Cave Time

Cave Time

Word of Life – January 29th, 2012

Intro: About 10 years ago, I was attending a meeting where a highly anointed Prophet was ministering. At the conclusion of the service he called me out and began to prophecy over me. In this Word from the Lord, several things were said to me that were absolutely life changing.

He called me an eagle; which was ironic because there was no way of knowing that God often revealed things to me through the eagle. Then he said that as an Eagle I was entering a “waiting upon the Lord time” and I would be sent to the cave for a season. While in that cave, other eagles would feed and take care of me. I would molt my eagle feathers, beak and talons; and it would take a while for my new feathers and things to grow back……. But do not fret, God would be with me in the cave, even though I would feel lost and vulnerable; it would be a good time. A healing time, a renewing time, a recharging time. It would be a refreshing time. And I would come out of it better than ever. And you know, that word was a very accurate word. I did go to the cave spiritually. And I experienced everything the Prophet said I would and more.

I do not want to repeat it but am very thankful for my cave time. I would not be where I am today were it not for the cave. Some of you are saying to yourselves, what’s all this about the cave? So, okay….. let’s talk about it.

Text: 1 Kings 19:8-9 NLT, “So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.”

Why do we find Elijah the mighty prophet of God hiding in a cave?

We find the answer earlier in this chapter -1 Kings 19:1-9 “When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: "May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them." 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died." 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!" 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.”

Elijah goes from the mountain top victory over the Prophets of Baal, to a Juniper tree and from there Elijah’s next stop is a cave

Why is Elijah hiding in a cave?

The answer is fear and depression.

The bible says Ahab told Jezebel what Elijah had done, how he killed the false prophets and called down fire and rain from heaven, then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with the message that she was going to kill him. The bible says 1 Kings 19:3 that he received the word that Jezebel wanted to kill him. This means Jezebel’s words painted a dark & negative picture in Elijah’s mind and in his heart. Just as faith cometh by hearing, fear also come by hearing, and driven by fear Elijah finds himself in a cave.

There are all kinds of reasons that people find themselves in a cave. It could be divorce, it could be an abusive situation. It could be a financial disaster. It could be ministry itself, or it could be broken dreams. I don’t know all the many reasons for finding yourself in a cave, I just know if it could happen to a mighty prophet of God like Elijah, it can happen to you and I.