Opening illustration/video.
Introduction: Abraham Heschel once wrote, “To be a prophet is both a distinction and an affliction.” Elijah was no exception. Few prophets in Scripture have provoked as many ministers, challenged as many evangelists and inspired as many prophets as Elijah. This man from the desert, who seemed to be, on the one hand, invincible and on the other hand, cowardly, was as much an enigma then as he is today.
He is unique. He could run faster than a horse-driven chariot. He is one of two humans in Scripture taken to heaven before they tasted death. He is the only one, other than Jesus, who; it is prophesied, will return to earth before the “Day of the Lord.” He is one of two who have seen the backside of God as He passed by. If that is not strange enough, he is the only one with an anointing great enough to call down ?re from heaven. He was in the lineage of the ecstatic prophets, whose mere presence seemed to defy human anticipation, and to be determined solely by the Spirit of God rather than themselves.
Yet Elijah was also human, with emotions, fears, doubts and moments of elation, just like you and me. He lived in an era of high occult activity. He was a focal point in the clash between Yahweh and Baal, spurred on by Ahab, who sold himself to do evil, and even more so by Jezebel, who would stop at nothing, including murdering the innocent and worshiping demons, to get her way. Elijah stood up against the odds and proclaimed Mosaic righteousness when decadence was politically correct.
Apparently, the days of Elijah were filled with trials, famine (of the Word), drought, peril, apostasy, Baal worship and discouragement but this did not dissuade the prophet Elijah from doing the work that God assigned him and so must the church (we) today.
How did God impact the days of Elijah amidst great turmoil?
During all this, God has a strategy and makes all things work together for good. He knows to save the remnant. Jeremiah was not a popular prophet during His days as he is today! Nobody wanted to hear him speak about the captivity that was coming to Judah, or say Christians today.
As a matter of fact, most of the leaders and popular prophets of his times scorned and even persecuted him. The children of Israel and her leaders were so confident and couldn’t perceive how God can allow Babylon to take them captive! It did not make sense to most of the children of Israel including their leaders. Nevertheless, to their surprise, captivity came as per the word of Jeremiah. As a result, only a small remnant, the poor and unknown, who believed the prophet, remained in the land. They were provided for while all the rest were taken captive.
May the Lord wake up the Elijah’s to bring the Fathers’ heart to children and the children to the Father God (Malachi 4:5-6). Just because it does not make sense, we should not ignore the words of Jeremiahs and Elijah’s today. He sends his Elijah’s, Jeremiahs and John the Baptists, the forerunners calling out for repentance before His coming. The most awaited coming of the Messiah and popular one among all nations is at hand. Unlike the first coming hardly anyone is going to miss this time. However, the bride must be ready to receive Him. Revival and restoration go hand in hand with repentance!
1. Days of Miracles (signs and wonders)
(i) Elijah is first mentioned in Scripture when he declares to King Ahab that a severe drought would begin immediately to test Israel and its leadership. “Elijah … said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word’” (1 Kings 17:1). Withholding rain for 3½ years was the first miracle God did through the prophet. This would bring severe famine throughout the kingdom. The purpose of this punishment was to bring the nation to repentance of its idolatry.
(ii) Elijah’s greatest public miracle involved a contest with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah on Mount Carmel. Elijah invited these false prophets and all Israel to a demonstration to show that Baal had no power at all against the God of Israel. The outcome would demonstrate who served the true God (1 Kings 18:19-40).
(iii) Causing the rain to cease for 3½ years (1 Kings 17:1)
(iv) Being fed by the ravens (1 Kings 17: 2-6)
(v) Miracle of the barrel of meal and cruse of oil (1 Kings 17:14)
(vi) Resurrection of the widow's son (1 Kings 17:22)
(vii) Parting of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:8)
(viii) Prophecy that Elisha should have a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:10)
(ix) Being caught up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11)
Under God's guidance, Elijah struck a heavy blow against the evil of false gods. He was an instrument for miracles against Israel's idolaters. Elijah had incredible faith in God. He loyally carried out the Lord's instructions and struck boldly in the face of enormous opposition. Despite the miracles God performed through him, Elijah was only human, like us. God can use you in amazing ways as well, if you surrender yourself to his will.
2. Days of Double-Anointing
Elijah represents a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ that was to come in the future. Elisha represents the church of the last days with the double portion anointing received by the passing of the mantle of power by Christ Himself. Israel was in a backslidden condition just as the church is today, and they had no discernment of good and evil, but all of that was about to change. The prophets of Baal built their altar and put their sacrifice on it and cried out to their god with all of their might. They cried and screamed and leaped and shouted, but alas to no avail. Elijah mocked them and said that maybe their god, was busy, or had taken a vacation, or maybe he was asleep, in any case he never showed.
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So, all the people came near to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, that was broken down. In Jesus's day, the church was in shambles, and the people were again in a backslidden state of disrepair, but He was about to change it all with the very sacrifice of His own life. What happens next is a prophetic look at the church that Jesus built.
So, what are the three main components to receiving double anointing?
(i) Stay the course: Elisha was repeatedly given a way out. Elijah told him to leave, but Elisha refused and steadfastly stuck to his mentor. Note that many other prophets knew that God would take Elijah that day, but only Elisha was positioned correctly. I feel that many of you have been faithful, and have walked with the Lord, and have believed His promises. You are in the right place.
(ii) You must see that the new has come: I have long pondered Elijah’s reply to Elisha. Elijah said that what Elisha asked for was not an easy thing. Nevertheless, if Elisha could see Elijah when he was taken, then Elisha would receive the double anointing (2 Kings 2:10). Elisha determined that he would see, and did see the fiery chariot come and separate the two of them. The other prophets across the narrow Jordan did not see that. They only saw the whirlwind, which they thought was just a natural phenomenon. What was the significance? They knew Elijah would be taken away, but when it happened—they only thought it was a whirlwind and pestered Elisha to let them mount a search party. In other words, they did not see or recognize the transition had come. We will not receive a double anointing, or even new anointing, if we do not clearly see that the transition has come—that we are now in the new. Before Joshua could become effective, God had to tell him that Moses was dead. Effectively, God said that the old was over—and that the new was now—so walk in it (See Joshua 1). It’s the same as what Jesus told John the Baptist’s disciples in Matthew 11. Jesus announced that the new was here. John the Baptist was the greatest, but now those least in the Kingdom were greater than he. We will not receive new anointing until we clearly see and understand that now we are in the new era and that the old era has passed. If we don’t see that, and if we think, we are still in the old—well, then I suppose all we can expect is the old anointing.
(iii) Use it immediately: Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle, and under the full and critical scrutiny of the other prophets—and without the benefit of a “practice run” —struck the water and crossed the barrier of the Jordan River. When he did that, all saw the authority and anointing on him. Note that Elisha had to use his authority immediately. I feel that many of you are probably facing a barrier. That is your Jordan River. Pick up the mantle, strike the water, and watch God make a way. Is something blocking you? Rise up and take authority over it. Make the declaration and move ahead into what God has for you.
Just like Elijah, ‘Raising Up Spirit Anointed Leaders That Will Disciple Nations’ is our top priority. The legacy of Elijah is cultivated and transferred through people who possess certain of the following characteristics.
• He asked for it. God had already appointed him (1 Kings 19:16) to be Elijah’s successor, but Elisha didn’t just want to be head of the prophets; he wanted to maximize his effectiveness.
• He made it a top priority; he left his “farming” business (1 Kings 19:19).
• He followed Elijah everywhere he went (2 Kings 2:2-6): to Bethel (a place of worship); to Jericho (a place of obedience); and to the Jordan River (a place of dying to self; a new beginning in the spirit). Yep. We have to do all three—worship, obey, and die to our way of doing things.
• He received his new anointing by faith. Elisha’s first miracle was to part the Jordan River… just as Elijah had done earlier (2 Kings 2: 13-14)
While many of us ask today, “Where is the God of Elijah?" God is surely asking, “Where are the Elijah’s and Elisha’s of yesteryear who will pay the price for my anointing?” I’m ready, how about you? Let’s put Him to the test.
3. Days of Harvest (Rain)
Just like the physical growth of a field, the spiritual growth of people is a natural, organic process, overseen by God Himself. If we don’t see anyone getting saved, it can be discouraging, but we need to remember that sowing is just as important as reaping. Some of us are sowers and may never see the result of our labor. That is why our focus should be on pleasing the One who sent us into the field rather than on controlling the rate of growth or the amount we reap.
For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground, I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants (Isaiah 44:3). Once again, it says that God will pour out the water -that is, rain - on the dry ground. And He says that this means He will pour out His Spirit. Rain is a figure of the Holy Spirit being poured out.
Rain is what gives life and brings the harvest. It is what transforms the landscape of our lives.
(i) Rain on ME: We see a very clear example of this in the experience of Elijah. God told Elijah there would be a drought for 3½ years. In order for the drought to happen it was necessary for Elijah to pray that it occurs (James 5:17). Three and a half years later, God promised to send rain and end the draught (1 Kings 18:1, 41-44). Again, Elijah knew it was necessary for him to pray for the rain if rain were to come even though it was God’s will to send the rain. We are told that Elijah had to pray seven times before the rain came. Elijah knew if he stopped praying for God to fulfill His promise to send rain and the rain would not come. Ellen White points out the necessity of Elijah’s persistent prayer when she states: “Had he given up in discouragement at the sixth time, his prayer would not have been answered, but he persevered until the answer came.”
(ii) Rain on MY CHURCH: True revival takes place when the bride of Christ is awakened to the call of the bridegroom and renewed by His very presence making her ready for Him. The church today professes to be the people of God and if so 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
(iii) Rain on our CITY: Rain on one city, but no rain on the other city. God will send the rain on one city, while the city not rained on will dry up. Today we have people teaching formulas for Church Growth. That is nonsense as God doesn’t work that way. There is a missing ingredient-the sovereign grace of God; His Spirit being outpoured. His Word does not return void. Some people will be saved, one here and one there but if you're talking about a massive harvest, no rain means no grain! However, Elijah was a man who could make it rain. And he was a man with a nature like ours. In other words, if he can do it. We can do it. (The Rain Man)
(iv) Rain on our STATE: Rain has a dual implication. First as refreshing where there has been dryness and barrenness (Joel 2:23-29). Second, as restoration where there has been loss (Isa. 28:11-12). The “pouring out” Peter refers to at Pentecost (Acts 2:17) is not an abstract use of the word; it has to do with “latter rain” that brought about the hastening of the harvest and fruitful crops. The Lord is saying that He will send rain to fields [people] that are totally barren as a promise of hope.
(v) Rain on our NATION: Beginning in Joel 2:28, says, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” One of the surprising outcomes of Joel’s prophecy was that even non-Jews were filled with the Spirit. In Acts 10:45 we read, “The believers from among the circumcised … were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.” God was lavishing His Spirit on everyone who believed in Jesus, regardless of their culture, nationality, or ethnicity. “All people,” as Joel had said, were offered this gift.
Application: 2018 we are living in similar days like the days of Elijah the prophet. What needs to be revived (facilitated) are MIRACLES, DOUBLE-ANOINTING and THE HARVEST. You and I have a major role to play.
