Month: February 2024

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus’. 1 Kings 19

The record of Elijah’s encounter with God is brief, but once he came out of the cave God was able to get him back on the right path again. God pointed Elijah towards the future and away from the past and the threats he had received. Maybe this is a time for some of us to become re-envisioned, no matter what life has thrown at us. So long as we’re on this earth God has things for us to do and they may be far more significant than we know.

²⁰ NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3

We shouldn’t limit God’s power and plans for our lives, He made us and He knows what He can do through us – if we’ll allow Him.

In the case of Elijah God gave him a threefold task. The prophet who was beaten down was the very one God was sending to anoint two future kings and the man who would succeed him as Israel’s national prophet. It’s also noteworthy that the first of those kings was in a desert. God knows where to find those He’s chosen, whether in the cave or in the desert. Some of us may be in such places right now, but we don’t have to stay there. When we hear and answer the Call of God, He puts our feet on firm Ground once more.

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 1 Kings 19

God sent Elijah back to face and eventually see the destruction of the very things that had undone him. He was to raise up three leaders and also to realise that seven thousand others stood along with him for God.

¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’

When we accept and embrace God’s plans we will walk in victory. Elijah crumbled under pressure, as did the apostles, but God raised them up again and He’s doing the same now. Hallelujah

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹¹ The Lord said, ‘GO OUT AND STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ 1 Kings 19

We saw yesterday that Elijah had fled from the threats of Jezebel, the queen who supported the prophets of Baal. The man of God had won a great victory and Israel had turned back to worship the living God. In today’s language we might say that Elijah had a bad case of burnout, he simply couldn’t take anymore and now he was hiding in a cave on Mount Horeb. The first step in Elijah’s restoration was God’s command, ‘GO OUT AND STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN ‘. God didn’t go inside the cave to meet with Elijah, He called Elijah out onto the mountain.

THEN a great and POWERFUL WIND tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND. After the wind there was an EARTHQUAKE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE. ¹² After the earthquake came a FIRE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE. And after the fire came a GENTLE WHISPER. (Still small voice NKJV) 1 Kings 19

God demonstrated His power to Elijah on the mountainside, but God wasn’t in those awesome events. Believers must distinguish between supernatural power demonstrations and the presence of the Lord. When God did finally reveal Himself, after the ‘Supernatural Fireworks’, it was in the Whisper. Can we get still enough to hear the Lord’s Whisper? It’s so easy to miss a Whisper, but God didn’t shout at His prophet nor does He speak harshly to His children.

God recommissioned His servant Elijah to GO and carry out the next steps in His plan for the future of His people. God is working out His steps for His people on earth again in the present day, the enemy has oppressed God’s people for too long. God isn’t going to settle for a partial victory. So good that God cares for both the individual and the people, He wants the best for us all, but we have to walk that out with Him in this fallen world.

The Lord bless you and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

¹⁴ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. (I’VE DONE MY BIT LORD!) The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ 1 Kings 19:9-10, 13-14

Elijah had a major confrontation, at close quarters (CQB – Close Quarters Battle) with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah and after the Lord gave him victory, he’d slain them all. But the woman Jezebel had threatened to take his life and he’d fled from her to a cave on Mount Horeb, where he had a powerful encounter with the Lord.

Elijah was at a very low point/totally deflated when he had his encounter with the Lord. Elijah had definitely decided he’d had enough of fighting the Lord’s battles in Israel. The verses above are quoted twice in quick succession. OUR WORDS LOCATE US and Elijah told God that he didn’t have anything more to give, but his words weren’t fully accurate. When we’re feeling down it’s so easy to only look at the negative and exaggerate the things which stand against us. I remember reading a short quote by Stonewall Jackson, ‘Never take Counsel of your fears’. Elijah had allowed his fears to get the better of him.

The Lord CALLED ELIJAH OUT OF THE CAVE to meet with Him. We have to step out of the darkness of our own caves before we’re able to see in His light. Despite his fears Elijah came out of hiding to see the Lord, God’s revelation of Himself. God knows what we need and if we’re willing to step out He will meet us and give us fresh revelation to enable us to go on.

¹⁴ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

Elijah presented his case before God, his reason why he couldn’t go on any longer, but God corrected the prophet.

^{18 ‘}Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’

We should never allow ourselves to think or say that we are alone in facing opposition and trials. God ‘had reserved 7000 for Himself’. God has an army on the earth today and the enemy is very much afraid of that army rising up in power against him and his minions.

¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail/be victorious against it. Matthew 16

God is not going to lose this war and if we take courage, come out of the darkness of the cave and stand with Him, we can come through to the place of victory with Him. Hallelujah

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

²² Deliver Israel, O God,
    from all their troubles! Psalm 25

In the recent American Football Final, the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers by 25 to 22. On a recent Elijahstreams broadcast we learned that there was only one chapter 25 in the Bible with 22 verses! The prophet speaking believed that God was repeating through this event that He was in the process of rescuing His people, the Church and Israel.

Another famous prophet, the late Bob Jones, declared that when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl a huge revival was coming. The Chiefs have won the trophy three times in the last five years, beginning in 2020. Before this they hadn’t been in the Final for fifty years. (The period of Jubilee!)

I believe that Psalm 25:22 is a Word of Encouragement for the time we’re living in today. Life has not been easy for many people and some have become discouraged at the seeming lack of progress in the move of God, but GOD IS NEVER LATE! Opposition to God and His plans is futile, He will have His way and breakthrough will come to His people.

Psalm 25, which was written by David in a time of stress and great difficulty has much to encourage us. I’m just going to post a few verses and if you’re blessed you can read the rest for yourselves.

25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³ No-one whose hope is in you                                                                          will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame                                                                        who are treacherous without cause.

David and probably many of God’s people today are living in circumstances which are not honouring to God, He wants the best for His people. So a first step would be to walk free from Shame, just as Israel walked out of Egypt.

¹² Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
¹³ He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
¹⁴ The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall release my feet from the snare.

David, by the Spirit, declares great blessings for those who fear God and walk with Him. I believe that this is God’s heart for His people in our time, Hallelujah.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹⁶ Long life is in her (Wisdom’s) RIGHT HAND;
    in her LEFT HAND are riches and honour. Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3 outlines the many blessings of Wisdom and speaks of Wisdom as a female person. The blessings of Wisdom are not limited, blessing in both hands for those who seek and find her.

¹³ Blessed are those who FIND WISDOM,
    those who GAIN UNDERSTANDING,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 3

Christ has become Wisdom for Believers today (1 Corinthians 1:30) and we have a better Covenant through Him. There are many blessings still to be uncovered for Believers in this present time when we’re willing to seek the Lord for them. Christ’s Body is still growing and developing to this day and God always has  more for us.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
    listen closely to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body. Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4 also calls us to ‘Pay attention’ to God’s Words and ‘Hold fast to them’. Again there are great blessings for living and walking God’s way. The chapter ends with a caution to keep on a straight path and not to allow ourselves to be distracted or diverted from God’s way for our lives.

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ DO NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT;
    keep your foot from evil.

A final scripture from the Wisdom Writings is given in the Book of Ecclesiastes,

10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.
² THE HEART OF THE WISE INCLINES TO THE RIGHT,
    but the heart of the FOOL TO THE LEFT. Ecclesiastes 10

God’s Word is a safeguard for us but our own hearts can deceive us and take us along dangerous paths. If we feel our desire for God and the things of God ‘Cooling within us’, that may be a warning for us to be careful about the course our lives are taking. As we saw on Monday in Isaiah, God’s Spirit speaks into our lives to Guide us and help us.

²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ Isaiah 30

May we be sensitive to His leading and walk as He directs.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

³ But when you give to the needy, DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING, ⁴ SO THAT YOUR GIVING MAY BE IN SECRET. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6

Matthew’s Gospel mentions this phrase of, ‘Left and Right’. On the first occasion it’s regarding our Giving, which shouldn’t be done for public acclaim. We can widen the term ‘Giving’, to mean more than just money, to anything we do for the Lord and His Kingdom. God rewards those who don’t ‘Self-Publicise’, which I suspect is way more common than we think. The Self or Ego always wants to take the Glory, but the Lord says ‘Don’t’, let the Father reward us in His Time and His Way.

²³ Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to SIT AT MY RIGHT OR LEFT is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

²⁴ When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Matthew 20

The mother of James and John wanted the best for her boys and she tried to get the Lord to make a promise to them, but He told her that only the Father had that right. The most important seats in any gathering are always closest to the Head or King , however, Jesus told His disciples to take the lower seats and wait to be invited higher. Again showing that the Kingdom is totally opposite to this world and the ego/carnal nature.

³¹ ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the SHEEP on his RIGHT and the GOATS on his LEFT. Matthew 25

There’s a day and a time of final separation coming to the nations, or the people of this earth. Some will rejoice with their Lord and the others will not. Two groups will be gathered, one on each side of Christ; the Lord will stand between them and tell people their destiny. The final separation with the Lord in the midst.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, ONE ON HIS RIGHT AND ONE ON HIS LEFT. Matthew 27

Jesus spent His last hours on earth between two sinners. The two thieves were closest to Him at His crucifixion and even there a separation occurred. He granted one of them to be with Him forever, ‘today you shall be with Me in Paradise’. At the last moment of life, a former thief chose life and sided with the Lord. Truly, while there’s life, there is hope for people on this earth.

May God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

⁸ So Abram said to Lot, … ⁹ Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’ Genesis 13

We saw in Isaiah 30 yesterday, one use of the phrase, ‘Left or Right’, concerning Guidance for God’s children. We also said that this phrase is used from Genesis right through to Revelation.

Abram was the senior man and God’s anointed, but he still gave his nephew, Lot, first choice over which land he wanted for himself. This was a significant moment when the two relatives separated and God made a further promise to Abram after their parting.

¹⁴ The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, ‘Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. ¹⁵ All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring for ever. 

Abram humbled himself and gave Lot first choice in the interest of peace and harmony. Only when they’d parted was the fullness of God’s promise to Abram revealed. Whenever we humble ourselves it allows God to step in and give us what He has for us.

Further along in Genesis we read the account of Jacob’s blessing on the children of Joseph, then ruler of Egypt.

¹⁶ the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
    —may he bless these boys.
MAY THEY BE CALLED BY MY NAME
    AND THE NAMES OF MY FATHERS ABRAHAM AND ISAAC,

Joseph’s sons were adopted into the house of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so that they would be included within God’s Covenant. Though both were included in the Covenantal blessing, Jacob then did an interesting thing when he blessed the two boys;

¹⁴ But Israel reached out HIS RIGHT HAND and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put HIS LEFT HAND on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. Genesis 48

Firstly there are NO ACCIDENTS in the Kingdom of God, we are all CHOSEN BY GOD AS OUR FATHER. We also have special callings and destinies for our lives and in this case Ephraim, the younger son received the right hand, more powerful blessing. Jacob, by the anointing of the Spirit crossed his arms and positioned Ephraim ahead of his older brother. God is Sovereign and His Choice overrides human traditions. He knows the unique destiny He has planned for each of us and WE SHOULD BE OPEN TO ALL HE HAS FOR US, though it may appear out of reach.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

²¹ Whether you turn TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ Isaiah 30

This phrase, ‘to the RIGHT or to the LEFT’, runs right through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation and I want to look at some of the things to which it refers.

Isaiah promises God’s goodness to the people of Zion who live in Jerusalem, a change is coming, God’s blessings are coming.

²⁰ Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, YOUR TEACHERS WILL BE HIDDEN NO MORE; with your own eyes you will see them. ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘THIS IS THE WAY; WALK IN IT.’ Isaiah 30

Isaiah speaks about guidance and direction coming in a fuller measure and with greater clarity than ever. But there’s a condition for receiving God’s direction which is stated in the next verse;

²² Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, ‘Away with you!’ Isaiah 30

I heard a prophet on Elijahstreams saying recently that the Lord had declared, ‘idolatry is death’! Idols made by men look ugly so they have to be coated (disguised) with silver or gold to make them look precious. Idols can be hard to give up/smash because they seem so precious to us. But in this scripture God says throw them away and then you’ll receive true guidance and direction from heaven.

20 And God spoke all these words:

¹⁹ “Today I have given you the CHOICE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, BETWEEN BLESSINGS AND CURSES. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. OH, THAT YOU WOULD CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your descendants might live! Deuteronomy 30, NLT

The God who made us wants us to have Life in His Son and He also wants to bless people, not curse them. I believe it was Graham Cooke who said, that, ‘what we believe about God is the most important thing we think’. Religion wants to keep people in line by the threat of punishment, but that’s not what God wants for people at all.

³¹ Rid yourselves of all the offences you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? ³² FOR I TAKE NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF ANYONE, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD. REPENT AND LIVE! Ezekiel 18

We must realise that we serve a Living God who wants His Life shown to others with whom we’re in contact day by day. This is the year of the ‘Open Door’, in Hebrew script. What does God want to release through us in the year ahead? He is the greatest Creator in this universe and is looking to impart new and unique things through His people.

Lord may Your Life and Blessings be released on a new scale at this time and may we Your people walk in great Favour.

²⁷ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

Now CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, LISTEN TO HIS VOICE AND HOLD FAST TO HIM. FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE, Deuteronomy 30

We saw yesterday that the Lord spoke through Moses and commanded His people to CHOOSE HIM, for He was their LIFE and that message was repeated through Paul, He is also our LIFE.

²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ Acts 17

After Moses had instructed Israel to Love God and hold fast to Him, he presented Joshua as the leader whom God would use to bring them into Canaan, their Promised Land. Joshua and the Israelites fought and defeated many foreign kings to claim their inheritance. They had to put their lives on the line, but when they did God defeated more powerful enemies for them every time. As long as they walked with God they never lost a battle! I believe God is looking for such people today, whom He can use to bring in His Kingdom on this earth.

¹⁴ “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. … ¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, … But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

¹⁶ Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! Joshua 24

When we stand on the battlefield, facing our enemies and God’s enemies we cannot afford to be double-minded, our resolve to stand with God must be firm. Joshua like Moses, told the people to make their Choice and told them, ‘where he and his household stood – with the Lord’.

³¹ Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel. Joshua 24

The Joshua generation served the Lord faithfully because of all they had experienced in their own lives, they remained loyal to the God of Israel. Sometimes the struggles in this life are the things which cause us to stand with God through our battles with the enemy. Life experience can be costly, but teaches us many valuable lessons. We cannot be ambivalent in our walk, we must Choose to Go With God, whatever the cost. He gives us victory, no matter the opposition.

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.