Elijah enjoyed the show a little too much by mocking their false gods saying they need to shout louder, maybe their gods are sleeping or going to the bathroom? I like this guy! 😏
These occult leaders began cutting themselves and more to evoke fire from heaven to burn their prepared altar as proof of their gods’ existence. People had gathered all around this showdown as the final demonstration of giving themselves to whichever god showed up. They were desperate for an answer to their suffering due to the horrific drought.
Elijah waited until the evening and then made his move. After building an altar to God with 12 stones representing the 12 Tribes of Israel, preparing the sacrifice, cutting the wood for fuel, Elijah shocked everyone with what he did next… especially in the middle of a 3 year drought!
He called everyone closer to inspect his work and then dug a trench around the altar and asked for 4 large jars of water to be emptied out 3 separate times over his altar drenching the wood and filling the trench to overflowing.
Even if he had a match to light this BBQ, it wouldn’t have worked… and everyone knew it!
Beside the drenched woodpile, the gallons of water dripping over the stones and through the trench towards muddy sandals… stood a Man. A Believer. A Prophet. Elijah. His gaze into the night sky hushed hearts as thousands of eyes stared in wonder at what would happen next.
Some stared in hate, others in hope…
As Elijah took a deep breath before the plunge, he knew there was no turning back. He would live or die on what came next. Betting his life on the authentic relationship he had experienced with the Living God, Elijah emptied his heart before The Great I AM, Yahweh!
Elijah’s Request? “ANSWER ME!”
The Result? “CONSUMING FIRE!”
APPLICATION: All of us will at times find ourselves fumbling through a season of drought. No rain. No blessing. No hope. At least, that is how it feels. What Jesus is looking for are sons and daughters who will follow Him through any season, seeking the Father’s heart for the “Why’s” for it.
Bitterness and Blame usually surface during dry times. At this stage of life and relationship with God, I don’t want to be that man. I want to be more like Elijah. A Man. A Believer. A Prophet. Eric.
I want my life to count. I want to understand why God allows me to go through certain seasons and what my role is in and through it. The answer is always on its way. Believe it or not, Jesus is working the most in so-called seasons of dryness, drought… ‘Hiddenness’
When we least expect it, Jesus will call us out of the crowd to stand on behalf of the people we care about and cash in all that we know in one act of faith. Why? So people will know that God is real and to call hearts back to God and each other.
With all eyes on Elijah, Fire/Lightning came down from heaven and consumed the altar, sacrifice, stones, dirt and all traces of water. God SHOWED UP! The people fell on their faces and declared God was real! …Awesome!
Today, I’m encouraged that Jesus always has a way to redeem difficult seasons. He has a plan to make it count. He has a way to bring hearts back to Him in and through difficult circumstances. What He is looking for, are sons and daughters who will choose to remain faithful to follow Him through those seasons. Few do.
When we say Yes to a life of faith, God will eventually call us out to stand our ground. Albeit uncomfortable, lonely and intimidating as can be sometimes… Jesus’ presence will change everything.
Jesus showed up in my 3 years of dryness and drought. He answered me! He silenced my enemies. And shattered their strategies. Now Jesus is bringing hearts back to Him in and through it. It’s who He is. The Great I am, Yahweh… Jesus!
I’m so excited to be in this season of victory! I can’t wait to see what comes next! Jesus will honor me for I have honored Him. He has already begun this. My prayers have been answered one by one over the past 4 years.
Now It’s Personal.
Jesus knows the prayers I have held close to my heart for myself, my future, my family and more… It’s time. I recognize my drought is over. Hearts have turned back to Jesus.
Now I’m praying, preparing and looking in faith on the horizon for evidence of things unseen. Can you see it? Can you feel it? Keep looking! Jesus is on the move. A new season of blessing is here! For you and me!
PRAYER: Jesus, thank You for answering me. Thank you for showing up when I needed Your presence above all else. Thank You for making it count. Now at this point in my life, I recognize that You are calling me out of the crowd. To make a stand. To gaze expectantly to the heavens and ask for a miracle. You know what’s on my heart. You put it there. May You show up again with a consuming fire. I want to burn for You brighter than before. Lives depend on it. I receive this new season and ask for Your presence to go before me. Lead the way. I still choose to Follow You, Off the Map!
OFF THE MAP 