VICTOR AINA 22nd July, 2018 Sunday Service
INTRODUCTION: Looking back at the event of the last one year, and the reaction of the so call believers, to the events around us. You will agree with me that, if anyone does not have a hope outside this terrestrial world at this time, we may become fearful and on the other hand unable to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, moreover the gospel is meant to be offensive ,but many people has lost this edge that makes God’s power readily available at all time. Matt 28:18-20,Mk ;16:15,Acts 1:8.
The devil is busy plaguing people with fear, and bringing a lot of distractions the way of many believer, but the undiscerning and unsuspecting are falling cheap prey scroll 10p3, 227p2. The senior pastor took his time to teach us on “the making and the manifestation of the Sons of God” Going further to show that there is a transition going on now, and God wants to make out his image in us Rom 8:29, in these last days. But beyond that there is the need for us to know that this is continuous, as we can’t say we have arrived as long as we are on this terrestrial plain, scroll 224 p4&7.
In view of this God has appointed us as watchmen over this land Is 62:6-7, Ezek 33:2-9 NET
The gospel is meant to be offensive (Explain-woman in labour)
THE SITUATION IN THE TIME OF ELIJAH
1Kgs 16:1,3,4 Baasha, 3rd King of the northern kingdom, killed the 2nd king after Jeroboam (10 tribes) while Judah & Benjamin – (Southern tribe (2 tribes)
This is a combination of wicked 1 kings 13, which provoked God’s anger down to Ahab 30,33. At His time Hiel built Jericho wall 34. It was a time that evil prevailed in the land and people are not looking to God for a way out.
THE MINISTRY OF ELIJAH
ELIJAH –MEANING: MY GOD IS THE LORD
Elijah appeared on the scene 1 Kgs 17:1
Scroll 227 p1, 2 Chron 6:26, Deuteronomy 11:16-17
From Tishbeth in Gilead, no family Background. Just appeared 1st mentioned in 1 Kgs 17:1-4 LB as he came out to challenge Ahab
- God has a lot of people in the making, waiting to launch them out at the appointed time, many are been revealed in our days too
Example: Nehemiah – in Neh 1 & 2, Esther in Esth 4:15,16 the 7000 prophets 1 Kings 19:18
- Provision is guaranteed on this journey. 1 Kgs 17:3, 7-9, 24.
OPERATING AS A SON
Rom 8:16
Teknon: A child, one born, as a baby vs 17,21
Rom 8:14 – Huios – Sons, Adult, matured, i.e Adam before the fall operating as a God Jh 10 34-35, Ps 82:5-7
Gal 4:1,7AMPC Spoke about babyhood and sonhood, Rom 8:15, 29, 20-23, Heb 5:12-14
ELIJAH’S RETURN
1 Kgs 18:1, 6-16
Mount Carmel show down v 23 -38 Execution of Baal prophets 39, 40
Looking closely at vs 29-39
- Understand & honour your appointed time with God 29, Rom 13:11, Ish 55:6
- Repair the altar of your hearts 30
- Need for preparation in the word 33-35,
- Speak, pray the word 36-37, Jer 5:14, Jer 23:29 the word is fire
- Act upon the word vs 40, Deut 13:1, 4, 6-10.
WHY DID ELIJAH RUN: 1 Kgs 19
He was sure afraid 1 Kgs 19:1,2,3
Even though he has confidence that God wants to deal with Baal prophets, he could not hold on to the same for his safety. Vs 10 1 Kgs 18:11,12, Read, 1 Chron 16:21-22, Ps 105:14-15
When natural feeling overtake the word of God, faith is replaced with doubt which leads to fear. James 4:3, we ask amiss, 1 Kgs 19:9-10.
Question: What are you doing here? Elijah hide in a cave in Horeb, Josephus in the Antiq of the Jews Chap 13, Book 8 p7 ,Josephus called the place Mt Sinai, God is always with us on the journey, but we need courage, to bring to pass his will on earth.
NEED FOR COURAGE
Joshua 1:7, Jos 23:6. Courage is needed to be obedience to God
James 5:17-18 – Elijah was a man of like passion-: Same emotion like us feeling, affection, similarly affected as us.
Fear: Fear cripples our relationship with God and can cut short our destiny in God song. Destiny moulder x 2
- Fear has to do with having faith in what God has not said Rom 10:17
- Fear disappear when we declare boldly the counsel of God Elijah missed it at this point, even though Bible called him righteous, we need courage in God and his word to fulfill our destiny.
Rom 8:15, 2 Tim 1:7
Example: Israel – Exodus 3:7-8, Num 13:30 Caleb, Num 14 1-5, 6-10, 24, 30, 38
Courage has 2 prefixes – EN and Dis the one you add to your courage in your challenging time, will determine your victory/success or Defeat/failure in Christ
David always encouraged himself in the Lord 1 Sam 30:6 2,Num 26:65, lack of courage in his promises spelt death.
Num 32:12 it takes courage to follow God wholly, Deut 1:35-36, matt 24:13
THE TIME OF THE DISCIPLES
Prov 28:1
Boldness activates your faith for divine manifestations Eph 3:10-12
1st Persecution Acts 4:1-3,13 boldness can be seen
- Retreat 23-31,33
2nd persecution
- Acts 5:17-29[25-29]
- Stephen Acts 7:51
- Paul Acts 9;29-31
Elijah was so discouraged. That all he could wish for was death, 1 Kgs 19:4 a place of discouragement is a place of hopelessness, but we have a hope in God, God had to step in for his name sake 1Kgs 19:15-21, out of 3 Assignments, he could carry out only one.
Elisha did the rest, but God help him overcome the fear of Jezebel, that made him run 1Kg. 21:1-6, Naboth case 1 Kings 21:17-24.
Ahazia time 1 Kgs 1:9-14 he was calling fire
Need to challenge those things affecting our motion, in the kingdom of God and put on courage as a cloth so that we can finish strong. Like Paul in 2 Tim 4:5-8 Kalos. A Good fight, excellent, commendable fight, thus can only be achieved if we fight according to these rules.
GOD BLESS YOU
Leave a Reply